Oh boy, I'm not ready for this.......

[snorzzz]

My dog Belle, she's a Catahoula Leopard. I've been reading about the breed all day. I found out their life expectancy is 13 years, tops. She was 13 back in March of this year. Wow. I've just took so much for granted. I didn't realize she was so near the end of her time.

Her health has not been good. Her hips are really bad. And the tumor in her mouth, I guess it was a wake-up call for me. She ate a lot of grass today, and then vomited it all up. But she just ate a good supper, so I am glad for that.

We grew old together. My health is not good either. When her time comes, I would love to get another Catahoula, but I don't think I could physically handle another catahoula, unless it was an old dog.

Anyway, I'm realizing, my sweet Blue Belle is nearing the end of her life, and I'm not handling it very well. I don't know how to live without her. She is always right beside me.

I've never had a dog before that was mine. I had cats, but never a dog. So she is the first dog I have loved, and the first dog I will mourn. I am mourning her now, just knowing her time is near.

I've had her since 1994, when she was just a puppy. She was a gift from my son, and I knew absolutely nothing about the breed. Wow, what a shock, to have a Catahoula enter your life without any awareness of the breed! But over the years, she has trained me well, and taught me many things about the world of dogs.

My precious Blue Belle Catahoula, who taught me what it means to have a dog for a friend, a dog who protects me, a dog who knows when I am hurting, a dog who lives because she knows I need her and I love her.

 

[Buddy'sParents]

((hugs))

 

[bubbatd]

Been there and it's hard ...........we have to enjoy every day , every year ---- they never live long enough . It's at this point I'd try to bring another dog into our lives . I found it helped all the way around . Helped the older dog , trained the younger dog , and there was someone to hug when the dreaded time came . When I lost my Chip last July , it was the first time in 60 yrs. I'd been dogless..... couldn't stand it and luckily Ollie was waiting on Petfinder. I've never wanted to be in the position to put away blankets , bowls and toys .... I never will ! They'll put me away first !!

 

[snorzzz]

((hugs))

Thank you Buddy'sParents. There's no way I can know when her time will come, but I'm thinking 6 months would be a blessing. And I fear I might be hoping too much for that. Today, she is doing fairly well. I cherish the days, each and every one.

 

[jammer]

Oh I'm so sorry It sounds like you have given her a good life. Cherish her remaining days. Hugs..

 

[snorzzz]

Been there and it's hard ...........we have to enjoy every day , every year ---- they never live long enough . It's at this point I'd try to bring another dog into our lives . I found it helped all the way around . Helped the older dog , trained the younger dog , and there was someone to hug when the dreaded time came . When I lost my Chip last July , it was the first time in 60 yrs. I'd been dogless..... couldn't stand it and luckily Ollie was waiting on Petfinder. I've never wanted to be in the position to put away blankets , bowls and toys .... I never will ! They'll put me away first !!

(((hugs)) to you, bubbatd. Belle has so many babies, all lined up in front of the fireplace. A few years back, we made the mistake of throwing away an old baby who was in bad shape. For days and days, she looked for that ONE missing baby. We learned our lesson, and never again did we throw away a baby.

I'm thinking now about getting a puppy, but Belle is SO VERY protective of her home/cave, I don't know if it would go over very well.

 

[~Jessie~]

I am so sorry It sounds like your pup has lived a nice, long life, and hopefully you'll have a good bit of time left with her.

I had a dalmatian growing up, and when she was 9 years old she collapsed... only then did I realize just how old she was getting. She lived to be 10.

 

[snorzzz]

Oh I'm so sorry It sounds like you have given her a good life. Cherish her remaining days. Hugs..

Thank you Jammer. I think she still has some good days left, and I will cherish them all. She is so beautiful. I will try to get some pics of her posted sometime this week.

 

[snorzzz]

I am so sorry It sounds like your pup has lived a nice, long life, and hopefully you'll have a good bit of time left with her.

I had a dalmatian growing up, and when she was 9 years old she collapsed... only then did I realize just how old she was getting. She lived to be 10.

Thank you Jessie, yes, that's what I am faced with now, a wake-up call, letting me know the truth of things, and the end of things. I am thankful for the days I still have with Belle, and I am realizing those days are limited.

It's so very hard, but it helps me to talk about it with you all.

 

[shadowfacedanes]

When I read the part where you said you were mourning her already, it hit home to me.

When I found out my almost 9 year old dane had cancer two years ago, I lost it. I completely fell apart. I mourned her before she even passed, and I kick myself so many times now for not spending that time LIVING with her.
I was so sad that she was dying, that I missed out on some of the valuable living time she had left. Please don't make that same mistake that I did. Enjoy your baby girl, for every waking minute that she has left. Don't let the end of her life loom over you and rob you of enjoying her!

My large mixed breed, Dexter, lived to be almost 15 - and we thought at age 11 that it was nearing his time...he had severe hip dysplasia and other issues, but that boy kept on going right up until he passed...

They can suprise us!

Oh and another thing, don't let the life expectancy rule get you down, it's only a guideline, not a prophecy. In danes, the life expectancy is around 6-9 years. I've known of many who have lived to 13 and 14, and if a dane, with all of their problems, can exceed their life expectancies, so can your cherished girl!

Best wishes to you and Bella. I understand how heartbreaking it is to see them in the last phase of their lives...


((HUGS))

 

[bubbatd]

Most of my older Goldens did better with a youngster around , but I think it depends on the individual dog and breed . Most of the people who got my pups got another when when their first was 12 or 13 and it worked out well . I kept a male when my male was 12 and he lived to be almost 17 , That's how I had 4 Goldens at one point .

 

[Barb04]

You and Belle give each other so much love; just keep loving each other every day.

 

[snorzzz]

When I read the part where you said you were mourning her already, it hit home to me.

When I found out my almost 9 year old dane had cancer two years ago, I lost it. I completely fell apart. I mourned her before she even passed, and I kick myself so many times now for not spending that time LIVING with her.
I was so sad that she was dying, that I missed out on some of the valuable living time she had left. Please don't make that same mistake that I did. Enjoy your baby girl, for every waking minute that she has left. Don't let the end of her life loom over you and rob you of enjoying her!

My large mixed breed, Dexter, lived to be almost 15 - and we thought at age 11 that it was nearing his time...he had severe hip dysplasia and other issues, but that boy kept on going right up until he passed...

They can suprise us!

Oh and another thing, don't let the life expectancy rule get you down, it's only a guideline, not a prophecy. In danes, the life expectancy is around 6-9 years. I've known of many who have lived to 13 and 14, and if a dane, with all of their problems, can exceed their life expectancies, so can your cherished girl!

Best wishes to you and Bella. I understand how heartbreaking it is to see them in the last phase of their lives...


((HUGS))

I have thought long and hard about what you have said here. It has helped me tremendously! I am determined to take all of this "one day at a time", and give my Belle lots of love each day that I have her.

Thank you so much!!!! You have given me so much hope!!!

 

[bubbatd]

Remember that dogs pick up your vibs ...... if you're down ... they are too ! I tried to never pass on my sorrow to an old or sick dog . Try to be up beat and enjoy whatever time you have left . Hate to say it folks , but 10 years pass quickly .....sadly almost all of our dogs here will be gone by then . May we all cope and move on . It's something we all have to face .... whether our pets, parents or older friends and family .

 

[shadowfacedanes]

I have thought long and hard about what you have said here. It has helped me tremendously! I am determined to take all of this "one day at a time", and give my Belle lots of love each day that I have her.

Thank you so much!!!! You have given me so much hope!!!

Don't thank me, thank my baby Shelby and my little man Dexter ....in their lives, and deaths, they have taught me so many things....I'm more than happy to share my experiences with you, and I'm delighted that it gave you hope! That new found hope will no doubt also inspire Belle. Like Bubba said, they certainly do pick up on how we're feeling. I can't help but think back and think that if I had not spent the last 11 days of Shelby's life crying, she may have had more strength to fight....but that's over now and there is nothing I can do about it besides encourage others not to make the same mistake I did. Enjoy your precious girl....for every second you have with her. I wish you both the very best!!