Loving my Oldies

Poor little baby. I hope puppy is back with breeder. Presumably, at 9 weeks, the pup hasn’t been given even a week.

You chose well, that’s for sure.

Because “dog people” are just a mix of the general population. Even axe murderers can love their dogs.

Rules My World Rules Our World such wonderful news, @NikkiandKane. Little Chase looks totally adorable. I am sure that I can speak for many many DOLers when I say we look forward to story after story (and photographs) of his adventures with Scout and your family.

Words cannot express how deeply I feel for you and little Dougie. You are NOT a moron; show me anyone who doesn’t make mistakes even after lots of research. Sadly, I was in the same position as you with my first puppy adopted August 1993 when she was diagnosed with heart disease at the age of 8 weeks. She and I were much more fortunate than you and Dougie because I had a sympathetic breeder (but Calypso was mine and it never crossed my mind to give her back) and she lived for three and a half years. Twenty seven years later, I still think of her just about every day. Dougie has been given so much love and care since he came into your life, so although you are devastated and this has been such a sad sad experience, please be gentle with yourself. Deepest deepest sympathies.

Have sent you a message. Not in SA, but have you thought of Starting Over Dog Rescue? Melbourne based, but might have some ideas.

Have you tried SAFE?

Such a hard and sad time for you. Several years ago, one of my dogs, a tiny little rescue dog with few breeds in her make up, but pretty sure that Silky Terrier was there, became ill very quickly with fluid on the lungs and died within a few days despite being in intensive care. The vet treating her at the specialist hospital said it was not known what caused this particular disease so it occurred to me that if they were able to take samples of the fluid in her lungs after she died, it might help their research. I gave permission for this to happen, but I was told it didn’t give them any insights. Whether the right people were looking at the samples or not, or they didn’t actually carry out any research, I don’t know. What I am saying is the you would need to have confidence in your vet that they actually knew how to do a post mortem for little one and understood the trust you are placing in them to honour you and your dog. One of my dogs (elderly Maltese x Shih Tzu) has degenerative myelopathy (aka Upper Motor Neurone Disease) and the symptoms sound very like those for syringomyelia. She is doing very well at the moment, albeit she is very unstable, finds herself caught in tight places, stumbles into the water bowl and her food bowl. However, she happily goes on little walks and enjoys pottering around the back yard. I have to crate her at night and when I go out to prevent her from getting caught anywhere and not able to extricate herself. Keep the forum updated and know that we understand what you are your beloved are going through.

^^^

Ha ha ha, I still love you, mum, but chasing Bella is more important at the moment.

Gosh!! Amazing beauty on four legs.

A huge loss, @moosmum. May time ease your broken heart. She sounds an amazing dog and your words “go in passionate joy” are so really beautiful.

Short video of eating arrangements. She still loves her food, but is taking ages to eat the necessary amount. I am starting to supplement with bone broth mixed with nutrigel. I already make her food sloppy with bone broth, but a little bit of nutrigel won’t hurt IMG_0706 by Cynthia Waters, on Flickr

We really do need a “Love” response emoticon.

@grizabella, what a gorgeous dog. I agree with @violaparkinson , cthe colour is lovely. And, so Off Topic, that floor . Is is tile or linoleum? Just the colour I’ve been looking for.

Such a sad time, @esther5. Take your time, spend as much time with your boy, talk to him, sing to him. Despite making all the arrangements, it can still be a shock and a huge sense of loss and responsibility. Our thoughts are with you, your family and your darling boy.

Poor little cat . So sad. Thanks for the suggestion, @jemappelle . I’m doing that as well as putting her bowl against something stable so it can’t be pushed over. She still wobbles into it, but I will raise it even higher to see if that helps. Luckily, considering where the disease affects, she is not constipated and is very regular.

Just a little video of Tamar and Sooty out walking a couple of days ago. She looks quite good here, but is definitely getting worse in terms of her wandering and wobbling to the extent that I now crate her at night and she sleeps the night through. (Hope I haven’t jinxed myself .) I wonder if anyone can suggest something to hold her still and upright while she is eating. She tends to tip onto her front legs and she regularly steps into the bowl tipping it over, getting food all through her feet and spilling it all over the place. All I can think of is a mini mini crush type apparatus. She takes ages to eat having lost all her teeth over the years and although I try to hold her up, it puts her off eating. Here are my two girls: a case of the wobbling one guiding the blind one. 4C64BCDD-FADA-4900-A23F-97068E16A4E9 by Cynthia Waters, on Flickr

Yes, it is a deeply distressing and difficult decision to have to make. I agree with Snook - I feel it is time for your boy to be released from his pain and disabilities. You have come to a forum where probably each and every member has faced this same sad and gut wrenching situation at least once and many (me included) have faced it many times. IT IS NEVER EASY OR STRAIGHT FORWARD. You will probably beat yourself up endlessly, whatever you do. It comes with the territory of love. Many people say, “You will know when it is time.” Most of the time, I would dispute this maxim, but from what you have told us, I really feel with your boy, it is time. He can’t get up, he falls over, he is in pain. Just so you know, I am not speaking from a position of “you aren’t going through what we are going through”, I actually am in a similar situation, albeit easier than yours because my dog is tiny and she is not in pain. She still gets around okay, and, like your boy, is still eating heartily, but losing weight and condition around her hind quarters. She has degenerative myelopathy, she tumbles over, she gets caught in the furniture and gets what I call “the wanders” and goes around and around the place and if I didn't pick her up and cuddle her, she would do this for hours as her brain has been affected as well. It is so damned hard and I feel for you and your boy.

In case anyone is wondering about that cute little coat Sooty is wearing, it was made by our very own DOLer @yellowgirl. You can find all sorts of goodies for your loved ones at her online shop www.LeagueofLove.Org. 50% of the profits go to AWL SA. Another video here. Note her little about turn spin. Always makes me laugh. FE055F78-B5FC-4F77-8ED0-AF1A9C874BE3 by Cynthia Waters, on Flickr

Yes, it makes me laugh to see that tail going. Perhaps I can start my own wind farm.

After many many months of not taking the dogs out walking, I have finally got off my lazy a** and we have been having short and slow wanders up the street, increasing the distance gradually and having many stops for sniffies. Little Tamar is all over the place like a chook’s breakfast with her wobbly legs, but nothing stops her - she loves it. During today’s walk, Sooty seemed to be channelling spring lambs and I took a few videos which isn’t the easier thing to do while walking three little dogs, one blind and one whose back legs are almost useless. However, this one was taken in my front garden after our walk. IMG_1253 by Cynthia Waters, on Flickr

Ditto

@NikkiandKane, I have not commented previously on your topics because I didn’t have any knowledge regarding Kane’s medical issues. You have suffered a great loss and a dearly loved dog has lost his life far far too early. You have endured a time of physical, emotional and psychological upheaval. My deepest deepest condolences to you. Never ever chastise yourself or apologise to anyone for feeling as you do or for the tears you have shed and will shed. You are on a forum where just about everyone understands what you are going through and wishes you only the best and know that only time starts the healing. It is wonderful and so precious that Kane’s breeders have offered you another puppy when the time comes. While this is way in the future I am sure you will be having frissons of excitement at the prospect; when you have loved a dog as much as you loved Kane, the prospect of feeling that love again is very seductive and natural. Leave your heart open to that. Who knows? It might come sooner than another litter, life is never a straight line. In the meantime, please be assured that although we cannot take your pain and loss away, you and Kane are in our thoughts.

The difference between me and probably a large percentage of their clients is that I have had many many dogs over the years and there have been times that I’ve been there every few days for weeks. Add to that the number of dogs (rescue dogs and my own) who have been taken to SASH, my experience with vets has probably been greater than most pet dog and cat owners. Most people go to their vet a few times maximum a year. And, up until these last few months, the service has been dedicated and caring. (Except for a few glitches over the years when medications have been forgotten, mislaid, not ordered, mis-ordered, etc etc several times in a row - but one of the receptionists was playing silly buggers - god knows why.) I actually tried to speak to the vet yesterday, but he was just laughing and saying how everything was good, everyone was okay, they have two new vets, all good etc etc. I have loved and trusted this guy totally as my vet, but I wasn’t happy with his “nothing to see here” attitude. Anyway, he still gave his lovely, caring time and expertise to my little Mezza so I guess I can’t ask much more. I was lucky to get Mezza back He is a darling boy.