In a couple of days our furry friend, Biggles, is turning the grand old age of 13. Sadly for a dog that means he’s a geriatric (the vet’s term, not ours). But we have noticed he’s slowing down a bit, pretty much completely deaf, his eyesight isn’t what it was, has hardly any teeth left, he has arthritis…okay, so maybe geriatric isn’t too far off.
But we love him to bits, so we accommodate those things. We have night lights around the house so he can get around without walking into things, his bed has a heat pad because he isn’t coping so well with winter these days. We chop his food up for him and he gets doggy massage to help with the arthritis. And when we go for a walk it’s at his pace, because with no hearing or vision it’s all about the smells these days.
He’s been our devoted friend for all these years, and deserves every bit of special treatment now.
Even though he’s getting old, it’s still a dog’s life.
July 12, 2019 at 8:25 pm
Aww, what a sweet little tribute! He is beautiful! xoxo
My pup is getting up to the same stage. He’s 12 and definitely slowing down. His eyes are starting to grey over with cataracts and he has a lump growing on his chest. I think it’s probably a tumour of some sort but my dad says the vets aren’t concerned with it so I shouldn’t stress over it. A few years ago he had a seizure while I was walking him and I spent the entire day in tears thinking about it being the end for him but it was just a pinched nerve. My mom’s last dog had them multiple times a day at the very end of his life so it took me right back there. It’s a horrible feeling. But then I just remember that I need to appreciate all the time and love I get from him! When I go home to visit my parents, I spend a huge chunk of time just laying on the floor so he can lick my nose or cheek haha
July 14, 2019 at 8:09 pm
Thanks, GF. That would have been really scary! Totally understand why you would have been worried.
July 12, 2019 at 8:32 pm
Beautiful Biggles! It was heartbreaking watching my Lucy in her last year, when she began to decline rapidly. Like you, I did whatever I could to make her comfortable as her senses and her health faded away. Dogs give us so much, it’s the least we can do.
Deb
July 14, 2019 at 8:09 pm
Deb, they do give us so much. They deserve the care.
July 13, 2019 at 2:01 am
They don’t mind all those difficulties as much as we would, as long as their pack still loves them. My dog’s about 11, closing in on old. I adore him.
July 14, 2019 at 8:10 pm
When you adore them like we do it’s never hard to do what you have to so they are happy.
July 13, 2019 at 9:38 am
But walks were always about the smells before, weren’t they?
July 14, 2019 at 8:11 pm
Actually, not with Biggles. He would sniff a little but it’s only been since he’s lost his hearing and started losing his sight that it’s become all about the smells.
July 19, 2019 at 6:34 am
This is so sweet. I have known and loved many old dogs in my life. They just become such wise and loving creatures, but it is hard when they really start to fail. I hope that’s a long way off for Biggles! He’s getting lots of TLC š