a dog grows old

[ulysses]

Scarlett ("Scratchy" to CatWoman's "Itchy") is pretty well blind now with cataracts. Poor thing is starting to walk into chairs and such, and I carry her outside to go to the bathroom now. She's 13 or 14 as best we can figure, which isn't ancient for a smallish terrier mix but certainly isn't any spring chicken, especially as she evidently had it pretty hard for a while before she was rescued. She's pretty feeble now. I don't know that she's on death's doorstep or anything, but this afternoon was the first time I've thought about where I would bury here when the time comes.

I've negotiated the death of a pet before, but never with one to which a toddler had grown attached. He gives her nice hugs now.

[ThomCat]

1. I hope she has enjoyed her life since you recued her.

And I hope she has some more life left to enjoy. You're good to make the effort to take care of her as she declines. So many people wouldn't.

[havocmom]

2. Be patient with the youngster when the dog's time comes.

Little people have lots of emotions but not the vocabulary to express it all. They can get very frustrated and confused by a surge of feelings/loss. Be patient and understanding. They don't have life experience to give perspective and context to trying times. Be patient and understanding.

Might ask your vet if there is anyone with a toddler who has gone through the pet loss thing that they could ask to get in touch with you. Sometimes a practical peer guide can be a great help.

Lots of tender love and gentle time with your sweet dog. It is tough, but it can also be a great opportunity for you to grow and build some really serious bonds with your youngster.

We are here when ya need to vent.

There is a book I recommend for people who have lost or facing the loss of a companion animal. Perhaps it will help: Good-bye, friend by Gary Kowalski. A small, but very helpful book about how others have honored their companion animals, honored their grief, turned the experience into something that made them more human and humane.

Enjoy what time there the dog has left, bitter-sweet as it is. You will be up to the task of helping the youngster through the process.

We are here when you need.

:hug:
hm

[Shakespeare]

3. A lot of vets now offer cremation services.

I think that's what I'm going to go with when the day comes that I lose one of my kitties.

[ulysses]

6. yeah, they offered us that

when Sonya died, but I guess I feel some kind of duty to do the burying myself.

[badgerpup]

13. I've went with cremation...

:cry:
and got the ashes back.
Planted a white lilac bush, and once I'm sure it's going to 'take', I'm digging the ashes in around it, and putting small (about palm-sized) stones, each with a cat's name cut into it around the bush.

[tmlanders]

4. I have an old, blind (and mostly deaf) rescue guy, too

When we adopted Bandit the mini Dachshund in 2001 the rescuers and my vet all thought that he was around 9 or 10 years old, so now he is 15 or 16. He gets around the house ok, but I have to watch him on walks so he doesn't fall off the sidewalk. But he is still feisty and cranky as ever. He has lost a bunch of teeth and he almost always has to have a sweater on because he gets cold and shivers if the temp is less than 80. He just had his annual checkup and they found a heart murmur, so he had to go back for a CKG. His teeth need more work, too. But you know, I think he is going to go on forever! We just changed his food to Science Diet for seniors and that seems to have given him a little more zip.

So what I am trying to say here is -- don't count your little one out yet! She may have a bunch of years still left in her!

[ulysses]

7. maybe the dachshund will come out.

She's supposed to be part wirehaired d'hund, part Scottie. This is her looking around me just after we got Chris:



I'm not counting her out yet, just concerned.

[tmlanders]

15. She's cute!

And I wish her and you all the best! :hug:

[Catchawave]

5. Hope this helps:

http://www.eoneill.com/texts/blemie/contents.htm

[Maestro]

8. That is a nice tribute to a dog.

Wonderful.

[Maestro]

9. It's tough.

I wish I could tell you what to do, but it is never easy and even harder when young ones are involved.

[cwydro]

10. She might surprise you.

I'm in the same boat. My girl is probably 12 (not sure since I found her as a young adult). She is a large dog (70 lb.) and they say 10 is standard and anything else is gravy.

Anyway, a few weeks ago, she started being incontinent and seemed confused about her surroundings. I was like you...thinking about where to bury her etc. I was heartbroken. But I decided to just stick with it as long as she can go out for walks and so on.

Within a week she was back to normal. Perhaps this is the beginning of a pattern. At any rate, I'm hoping she is gonna stay around a little longer. Here she is: the one on the right (a few years ago)

I hope yours will rally and be OK longer than you think.

[Ikonoklast]

11. "Three good dogs...."

"A man may have many dogs in his lifetime, but his span of years is measured by three good dogs, the special ones that he will remember all the days of his life. I have had those three good dogs."

-Quote from my father, age 78, stolen from unknown.

[China_cat]

12. We had a Bouvier who was blind from cataracts.

She did fine as long as we did as we would for a blind person...make sure everything stays in its place, talk to her before touching her, etc. On a leash you couldn't tell that she couldn't see but we were the ones guiding her. She got along just fine for 4 or 5 years after going blind. With a little care, yours will do well, too.

[SammyWinstonJack]

14. My cocker is 14, blind and deaf. He gets around okay, so far.

I am not willing to give him up just yet. He will let me know when it's time, I think. I wish Scarlett well......:hug:

[Wcross]

16. When the tail stops wagging, you will know. n/t