Everyone who reads this blog knows how much we love our dog Lindy, and knows she has a special bond with her daddy.Now, no matter how reassuring the online information may seem, and it really has proven helpful, we still find ourselves unprepared for what is already happening...Lindy has cataracts, and is losing her eyesight. She still has some distance vision, but she can't see a cookie (a dog cookie, of course) held right in front of her nose.
And surgery is not an option.
She is becoming more and more dependent upon us, and although we love caring for her, reassuring her, hugging her and cuddling with her, we mourn the loss of her eyesight far more than she does.
She has always loved adventure, walking with her daddy, whatever the weather, to see what they can see. She loved spotting the deer in the distance, and was always sure she would love to leap and run with them.
I remember the first time she saw antelope (what funny-looking deer!) and wanted to run with them, too.
In warm weather she loved to roll around on her back, and was particularly pleased if she could entice one of us to rub her tummy.
Now she likes to cuddle in the house a lot more, and tummy rubs on the floor are becoming the rule rather than the exception.
Will we ever be ready for, and accepting of, this change in our lives or will we always be unprepared?
Posted for the letter U at ABC Wednesday
12 comments:
Oh Kay...
I'm so sorry. This is awfully difficult. It is hard to know that poor Lindy is losing her eyesight, but she has her sense of smell and can hear your loving voices. It's hard though knowing that she can't be with you forever. I'm tearing up just thinking about it. She always looks so young and beautiful to me. I'm sure that is the memory you will also hold always.
I don't think we are ever prepared even when the facts are so blatantly obvious. My little dog, Lucy, went deaf and developed what could only by classified as doggy Alzheimer's. She spent all her final days looking out the window for her family that would never return. We held on to her for too long. Give your precious Lindy all the love you can and enjoy every moment with her.
hi Lindy... ma quanta neve c'รจ da te !!!!
baci Myriam
Oh Kay, I am so sorry. I know how you love Lindy. Hopefully she will still enjoy life as much as she used to do.
Love, Wil
Hari Om
Oh Kay - perfect post for the prompt... Many hugs to you and Lindy. YAM xx
it is UNFORTUNATE, and we are never prepared for some things.
ROG, ABC Wednesday
Hopefully, your dear Lindy will adjust well in time. Our last dog, Angus the basset hound, lost some hearing and most of his sight with age. But he adapted amazingly. Like you, we were the ones with issues. Hang in there and give it time.
I don't think anyone can ever be prepared for something like this. We love our dogs like our children and they give us such unconditional love. As long as she remains fairly healthy otherwise, you will just have to adapt yourselves to helping her out vision-wise. I wonder why they couldn't do surgery like they can for humans.
Leslie
abcw team
Kay, from beloved pet to other members of family, one can never be prepared for protracted illness. It's hard seeing Lindy (that little lover puppy) go downhill... but the extra tummy rubs are all the more appreciated, I'm sure.
My prayers are with you all. Love, Amy
You know my heart is with you in this. We are in similar circumstances with our beloved Lady girl. And no, I don't think we can ever fully prepare ourselves. Perhaps the most we can do is trust that the grace and strength will be given at the moment it is needed. Dogs are so brave and trusting. Perhaps they have learned this lesson already...
Always the problem with having a pet. Our latest cat is 10 years old. He was eight when we got him, but he is so, so sweet and has such an interesting personality! He really tries to communicate. He knows how to get our attention. He's easy to read. Even my sister who is not a great fan of cats,(she has allergies), is totally sold on him, but can't pet him. He will be the hardest of all cats we've had to lose. But C.S. Lewis has some good words: "The sadness now is part of the happiness then." You can't have one without the other.
Kay I am sorry to hear about Lindys eyes, Vicki my little dog also has eyesight problems, when I took her to the vets in April when she was ill they told me she had cataracts. She had worked things out for herself, still goes outside and wonders around the house.
If I move anything I put it back as soon as possible and when I come home I put my hand out to her so she can smell my hand before I touch her. She does occasionally walk into a wall though. One night she walked into the radiator, I now put a cushion there at night.
I am sure Lindy will be fine, our dogs are very intelligent and good at adapting.
Hilary
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