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So sometimes life just doesn't seem fair, and boy have I had a year full of it. Everyone has probably read our trials and tribulations with our puppy Moe, and his feet. I can thankfully say he is doing well.
Our 9 year old, Duke, is not.
We bought Moe because Duke started showing some signs of slowing down. Duke is field trained and has been an amazing companion to my husband and son over the years in the field. He has also been my absolute heart dog since the day he came home. I was adamantly against adding him at the time we got him. It made us have a total of 3 dogs at the time, and I'm primary daily care taker. I'm also an extreme neat freak so it meant more dog hair. Against all of my advice my two sons and husband came home with a bouncing 10 week old Golden when my oldest son was 15, and my youngest son was 11. We also had our Irish Setter and another Golden that were 15, and 12 at the time. I normally do all the research on the dogs we buy, but this was a breeding of a known field Golden in our area and a friends female Golden show dog. It was a one time breeding and all puppies were spoken for before it was planned. No research really needed to be done, so my husband just jumped with both feet.
Duke was easy to train, never destroyed even one shoe, was crate trained from day 1 and house trained in two weeks. He went to our Pro Field trainer at around 7-8 months for 3 months and was just amazing. We didn't have time to test/trial him and I refused to send him away so he never earned titles. He's good enough that our trainer used him for working demos until last year when I said it was taking a toll on him. He just loves his job. He is also the best family pet we could ask for. He's traveled the US with us and our oldest son dirt track racing. He's sat patiently while our youngest played tennis tournaments waiting for them to end so he could have a used ball. He's just special.
We started noticing changes in energy levels about 18 months ago. He could still work and play, but seemed to tire more quickly. We started with all the normal tests and I was basically told I had to accept he was getting older. I bought that for a few months and then went back in with more questions. He was sedated and they called me with him still asleep to run in for a meeting. Our vet is about 10 minutes from our house. They noticed that he had reduced air movement across his vocal cords and megaesophagus. My answer was wake him up and we will work through this. We have, it's been 7 months and he's done really well.
We elevated his feeding bowls. We went to blending his food and feeding 4 times a day with medication for motility. He's lost a few pounds, but overall you wouldn't know he had an issue. The Drs have been amazed at how well he's done, and I've been secure he was living a great life still.
This summer has been awful with the heat and humidity. Just the last month or so we've had a few days that he didn't want to get up in the morning when I got out of bed. He sleeps at the foot of my bed, and doesn't get up when my husband does. He waits for me, but as soon as my feet hit the floor he is ready to go normally. It's taken him 15-20 minutes to find his way downstairs to me drinking my coffee. He still has swam and played ball, reduced amounts, but had fun. These last few weeks I've noticed a stiffness and wasting of muscle in his hind end. It seems to have come on quickly. He's always been a very fit and muscular dog, never overweight. It's been hard to watch.
Yesterday was our final chance at some form of intervention. We've done everything and I was told there is nothing left to do. Tie back surgery would probably guarantee aspiration pneumonia, after several opinions. There seems to be no way to stop the progression.
He has good days and bad, but I know our time is limited. I feel somehow cheated. I know technically he's a senior but my dogs normally live to 12 - 13 years. I know I'm going to have a horrible decision to make. I've had to do it before, but this time feels different. Neither of us is at that point yet, but when your willing to do whatever it takes with a 9 year old it just sucks to be told "their is nothing we can do". I'm hoping the change of seasons makes it a little easier on him. Yesterday we were told to stop playing bumpers/ball and swimming. I'm just not sure how I feel about it. I am more inclined to let him have his good days.
I know I'm not the only one going through stuff like this. I've had a Golden with cancer in the past. My heart goes out to everyone faced with these situations, some earlier in their pups life then this. This one is just hitting below the belt for me.
Does anyone have any experience with late stage laryngeal paralysis affecting the hind end and esophagus too? Did you do anything that you noticed a difference with at the point I am?
Our 9 year old, Duke, is not.
We bought Moe because Duke started showing some signs of slowing down. Duke is field trained and has been an amazing companion to my husband and son over the years in the field. He has also been my absolute heart dog since the day he came home. I was adamantly against adding him at the time we got him. It made us have a total of 3 dogs at the time, and I'm primary daily care taker. I'm also an extreme neat freak so it meant more dog hair. Against all of my advice my two sons and husband came home with a bouncing 10 week old Golden when my oldest son was 15, and my youngest son was 11. We also had our Irish Setter and another Golden that were 15, and 12 at the time. I normally do all the research on the dogs we buy, but this was a breeding of a known field Golden in our area and a friends female Golden show dog. It was a one time breeding and all puppies were spoken for before it was planned. No research really needed to be done, so my husband just jumped with both feet.
Duke was easy to train, never destroyed even one shoe, was crate trained from day 1 and house trained in two weeks. He went to our Pro Field trainer at around 7-8 months for 3 months and was just amazing. We didn't have time to test/trial him and I refused to send him away so he never earned titles. He's good enough that our trainer used him for working demos until last year when I said it was taking a toll on him. He just loves his job. He is also the best family pet we could ask for. He's traveled the US with us and our oldest son dirt track racing. He's sat patiently while our youngest played tennis tournaments waiting for them to end so he could have a used ball. He's just special.
We started noticing changes in energy levels about 18 months ago. He could still work and play, but seemed to tire more quickly. We started with all the normal tests and I was basically told I had to accept he was getting older. I bought that for a few months and then went back in with more questions. He was sedated and they called me with him still asleep to run in for a meeting. Our vet is about 10 minutes from our house. They noticed that he had reduced air movement across his vocal cords and megaesophagus. My answer was wake him up and we will work through this. We have, it's been 7 months and he's done really well.
We elevated his feeding bowls. We went to blending his food and feeding 4 times a day with medication for motility. He's lost a few pounds, but overall you wouldn't know he had an issue. The Drs have been amazed at how well he's done, and I've been secure he was living a great life still.
This summer has been awful with the heat and humidity. Just the last month or so we've had a few days that he didn't want to get up in the morning when I got out of bed. He sleeps at the foot of my bed, and doesn't get up when my husband does. He waits for me, but as soon as my feet hit the floor he is ready to go normally. It's taken him 15-20 minutes to find his way downstairs to me drinking my coffee. He still has swam and played ball, reduced amounts, but had fun. These last few weeks I've noticed a stiffness and wasting of muscle in his hind end. It seems to have come on quickly. He's always been a very fit and muscular dog, never overweight. It's been hard to watch.
Yesterday was our final chance at some form of intervention. We've done everything and I was told there is nothing left to do. Tie back surgery would probably guarantee aspiration pneumonia, after several opinions. There seems to be no way to stop the progression.
He has good days and bad, but I know our time is limited. I feel somehow cheated. I know technically he's a senior but my dogs normally live to 12 - 13 years. I know I'm going to have a horrible decision to make. I've had to do it before, but this time feels different. Neither of us is at that point yet, but when your willing to do whatever it takes with a 9 year old it just sucks to be told "their is nothing we can do". I'm hoping the change of seasons makes it a little easier on him. Yesterday we were told to stop playing bumpers/ball and swimming. I'm just not sure how I feel about it. I am more inclined to let him have his good days.
I know I'm not the only one going through stuff like this. I've had a Golden with cancer in the past. My heart goes out to everyone faced with these situations, some earlier in their pups life then this. This one is just hitting below the belt for me.
Does anyone have any experience with late stage laryngeal paralysis affecting the hind end and esophagus too? Did you do anything that you noticed a difference with at the point I am?
