This is not so random.
We saw this coming. We have had four vets look for any answers about our old dog and to help us determine his difficulties and his age.
He is old! Three vets agree that he is between 12 and 14 years old. That's getting way on up there for puppers!
When we got him four year ago, we were told he was three years old. But we were seeing this cataract develop and nothing they could do.
He has been one of the happiest, jumpiest, playful, enthusiastic dogs I have known until recently.
I just had him out again, at his request 1:30AM, but he has in the past month gone completely blind and is suffering from extreme depression.
This is not a joke. I know I have been posting almost exclusively on the laugh thread, but this is for real.
After weeks of research about his condition and looking for coping therapy ideas, we are there. He is completely blind now.
He has gone downhill for quite a while, like not being able to jump on to the couch successfully at times or make it up into my car when we take him out (and he always wants to go anywhere with us), all the time watching this continually growing cloud in his eye.
I have never cared for a blind dog. I have known several others who had happy, loving blind dogs, who loved them even more for the care and patience the dogs required. Those were all young dogs.
My little buddy is much older than we had been told at first. The one vet I trust the most has shown me pics of advanced aged dogs' wear patterns on teeth and my dog has even more severe wear on his teeth.
Even if we can help him find his way around the house and yard again, he may not have much time left.
He has brought a smile to my face every day I have known him and filled my heart with warmth watching him "tolerate" my daughter's over affectionate constancy of hugs and such which he never cared for, but accepted from her.
Yeah, I've been on and on about my big booboo lately, but this is worse. I was mad about breaking my arm, but I am deeply saddened to see my little buddy going down like this.
If I seem to disappear, I'll be back. But you will know why, now.
I can handle this. I've had to put down many favorite pups and kitties over my life, but this one will devastate my daughter. My son won't show much, but this will hurt him, too.
I'm going to hold out as long as I can, but when my buddy stops smiling at us when we are with him, things may have pushed me to make a final decision.
Either we have all had to do this or we all will have to if we choose animals as partners. It just happens. My daughter is not ready.
