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Baxter Tough Little Dude
As our dogs rush through their lives its easy to look back and remember how they were. As puppies they enamor us with their antics. By age three their loyalty is firmly cemented and clearly displayed. Routine is firmly established over the next couple of years which also causes dogs to be taken for granted. For many dogs the first signs of aging start to occur around the seventh year of their life in the form of a little reduced mobility and maybe some teeth that need extra attention. Days blend together so quickly that its often surprising when another year passes, but for dogs its like seven have passed. As our dogss bodies age we regret the passing of their youth and cringe at the onset of old age.
When Baxter was diagnosed with diabetes a couple years ago it seemed like he was on the slippery slope of old age. As each day robbed him of his sight it also stole a little of his vitality and willingness to fully enjoy himself. Walks became unbearably slow and for a time Baxter showed no interest in leaving the yard or sometimes even the house. With the help of our veterinarian we were able to stabilize his blood glucose levels with a couple of insulin injections each day.
Over the course of the last three years I saw a remarkable change in Baxter. Completely blind, he maintained a meticulous map of the furniture in his head. He navigated a great deal by using area rugs and the change in the surface below his pads as an internal GPS. I was astonished to find that his canine cartography extended to many of our familiar walks; Baxter stopped just inches short of a raised sidewalk and began testing for a ledge that would otherwise trip him without my warning.
Baxter enjoyed being off leash and exploring the neighbors yard when we went for a visit or bumping around the dog park guided only by my voice. When my assistance was extended with a guiding hand Baxter responded with a familiar growl telling me, "Ive got this. Let me do it." And he usually did quite well.
I didnt have those early years with Baxter, he was already eight when we met. Being a Lhaso Apso, he was a one person dog and heavily entrenched in the guarding of my partner, Gregory. My relationship with Baxter was tenuous and slightly antagonistic on both sides. However, when he went blind, a new deal was cut and I was reluctantly accepted as a co-guardian. I still received growls if I didnt execute to his demands, but they were more from habit than genuine displeasure. It became my responsibility to carry him downstairs each morning in the "football carry" position and I gave him a couple of quick pats after setting him down outside. Id get a quick "Grrreah" from him and off he went. We called him "The Colonel" for good reason and he always had the last word.
Baxter was one tough little dude and Im glad that I could shepherd him through his senior years. I just wish that I could have seen him in his younger years. Last week Baxter had started having seizures and by the end of the day hed racked up somewhere north of 15 of them. Knowing that the seizures would be hard to control, we had to say goodbye. Unfortunately, Gregory was traveling, so it was up to me to hold him in my arms as he took his last breath. Im honored that after all we went through, I was the one to comfort him in his final hours.
For me, Baxter was a difficult dog to love. But once I started loving that tough little dude it was impossible to stop.
Baxter Tough Little Dude
When Baxter was diagnosed with diabetes a couple years ago it seemed like he was on the slippery slope of old age. As each day robbed him of his sight it also stole a little of his vitality and willingness to fully enjoy himself. Walks became unbearably slow and for a time Baxter showed no interest in leaving the yard or sometimes even the house. With the help of our veterinarian we were able to stabilize his blood glucose levels with a couple of insulin injections each day.Over the course of the last three years I saw a remarkable change in Baxter. Completely blind, he maintained a meticulous map of the furniture in his head. He navigated a great deal by using area rugs and the change in the surface below his pads as an internal GPS. I was astonished to find that his canine cartography extended to many of our familiar walks; Baxter stopped just inches short of a raised sidewalk and began testing for a ledge that would otherwise trip him without my warning.
Baxter enjoyed being off leash and exploring the neighbors yard when we went for a visit or bumping around the dog park guided only by my voice. When my assistance was extended with a guiding hand Baxter responded with a familiar growl telling me, "Ive got this. Let me do it." And he usually did quite well.I didnt have those early years with Baxter, he was already eight when we met. Being a Lhaso Apso, he was a one person dog and heavily entrenched in the guarding of my partner, Gregory. My relationship with Baxter was tenuous and slightly antagonistic on both sides. However, when he went blind, a new deal was cut and I was reluctantly accepted as a co-guardian. I still received growls if I didnt execute to his demands, but they were more from habit than genuine displeasure. It became my responsibility to carry him downstairs each morning in the "football carry" position and I gave him a couple of quick pats after setting him down outside. Id get a quick "Grrreah" from him and off he went. We called him "The Colonel" for good reason and he always had the last word.
Baxter was one tough little dude and Im glad that I could shepherd him through his senior years. I just wish that I could have seen him in his younger years. Last week Baxter had started having seizures and by the end of the day hed racked up somewhere north of 15 of them. Knowing that the seizures would be hard to control, we had to say goodbye. Unfortunately, Gregory was traveling, so it was up to me to hold him in my arms as he took his last breath. Im honored that after all we went through, I was the one to comfort him in his final hours.For me, Baxter was a difficult dog to love. But once I started loving that tough little dude it was impossible to stop.
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