I think my dog is losing it (mission, service, birthday)

lunamoth · #1 07-14-2007, 07:43 PM

Today, Bastille Day, is his 14th birthday. But he's beginning to act kind of strange. Today I found him standing in the sprinkler, just standing there letting it get him all wet. It was not particularly hot out, and he's never done it before. Maybe just a novel way of celebrating his birthday?

He was a working dog for a while, a guide dog. We raised him as a puppy from 8 weeks to about 14 months. Then he went to 'school' to be a guide dog. We didn't think we'd ever see him again, and it was a very sad good-bye. As rewarding as it was to raise a dog for such a wonderful service, it was too hard to let him go and I swore I'd never do that again. We went to his graduation from guide school, met his blind master, and wished him (tearfully) well.

Then a year and half later my husband got a call that he dreaded telling me about. Palmer was very sick and was being released from guide dog service. Would we take him back and make his last few months comfortable. When he finally worked up the courage to tell me that the beautiful puppy we rasied and loved was dying, of course we both decided yes. And braced ourselves for the worst.

That was ten years ago. His cancer must have gone into remission never to return.

He's been a great family dog all these years and my girls love him to pieces. He's gentle and sweet-dispositioned, undemanding and rarely barks (maybe once a year, and he seems as surprised at it as we are when he does).

But, he's lost 20 pounds and has stopped eating his regular food. I've been buy 'treat' food lately trying to get him to eat, and he still likes milkbones and the table scraps I've finally given and started to feed him (we did not until just recently). I try not to give him the scraps, but then he goes days without eating his food and I can see his ribs...

.

He's having a harder time walking and doing the stairs. He'll be stuck on one level of our home soon. This morning I was worried he would not be able to get up them. His back hips look so thin and weak, and I know they hurt him. We give him meds for that, but I'm sure it's getting more and more uncomfortable for him.

Anyway, strange behavior like standing in the sprinkler is not problematic, but worrisome. I fear that he's not going to be seeing the next winter snow.

And he loves snow.

Sunstone · #2 07-14-2007, 07:47 PM

I'm so sorry, Laura. He sounds like a wonderful dog that old age is creeping up on.

lunamoth · #3 07-14-2007, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunstone

I'm so sorry, Laura. He sounds like a wonderful dog that old age is creeping up on.

Thanks Phil. It is sad to witness, and it will be even sadder when the inevitable end comes. We just try to love him every day.

Quagmire · #4 07-14-2007, 08:06 PM

Sorry to hear that Luna.

Sounds like he's had a good life though.

lunamoth · #5 07-14-2007, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quagmire

Sorry to hear that Luna.

Sounds like he's had a good life though.

Thanks Q. I think he's had a good life with us. He's certainly enriched ours.

Guitar's Cry · #6 07-14-2007, 08:13 PM

He must be a great friend and family member. I hope he gets through it!

Bishka · #7 07-14-2007, 08:38 PM

I hope he makes it to see the snow, but he sounds like a wonderful dog.

lunamoth · #8 07-25-2007, 11:25 AM

This morning I had Palmer put to sleep. We took him to the vet last week and the bleak alternatives were put before us. I tried increasing his pain relief meds and had a few days to feed him ice cream and hot dogs, and all the treats he loved but did not get for most of his 14 years.

We went on an ill-fated camping trip that we had planned before everything started to happen. We were supposed to camp for three nights, but came home early. The first night my husband hurt his leg chopping firewood (don't think too much about it) and we ended up at the ER. My girls were both cranky, whiney and out of sorts, and though on top of that we managed to do some fun stuff and see some amazing mountains, we could not shake that black cloud feeling. I started to lose my bearings, mentally, spiritually. I've not felt that unmoored in many years.

When we got home Palmer was not doing well. His sitter reported that he would no longer take his pills and even would not eat milk bones, which he had been right up until then. What put it over the top (as if that were not bad enough) was that he was clearly very thirsty and could not drink.

Palmer was a great dog. He's left a good-sized hole in our hearts.