[rubidoux]

and I'm feeling shocked and in grief. For some reason about three weeks ago I did the math and whoa! realized she was 11 1/2 (last time I had thought about her age was maybe a year earlier when our other dog, who's six mos younger, had a cancer scare).<br><br>
So anyhow, it seemed like we were moving along fine, she was fine, normal, no big changes and then I realized that she was OLD. I think I must have been picking up on something about her w/o realizing it, bc now she is all of the sudden acting her age. She got a terrible hot spot on her tail which started just a few days ago and the next day it was over the top terrible (my other dog gets hot spots all.the.time, but she never does). So I took her to the vet and by the time I got there I was in tears. Her whole posture was like that of a seriously elderly person and she just looked terrible and then she pee'd in my car (we had not realized it yet but she also pee'd in our bed earlier in the day). But the only "problem" the vet could see was this pretty bad but not over the top hot spot. We are waiting on kidney tests, but the doc didn't think that those would explain anything except for maybe the incontinence.<br><br>
I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this -- having their dog go from being totally able bodied and full of spunk one day to OLD very suddenly. I am soooo hoping that she will recover fully.

 

[mamallama]

I've had elderly dogs.<br><br>
I think it's pretty normal for an older dog to have good spells and bad spells. An older dog going through a bad spell looks a lot like an elderly dog.<br><br>
I know that "hope she pulls through this one" feeling. My experience was that my older dogs (and even after they crossed the line from golden years to elderly) pulled through many bad spells and enjoyed years even, all after I had been so very concerned about some health crisis or another.<br><br>
Take the time to cherish your old girl. You might have many years left--but either way, you'll never regret being lavish with the lovin' right now <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/innocent.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="shy">

 

[rubidoux]

Oooooh, that's so good to hear! Thank you!<br><br>
I hear you about the lavishing of love. Having a one-year-old has made it really hard to spend the time with my pups that used to flow easily. We are pretty careful about only allowing Augie around the dogs when we're specifically paying attention which means there are lots of times that the dogs are gated into the back half of the house. And I think I'd be even more worried about having them together when she's feeling bad. I really wish I could spend an afternoon lying on he bed with her like I used to in the pre-kid days. But I do fit it in whenever I can.<br><br>
And on a positive note... dh took he dogs for a walk tonight for the first time since she started feeling bad and she looked so much better when they got back! When he asked if they wanted to go, she jumped up as usual and then looked really sad and layed down at dh's feet, but by the time they were half a block away, she was looking much more like her old self. I hope it wasn't too taxing for her physically, but I am sure it was good for her head. She's been barking at passers-by again. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/orngbiggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="orange big grin">

 

[rubidoux]

Well, mamllama, you were right! She has totally recovered from her elderly spell! You would never even know she was old looking at her now. It's crazy! And there is no real explanation why. She just had a hot spot. She has had terrible injuries in the past that didn't seem to affect her almost at all, but this hot spot really brought her down for a few days. Kidney tests and all of her other blood work have come back glowing! Phew!

 

[mamallama]

That is great to hear!<br><br>
May you have many more years with her!

 

[da-tamsta]

My older "furbaby" just turned 14. She has a wrinkly grandma butt....so cute but she never had it before. I'm enjoying her and how wonderful she has been over the years. She is a good ole gal...DH kinda forgot about her one day and left the gate open. She went for a walk. He tried to find her and gave up...came home hours to find her sitting on the front patio waiting for him. LOL. I left for work and left the arcadia door open (didn't have a fence or anything). I came home to find I was cooling all of arizona but the dog was watching the apartment activity from her post on the couch looking out her window.

 

[rubidoux]

Aww, she sounds sweet! lol The only time my dogs ever escaped (under the fence in the backyard) they were so excited they had to come find me in the front yard. Feels recent to me, but they were only about two and three then. Siigh...

 

[lovebug]

this is what happened to my dear, dear buster. he went for young to old over night. then he would have ok days, better days and bad days after that.<br><br><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/hug.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="hug">s i am glad to see your furbaby is back to her 'old' self <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/orngbiggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="orange big grin">