end of life, pet edition

 We have three dogs. All of them are elderly. We have a min-pin, a Jack Russel, and a mutt. The mutt is chronologically the youngest but he is also the largest so he's also the oldest physically. We love all three of them. Jack, the min-pin, is the oldest at 16, Roscoe, the JRT, is 15, and Rocky, our lovable mutt is 14. All of them are on some sort of medication.

Rocky has significant arthritis and kidney disease. He is on a plethora of pain medication for arthritis and a special diet and medication for kidney disease. He's become incontinent of stool at times. I found through research this is common with advanced arthritis. He falls and has trouble laying down and standing up. He drags one of his hind legs when he walks. He's restless and he whines more and more often. It's very close, if not overdue, to let him rest. 

I didn't share yet, we are a blended family, Jack and Rocky are my husband's from before he met me, Roscoe is mine from before we met. I can't make end of life decisions for Rocky or Jack. Well, technically I could but I won't. My husband has to make those decisions. I've told him how he is during the day. I've told him how much constant pain he is in. I've cried. I've watched my husband cry with Rocky. My heart breaks every day for Rocky. 

I've discussed Rocky's condition with our wonderful veterinarian, Dr. Daniels. Her philosophy is that dogs should be able to dog and when they can no longer act as a dog it is our responsibility to let them go.

I've shared this with my husband. He's working through the grief of knowing he has to make that choice sooner rather than later. Rocky has good days but he always drags his foot. He always struggles to lay down or get back up. He still wants to dog. Right now good days still outnumber bad days. When the balance shifts it will be time.

I'm sad for Rocky and our little pack of dogs, and us. I won't feel sad for Rocky when he is set free to cross the rainbow bridge where all good dogs go. I will be happy for him on that day.

Love your fur babies. They are given us to love for such a short time. We don't deserve them. Try and act like we do.