Poor pooch

Kirby is rapidly getting worse now. He was diagnosed with bladder cancer several months ago which explained his need to stop and pee every 20 feet while we were walking him for at least the previous two years. I’m still mad at our vet for not figuring out what was wrong with him until we’d brought him there several times for the same complaint although I realize it probably wouldn’t have made much difference in his treatment.

Now he’s not eating anything; the only thing he’ll even look at is cooked meat and even that he won’t consistently eat. Forget dog food, he’s been turning up his nose at this for weeks, even samples of all natural organic stuff (Herring and oat? Herring and sweet potato? Blech!) we got at our local pet shop. he looks as though he’s highly uncomfortable all the time; he hunches his back when he walks, has trouble going up and down stairs, and can’t seem to get comfortable when he’s lying down. Oh, and he’s peeing in the house and in his crate and seems to have little control. I wonder if he’s in pain but of course he can’t tell us that. I don’t want him to be in pain but I’m also not looking forward to the alternative.

When he looks as us his eyes are pleading but I don’t know what he wants. Does he want it to be over? Is he asking us to cook something to his liking? Does he want to go for a walk? Does he just want us to pet him and tell him it’s going to be ok?

Despite my lack of desire to have a dog in the first place I am attached to him and he’s been a good pet to us over the years. He’s dealt with Sam well after an adjustment period and even now when he’s obviously uncomfortable he doesn’t react to the things Sam does.

He’s going to leave a big empty hole in our lives.