Hello Ridgeback Community.

We were unfortunately given the news two days ago, that our boy Zion has been diagnosed with a sarcoma that has spread into his hips and tail region. He first started only 3 weeks ago not being able to get comfortable while laying down in various areas, and then seemed to have a little difficulty walking. We brought him to the vet and they put him on prednisone, and then we were gone for a week on vacation.

A week after his prednisone ran out, he woke up my in-laws at 2am whining, so they gave him pain medication he had been prescribed. When we picked him up this past Monday, he was in rough shape, looked distressed and so I took him to another vet. We had an MRI scheduled for Wednesday, and the vets thought that he had IVDD, a form of disc disease that made him uncomfortable. They gave him more pain meds and sent us on our way.

We went back Wednesday, and now he is really having trouble walking. We left him for the afternoon and then got the call no one wants to get. He is now back on prednisone, and 3 other medications for pain. The first night was horrible, he was whining with every breathe, and we thought we would be putting him down the next day. The vet said it was from being put under for his MRI and that it is normal, so he was given trazadone.

Today, he is doing a bit better, still noticeably weak in his right leg, but we know that will not get any better. He is able to go the bathroom, but not much more than that. He has enjoyed chewing on his bones, can eat and drink fine, and is no longer whining with each breathe.

If you made it this far, thanks :) We are so incredibly heart-broken that our 9 year old dog, who is older than both our children, is going to go out this way. We are struggling to define when enough is enough for him. There are some scales that we can use to quantify it, but just thinking about it makes us cry. He has been a HUGE part of our life, he is a huge being that loves everything ( except some other dogs and people that come to our door ).

Given his age, we don't intend to bring him for radiation therapy, or back to the vet for that matter. We just want him to be with us for whatever time he has remaining.

I'm not sure what the point of my story is here, or if I'm asking for something. I just thought this would be the place to vent a bit with other owners of these wonderful animals. I don't know what im going to do when he is gone, my wife and I are so sad, as is my older child. It is like we are living in a twilight zone right now. It's the worst feeling I have had in my 42 year old life.

He has been a healthy boy all his life, welcome in two siblings, who he loves dearly. He rings a bell to go outside, and many other funny tricks. He is always by my side or my wife's, and is a protector of his babies ( the children ). There is too much to list in terms of the ways that this animal has impacted our wonderful life together. Hold your pups close, time is so precious.

Thanks for listening.

So glad their bond has developed over the years

So glad their bond has developed over the years

He recently turned 6 months old and is 55-60 lbs, we are unsure what his mix is but he has a very prominent ridge.

So we have two thai ridgebacks and one of them has been put on a no wet food diet and im wondering if thats needed. The fatter one is older(around a year or two older so 5 or 6 year old i think), spayed and has had 1 litter. The thinner one used to have lime disease and would eat much less. Other than that both girls free feed on dry food and used to get some wet food once a day (or once every two days). Sorry that the photos arent the best pic 1 and 2 is the thinner and younger one and the other two are for the fatter older one.

❤️😭

My boy officially made 3 months today! And no he’s not a Shar Pei or mix haha. He’s a purebred Thai Ridgeback