Windsor King MacArthur, editor and main contributor to this blog, unexpectedly crossed the Rainbow Bridge on June 18, 2008. He was at least 14 years old.
He succumbed to degenerative myelopathy, an insidious disorder of the spinal cord and nervous system for which there is no known cure.
His passing is not only a blow to his blog but also a great personal loss for me.
After eluding death in a shelter eight years ago, he spent the second half of his life as my faithful, ever present companion. Gentle, considerate, self-disciplined, with great love for people, a loyal paladin in good times and bad, my truly unique, irreplaceable best friend dedicated many of his later years to the rehabilitation of old, disadvantaged, aggressive dogs. His selfless service touched the lives of countless dogs
Windsor was a veritable service dog.
But most of all, Windsor will be remembered for his love of women. He spent his last truly happy lucid moments petted and caressed by a young woman. He gave her his last broad, happy smile and his final joyous Boxer noises.
His euphoric smile and his jubilant noises shall stand as his memorial in my heart.
And the changed lives of dogs he touched bear witness to his greatness.
PJJ
I knew Windsor for a short time and he truly touched my heart and my life. He was a great example of how dogs can brighten the lives of humans, regardless of the dog's age or physical condition. He will be missed.
ReplyDelete-Matt S.
Dexter, our rescued boxer, will be 12 years old this October. Last month we discovered he had lung cancer while searching for what we have recently discovered is degenerative myelopathy. While the x-rays did not get us any closer to why he had started dragging his leg, they did find a huge tumor on his lung. Our vet removed the tumor the very next day, but Dexter was still left with a dragging leg. After ruling out other possibilities, DM was the diagnosis. He has progressivly gotten worse over the past month and we are devastated. I was wondering how long Windsor was able to walk on his own and how long he survived from the onset of the disease (when you noticed signs). Any advice would be appreciated.
ReplyDeleteZori
Dexter - Rescued boxer boy
Kobe- Old boxer girl
Sorry to hear about your poor Boxer man.
ReplyDeleteIt is said that degenerative myelopathy kills a dog within about one year, if left untreated and in about two years with proper 'treatment'.
There is no real cure and no effective treatment at this time.
It is hard to determine the onset of the disease. Windsor showed some signs for most of the seven years he was with me. But I thought it was his severe arthritis.
Almost 3 years or so elapsed from the first signs of the occasional 'drunken sailor' gait to the end. He was in his wheelchair for almost exactly one year.
These wheels for dogs bought him another year. He enjoyed it almost to the bitter end.
Have Dexter DNA tested to know for sure that it is DM.
I wish you and Dexter well. And when things get emotionally very trying please keep in mind that Dexter already had a long life for a Boxer.
Many, if not most of them, barely make it to ten years. So, Dexter is ahead of the pack. He is right behind Windsor who lived a documented 14 years, maybe longer. He also was a rescue.
Maybe the two will meet one day . . .