Beach Buzz: Contemplating loss and navigating life with a senior dog

My sleep schedule has been off for the last six months. I’ve been up as early as 2 a.m. and then again at 5 a.m. If I was younger, the reason for my sleep deprivation would be a newborn. It seems like yesterday that I was up every two hours nursing one of my three kids. Instead, I’m going through another phase of my life – senior dog. I guess three newborns gave me training for this challenging time. Also, my experience in diaper changing gave me the tolerance and stomach to handle the little brown landmines I often find from my older dog.

I’m on a roller coaster of emotions along with an unpredictable bathroom schedule with my senior dog. It’s exhausting, but I’m happy to clean up after Roxy, my lovable Labradoodle. I’m more than willing to pamper and indulge her with an unlimited amount of treats in her last stage of life. The “no food from the table” rule has been nixed and Roxy receives daily massages and snuggle sessions on the rug. She deserves all the special treatment because of her 14 years of unconditional love to the entire family.

I must say, I miss my grandiose greetings from my sweet furry companion when I come home. Now, it’s an arduous task for her to get up from a seated position. A bad day is followed by weeks of extra pep in her step. It makes no sense. My baby girl is almost 14, which is 98 in human years. It’s not fair that dogs age so quickly.

Just like having a baby, my house decor has changed. Instead of “baby proofed,” it’s “senior proofed.” Towels are scattered over all my rugs in case of accidents, and I have added runners to make walking easier. I’ve been told to roll up my rugs, but I wouldn’t dare have my senior dog sit on a hardwood floor with her aging hips.

I miss our long walks in the neighborhood. Now, she slowly waddles down the driveway and only attempts to run if she hears a ping of dog food hit her bowl or sees a familiar friend. Her memory isn’t as sharp, but she sure remembers her feeding schedule to the minute. That internal clock is sharp as a tack. Her hearing has declined, but it’s supersonic when she hears a pill bottle shake or a cheese wrapper crinkle.

At my last dog check-up in October, I was told Roxy was on dog hospice. I was devastated. She had a few problems that cleared up with antibiotics, and then I was given some prescriptions for pain and a probiotic. Miraculously, she improved. The best part of Roxy’s last appointment was that the vet came to my house. Roxy couldn’t get in a car with her hip problem, and she’s terrified of car rides. Golden Paws Veterinary Service and Housecalls was a lifesaver and blessing for Roxy.

Dr. Tara Golden and her caring staff came to my home with their mobile animal clinic and spent over an hour with Roxy. They treated her like the princess she is and showed more compassion than I’ve ever seen in an adult doctor’s office. Her nails were clipped, ears cleaned and other dog issues were handled with care. It’s like the old-fashioned doctor house calls, but for dogs. I’ve continued to communicate with them on Roxy’s progress, and they’ve given me valuable advice on knowing when the time is right to let Roxy go. I’ve often thought there should be dog obituaries. They’d probably all say similar things because dogs are truly man’s best friend. My only addition would be to add how Golden Paws helped make her golden years a little more comfortable at the end.

For info on Golden Paws, go to goldenpawsvethousecalls.com or call 757-577-0813.

Lee Belote, jlbelote@verizon.net