ComedyDevil
12-29-2005, 06:03 PM
Toby is getting older. :(
And I can see it. He turns 10 in February and I know, that's not even old, right? Not really. He's a Lab mix, he could easily live well into his teens. So then why is he worrying me so?
Some of you will remember last year when I nearly lost him (http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthread.php?t=60554&highlight=toby+surgery). But all this year he's been doing so great and now ... I don't know. His ears have been bothering him more (he's had reoccuring ear infections all his life) to the point where he hardly ever pricks his ears any more, and almost always tilts his head to the side. He went to the vets last week for his monthly ear cleaning but it doesn't seem to have made it any better. He's on pain meds for arthritis which you guys already know, but recently he's been yelping when he gets up, not often, but when he does he screams and it breaks my heart. :( The vet is going to up the dosage of pain meds, and we're also waiting to hear the results of two lumps that've appeared on his left side.
Don't get me wrong, he's still a ham for the camera, still loves to pose, loves his treats. His whole body wiggles when I get his lead out, he loves to play tug, loves to show off his tricks to people ... but he just seems to have lost some of his sparkle. He's picked up since we've had Spike, I think he likes his new play buddy, though sometimes Spike gets a bit too much for him, Toby gets tired a lot quicker now.
I don't know, maybe I'm just being paranoid. Here are some of my favourite pics of him, most were taken just last summer ...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v296/junoandtwister/tobydog.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v296/junoandtwister/23augphotoshoot/pupsandtreats8.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v296/junoandtwister/newtoy/DSCF3732.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v296/junoandtwister/bandanas/tobi.jpg
And here's a pic of him today:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v470/comedydevil/newpicsofpups/PC290050.jpg
And he looks like a completely different dog. I just don't see that sparkle in his eyes anymore.
:( Like I said ... maybe I'm just being paranoid, 10 isn't even old. I just hate the thought of losing him. He is my first dog, and my soulmate. I still remember the day we got him, but I don't remember what I used to do before I had him, and I certainly can't imagine what I'm going to do when he's no longer with me.
Tell me one thing - he will let me know when it's time, right? :( :(
Sorry for such a depressing thread, guys.
Amy
And I can see it. He turns 10 in February and I know, that's not even old, right? Not really. He's a Lab mix, he could easily live well into his teens. So then why is he worrying me so?
Some of you will remember last year when I nearly lost him (http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthread.php?t=60554&highlight=toby+surgery). But all this year he's been doing so great and now ... I don't know. His ears have been bothering him more (he's had reoccuring ear infections all his life) to the point where he hardly ever pricks his ears any more, and almost always tilts his head to the side. He went to the vets last week for his monthly ear cleaning but it doesn't seem to have made it any better. He's on pain meds for arthritis which you guys already know, but recently he's been yelping when he gets up, not often, but when he does he screams and it breaks my heart. :( The vet is going to up the dosage of pain meds, and we're also waiting to hear the results of two lumps that've appeared on his left side.
Don't get me wrong, he's still a ham for the camera, still loves to pose, loves his treats. His whole body wiggles when I get his lead out, he loves to play tug, loves to show off his tricks to people ... but he just seems to have lost some of his sparkle. He's picked up since we've had Spike, I think he likes his new play buddy, though sometimes Spike gets a bit too much for him, Toby gets tired a lot quicker now.
I don't know, maybe I'm just being paranoid. Here are some of my favourite pics of him, most were taken just last summer ...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v296/junoandtwister/tobydog.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v296/junoandtwister/23augphotoshoot/pupsandtreats8.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v296/junoandtwister/newtoy/DSCF3732.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v296/junoandtwister/bandanas/tobi.jpg
And here's a pic of him today:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v470/comedydevil/newpicsofpups/PC290050.jpg
And he looks like a completely different dog. I just don't see that sparkle in his eyes anymore.
:( Like I said ... maybe I'm just being paranoid, 10 isn't even old. I just hate the thought of losing him. He is my first dog, and my soulmate. I still remember the day we got him, but I don't remember what I used to do before I had him, and I certainly can't imagine what I'm going to do when he's no longer with me.
Tell me one thing - he will let me know when it's time, right? :( :(
Sorry for such a depressing thread, guys.
Amy