Susie The Airedale. My Trail Companion Part III

Dale Matson

Susie

Susie is our Airedale and you can sample her exploits over the years. Part I is here:  https://midsierramusing.blogspot.com/2014/05/susie-airedale-my-trail-companion-part-i.html

And part II is here: https://midsierramusing.blogspot.com/2014/05/susie-airedale-my-trail-companion-part.html.

         These have been difficult days for Susie (and us). She is no longer able to get to Woodward Park here in Fresno. She is nearly 14 years old and the Veterinarian said Susie has severe arthritis in her left hip and right shoulder. She also has various undiagnosed tumors. She can barely put any weight on her right front leg yet she has never even whimpered. We give her pain medication from the Veterinarian that can be tolerated by dogs. Dogs cannot tolerate NSAIDs. For a time, this gave her enough relief that she could make it to the park but then it became a half mile round trip for our morning walk.

         Early this week she refused to go into the garage to “leash up”. She went to the door in the morning to go outside to toilet and would come back to her pillow in the kitchen. The tile kitchen floor is becoming more difficult for her since she lacks the leg strength to keep herself stable. She is better on the carpet and on grass. Three days ago, I wrote in my journal that I had taken her for her last walk.

         This morning I had let her out and she had come back in to her pillow. When I went to the garage door to walk her younger brother, she got out of her pillow and walked to the door. “OK Susie, let’s give it a try”, I said. Duke, you’ll have to wait. She jammed her neck into the leash like the old days and we were off. Today was an unexpected and special day for Susie and me. Today, I let her linger at every smell. Smells are a big part of the life of a dog. We got out about a quarter mile and turned around. She seemed relieved to be heading home again to her pillow.

        Her appetite has been fairly good and she seems to be in little pain when she lays in her pillow. She is right there for table scraps and now she is always first in line. Duke seems to understand and waits. He also no longer tries to play with her, knowing at some level she is too frail.

         She was once about robust 75 pounds and I would guess she is now in the fragile 50-pound range. Because she has accidents we now keep her in the kitchen at night. She still barks at cats that come through the yard.

         I don’t know how much longer this dying process will be but as long as she can still make it outside and is not in pain except when moving around, we will keep her with us. For when she is gone, she will be a long time gone. The grieving has already begun. She has had such a full and wonderful life. We are so blessed. As the days pass now our pain increases along with her infirmities. My hope for her is that she will pass during the night in her sleep.