Liz that was a good story, it made me tear up.
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Liz that was a good story, it made me tear up.
I had to put my childhood dog, Christy down when I was 20. She'd had seizures, lack of bladder control, hip problems for years. She didn't seem to be in pain and seemed like she had the will to live for a a few years. Then one day, she looked me in the eyes. It was like we understood eachother. She was tired and didn't want to get up anymore. We both knew that it was time. It was very difficult, but I think that deep down, you'll know when it is time.
in late march 2002, when i moved into my house, i added a second dog to my family. i'd wanted a golden retrievier and the opportunity to adopt a senior had come along.{ his then family has several other dogs and the mother was dealing with the after effects of cancer, with minimal health insurance, they really needed to simplify their lives in planning a move to their home state where the rest of the family was. they did treat duke well, he had regular meals, dog buddies and his own cat to sleep with in the garage at night} i was so happy to have duke join alex and i. alex really didn't care about another dog, he's very much a mommas' boy and once some doggie ground rules were laid down, life settled in. i took duke and his scanty records to my vet 3 days after bringing him into our pack, my vet guessed his age at 9-13, his teeth were ground down, he had arthritis and was hypothyroid. duke moved into the good life....i am more...ahhh...dog obsessed then his last family. he discovered the pleasures of napping with the a.c. blowing on his belly, piles of blankets to paw into sleep shapes, new toys regularly, near daily walks, car rides to the donut shop,with a donut hole every time, brushing with the mom singing just to him. and occasionally sleeping on the bed with the human and other dog. he went for his physical in may (tax refund check came in and it goes to the vet for all the furries). the vet then guessed his age at 13, he'd lost weight with a better diet and thyroid meds, but still in fair health, the arthritis means daily buffered asprin and the walks around the mile long block are a bit slower, and he needs a hand to boost him into the car for the rides.
last monday he didn't jump and bark as i was fixing breakfast, although he ate. monday night, he declined dinner, he did eat when i hand fed him bits of ground chicken. he had the dry heaves and did vomit a few times during the night, so we went to the vet in the am. he was very weak, so i carried him into the vets. he'd lost 5 pounds in a month and is very skinny and frail. the vet gave him a liter of iv fluid, ran labs (normal) and watched him for the day. duke just picked at his food that night, i laid on the floor next to his bed under the table and i asked him if he wanted to leave for the rainbow bridge. he licked my arm, and i knew he wasn't ready to leave just yet. he slowly improved over the last week and my sweet old barky boy is telling me again, i'm not moving fast enough to get his food down, and when is that next walk?
i'd always promised myself and both dogs, that if they didn't want to go for a walk, didn't want food, didn't enjoy life anymore, i'd help them to the bridge. this was the first time i really had to confront dukes' age and health. i was terribly upset, and as i type this i am a bit teary at the idea that duke may not see another spring. i realize that i have a senior dog, and he is likely to pass tot he bridge before i do, and yet i will never be ready for him to leave, but i will respect his needs before my wishes. i will truly miss the sweet white face.