Wednesday, January 30, 2008
All he really wants
My old dog Winston has a lot of trouble getting around, but he drags himself from room to room following me and/or Dillon wherever we go. It’s so sweet. All he really wants in life is to be with us.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
"That's ten and a half good years"
2 p.m.
Jose the vet tech seemed somber after he gave Winston his Adequan injection today. He only has one more injection left in this series of 8. The mailman came to the door and Winston dragged his butt across the floor to bark at him.
As Jose watched, and his usual optimism faded. “How long have you had Winston?”
“Ten and a half years.”
“That’s ten and a half good years,” he affirmed. “You have to realize that he’s getting older, and there’s only so much you can do for him.”
Yes. There’s really nothing more to say after that.
Another person who watched Winston skeptically today was our new housekeeper, who happened to be cleaning the house next door when I took him out in our backyard this morning. She came out and asked if Winston would ever get better.
“He’ll never run around fast again like he used to…”
I sensed her puzzling over the two of us. Finally she got it. “He’s a good companion,” she affirmed.
***
Later, 7 p.m.
Winston seemed a bit more unsteady on his legs today, but I thought he could make it around the circle again. He couldn’t.
He collapsed in the street when we were almost home, and this time he couldn’t get up. He was willing to try dragging his butt along the pavement, but that didn’t seem like a good idea to me.
I left him near the curb, hurried back to our house to grab his harness, and enlisted the help of our neighbor’s friend, who happened to be out working in their garage. He used the harness to bring dear Winston home.
“I’d like to give you something to thank you,” I said.
“I wouldn’t think of it.”
The friend left us alone. Winston had a hangdog, resigned expression. After comforting him for a while, I took a walk on my own. I just had to. When I came home, I could hear Winston howling, really HOWLING from a high-pitched squeal that stretched into a low, bass moan.
I lay beside him on the floor, wondering what I should do if Winston could no longer walk around the house. Had he already reached that point? I thought maybe so, but then the doorbell rang and he clambered to his feet, barking.
It was our neighbor Wendy with her new baby. Wendy smiled at Winston. “That answers my question! I came over to see if Winston was able to walk.”
“I don’t think I can walk him around the circle again.”
“He’ll let you know,” she said confidently. She had just been through this with her dog Ro, who died in October. “Some days she couldn’t do it, and other days she could.”
Jose the vet tech seemed somber after he gave Winston his Adequan injection today. He only has one more injection left in this series of 8. The mailman came to the door and Winston dragged his butt across the floor to bark at him.
As Jose watched, and his usual optimism faded. “How long have you had Winston?”
“Ten and a half years.”
“That’s ten and a half good years,” he affirmed. “You have to realize that he’s getting older, and there’s only so much you can do for him.”
Yes. There’s really nothing more to say after that.
Another person who watched Winston skeptically today was our new housekeeper, who happened to be cleaning the house next door when I took him out in our backyard this morning. She came out and asked if Winston would ever get better.
“He’ll never run around fast again like he used to…”
I sensed her puzzling over the two of us. Finally she got it. “He’s a good companion,” she affirmed.
***
Later, 7 p.m.
Winston seemed a bit more unsteady on his legs today, but I thought he could make it around the circle again. He couldn’t.
He collapsed in the street when we were almost home, and this time he couldn’t get up. He was willing to try dragging his butt along the pavement, but that didn’t seem like a good idea to me.
I left him near the curb, hurried back to our house to grab his harness, and enlisted the help of our neighbor’s friend, who happened to be out working in their garage. He used the harness to bring dear Winston home.
“I’d like to give you something to thank you,” I said.
“I wouldn’t think of it.”
The friend left us alone. Winston had a hangdog, resigned expression. After comforting him for a while, I took a walk on my own. I just had to. When I came home, I could hear Winston howling, really HOWLING from a high-pitched squeal that stretched into a low, bass moan.
I lay beside him on the floor, wondering what I should do if Winston could no longer walk around the house. Had he already reached that point? I thought maybe so, but then the doorbell rang and he clambered to his feet, barking.
It was our neighbor Wendy with her new baby. Wendy smiled at Winston. “That answers my question! I came over to see if Winston was able to walk.”
“I don’t think I can walk him around the circle again.”
“He’ll let you know,” she said confidently. She had just been through this with her dog Ro, who died in October. “Some days she couldn’t do it, and other days she could.”
Monday, January 28, 2008
One more good walk
Last week I vowed I wouldn’t walk Winston around the circle alone again -- but he seemed so much better today that I couldn’t resist giving it another try. It went well! He easily walked past the place where he collapsed on our last walk, and his feet were only a little worse for wear. I ordered dog booties for him from the vet yesterday, but until they arrive I’ll have to start putting band-aids on BOTH sides of his left hind foot now.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Winston protects me during medical exam
A nurse came to our house to give me a physical exam for a life insurance policy. Winston seemed to understand as she weighed me and drew blood -- Winston underwent the same procedures 2 days earlier at the vet’s office.
But when the nurse started pumping the cuff on my arm to read my blood pressure, Winston got alarmed. The vet never measures his blood pressure. Winston rushed over and sat protectively near me. I petted him while she tested my blood pressure. Maybe it contributed to me getting a healthy blood pressure reading.
But when the nurse started pumping the cuff on my arm to read my blood pressure, Winston got alarmed. The vet never measures his blood pressure. Winston rushed over and sat protectively near me. I petted him while she tested my blood pressure. Maybe it contributed to me getting a healthy blood pressure reading.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Dog Passages
A must-see video for dog-lovers!
A friend urged me to check out this song, which is called “Dog Passages” by a singing group called “4 Friends: Who Are Vocal About It.” It talks about marking time by the dogs who have been in your life.
I deeply appreciate this beautiful, moving tribute to the dogs who bring such love and meaning to our lives. My Great Dane mix Winston is getting "long in the tooth," as the song says, and this video is helping me face my next “dog passage.”
That's my Winston!
Here’s Winston, my Harlequin Great Dane mix, smiling on a carefree sunny September day in 2008.
What a good kitty!
My cat Sapphire has been a very good kitty. She helps me keep smiling no matter what happens.
In this video she yawns, stretches, struts and watches my dog Winston take a nap.
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