This might seem a strange title when we are right on the path to the summertime but the news is that old age is creeping up fast on SonnyDog. He is 12 years old and definitely showing signs of age. Over the past few months he has shown an increased weakness in his left hind leg which occasionally gives way when he is conducting an awkward manoeuvre. We talked to the vet about it and her view was that this was just something that older dogs develop and that apart from trying a few medications, there was little that we could do about it.
Research on the internet has come up with the title of
Degenerative Myelopathy the symptoms are a growing weakness in one or both of the back limbs, eventually leading to paralysis. The inevitable consequence will be eventual euthanasia.
As you can imagine the prospect of losing my boy is terrible to contemplate. A few weeks back I felt desperately sad every time I saw him falter and the contemplation of the terrible sense of loss that I will face when he is gone surrounds me. I have never felt as close to an animal as I have to this dog. We have been through so much together and he has taught me everything I have learnt about the special language of dogs and strengthened a new resolve in me to help future dogs with similar problems. However, slowly I am beginning to come to terms with it, whether the process is quick or slow, I am grateful for every day I have left with him and relish the walks we can still enjoy together. The greatest thing is that dogs always live in the moment, so despite an occasional look of puzzlement on his face when his back end fails to behave as he expects it to, he eats and sleeps normally, is not in any obvious pain and still runs round the garden like an absolute mad thing whenever a ball comes into view. In short he doesn't know he's old and he's living for the moment. We could learn a lot from him, couldn't we.
