Wonder Dog: Caring for aging pet has its challenges, rewards Petey still has fun picking up his favorite toy and carrying it around the house and yard. (Sue Cockrell/Enterprise photo) Petey, a yellow Lab mix who turns 17 in December, has his good days and bad. His hind legs are weak, he walks slowly and can no longer jump onto the bed or sofa. He has trouble hearing and seeing, his breathing can be labored and, lately, he doesnt make it out the doggy door fast enough to go to the bathroom outside. He doesnt seem to be in pain, but has several fatty tumors and takes medicine for vestibular disease, which affects his balance. He falls down and trips a lot, and often loses his appetite. His owner, Anita Lopez, has to coax him with cheese or shredded chicken to get him to eat. Yet, when he sees Lopez grab her shoes and coffee cup in the mornings, Petey heads to the gate, eager for his walk along the greenbelt behind their Davis home. He loves spending time in the garden. He still wags his tail and picks up his favorite toy, a bright pink plastic dumbbell, and carries it around the house in his mouth. People just cant believe hes still around, Lopez said. We call him Wonder Dog because hes kind of a legend. Petey originally belonged to Lopezs daughter, Renee, who received the dog as a high school graduation gift from her boyfriend at the time. She had to leave Petey with her mother when she moved to New York for college. Lopez, 62, said Petey has become her constant companion, as they share their golden years together. Lopez is retired from a 37-year career with the Department of Motor Vehicles. Petey keeps her company and gets her out for a walk each morning. I think they just add a lot to your life, she said of dogs. Its just a comforting feeling. Lopez and Petey used to go on two walks per day, sometimes jogging. Now they go for one short walk and take their time. Peteys slow pace was a blessing when Lopez broke her hip in July and had to use a walker and then a cane. Even now that she walks unaided, Peteys slower pace forces her to slow down and appreciate the simple things. She listens to the birds singing. When her grandkids come along, they stop and smell the rosemary bushes. Its just a good way to start the day, Lopez said. Lopez said Petey has taught her grandchildren lessons like responsibility. When the grandkids - Joseph, 7, and Hannah, 6 - come to visit, they help walk Petey and pick up after him. Another granddaughter, 2-year-old Rosemary, also enjoys spending time with Petey. They just love walking him when theyre here, Lopez said. That short morning walk is Peteys favorite part of the day too, she said. And its about all the exercise he can handle. Petey used to chase balls. Now he wants to, but hell fall over, Lopez said. He still wants to play, he just cant like he used to, Lopez said. By the end of the day, he can hardly walk. Dr. Gina Davis-Wurzler, a veterinarian and assistant clinical professor at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, said many dogs are living longer these days due to medical advances and owners willing to spend more money on their care. Its a combination of both, I think, with our pets being viewed more as family members, Davis-Wurzler said. For example, dogs that developed severe arthritis would often be euthanized in years past due to a lack of treatments. Now, medications and a healthy lifestyle can keep them comfortable longer. Advances also have been made in cancer care. More people are aware that they can seek specialty care. - Were buying them more time, Davis-Wurzler said. She recommends that older dogs receive two veterinary check-ups per year to catch problems early. Older dogs can develop a range of health problems including osteo-arthritis, obesity, kidney disease, diabetes, degenerative nerve disease, cancer and sometimes heart disease. We see pretty much anything you can see in people, she said. Smaller breeds tend to live longer than larger dogs. Thirteen to 15 years is the higher end of the expected canine lifespan, she said, although diet, exercise and preventing exposure to harmful substances can affect longevity. For a Lab mix to be turning 17, thats pretty impressive, Davis-Wurzler said after hearing Peteys story. Lopez believes Peteys daily walk and brushing - which serves as a massage - are what keep him going. At bedtime, Petey rests his chin on the edge of the bed, Lopez gives him a little head rub and then he goes to sleep in his fleece bed only a few feet away from her own bed. She leaves a light on at night so he can see to walk to the kitchen if he wants to eat. When Peteys condition worsens, Lopez makes an appointment at the vet clinic just in case. She said it can be difficult to get an appointment on short notice and she doesnt want to wait if Peteys in pain. Im so afraid. I dont want him to suffer, Lopez said. But he always seems to bounce back after his condition slides for a few days. Many times I have taken him to the veterinarian thinking, this is it, and I will have to put him to sleep. Then we get to the vets office and he perks up and lets me know that today is not to be his last day, Lopez wrote in an e-mail. Lopez said she wont put Petey to sleep simply because hes old. She reserves that option for when his quality of life starts to suffer. Davis-Wurzler said she tells pet owners to assess three areas of the dogs life when considering euthanasia. The first is interest and ability to participate in life: Does the dog still want to get up and see you, but cant, or has he lost interest completely? Loss of appetite is another sign to look for, as well as incontinence. A smaller dog might be able to wear diapers or an owner might not mind cleaning up accidents, but that might not work with a large dog. It varies with every patient and every household, she said. Davis-Wurzler recalls advice that one of her pets oncologists once gave her: When there are more bad days than good days, its time. With pets living longer and owners treating them as part of the family, it can be very difficult when they die. Davis-Wurzler, speaking from personal experience and that of her clients, said a pets death can cause grief on the same level as losing a human family member or friend. When you lose them, its really hard, she said. UCD veterinary students operate a toll-free Pet Loss Support Hotline at (800) 565-1526, for those who need someone to talk to. Lopez said shell feel terrible when Peteys gone, but she knows that day is coming and she only hopes that its painless for him. I dont know if hes going to make it through December. I pray that hell just fall asleep and not wake up. Lopez has prepaid for Peteys euthanasia and cremation in case the time comes while shes out of town and a family member must handle the arrangements. When Lopez dies, she wants her ashes and Peteys to be laid to rest together. For now, they are enjoying each day and stopping to smell the rosemary. -
Posted on: Mon, 06 Oct 2014 15:50:06 +0000
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