Guinness has had what the vet believes is mega-esophogus for a few months now. He coughs a lot and has been on diuretics to help ease the phlegm, but it's caused him to loose so much weight that he is no longer the majestic alpha male that he once was. He still has no problem putting Annie in her place when she gets out of line, though.
He has been OK and still enjoys his breakfast and dinner, and was still going outside when he needed to, though we've learned to jump up as soon as he gets up because he can't hold it long once the urge hits. He is weak, but he can still climb the stairs to sleep on the landing no matter how much I tell him that it's cooler on the tile floor downstairs, and he still climbs the stairs to sleep on the floor next to my side of the bed. Stubborn to the last, our Guinness.
Over the course of the past week or so, he has started loosing control of his bowels. We hoped it was only a one-time thing. Then the second time we hoped that was it, but it wasn't. Then he pooped while he was coughing, and today while laying on the floor he just pooped. Didn't even lift his head. It just happened and it was as if he didn't notice.
For a dog who's only goal in life was to be a good boy, that's the the sign I needed. It's time and it's time before he can't make the stairs or has an accident that hurts him severely. Right now he's snoozing in his favorite hiding spot behind the couch (on the cool tile floor). I'm sure he'll come up to bed later.
I've been through this too many times. We all have. Guinness will be 12 this Sunday and it feels like he just came here.
This was Guinness back in the day.
This was Guinness only this January:
This is Guinness today:
You can't really see it, but he's thin and weak, and poor guy is just old and tired. I'm starting to know how he feels. It's gonna be a tough couple of days.
He has been OK and still enjoys his breakfast and dinner, and was still going outside when he needed to, though we've learned to jump up as soon as he gets up because he can't hold it long once the urge hits. He is weak, but he can still climb the stairs to sleep on the landing no matter how much I tell him that it's cooler on the tile floor downstairs, and he still climbs the stairs to sleep on the floor next to my side of the bed. Stubborn to the last, our Guinness.
Over the course of the past week or so, he has started loosing control of his bowels. We hoped it was only a one-time thing. Then the second time we hoped that was it, but it wasn't. Then he pooped while he was coughing, and today while laying on the floor he just pooped. Didn't even lift his head. It just happened and it was as if he didn't notice.
For a dog who's only goal in life was to be a good boy, that's the the sign I needed. It's time and it's time before he can't make the stairs or has an accident that hurts him severely. Right now he's snoozing in his favorite hiding spot behind the couch (on the cool tile floor). I'm sure he'll come up to bed later.
I've been through this too many times. We all have. Guinness will be 12 this Sunday and it feels like he just came here.
This was Guinness back in the day.
This was Guinness only this January:
This is Guinness today:
You can't really see it, but he's thin and weak, and poor guy is just old and tired. I'm starting to know how he feels. It's gonna be a tough couple of days.
