We have no true idea how old she is -- it's likely she's *very* old -- like 17 - 19 (and 19 is likely). She's had a GOOD 3 1/2 years with us -- but she's gotten extremely "senior" over the past year. Pretty well no sight at all (light/dark, some motion she sees), very very little hearing. Very arthritic & stiff, but she is not what you'd call a 'stoic' dog.
That's the interesting thing about her -- it took her almost 2 years to trust us -- she'd been abused and disliked being picked up (particularly by me -- my theory is that some big lady *threw her* - probably from a standing position or from a piece of furniture). Humans were NOT to be trusted -- they were ok for food giving but comfort? nope. trust? nope.
But gradually it has happened. she now actually likes being *held* (major huge RAH!!) and will lean into a cuddle willingly -- she takes **comfort** from us. For me, this has been huge. To bring back her sense of "dog-ness" -- to love humans and take comfort from them is usually a dog's biggest joy. *Particularly* for a companion breed like a peke.
She has loved going to Give Kids the World -- children have **suprisingly** been a joy to her since she came. Whoever her abusers were, they were not children -- children, particularly BABIES, were JOY to her.
But with her "trust" came something unusual. Kee has obviously been a survivor -- you keep quiet, you go along and you don't make waves. That's how you survive.
BUT ... once you begin to trust -- one of her first big "steps" was ... to register **disapproval** of something. Particulalry when food wasn't served up fast enough. There has been hunger in her past ... and food can nearly panic her. She wants it ... NOW. FAST ... and this "preparation" thing that happens here (me dishing up cooked food to FOUR dogs, adding meds, etc. and everbuddy eating at the same time) ... well it ... its HARD you know? It should be FASTER. NOW ... HERE. Never have I had a dog so vociferous and the more senior she's grown the worse thta has gotten (*grin* -- and so how do you 'splain to a deaf/nearly blind dog that it's gonna take as long as it takes and the more fuss she stirs the slower *I* am??? LOL It's never quite seemed to kick in for her *chuckle*)
About 6 months ago she decided that 'breakfast' should be served .... oh ... about 4:30 a.m. Now my husband gets up at 5 -- and his "last half hour" is his most prized sleep time. ohhhh my ... that was a challenging couple of months.
There's only so much "training" possible here -- she is **very** senior. never the brightest light in the box, anyway, the challenge has been coping with her, making sure 3 other dogs don't get snarky with her (she will grab at anything moving close to her face in hopes it is FOOD -- including tails, ears, or noses or fingers!!)
But mostly she's been happy -- but she DOES let her wants and wishes known -- and honestly therein lies my difficulty here. Often her 'communication' --rather than barks, can be a series of moans, or other vocalizations. She's quite unique -- I've never had a dog this ... er ... vocal. But it's as tho she's kept her peace for many years, and FINALLY she's in a place where she can voice her opinion and not get hurt for it so, by golly, she's gonna tell EVERBUDDY exactly how she feels!!!
But ... I get concerned -- sometimes the moans and groans ARE pain ... she goes to Dr. D monthly for acupuncture, chiro and she sees the dog massage therapist (and he's actually given David instructions and worked out a program so David can massage her daily).
There's a LOT of cognitive dysfunction -- dementia. She'll forget where she is. ("I know I was on my way to ..... well, I KNOW I was gonna do something when I got there, but ... I can't quite remember what."). She'll even lose her bowl while she's eating (she'll come up for air, get a bit turned around and can't find her bowl).
she's not continent -- I have linoleum and wood. it's no huge problem to clean up. My biggest problem is she can't tolerate the heat to be outside long enough for her body to decide to function.
Ok -- none of this is terrible or awful ... we're patient people.
However -- along with the blindness has come two injured eyes -- and the one is not healing well. The other injury is the result of a tiny tumor growing on the inside of her eyelid which is irritating.
I know there is some pain -- both joints and eyes -- how much we're truly not sure, but she will stand nose-in-to-a-corner far far too often for my liking. Getting up and down is painful -- and we alleviate that as much as possible. She's on herbs and has been seizure free for a long long time.
Tomorrow morning I'm going to take her up to Dr. Bailey again ("regular" vet) specifically in hopes that he can do something different for her eyes. Maybe a stronger antibiotic ointment for the eye. Hoping her can remove that tiny tumor without huge trauma to her.
I know she's winding down. But we're hoping she has some good time left. But it is VERY difficult to tell with her.
She eats like a starving piglet (but is it enjoyment or panic? it's truly difficult to tell)
She sleeps the vast majority of the time (is that just desserts of the aged? or a refuge from pain? difficult to tell)
There is enjoyment from the cuddle when we're settling her down. to me that is very precious given how many years she was without comfort from humans.
Lots of vet input here (and they can't tell us for sure either) -- but just prayers and good thots for David and I that we judge this rightly ... we've no wish to rush her at all. But given her history we do *not* want her to suffer. I'm hoping to get not only some 'help' tomorrow, but good input. And I'm really *hoping* I don't have to make the judgment call (I'm really concerned that the eye isn't healing.)
If you've seen the movie "Up" I would give anything for one of those dog translator collars in this case. She's never bonded with me closely enough for me to feel comfortable reading her ... *sigh* But I can promise you one thing ... if somebuddy yelled "Squirrel!!" she'd say .... "Oh ... that's nice... zzzzzzzzzzz"