It's just a dog.

Our ~15 year old beautiful, wacky, rescue girl is fading fast. 2 weeks ago ahe was fine, eating anything she could get to, bubbly and vivacious like she was still a puppy, running after squirrels in the yard and going on 2 mile walks a few times a week. Then about a week ago she suddenly got even more neurotic than she's been for the last year or so, she stopped eating and started losing weight in a hurry. The last few days we've tried everything to get her to eat and yesterday she wouldn't even eat her favorite things out of our hands.

Yesterday I didn't even want to leave the house because I was afraid I wouldn't be here for her in her last few moments. She's sleeping peacefully now but I don't think she'll make it more than a few more days.

I am sorry GL. 15 years is a great run together. I hope my two are with me that long. Take care.

Thoughts are with ya GL. Your doggie was lucky to have a good human to hang with for so long, you were lucky to have such a good doggie.

Thanks guys. We got her as a rescue, she was going to be put down because she was so skittish the shelter didn't want to deal with her. It seems that she was pretty abused, had a few previously broken ribs and was scared shitless of all men including me. It took a week before she'd even come near me. We think she was about a year and a half so she's 14.5>15 now. It's been a good 13 year run and she got lucky with us or is that we got lucky to have her? I don't know but I think I'm gonna go take a couch nap with my old girl.

Gravitylover, I'm really sorry to hear about your girl. Our senior dog has had a few episodes over the last 1.5 years where he seemed to be declining rapidly, but then turned around -- hoping you see the same. A friend who's a vet suggested baby food, especially ones with meat, for a dog with no appetite and it does work for our dog -- maybe worth a try. Sounds like she has had a great life with you.

We were really hoping she'd fade out overnight but she didn't and she's obviously hurting this morning. She has reached the point of not being able to stand up and that usually means it's time to bring the dog in to be put down because their life sux now, at least that's how I rationalize it in my human brain. The kids are sitting with her now and we're all bummed. Thanks for listening to the "End of Hopper" blog...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by skifishbum

This was in my therapy dog newsletter, thought I'd share

When I got my New Dog
I asked for strength that I might rear him/her perfectly;
I was given weakness that I might feed him/her more treats.
I asked for good health that I might rest easy;
I was given a "special needs" dog that I might know nurturing.
I asked for an obedient dog that I might feel proud;
I was given stubborness that I might feel humble.
I asked for compliance that i might feel masterful;
I was given a clown that I might laugh.
I asked for a companion that I might not feel lonely;
I was given a best friend that I would feel loved.
I got nothing I asked for,
But everything that I needed
- Author Unknown

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4 u the fam and hopper

Sorry to hear
Peace to your fam & to Hopper

i'm so sorry for you and your family's loss, GL.

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Vibes, Hopper was lucky to have you during her time here.


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Sorry to hear of the loss and struggles guys. Always tough reading this thread. Sending good vibes

Damn :( We're on the way out with her in a few minutes. Lotsa tears.

Why do us humans do this to ourselves? We know we're going to outlive our dogs but we keep getting them and giving them our all. This one was nutty, she was abused as a puppy but a little TLC and she was in pretty good shape. She was still nutty but her loyalty has been over the top. Our kids knew that when she was around nothing could happen to them, they were 8 when we got her. She raised them :) She bonded with the old dog we had when we got her in the first 5 minutes, she reinvigorated Puff to the point where she'd go out and go up the hill for a walk around the yard which she hadn't done in a while and got another year before she faded out like this. Towards the end Hopper would brace her body against Puff so she could come down the hill without her hips giving out because she would fall over otherwise. My wife was her person, she would have sacrificed herself without a thought to keep her safe when they were out walking or whatever but at night it was her head in my lap on the couch after everyone else went to bed. For hours.

I can't say that I'll miss her more than the others but there's an attachment to rescue dogs that's just different. **sigh** See y'all later.

sending love to you and the family. sounds like she had a good run and was adored.

I think I got a little piece of something in my eye for a moment.

I thought I had a few more years before having to post in here but it didn't work out that way. Yoshi developed a little cough last week that the vet said was kennel cough, some antibiotics and cough meds should fix her right up. A few days later and I notice spots of blood on her tennis ball after a cough. Back to the vet for xrays and they find her lungs full of cancer. The vet came over this morning and put her to sleep while she laid on the couch surrounded by family.

My wife got Yoshi almost 11 years ago after she lost her daughter. Yoshi's sole job in this world was to relieve grief and she excelled at it. She was a dog that could tell you were sad from the next room,and would come in and put her paw on your shoulder and stare deep into your eyes. Friend to everyone she met.

She was also the typical, neurotic border collie that would keep bringing you a ball for days, until you begged her to stop. She could stand in a creek and bark at moving water for hours. She lived a great life full of bike rides, backpack trips and daily walks in the foothills, while chasing balls of course.

She lived her last days eating cheeseburgers and pumpkin pie, going on 16 walks a day and proudly lying on a couch full of tennis balls. Sensing the sadness in the room today, she walked over to me and put both arms on my shoulders for her last hug. We feel super fortunate that she went out happy, and before she was in much pain.

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i'm so sorry zzz. sending love to you and yours.

Vibes to you and your wife, gorgeous dog!

Sorry man. Herding dogs have a special kind of bond. Sending good vibes your way.

ZZZ
i’m so sorry
she was a good girl

Ooof. This sucks. Beautiful girl.

Sorry. She looks like she was a good playmate. ++++VIBES++++

hey zzz I am so sorry for you and your family's loss. vibes man, thank you for sharing yours and Yoshi's story.

I lost mine at 11 too. Sorry for your loss.

Anybody have other suggestions like this baby food one from up page a bit? My dog seems spry and happy, sleeping more and some loose stool, but won't touch food. He sniffs around the kitchen and my kids feet so hungry, but sniffs his food and turns away. After he lost 10 pounds (from 50lbs), we finally got him to eat for about a week with expensive lots of gravy wet foods, but he is turning away from that now too. 11 year old Toller. Not ready for the decline, especially leading up to Xmas, and hoping we can turn this around.

What about CBD, anyone have luck with that? Read 8mg or so for a dog his weight might help with appetite.

my mom did unprocessed chicken breasts for our lab a few years back.