This is one of the hardest things I have ever written, There is something wrong with my best friend. I was dx with Parkinson's about 2 years ago, 2 years before that I was dx with cervical spinal stenosis and needed surgery. A couple years before that I new something was wrong, not sure what but had plenty of problems. The constant in my life, besides my wife who has been amazing through all this was our dogs, one, and the first one is a corgi/beagle mix named Casey. The second a beagle/fox hound mix named Carmen. About a year and a half ago we added Lucy, a pure breed corgi. All rescues. All very special in their own right.
Casey was rescued from a vet tech training program my wife was in at the time. His entire life up to that point had been in a cage and used by students to learn how to give shots, draw blood and so on. My wife fell in love with him at the end of the school year and wanted to adopt him. They thought he was about 2, but no one was sure. I had never been an animal lover but I was still flying for a living, gone a lot and went along with it. He was so afraid of everything, me, the guy who ran the feed store, everything. It took several years before he was comfortable around me and most other men. Eventually though he did relax and even became pretty friendly, not completely, but ok. Sometimes at night when I would get home late, or just come to bed late he would growl at me or even charge me, but I was alpha and took charge. We worked it all out and it was fine.
When I got sick we became pretty much constant companions, both him, Carmen, who we got to keep him company, and me. After a while I had to quit flying, tried driving truck, hated it but had to work. Then finally had to quit that and just stay home. That is when I became best friends with my dogs, what a wonderful set of companions they became. Funny how they could make my days full, and I was never alone, I was always given more love than I could possible give out. Lucy came about a year and a half ago, she also came with a canine form of breast cancer, we had the tumor removed and she has been doing pretty well since.
Casey in the last couple of months has been going down hill very fast. Around the first of the year we discovered he had diabetes, started him on insulin. A few weeks ago he went blind.,He is a beagle so we aren't sure but sometimes it seems like he might be deaf, others he can hear me unwrapping a package of food when he is in the other room, who knows. But the really worst is he seems to be developing “Canine Cognative Dysfunction Syndrome”. A canine form of Alzhiemers. I am now a caregiver as well as a pwp, talk about learning the hard way. I see some one I love and who has loved me deteriorating right before my eyes, and so fast it scares me. At Christmas time he was pretty much his old self, now I don't think he has long to live.
I have been the one with Parkinson's, I have been the one who is sick, now a caregiver.. I have only begun to realize how difficult that job is, and I am taking care of a dog. The pain I feel watching him go away can't even compare to what it must be like to watch a loved one go down hill. I am doing pretty well, but in our support group there are some who are also going down hill pretty fast, The strength of the ones who give care is astounding. I will miss my little man very much, he has been a true and loyal companion, but I thank God everyday for my wife who has been my caregiver, and pray for strength and understanding for everyone who through no fault of their own has become a care giver.
Maybe it's a bit foolish too try and equate the two situations, but seeing a loved one losing a grip on reality and life hurts, even if it is just a pup. My first time as a caregiver, I sleep little because in the middle of the night he gets up, doesn't know what he wants or where he is. He just bumps around looking for something, neither of us knows what............
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olpilot
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We have a Husky Shepherd mix who was my husband's constant companion. Ken was undiagnosed when we adopted him after our former Husky Shepherd had to be put down- a very difficult decision to make. He was very protective of Ken and kept him active. He now helps me through my grief after Ken's accident. You will know when it is time to help your friend move on to a better place. May God bless you both.
CASEY CAME INTO YOUR LIFE FOR A REASON !!! MY DOG IZZY IS MY BEST FRIEND, AND HE IS SO PATIENT WITH ME, AND IN MANY WAYS HE HELPS ME. HE IS NOW JUST 6 YRS OLD, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO WITHOUT HIM. HE IS A MALTEPOO, BUT A 30 LB. MALTEPOO. I FOUND OUT HIS MOM WAS A STANDARD POODLE. MOST MALTEPOO'S ARE ABOUT 10 OR 11 LBS. YOU KNOW, THERE IS THE OLD JOKE, OR QUESTION........IF YOU LOCK YOUR HUSBAND AND DOG IN THE GARAGE FOR 30 MINUTES, "WHO IS HAPPY TO SEE YOU WHEN YOU OPEN THE DOOR" THEY ARE THE MOST LOYAL , SWEET, FORGIVING LOVING LIVING THING, IN THE WHOLE WORLD.
Olplot - you are blessed in that you have had this time with your canine friends. We got Sophie, a beautiful Lurcher / Labrador cross, a couple of years ago from a Rescue Centre in London - we live near Sheffield and saw her on the Internet and instantly fell in love with her (I'd show you a pic if I knew how)
We lost her suddenly last October through Cancer - she fell over one day and she was gone the next
They are so special, they are both our children and our mentors. They give back more love than they could recieve, and can teach us so much about how simple life can be, about trust, patients . Jaynie, only one makes you feel like a rock star everytime you walk through the door. Foggatt I'm sorry for you loss, it is hard. We will keep loving him as long as we can. I'll no more put him down than my. Wife would me (I hope....8). As long as he isn't suffering we can handle the extras. He still gives back plenty. He is curled up next to me as I write this. We still find comfort in each other. Someday in the not too distant future I figure I'll be making him a final resting place in my shop so he can always nn be with us
Olpilot-you are blessed and so is evryone who has an animal to love and cherish.Casey reminds me of my Jerry.He has been gone for 6 years,loved him like he was my son! They love unconditionally! He is never gone,just away.
I love this poem, although it makes me cry and comforts me at the same time. I have 2 little Westies (one is a rescue) and I don' t know what I will do when I loose one of them, however there is always another pup out there that needs a good home. Hope this helps...
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Oh, you made me cry. I too have had the love of a beautiful beagle, Jasper, for the last 13 years. She started out as a family pet coming to our home shortly after I was diagnosed. In that time, my marriage ended, my kids have grown up and moved out, and it became just me and Jasper. In so many ways she was my caregiver, she made me get out everyday for walks, she was always happy to see me even when my symptoms were making me miserable, she was my constant companion. She has seen the worst of my days with Parkinson's and stayed by my side. In the last year I noticed on walks that she would sometimes seem to "lose" me, she couldn't hear me call her name or see me so I had to keep her on leash more often. In the last 2 months she deteriorated quickly, was sick, finally not eating anything at all, not even a bit of cheese from my hand. It was very sad.
The decision to save her from any more pain was the hardest thing I have ever done, even with the vet telling me that it was the right decision at the right time. Two weeks ago I said goodbye to my beloved Jasper, looking into her eyes, I told her how much I love her and I think she told me it was ok.
Parkinson's is about so many losses, but don't compare to my losing Jasper. As I look back I think it just reminds me to appreciate what we do have now and make the most of it. I have to be my own caregiver.
This thing steals so much from us, I hope and pray there is much peace and happiness coming your way. I know that from here there is much love from all.
I think I spend more time with my dog than with my husband. My kids are grown and gone doing their lives, grandson is almost grown, I can't work anymore due to Parkinsons so my dog goes almost anywhere I go. She sits in the front seat, head up high like a queen and would stay there all day if I let her. She listens and only backtalks once in a while. She came into my life after my 13 year old beagle passed away. She went downhill quickly and one day she couldn't walk so we carried her out to the back yard and she spent the day under her favorite bush watching all the comings and goings, and then had her put to sleep. As my husband held her, she looked at him with her sad brown eyes and sighed, like its about time, and slipped peacefully to a place with no pain. My husband came home and with tears running down this 285 pound, 60 year old Vietnam Vet's cheeks, he dug a hole and buried his precious dog, Isabel. I just cleaned the fall leaves off of her grave and got it ready to plant flowers on it. After 6 months of grieving for her, I bought my golden retriever, Callie, into our lives to fill the big hole that was left when Isabel died. Best thing I ever did, my husband's eyes twinkle when she is with him and I love her.
I know the feeling. A dog can only give "love"...when you're feeling down "your friend knows".
I used to call mine my "furry kid". Then after 14 years of "devotion and love" I had to say "good-bye". She was becoming blind, and had kidney disease....she couldn't even walk on her own.....After a visit to the hospital, (and several tests), I couldn't see her suffer anymore.....My last day with her was August 18, 2001.....(It still brings tears to my eyes.)
I know how you feel. Our family dog, Stacy, was an Australian Shepherd. Every vet that met Stacy said she was the most intelligent dog they ever met. Just after her 14th birthday she went blind, her kidneys started to fail, she would pee in the house, and being thirsty would drink her own pee. I put her in my SUV to take her to the vet at our local pound to be put down. My eight year old daughter, Megan, came out screaming. I made a deal with her that if the dog doctor says he cannot save her and it would stop her from hurting we would let her go. The vet explained to my daughter that medicine would only add one or two more days to her life, and that the sick dogs each have someone petting them as they receive their injection so they can go to heaven. I will never forget that day. I don't know which one of us cried the most that day. It really adds meaning to the phrase: "Love hurts."
Now with PD, I sometimes wish we had a way to feel good as we received a treatment to send us to heaven. After all, with PD it feels like we are in hell. The other alternative is for someone to find a cure that would add to the drug companies bottom line. Maybe one of those brilliant quantum physicists will discover how we can travel into the future where cures for all diseases are easily available.
You might try giving him a tsp of raw coconut oil in his food everyday. You on the otherhand should be taking 2 T of it once, in the am and once at night. Then, you can also research turmeric for dementia and alzheimers. I think I read somewhere that is good. The coconut oil should reverse some of your symptoms.
Thank you all, our furry family members are so important to us, I think watching him in a way just makes the future a little grayer. I'm not saying it's mine too, just saying getting old is not for sissies, it just plain sucks..............8)
Olpilot I just am reading this after reading your most recent post. I am so sorry, Bless you and your Mrs through this difficult time. We have gone through this and know how hard it is. Your drawing and tribute to Casey is so Beautiful.My Mother In Law use to always say old age isn't for sissies, I know you have many wonderful memories with Casey, they will help you, ours sure have after our loss of our Cassie.
Thank you, he was a strange little fellow, but was my full time companion from the time my medical problems and disability really started. Watching him live his full life in such a short time was at the end very tough, but when we got him we rescued him from a very distressing life, he was a dog used for training veterinary technicians. We had him almost 12 years to the day. He was loved every minute of those years. I know how important to all of us who take these creatures, dog cats what ever into our lives are, they give so much more to us than we can ever give back. I think I will be very disappointed if he isn't there waiting for me.
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