Sweet little Hobbs came to live with us on the third of February. We knew he would be with us until the end, and that it probably would not be long. His owner is elderly and was not able to handle a dog with bladder cancer and the infirmities of old age. Hobbs was surrendered to a municipal animal shelter in Wisconsin. A volunteer for Midwest Schipperke Rescue pulled him out of the shelter and transported him to Illinois, where Michele Kasten picked him up and brought him to us.
We took him to our Vet the next day and found that he also had congestive heart failure and that his time with us would be brief. Hobbs had only one tooth, so we provided him with a diet of soft food, turkey heart treats, and pressure-cooked chicken and beef cut up into tiny bits. He loved feeding time.
Hobbs liked to go out for walks. Of course, he did not walk fast, and he paused frequently. He liked doing his business outdoors, and he liked sniffing around the trees, checking to see if any other boy dogs were in his territory. We always gave him turkey heart treats after his time outdoors, and he really liked that.
This morning when I woke him his little tail did not spin like a helicopter. I took him out and he did his business, but he didn't walk. He settled down on his blue blanket and just breathed all day until he couldn't. He did wiggle his tail one more time for me while I was rubbing his ears and talking to him. We wrapped him in his blue blanket and buried him next to Sheba. Hobbs was a good little dog.
Dogs give us so much, and their time with us is far to short.
ReplyDeleteThe best thing I can say is - he isn't suffering any more.
ReplyDeleteMerle
We have experience with bladder cancer, so we paid constant attention to his ability to empty. We kept him hydrated and his medication included an nsaid, which inhibits clotting. A blood clot in his bladder could have blocked his urethra, and then he would have had to go to an emergency vet immediately. We did not want Hobbs to suffer pain, and he was fortunate to have a relatively easy end.
ReplyDeleteYour words: "Hobbs was a good little dog," says it all. It seems like he made a big impact beyond his brief time with you.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear of this, but thanks to you and Susan for providing the little old fellow a warm loving place where he could end his days.
ReplyDelete