The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
One of my dogs is getting up there. She's showing lots of signs of age. Her walks are are lot shorter and she is definitely aging fast. Before al anon I would make this into a catastophe try to force her to get better. Now we take lots of nice short walkies with room for rest. Of course I have to avoid those people who expect every animal to be perfect. I do that so much better with detachment. I no longer have to convert the world!
There are a lot of signs my blessed pet isn't going to be here much longer and I hope I don't need to make it a catastrophe.
((((maresie)))) Congrats to you on a perfect approach to the situation.......it really is a wonderful program with so many wonderful tools to help us learn new healthier behaviors.
God bless you and your critters:)
keeping it simple shelly
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Put down the magnifying glass and pick up the mirror!
I hear the beauty of Acceptance in your post. The awarness of the age of your beloved pet and the limitations that age causes are a normal part of life.
Instead of fighting against this, I hear that you have chosen to accomodate your dog and have shorter (just as much fun) walks and know that this is the right action for the happiness and health of your dog.
I had a 20 year old indoor/outdoor cat that I treated the same and enjoyed her up until the end. She passed peacefully in her little bed and I felt sadened but knew she had a good life and most importantly she knew that she had been loved and that was what mattered most.
Thanks for sharing this touching part of your life.
It's rough to watch them age. Previous to Gracie (my fatgirl) having a stroke she had heart problems. I was giving her water pills 2x a day for months. Alanon even taught me to see my part in her demise. I was the one that made her fat. When she had to be put down it all hit me right in the face. She would've had more years left had I not given her people food. I literally loved her to death. It can be compared to enabling an alcoholic. That's why they say Alanon principals can be used in all our affairs. That part dawned on me too late.
It's heart wrenching when they leave us, especially when you have to make the decision to end their lives. As with any heartache, life marches on whether you want it to or not. Of course it will hurt, but I think you are realistically preparing yourself and will do as well as you can. Enjoy the walkies.
Christy
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If we think that miracles are normal, we will expect them. And expecting a miracle is the surest way to get one.
Having been a vet tech I have seen all different kinds of approaches people take to the last years of their pets life. I believe yours is a gracious and kind one. You understand the limitations of your pet and are accomodating it. When the time comes you will know, HP will let you know. Bless you and your little doggie.
My beagle has undergone a remarkable journey with me. She was a lost, unprotected distrustful mutt when I first met her. She was also head over heals in love with my ex A. Over time we have come to love and trust each other. Her health isn't the greatest and my usual response was to catastrophize it so I'm willing to go to another place in order to make her last days, weeks, years better for both of us. We struggle together. She also has a dynamic loving, troublesome sister called Pepi (another dog) who is her partner in crime at all times.
Lucky is a beagle and I can also only guess at her age. She wants to walk but doesn't get too far. I used to feel overwhelmed but what's the point of that it is perfectly natural. I have to lift her up the back steps most of the time but she's able to go down them okay. She is overweight but then so am I. I don't see her being able to shed weight too much with her current aging.
I'm really working on just letting go of all that I can't control.
