Dogster

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Scooter's News

I like this quote from Milan Kundera

“Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring--it was peace.”
― Milan Kundera

Being

I am pleased when my human gives me her positive vibes and attention. Even though I have a touch of "Canine Cognitive Dysfunction" (doggie Alzheimer's), I am fully aware of who she is. I am in tune with her and the cat and their every emotion and thought! These days I don't like it if the guardian is on the phone or if she goes out; I get insecure. In my old age, I am still curious about things like who is sniffing around outside, where is the cat, why is my human looking at papers, and so on. My schedule is currently quite wacky as I can go outside every two hours or so, yet not pee or poop when out there. Maybe it is the renal failure, or other things. I am awake and paying attention many hours every day. I always was an alert aware dog. I don't have that lazy routine down that the cat has perfected. Sometimes though I appear quite agitated and anxious most of the day and night, yet I might not be truly agitated and anxious, just neurologically not quite myself anymore and prone to weird habits. The guardian is in constant quandary as to whether I need to go out or am just doing my pacing. She doesn't know whether to take me out or give me a calming treat so usually does both. I lick my lips or click my tongue or something and have been doing that off and on for a year or so. This month the vet looked under my tongue and saw a little growth there but wasn't too worried as it seems it is similar to the non-worrisome fatty tumors I have on my chest, neck and tail. I think my Urinary Tract Infection is back already and the vet just gave me antibiotics for it, which I finished, and I thought it was totally cured. There is a vet online who said UTI can cause symptoms that are like dementia. BOL, I really didn't need that! Typically I pant and pace for miles and miles and hours and hours indoors and then when I go outside I will stand silently like a mule and only move to sniff the ground. Occasionally I do lead the guardian out of the complex to go onto the sidewalk to stroll but mostly just to sniff the trees and ground. I still recognize those neighbors and other pedestrians whom I distrust and those I trust. I walk the opposite direction of the dubious characters, as I always did. The cold doesn't bother me at all even though my coat is thin in places and I am creaky and crooked with arthritis. I walk a bit like a crab. If I could go outside every hour, I would like it. Sometimes when I do move around outside, I do multiple laps in my little familiar area. Even so, I have been outside three times this morning already and have not done any business. I went out at 2AM too and did not pee or poop. I have no qualms about waking the human up to go outside one or more times in the night. Now if my human goes to buy dog food for me, I hope there are no surprises. Yesterday she read about a technique where when the pup goes pee or poop outdoors you give them a biscuit outside right then. She tried it for the first time last night when I peed outdoors perhaps around 7PM. I hope we can try this technique again soon. Sometimes I stare at the food and water bowls instead of eating and drinking. I stare at the walls some too. I don't do well with remembering which side of the door opens. I do still like to eat and drink pretty much. My peripheral vision is gone and my eyes are cloudy. It's a good thing I haven't accidentally stomped squarely on the cat yet, but frequently there are close calls. Often I bump into things like the walls, door stops, and water bowl and sometimes I fall down when I am doing my pacing indoors. If I can't get up, my human has to pick me up if I am going to get rolling again. Sometimes the position I land in when I fall and can't get up is painful. Last Spring I took a tablet for Canine Cognitive Disorder once but it didn't agree with me. Last Summer I took one of those commonly-prescribed pharmaceuticals for arthritis for a week or so but it also did not agree with me. I am a very sensitive gal. You should not even look at me sideways as I might get my feelings hurt. If you call me "Good Girl" though I am over the moon. I still respond joyfully when you shower me with a little love.

What a Dog

The vet has seen me in July and August and I have signs of anemia, elevated liver enzymes, arthritis, canine cognitive dementia, lack of estrogen, mild kidney failure, and vision loss BUT I AM STILL HAPPY. What a dog.