This past weekend Vinnie, my 11 1/2 year old career change dog (and first GDB puppy) that lives with my parents, hasn't been feeling well. He's getting slower in his age and has a few fatty tumors that have been removed and grown back, but other than that he's been the same since he was 2.
We called the vet on Monday, and luckily someone was there and told us it sounded like a UTI and he would be fine until Tuesday. My mom took him in this morning and after a few tests, they found his blood sugar level over 500 (normal for a dog is about what's normal for a human between 75 and 120). The vet decided to keep him overnight to give him the glucose shots and for observation. The vet thinks he has developed Diabetes... They are also testing him for Lymphoma. I pray he is alright and gets to go home tomorrow. He's a huge part of all of our lives and it's sad having him away even for a night-- and I don't even live there.
Since we're in the process of getting a house, I've been thinking about how I really want a pet dog soon that is just *ours*, but going through this today makes me think... why would I want to do that to myself?
It's tough watching your dog get old.
It's sad seeing them get slower.
I don't know that I can do it again after watching my Vinnie go through it...
Please keep Vinnie in your thoughts and prayers.
4 comments:
Oh yes, including Vinnie in our thoughts and prayers.
aw, prayers for Vinnie and your family.
I saw Vinny's black brother Varney ( aka Barney) last week. He's still a BIG beautiful boy with enormous feet.
He's is generally in good health, showing some arthritis in his hips and elbows, can't jump up on the bed any longer and needs a bit of assistance to get into the pickup. He has some seizures several years ago and has been on phenylbarbitol. The seizures seem to be well controlled but the meds tend to sedate him some. He still loves chasing squirrels and marmots and hikes in the mountains but he pays the price of stiff joints the next day. Love these wonderful old guys, wish they could stay young forever. Best wishes for a good outcome from Vinnie's vet tests.
It's hard to watch anyone you love hurt. It's particularly hard to have to make decisions about your animals. But, the joy and memories of your relationship with the animal outweigh these hard times. As they say, it is better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all. Even the "old dog years" are to be treasured, as a different season, of course. My thoughts and prayers are with you, your family, and Vinnie, of course.
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