The Dog Lover Thread

[Northwestcoug]

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[Northwestcoug]

People all over are ridiculous about anthropomorphizing dogs.

<Nodding and laughing nervously>

The thing that I've been dreading for the last couple of years happened all too quickly this past week. For the last few months, we've noticed Star acting a little weird. Every once in a while she would struggle to get up, and just stay in bed all day. One time we were scared enough to bring her to the after-hours vet. An x-ray, lab work, and a few hundred dollars later, nothing seemed abnormal. We just ascribed it to painful joints, and sure enough the next day she was better. She had a few other days like that, but since she seemed to get better with NSAID we thought it all joint-related. She was, after all, a 12-year old dog chasing squirrels and running around with Apollo all the time. She was just overdoing it we reasoned. This also explained the slight tripping that happened on most walks. And the times where she would just stare blankly at the wall for a minute, we had read that dogs can also struggle with senility. We knew she was on the tail end of her existence, but since she was her old self most of the time, we felt no immediate concern.

Last Monday night she was slowing down again, just like all the other times. We gave her NSAID and expected her to be better in the morning. I gave her another one in the morning and noticed that she was really slow, and favoring her right side more than before. I reasoned again, nothing serious, she just overdid it on the Monday walk. That afternoon Mrs. NWC sent me a video of her trying to walk. She was really struggling and started to fall down. That's when I started to worry, but I still hoped for the best. Maybe it was middle ear thing that was giving her balance problems. I got home to Mrs. NWC holding her because she couldn't walk anymore. She took her to the emergency vet clinic. An hour later she called me back in tears; Star was failing most of the neuro exam. Her pupils weren't reacting to light and 3 limbs didn't have normal reflexes. Our options were to hope for meningitis (the 'best' case scenario) and keep her in the clinic to treat her for days, or accept that in all likelihood this was a brain tumor that was rapidly progressing. Reality sunk in. We knew this was a terminal event. The vet gave her muscle relaxant and some fluids that would keep her comfortable for another 24 hours, and she brought her home.

I called our two oldest daughters with the news, which of course went as bad as you would expect. The one in Montana would not see her again, and wasn't ready to accept that. Our daughter in Eugene decided to drive here that night. At some point that night, agonal breathing set in, and we were hoping that she would just hold on until our daughter arrived. She did, but there were only brief flashes of consciousness and recognition once she got here. Mrs. NWC and I went to bed around 2, and the daughter stayed up with Star until her breathing became less labored. I fully expected her to die while we slept.

She didn't, but she was unresponsive to most stimuli. We called the mobile vet service that offered euthanasia at home. They came around 11 that morning. And that of course was terrible. But that service did bring some comfort to a terrible situation. They wrapped Star in a blanket and took her away. And that was that. All told, it was less 24 hours from when we started worrying about her to her death. Our only solace is that she did not suffer long, but man, we were not ready for this.

Apollo is lost. Star was with him since the first day we brought him home. Every single day for the past four years was spent with her. Now when he goes outside, he's a little unsure about what to do. Hell, he would even wait for her to pee so he could pee where she did. Every dinner they would eat half of the food in their bowl, then switch to the other bowl and finish that (a holdover from when Apollo was getting the yummy puppy food). Every walk they were side by side. And now, just him.

Yes, we are prone to anthropomorphizing our pets. Yes, some people go overboard with their relationships with dogs. Yes, Apollo will get over the loss of Star quicker than we will. But you cannot tell me dogs do not have a range of emotions very close to ours. Up until the end, Star was happiest outdoors with us. I know she was happy that we moved to our new place, where she could protect us from all those squirrels and deer. At home, she felt content to be in the same room as we were, not at our feet like Apollo but close enough to feel the attachment to us. And she was sad, in every sense of the word, when she was sick and in pain.

I didn't understand the attachment my brother had to his dog, and the loss they felt when it died, until we got our dogs. The shit shoveling, the thousands of dollars spent on food and vets, the chewed up shoes, the hassle when you go on vacation. Yeah, it's a big downside. But they become family in every sense of the word. We spent 12 years feeding Star, taking turns walking her, caring for her. In return, she gave us unconditional love. And now we feel that void pretty acutely. The humans in the NWC family have pretty much gotten back into the normal routines, but there is still the lingering sense of loss in the house. We've even found ourselves irrationally musing about getting another dog, just so our hearts can get pummeled again in another 12 years. I know it's crazy. But that's what dogs, the one species on earth that should never die, do to you.

Rest in peace, Star. You were the best.

[Pelado]

You may be a good boy, but you're still just getting water.

But it's not even against the Word of Wisdom.

[Lost Student]

https://www.statesman.com/news/20181...-beer-for-dogs

Within weeks of their launch, all three flavors of their beer — IPA Lot in the Yard, Mailman Malt Licker and Session.squirrel! — are available in 15 bars throughout the city, including Front Porch Pub and FM Kitchen and Bar, for a recommended price of about $5 a can.

You may be a good boy, but you're still just getting water.

[Babs]

https://www.statesman.com/news/20181...-beer-for-dogs

[happyone]

just read this. sounds identical to our GSP. He is almost 12 and is always in a lot of pain, has arthritis, we too have taken him in 3 or 4 times and they are giving him similar pills. he has a hard time even just sitting still due to the pain. just not a lot that can be done. outside of the pain and discomfort however, for an old dog, while he can't go as long as he once could (i've had to retire him from hunting), he still has plenty of energy for runs (not sure he even knows how to walk) around the neighborhood. part of me wants to put him down, but just can't do it with how healthy he seems at times.

Otis is doing better, just about finished with this round of meds.

I've really noticed him slowing down for the past year. He used to be out in front on our walks (I'm still walking 4-6 miles a day) and now he lags behind almost as if saying "Do we have to go so fast?" He doesn't stop or complain though. And heaven forbid if I don't get out on schedule. He has the best guilt inducing eyes

[smokymountainrain]

Otis, out mini schnauzer, is really showing his age. He is between 12-13 and is having back problems that are causing him a lot of pain. We've had him to the Vets 3 times in the last year for that. This last time was this past week. The vet prescribed a steroid, a muscle relaxant and some pain med each time.

just read this. sounds identical to our GSP. He is almost 12 and is always in a lot of pain, has arthritis, we too have taken him in 3 or 4 times and they are giving him similar pills. he has a hard time even just sitting still due to the pain. just not a lot that can be done. outside of the pain and discomfort however, for an old dog, while he can't go as long as he once could (i've had to retire him from hunting), he still has plenty of energy for runs (not sure he even knows how to walk) around the neighborhood. part of me wants to put him down, but just can't do it with how healthy he seems at times.

[tooblue]

Posted this in the photography thread—Mandi is a year old and she is finally starting to fill out a little:

[Northwestcoug]

We took the dogs out to Clear Lake, just in time to catch the fall colors:
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We didn't realize the trail around the lake was 5 miles. The dogs are tired, but Star especially so. I gave her a vet-profen for her legs, and now she is out cold. What a trooper.

[happyone]

Otis, out mini schnauzer, is really showing his age. He is between 12-13 and is having back problems that are causing him a lot of pain. We've had him to the Vets 3 times in the last year for that. This last time was this past week. The vet prescribed a steroid, a muscle relaxant and some pain med each time.

[Northwestcoug]

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[Katy Lied]

Dad is visiting and is observing my dog sleeping on the floor.

Dad (looking at Lucy crossly): "Is there anything for that dog to do?"

Me (thinking): "I'm pretty sure you haven't moved from the couch all day."

Me (aloud): "Is it time for me to serve your fried bananas and vanilla ice cream?"

[BigPiney]

My daughter's dog, a cocker/beagle mix and who is living with us, is NOT a morning person. As summer approaches I've started taking the dogs for a walk between 8-9 AM and she does not like it. She dawdles and a couple of times has actually come out of her collar, which admittedly is a little big for her

She also has not quite got the concept that walking with me means we are WALKING, not exploring. It takes her a mile or two to remember that concept.

I'm sorry to hear that, sounds terrible.

[happyone]

My daughter's dog, a cocker/beagle mix and who is living with us, is NOT a morning person. As summer approaches I've started taking the dogs for a walk between 8-9 AM and she does not like it. She dawdles and a couple of times has actually come out of her collar, which admittedly is a little big for her

She also has not quite got the concept that walking with me means we are WALKING, not exploring. It takes her a mile or two to remember that concept.

[Northwestcoug]

am I remembering right that you have wheatens?

Yes, both from the same breeder.

You have some hammocks for back there, right?

Yeah, my son puts his camping hammock up when he needs some zen time. We don't have permanent ones up though.

Our two doing what they do best, swim in the nearby river/creek.

Beautiful dogs, Topper. I'd go for a retriever also, but Mrs. NWC is allergic to most shedding dogs.