Anyone Else Get Emotional As Your Dog Gets Older?

[honeybun]

We had to say goodbye to our golden oldie Ebony,last Saturday.She was 14 1/2 a black English Cocker Spaniel.

My advice is to make sure you have plenty of photographs and video to help with the memories.

We got our sweetie when she was 10.Her owners were going to put her down as they had had a baby and didnt want Ebony to come near the child, Ebony moaned at being separated from the family, so they sedated her twice a day for two years, and then when they had to keep this up, decided to do the "deed".Thankfully a neighbour of the family intervened and approached the local pound, who agreed to take her on, and we adopted her from there.The owners had only let her out once a week for 30 minutes.

No wonder she loved to run so much.We took her twice a day and she never tired of this, right up until the end.She would laugh as she ran past us and then come running back to dance in front of us.

She became a diabetic 3 years ago, had a cataract removed last year and started to decline gradually a few months ago.Became slower,slept more soundly went deaf,and a bit stiff at times,

At Christmas the problems became worse,and she lost her once big appetite,became obsessed with her water bowl, wandered aimlessly all night and often barked at the wardrobe.The specialist diagnosed dementia and she was put on meds,and needed valium to normalise her sleep patterns.

It seemed to work most nights, and last Friday we had a wonderful day with her, she ate well and had the best time at one of her old favourite off leash parks,.ran like a pup, the Ebony of old,playful and full of the love of life. That night she didnt sleep a wink , despite the valium,and we stayed up with her all night as she paced etc .The next morning at 7.15 she had a massive seizure and that marked the end.She was blind and totally confused,distresed and barked pitifully.The vet gave her an injection to relieve the distress, for us to spend a few last hours with her.We took her to the river for a paddle, which she seemed to enjoy, a car ride which settled her and then when she started to again become distressed,we took her on the final journey.

It was,thankfully,a peaceful end and we were there with her,scratching those long fluffy ears,the way she always loved.

R.I.P. Ebony.We miss you so much.

There is a special joy in having an older dog and cat.They seem more content in your company,listen to you intently,and dont usually demand the mad ball games or race around at break neck speed.Just happy to be with you .

Happy Birhtday Max, may you have many many more.

Edited January 24, 2011 by honeybun

[Muttaburra]

There is a special joy in having an older dog and cat.They seem more content in your company,listen to you intently,and dont usually demand the mad ball games or race around at break neck speed.Just happy to be with you .

Happy Birhtday Max, may you have many many more.

Thank you so much for sharing, and very sorry for your loss. She sounds a wonderful dog.

[wagsalot]

Do I get emotional as Riley gets older? Definately.

Riley turned 10 on the 9th of January. He seems to be healthy, still extremely active and certainly doesn't know his age. His eyes aren't great, but are managed with daily eye drops, but he has got a few lumps and bumps lately (although the vets not really worried)

Since he turned 10 its really hit me. This dog is my rock. I honestly don't know what Id do without him, but I have to not think about it, and enjoy the now, not fret about the future, otherwise id be a mess.

Every night I pat him for that little bit longer before I go to sleep and be thankful that he's already given me such happiness for the past 10 years, and hopefully several more to come.

[Vickie]

Yes.

I have been emotional over my older 2 for a while now. We lost our beautiful Zeus a few days ago at 14 :) I have lots of beautiful photos & video of him but right now I would swap it all to have him back smiling up at me for a week.

Noah is only a few months younger and we always thought he would go first. although he doesn't seem unwell, the thought of losing him is terrifying. I don't think I will ever have 2 dogs so close in age again, way too painful.

[poodlefan]

Yes.

I have been emotional over my older 2 for a while now. We lost our beautiful Zeus a few days ago at 14 :) I have lots of beautiful photos & video of him but right now I would swap it all to have him back smiling up at me for a week.

Noah is only a few months younger and we always thought he would go first. although he doesn't seem unwell, the thought of losing him is terrifying. I don't think I will ever have 2 dogs so close in age again, way too painful.

So sorry to hear about Zues Vickie.

[Henrietta]

Sorry to hear of recent passings of old friends - Ebony and Zues.

When my nan's dog passed away it was a huge shock. Even though she was old, maybe it shouldn't have been for me. It was really hard for my Nan.

My parents' dog is getting older in years and a little more grey around the face, a little less active... but she is still so happy. I don't think it is a conscious thing, but we just do more of her favourite stuff now. More car rides, she just loves the car. More leisurely strolls, as opposed to fast-paced exercise, to just enjoy the moment and let her sniff to her heart's content. More massages - she melts when she has those. I think we have quite a few years left yet, but yes, the thought makes me cry.

[White Shepherd mom]

Every night when I put them to bed, I make sure I say "see you tomorrow" as if that will make it so. Every morning when I let them in and they greet me with tail wags, yawns and stretches, I give thanks that they are still with me. They are 9 and a half now. Casper is an epileptic, has had his spleen removed, and has had pancreatitis which almost took him away from us. Now his back legs are starting to give way. I have cried a few times at the thought of losing him. Bella is my rock. She has a few more white hairs in her coat but apart form that she is solid. Lately I've been thinking that she is in my life to help me when Casper is no longer around...hopefully not for a few years yet but I am quite sure that he will go first.

What also makes me sad is that as a member of DOL over the past 5 years, I have read all about your dogs, the funny stories, the things they got up to as youngsters. Now we face the same fears together. I feel priviledged to be in your company.

My deepest sympathies to those of you who have lost your beloved dogs and my hopes that those who are still around live to a painless old age.

[Sheridan]

When Grumpy had the reaction to Tramal, I thought I was going to have to put him to sleep. His breeder was very supportive. I have no idea what the time was in China where he lives but he was pretty much there at the other end of the email. I wept buckets because I really did think I would lose him. Now he's 15, I know our time together is limited but it's now been four and a half years that we've been together and outside of his grumpiness, he's pretty healthy. I remember to thank him (and Mini) every day for coming to live with me.

Now he's 15, he also thinks he's a bit special (my anthropomorphisation) and thinks I'm going to give him a treat each time I go into the kitchen. I said to him before, 'Just cos you're 15, don't think you're going to get something; that was so four days ago.'

[Kelly_Louise]

I said to him before, 'Just cos you're 15, don't think you're going to get something; that was so four days ago.'

I had to laugh at this...

This thread has made me teary, but that certainly lightened the mood. They may get older, but they don't get any less cheeky do they?

Edited January 25, 2011 by Kelly_Louise

[Sheridan]

I said to him before, 'Just cos you're 15, don't think you're going to get something; that was so four days ago.'

I had to laugh at this...

This thread has made me teary, but that certainly lightened the mood. They may get older, but they don't get any less cheeky do they?

They certainly do not! :D

[Gayle.]

I said to him before, 'Just cos you're 15, don't think you're going to get something; that was so four days ago.'

:D

I had to laugh at this...

This thread has made me teary, but that certainly lightened the mood. They may get older, but they don't get any less cheeky do they?

They sure don't! My dear old girl Kassy had a stubborn streak and if she didn't want to do something, the tail would go up at one end, the nose went up at the other and she'd turn her back on me and walk away determinedly. She thought she was 10 feet tall! And right up til a few days before she died she was still the same.

[Sheridan]

I have to keep my bathroom and laundry doors shut because Grumpy likes to rummage.

[Guest Clover]

Oh Vickie i am so sorry to hear about Zeus :D. Honeybun it sounds as though Ebony had a wonderful 4.5 years with you .

[honeybun]

Thankyou,we tried to make up for the miserable ten years, and just wanted to have her live as long as possible, where she was loved.

She used to go through bins and whilst out walking at off leash parks,would forage for food.Picnickers were a favourite , whch was very embarrassing.A diabetic diet is not always the most delicious, but thankfully we were able to switch to more tasty things a year or so ago.

When she was first diagnosed and on just a dry low fat kibble,she was at an off leash park she found a very,very old flattened dead duck and thought all her Christmases had come at once.Another time when with a sitter she found a very very dead cat.All too tempting for a food fanatic.The carer washed her mouth out with charcoal in case she had eaten anything or caught any disease.She learnt very quickly how to operate the pedal bins in the kitchen,to try and get to scraps, so we had to change our method of collecting rubbish in the house.Nothing was safe.Even if food had once been in a bag, she would drag it out to lick it.

She was virtually deaf [selectively]the last couple of years but funnily enough could always hear our other dog barking in excitement at getting his leash put on for a walk and would come running to get hers on as well from the other end of the house.

Oldies are real characters.