Our puppy, Sadie Belle, a tan/blonde beagle lab mix, is now an old dog. We have been through this before, but it is never easy to watch your beloved pup age. They can not tell us what is wrong and what hurts, we can only take the cues. Sadie has been on medications for arthritis, is lumpy with fatty tumors and with skin tags on various parts of her body and a growth of sorts on her leg.
Sadie went in for surgery today to remove the growth ( I am not a vet and can’t remember what it was called) and several skin tags. While she was under we had an X-ray done to check the arthritis. Sadie is home and doing well. Her limp on the right side was getting worse, so there was no surprise when arthritis showed up, the severity is rather alarming though. She also has a bone spur in the area. We were sure it was her shoulder, but it is all in her elbow.
I too am experiencing arthritis (in my hands) so I understand the discomfort. But what do we do next for Sadie? There are several options. Surgery is not really one of those options because of Sadie’s age. There is laser therapy and the better option of a lubricant type of shot. The shot has to be given monthly at the vet clinic, a pain to do yes …. but our dogs are part of our family and she is worth the expense whatever we decide.
We got Sadie as a nine month old puppy from the humane society. She has been there with us through thick and thin. I will do what it takes to make her comfortable in her senior years, it is the least I can do for all the love and loyalty she has given us for the past 12 ish years.
We go back to the vet to get her stitches removed in a couple of weeks at that time we will make our plan. For now, we have pain meds and a few other things to make her more comfortable.
We don’t know how long anyone, human or animal will be on this earth. We just take it one day at a time and love with all we have.
The Life and Times of Me 