How do you allow this when it's breaking your heart?

Freya is getting on in age, clearly not the vibrant dog I've played with for the last 12 years. She has a spot on a couch that comforts her, or so it seems, so I indulge her.

When the mob goes to the field, I am mindful that she is not a puppy, even if she seems to forget it. Her eye sight isn't what it once was. I lift her into and out of the truck though she wants to do the jump in jump out part of the trip.

She takes longer to eat, and the other mutts give her space and time, of course their behavior isn't accidental.

Her walks are shorter, and her pace is slower.

It is the inevitability of having a dog, and investing in the friendship, the relationship, that heartache will be an unwanted visitor in an uncertain future.

They are each my companion, and my responsibility.

Each dog brings a personality, a part of the puzzle that is our life. The then, the now, the next moments. We choose to have a companion, and care for it, and with that commitment will come a profound sense of loss.

I choose to live in the moment and enjoy it as much as I am able, and to share in it with my mutts. It is a moment of sublime comfort when Freya, and any of the dogs, gently visits. It is in that moment where the dog simply is there, looking for a pat or scratch, or just curl up beside me.

It is that loss of presence that is a bitter reminder. I remember and miss them all. So I choose to enjoy the moment with each. In memory or in the now, I choose to be with the mutts and am grateful they are with me.

Well put, Mike. Not much I can add to that.

Sheila, I feel your pain. We went through the same thing with our old girl, Tasha, recently before we finally had to let her go. The past several years were hard to watch, knowing what a strong, vibrant dog she was in her better years. All the long walks, fun exercise, and challenging games to play were replaced by mornings and evenings taken up dispensing medication, taking separate slower abreviated walks just for her and lots and lots of down time spent with just easy massages and gentle petting.

All you can do is give your dog a nice, comfortable retirement and continue to give a sense of belonging and love, but I know you already know that.

 Quote: Greg Meyer

Well put, Mike. Not much I can add to that.

All you can do is give your dog a nice, comfortable retirement and continue to give a sense of belonging and love, but I know you already know that.

Sheila;
Make every moment count. I was going through the same thing with my Tera, then lost her abruptly just as I was adjusting to her old age. Although she had a long life and was easing toward her final curtain, the abruptness of what happened left me feeling cheated.

Prayers and much love for your family...

Live in the moment. Enjoy everything that moment has to offer. Try not to worry about tomorrow until tomorrow comes.

Big HUGS to Thor. See you both in a couple of weeks.

I agree, live in the moment with them. If not you are just missing out on what you have, that would be sadder than the dog aging.

Thank you all for the insightful and kind words. When I wrote this last night, Thor who is 13 was moaning and unable to sleep due to a poor reaction to a conscious sedation he received for an ultrasound looking for a tumor in his digestive tract. The good news; all looked well!! The not so good news, I don't know why he has lost 6 pounds in two weeks or why his BP is 200/160 and heart rate is 170 or why he is no longer absorbing Vitamin B12 but after reading through all the responses, I'm done looking.

The past two weeks I have spent trying to solve these riddles and put Thor through numerous procedures which have stolen from the quality of his life. The answer might just be; he's 13.

He's engaged and active, some days he'll hike for 2 hours and others for 20 minutes. He deserves the option and thanks to the insight of your posts, I am ready to let it go.

I spoke with my vet at length today and he said he agrees comfort and quality are the way to go, so moving forward a weekly Vitamin B12 shot, feed on demand, and blood pressure medications(may or may not work for dogs but his has come down to 160/100 are it.

Thank you so much! My dilemma of prolonging his life, vs an enjoyable life, is over. He may actually benefit from my taking my craziness in hand, though he has always been polite in ignoring; that on occasion, I am crackers. Thank you again, I truly appreciate it!

"Thank you so much! My dilemma of prolonging his life, vs an enjoyable life, is over."


I agree with you so strongly that I can hardly express it.

I'm with everyone else who says to live each remaining day with him to the fullest.

And when it's time, the blessed gift of helping to ease the beloved friend down the road before life has turned into misery may be the hardest thing we can ever give, but it's also the greatest gift, IMO.

I am going through the exact same thing with our 10 Yr old GSD. His mind is willing, but his body just won't do it. We are down from 2 mile walks to walking just two houses down then back home. If we go any further, he can not walk the next day. We go as far as driving him to another location, walking 5 minutes, then driving back home. It breaks my heart each day to see this once full of life, ready to fight anything dog so tired all the time. He still loves his interactive treat toys, that is how he gets most of his entertainment now. Sigh.

 Quote: Laura Dobson

I am going through the exact same thing with our 10 Yr old GSD. His mind is willing, but his body just won't do it. We are down from 2 mile walks to walking just two houses down then back home. If we go any further, he can not walk the next day. We go as far as driving him to another location, walking 5 minutes, then driving back home. It breaks my heart each day to see this once full of life, ready to fight anything dog so tired all the time. He still loves his interactive treat toys, that is how he gets most of his entertainment now. Sigh.

Does he has osteoarthritis? Stiff in the mornings especially? If so, walking on surface with some "give" (grass, dirt) is actually good for it, helping to get the synovial fluid into and through the joints. It also helps the muscles around those joints stay strong to protect the joints. Warm-water swimming, ditto.

Maybe most of all is getting his dog bed up off direct floor contact, even with something as simple as a thick folded bath towel under it.

And if you can get a dog heating pad (not the kind for humans) that he has the option of being on or off, I've seen this change the life of my OA dog. He has this for daytime (it comes with a woolly covering) http://leerburg.com/742.htm and the smallest of these for nighttime (so he can position himself off or on it as desired http://www.khmfg.com/dogproducts/pet-bed-warmer.html (I slip it inside a pillow case and position it on the side of his bed so he has the choice.) BTW, that K&H pad is NOT for puppies or any young chewy dog. Only the LB pad, with its heavily protected cord, is appropriate for a house with puppies or chewy young dogs, IMO.

But you are doing good, IMO. The slowdown of the body is part of life. I accept it as part of my pack leader job to remain upbeat for the dog, and I actually find that this helps me a little too.

And knowing that we never need to watch our dog deteriorate to the point of misery is almost a relief in the back of the mind.

I know none of this makes it easy. But knowing that we have provided a full and satisfying life of security, affection, learning, and good times ..... this is no small thing.