1 July

Red At The Vet: Down, Down Down

by Jon Katz

Red had his acupuncture treatment today at the vet, he’s now 12 years old, the oldest age any border collie of mine has gotten to. Red has almost died two or three times, but he’s not going to bounce back from this round, I don’t believe.

All the signs keep pointing down. His heart rate is slowing, he is sleeping more and more, the cataracts in his eye are spreading, he is sometimes disoriented. I’m considering retiring him from his therapy work.

Dr. Fariello said he seems calm and she doubts he is suffering greatly, but she also acknowledges that  you never know with Red, he does not show pain, even when he feels it.

She sent me home with a vial of herbs, she says they are a form of Chinese veterinary medicine, she thinks they might “perk him up.” I considered saying no to this, it’s time to let nature take its course with Red, he could go months, or even a year or so.

But that is optimistic, I see him declining slowly but steadily, every week he is doing less, seeing less, showing less energy and focus. What is the point, I wonder, of “perking him up” now? But I trust Dr. Fariello and vets have needs too, and I think she needs to feel she is doing something useful for Red.

Maybe she is, we’ll see. I’m inclined to let Red alone, I think the acupuncture treatments to seem to steady him, we’ll try more of those and the herbal pills.

I need to say again that I am not grieving for, his time with me has been in every way loving, rewarding, productive. He deserves to go when he needs to go, and to go in peace and comfort.

This is a dog whose life I celebrate, I respect life, and I respect death. No need to feel sorry for him or for me. A dog can’t have a better life than he has had, and I could not have a happier life with any dog than I have had with him.

I am very happy about that, and I make sure to remember it.

3 Comments

  1. I don’t know Jon, you could say what’s the point of giving an elderly Alzheimer patient antidepressants. It won’t make them better. No but they will FEEL better and be happier, and that’s the point. If the herbs can’t hurt, why not make him feel better?
    Nora Schoonmaker

    1. Nora, I appreciate your feelings, but I don’t argue my dog/medical decisions on the Internet. You do what you think is best for your dog, and I’ll do what I think is best. It’s not a community decision. I get your point of view, I imagine you have had very lucky dogs.

  2. “A dog can’t have a better life than he has had, and I could not have a happier life with any dog than I have had with him.”
    That says it all. And it more than many dogs, or humans, get.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Email SignupFree Email Signup