24/08/2024
Old Dog Dementia.
It has been some time since I wrote anything on this page , probably a relief for most! But I have been pleasantly surprised how many times now “folks” have said “Not seen a informative rant recently”
So not really a rant but a little insight which made me write this. A couple of my Daycare patrons were chatting to me regarding their dogs declining health and asked what I thought was best, which I find very touching they value my thoughts, but again I stress to everyone I am not a vet and always best to get their “professional” opinion on such a difficult subject.
It is inevitable as now in year 7 of Dogzdaycare we are reaching a stage where some dogs are getting to a good old age and some have sadly passed away already.
So here goes , a note on my thoughts regarding “That Time” old age and the experience I am currently going through with one of my own dogs.
As most of you know I have four dogs and my eldest is a rescue Rough Collie who we think must be around 16 years old. She was a rescue from Ireland where she was used to breed until obviously a bad birthing and a home job Caesarean section , badly stitched and after her pups were weaned she was thrown out to the streets we believe, she ended up here after a very dubious handover where I could not , not take her home as she was in poor shape, no paperwork, no microchip, just a very downtrodden beautiful dog that deserved a good life.
Julie was the name she responded to and again we think this was not her name but probably one of her previous owners name. But she made this her home and for the last 8 years she has plodded around like Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh and in the last two years we have watched her decline before our eyes.
My family would say for 3 years I have been saying she is on her way to Rainbow Bridge but I have fed her a cocktail of different things to keep her going , the biggest change was changing her diet to raw mince, salmon oil, Broccoli, garlic etc and ditching the highly processed food, which without doubt enhanced her longevity (but this is another topic completely!) reduced the amount of pain medication as this was, I would say, causing more issues than helping and topping up her medication pain relief as required.
Julies cognitive decline started to really show about a year ago when we noticed her looking as if to say “have I just come inside or was I going outside?” and this has become a constant circling of going from inside to out, her toilet habits are .. well let’s just say she doesn’t make it outside very often even though she has literally just come in, thank goodness for stone and wooden flooring! She also stands and stares at you as she does not know who you are, where she is or what she is doing, then the realisation of who you are and a wagging tail.
When Julie wakes up from a sleep she has no idea where she is, she is extremely disorientated and unsteady on her legs at times, but always succeeds in progressing to some form of destination, Her food bowl must be put in the same place every time or she will not find it , no distractions from anyone but left to eat peacefully, but in the end I believe her legs and movement will give in before dementia takes her completely.
I know most folk would say the time has come for the big sleep from the Vet but I just cannot at this stage as she still eats well and if you throw a ball she attempts to run and get it , barking with excitement, while doing this forgetting why she is barking and why she is running ( faster walking) and we have moments of her recognising you, wanting to be stroked and hugged and it is those moments that convince me its not time yet.
But time is not on her side and soon i know in my own mind she will tell me “Time” and i strongly believe this will be the case , they always have a look of it’s time to say goodbye. (Disneys All dogs goes to heaven springs to mind, if you Google why Burt Reynolds choked up during the final scene, he played Charlie the old dog... I will say no more , but read about it , then watch the clip which is on YouTube etc) Julie’s dementia is without doubt getting worse, but this is no excuse for me to give up on her for my convenience of not having to clean up after her 4 or 5 times a day, having to wash her constantly etc she deserves to be cared for and loved as she is part of our family.
No hiding it though, it is hard going and constant but that is the responsibility of bringing a dog into your home and being part of the family, she is not a disposable item because she has become “old” incontinent, confused and unstable.
Julie deserves life, love and care but she also deserves dignity and when that final part of her life journey is reached I will know by her telling me or me acknowledging it is time, but there is no simple answer and it needs to be your decision, if I thought Julie was in severe pain or was “Scared” of her bewilderment because of dementia it would be a simple choice but at the moment she is happy enough in her own world, blissfully bewildered, eating and sleeping.
No one likes to think of the final part of a journey in life being reached but it is one that is going to happen , Human, Dog or pet, but at least with a pet we can make a decision for a peaceful painless passing for them.
Old age.. mmmm not for me.
