Living with a senior dog

 

Zoey is getting old.  In February she will 13.   Hard to believe as time has gone by so far.  And looking at the ole girl, except for some cloudiness in her lovely eyes, she doesn't show the usual gray mussel of a old dog.   Even the vet is amazed at her youthful appearance.   But getting old she is.

     Earlier this week my kids were watching Marley and Me and asked me if I wanted to watch it.   No thanks, it is hitting to close to home for me.   I am living Marley and me.   Zoey  is slowing down and in the twilight of her years.   Little things she is doing worry us.   I think she is getting dementia.

    She will have days where she acts extremely paranoid.  Scared of something and she tries hiding under beds and in the basement.  Normally she hates the basement.   She snaps at things in the air, and there is nothing there.   Frightened she will cower by us and we can't seem to calm or comfort her. When she goes outside she will only walk close to the house, brushing the walls.  But then she will snap out of it and be good for days.

    At first we thought it was maybe the smoke detector had gone off or some dog was in her yard.   She hates the smoke detector and will be a nervous wreck the entire day if one goes off.  But it is happening often enough that we now think something else is going on.  She will pace pace pace.  Or try to get into the kids room instead of being with us as she normally prefers.

    She was sick a few weeks ago with a bad cough and the vet heard a heart murmur.   I didn't mention her behavior, but think I should have.   He keeps reminding us how old she is.   We know, believe me we know.   And she has developed OCD.   She will lick the floor for hours if we don't stop her.  Like she is zoning off in her own world.

         I have been ill for the past few days.  Normally when I am sick she is glued to my side.  Now she will come and check on me but doesn't hang around.  It was always comforting having her at my side.

 When she was sick a while back the vet gave her steroids which made her incontinent of urine.   She was banned to the kitchen and we had to take her out every hour.  Rick slept on the kitchen floor with her and took here out all night.   Now it is our turn to stay by her side when she is ill.

   Still the majority of the time she is the same old dog.  Sweet and lovable, and big furry lump we step over a hundred times a day.  And each day is bittersweet because we can feel our days together drawing to a close.

      Having a pet you know from day one this day will come.  Is it worth it?   It is so painful.  I have to say yes.  The joy of a great dog is always worth it.   Will we do it again.  I don't know.

  For now we keep hoping this is just another of her weird quirks which make her such a interesting pet.  I hope to walk with her down at the river for a few more years to come.  Living with a senior pet you take it daily, and gratefully.