I had to call the vet yesterday to arrange to have my dog put down. Hardest call I've ever had to make. She arrives tomorrow night at 5:30 to put him to sleep and take him away for cremation. I will get his ashes in an urn a week later.
Rowdy would have turned 14 on September 11th of this year. He's a 100lb Great Dane/Lab mix who has outlived his life expectancy by about 3 years. Just a big, goofy, sweet dog that I love like a child. My heart has been breaking for weeks since he started going downhill fast.
His hips finally gave out and his body is riddled with arthritis. Two days ago, he may have suffered a stroke or had sudden onset of dementia. He can hardly walk, can't focus, and keeps bumping into things. I have to help him up and get out the door to use the bathroom.
He was my daughter's 15th birthday present to help her deal with teen drama and he pretty much saved her life. She is now married to a man in the Air Force and has three kids. When they got orders to Japan 4 years ago, she asked me to take him, as he was nearly ten and they didn't think he would survive the 6 months of quarantine in Japan. I reluctantly did and had to build a privacy fence around my yard and new deck complete with doggy door.
When I adopted him, I put him on joint/hip supplements and a grain-free diet. A year ago, I started him on CBD/hemp oil. Six months ago when the arthritis reared it's ugly head, I started giving him daily cans of tuna and stronger CBD oil. A month ago, he was prescribed anti-inflammatory meds by the vet. He seemed to be improving until that week of nasty cold and wet weather. He got worse and when the weather got warmer, he didn't improve and his mental health went south.
So here I am enjoying my last night with my best friend.
I'm drinking Pendleton Whiskey and he's getting hot dogs and leftover pizza.
My girlfriend lost her grandmother last week and I'm blubbering more over this old dog than she did for her grandma.
I messaged my daughter and gave her the news. She sent me the money to cover the vet expenses, which were ridiculous. $416 to have a house call, euthanasia, cremation, and urn. I tried to refuse it, but she wanted to show her appreciation for all I've done for him.
Goodbye old friend...
The day we adopted him at three years old...
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Loving on my first grandchild...
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One of our last adventures in the woods this winter...
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