Time caught up with my old boy last night.
My Beagle/mutt almost made it to 16. He had been losing mass, was completely deaf and cataracts had made it nearly impossible for him to see anything.
He had been getting by in the last month. Not with a high quality of life, but he still showed affection, kept going after any food left out from my kids, and wasn't displaying any pain.
Then, Friday night he changed - I sat up with him nearly through Friday night, helping him out to the backyard, guiding him back to his bed and draping his blanket over his frail body. He quit eating/drinking altogether, and his energy was being depleted doubly, every few hours it seemed. He laid at the bottom of the couch, with my hand on his head the whole night, not a moment of sleep for me, just to let him know I was right beside him. Finally last night, his weak howling went from an occasional bay to a near constant, and I had to make that trip up to the 24 hr emergency clinic to fulfill the promise I made to end his pain.
Dogs sure do have a way of both reminding you that you're NEVER going to be as good at being their companion as they for us, but also reminding us that WE'RE all they ever wanted.
I'm completely overcome with the dread of coming back home from work to a quiet, still home tonight.
I just miss my friend...
My Beagle/mutt almost made it to 16. He had been losing mass, was completely deaf and cataracts had made it nearly impossible for him to see anything.
He had been getting by in the last month. Not with a high quality of life, but he still showed affection, kept going after any food left out from my kids, and wasn't displaying any pain.
Then, Friday night he changed - I sat up with him nearly through Friday night, helping him out to the backyard, guiding him back to his bed and draping his blanket over his frail body. He quit eating/drinking altogether, and his energy was being depleted doubly, every few hours it seemed. He laid at the bottom of the couch, with my hand on his head the whole night, not a moment of sleep for me, just to let him know I was right beside him. Finally last night, his weak howling went from an occasional bay to a near constant, and I had to make that trip up to the 24 hr emergency clinic to fulfill the promise I made to end his pain.
Dogs sure do have a way of both reminding you that you're NEVER going to be as good at being their companion as they for us, but also reminding us that WE'RE all they ever wanted.
I'm completely overcome with the dread of coming back home from work to a quiet, still home tonight.
I just miss my friend...
...take it easy on me, I'm a normal horn
