Spoiling My Old Doode
I'm afraid that Sonny has begun his journey to the Rainbow Bridge. Or rather, Joanne and I will need to make a quality of life decision for him soon.
For a couple years he's been suffering from a degenerative nerve disorder that has gradually compromise his ability to coordinate his back legs, making it difficult for him to walk. He just walks a little funny. About 4mo ago we started putting his Ruff Wear shoes on, to give him traction on the hardwood floors, putting carpets under his bed(s) so he has a launch pad when he gets up, etc.
About a month ago he start favoring his right foot/leg. Doc put him on pain pills and some thyroid meds (levels were low) and he's on the All the Green Peas You Can Eat diet, to chip away some lbs and make things easier on him. Last Monday he REALLY starting favoring that right front wheel, took him to the doc for xrays and they found a bone tumor in his upper leg, near the shoulder joint.
Sonny is at least 14yrs old, I got him in Aug '01 from a lab rescue group, so surgery isn't really an option. The doc has him on some more serious pain meds. I have him rigged with a harness so I help him get around more easily, pick him up to take him in/out of the house if he balks, etc. Don't really want to leave him alone for longer than about 6-8hrs so we are adjusting our schedules. I was out of town this weekend but told Joanne to text me if anything changed and I'd be home right away.
So we're spoiling him 
. I'm in bed right now, he's next to me, and he's been sleeping with us again, just like the old days. I figure he'll let me know when it's time, but I want him to go out on his terms, not keeping him around for us. I found a vet that does in home euthanasia so we'll go that route.
He's my Best Doode, been with me through a lot of life changes and is just a good soul. One of those dogs that's just all about his people, is super friendly with anyone, etc.
Comments
A good dog is a great friend.
good luck with this difficult time.
So sorry to hear about Sonny. Its such a tough thing to go through with an old friend. Its really great to read though the way you and Joanne take care of the pups. You guys are such great doggy parents! Best to you four.
Best wishes for you and Joanne. We went through something similar with our wonderful cat, Frosty. It was very sad. We got Frosty from the Cincinnati Zoo which has an excellent research department. Frosty was, in fact, the first domesticated cat in the world born after being a frozen embryo. Thus, his name.
Our last was Baxter, a large Sheppard who suffered from gastric torsion one weekend at a remote camp in northern Maine. By the time we got him to the vet, there was very little we could do. It's been several years since his passing but we are not ready to start over yet.
My heart goes out to you and Joanne.
Thanks for the tears! I hope you don't mind but I shared your words of wisdom with my mother and sister who are both struggling through the same difficult times.
Sounds like you were lucky to have Sonny.... And Sonny was lucky to have you....
Thinking of your family and don't forget to spoil Riley! When we lost our last dog Ozzie , Maggie the remaining dog was so devastated , within 24hrs she had collapsed and was at the Vet , she spent a week in and out of the Vet being diagnosed with a blood disease called IMHA (she had blood tests 6 days prior to this and was ops normal) she actually died and was brought back with adrenalin and underwent 2 blood transfusions. When we got Ozzie's ashes back and got them back together she made her recovery, absolutely the weirdest thing you have ever seen.
I know you've read the Rainbow Bridge so I'll spare the extra tears but incase you haven't seen "A Dogs Las Will and Testament" I posted it below.
A Dog’s Last Will & Testament
Before humans die, they write their last will and testament, giving their home and all they have to those they leave behind. If, with my paws, I could do the same, this is what I’d ask…
To a poor and lonely stray I’d give my happy home; my bowl and cozy bed, soft pillow and all my toys; the lap, which I loved so much; the hand that stroked my fur; and the sweet voice that spoke my name.
I’d will to the sad, scared shelter dog the place I had in m human’s loving heart, of which there seemed no bounds.
So, when I die, please do not say, “I will never have a pet again, for the loss and the pain is more than I can stand.”
Instead, go find an unloved dog, one whose life has held no joy or hope, and give my place to him.
This is the only thing I can give…
The love I left behind.
Thanks for the well-wishes. The post above was pretty "just the facts." Last week I started to write a bit more but couldn't get through it. I had a tough time leaving this weekend but he has good and bad days. Today is a good day and I couldn't really get any work done in the bed this morning because he kept nudging me if I stopped petting him
.
I think tonight will be some Netflix in the bed with JnRnS, get the band back together again.
You guys have kids, we have dogs, but we're both determined to not make this process last any longer than it should. If a few days early means he's not in much pain that's what we'll do.
Riley knows something is up but he and Sonny haven't really been best buds, I guess. Maybe it's the age or temperment differences, though there were daily thumpings of Riley when we got him, as Sonny taught him manners
.
Rich, buddy, I'm so sorry to hear about the tough days ahead. It sounds like you have added to each other's lives immeasurably.
Thoughts are with you and the family, both canine and human.
It's a tough road for sure, but I know that you both have had quite the journey together. Team McCrann and Miss Bella send our best vibes to you all...
We also have a dog we got back in 2001, and not a day goes by that we don't comment how lucky we are for what he has added to our family.
Glad you are spoiling him!! We'll be thinking of you!
Oh Boy. I'm so sorry to hear of the short time left with your best 4 legged friend. I lost my wonderful Sasha 3 years ago. I have never had a dog like her. If it wasn't for her and her protective nature my daughter would have died 2 weeks after we brought her home. She saved Myah and I from a mountain lion and saved me from a rattle snack that had shed it's skin and matched my garden hose perfectly. I miss her packing my newly planted bushes back in the house so I could plant them again. She ALWAYS managed to rub on the freshly painted walls too.
My husband and I have found that new four legged family members will be brought to you by your old friend. When you are ready to love them. We even see characteristics of the old pack in the new pack. The way they sit, eat, talk, sing and protect us. My point is that our old friends don't stop taking care of us just because they aren't here physically. You and your wife are upholding the final sacred trust. To not let him suffer just because you love him.
My family sends you our thoughts and support. Enjoy spoiling your friend. Your both worth it. Jacklyn
Good night Sonny,
With a belly full of goodies and the love of your family.
Rest well.
Jacklyn, Maggie, Pearl, Corky, Sparkles, Rocky, Stickers.
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We said goodbye to Sonny Bunny yesterday afternoon.
He was going downhill, mobility and pain-wise, pretty quickly since being diagnosed with the bone tumor last week. He was clearly moving across a spectrum of kinda loopy, to sorta ok, to in pain, depending on where he was in his meds schedule. And on Tuesday he didn't want to put any weight on his right front leg at all.
So on Tuesday we called a vet that travels to your home for in home euthanasia, scheduled the appointment for Thursday, and Wednesday was All About the Bun Day. Spoiled him, lots of treats, laid him in the grass in the sun, and his grandparents came over to say goodbye.
Same Thursday morning. We fed him breakfast in bed, by hand, of bacon, treats, and more bacon. Gave him a bunch of pain meds so he was very comfortable. Joanne had a class in the morning so I spent some quality time with him, carrying him in and out the house as he needed, and by ~11am he was back to trying to follow me around the house
. If I had leave the room I hustled so he wouldn't get up. His appetite was good right up until the end. I've got some good video of feeding him treats and he was eating more treats as he met the vet in our house. 
She sedated him, took him about 10-15' to fall asleep (required a second shot
and then about 2' later it was all done. Very peaceful, he went in our arms, in his bed, in his house, surrounded by his family. I carried him out to the vet's car and then Joanne, Riley, and I went for a family walk around the block, telling Sonny, Bunny, BunnyMan, Bunster Doode stories.
For years we joked about having him stuffed and put on his bed in the corner of the living room
but we're having him cremated instead. We're going through our photos, will put together the best to make an album, and will post a few to the Pups of EN Thread.
My ex-wife and I got Sonny in August 2001, adopting him from the SoCal Labrador Retriever Rescue. He was about a year old and bit of a train wreck, with bad separation anxiety. Joanne came into our lives about a year, a layoff, coaching-biz start up, and divorce later. He and Riley were our GroomsPups when we were married at Wildflower in 2006. He was right there, faithfully, unconditionally, and ever good naturally by our side through every step and stage of our lives since. He happily took whatever we could give him and all he wanted in return was to be with us.
He was just a good soul...
So sorry for your loss. Sounds like you did it "right", though (if that is possible). Had to put our first dog down a couple of years ago for similar reasons. Although it's peaceful and humane and all of that, it still hurts at the time.
Thanks. Yesterday was very rough. I had to get out of the house to work and even then I couldn't do anything that required much high thought. Then Joanne took Riley to run errands and I came home to an empty house. That hasn't happened in over a decade.
Today is a lot better but I still a ghost in the corner, expecting to see my bud curled up sleeping.
We are definitely a 2-pup family but Sonny and Riley were both so easy to manage and I have a lot of travel this summer. It will probably be a while before we can find a big block of time to integrate a new dog into the household.
So sorry for your loss, my black lab Adi Gallia is, after my lovely spouse, my best friend. Hopefully you can help another Labrador.