Post by Midge on Dec 6, 2013 9:03:56 GMT -5
We had to let our Millie go last night. I know... I know... 14 is a "good" age but, aside from only having 3 teeth, the Laryngeal Paralysis, and lately her hind end weakness, she was perfectly healthy right up to two weeks ago.
Two weeks ago I noticed that her eye, more like that little inner eyelid, looked a little swollen and red. I figured she was, once again, the victim of a happy tail whipping Riggin. The next day it was obvious there was more to it as it appeared she had gone completely blind in that eye. Long story short, after testing and treatment it turned out that she had a tumor in the sinus cavity behind her eye. After spending the last three years actively keeping Millie happy (being upset aggravated her LP) we just couldn't put her through any more. We spent the day yesterday doing what we had always done, keeping her comfortable and making her feel loved, then let her go.
But this isn't a thread about her passing, it's about what she brought to our lives.
Millie was a bounce and didn't come into our home until 2010. She looked so darned fragile when we brought her home that I truly believed she wouldn't be with us long. I nicknamed her "Betty White" because she proved that looks could be deceiving. The minute you started thinking of her as a poor little old senior she'd swear (or, in Millie's case, give you the stink eye and grumble).
I mentioned "keeping Millie happy". I do have to add that that wasn't difficult, she was such a joy.
Millie wasn't supposed to run, because anything that made her pant made her gag. But try stopping her. She loved nothing better than to do a turn or two around the yard. I think the neighbours thought her name was "SLOW DOWN!!!".
We took making her meals to a science, soaking her kibble and mashing it until it was "just so" for our near-toothless wonder. But if you weren't standing RIGHT THERE, her and Holly would quietly do a "1-2-3 SWITCH" because Holly loves mush as much as Millie loved sucking back crunchies. Speaking of crunchies, she also liked backyard *chocolate bars*, ugh!
If she barked too much during the course of a day, she'd make these strange gagging/honking noises all night. So any time she barked, somebody would be at her side. She learned that the quickest way to get my attention was to bark especially when I was on the phone. Every time. Yeah, she trained us well but we all kind of thought it was pretty funny anyway.
Each one of us will miss something unique about her, she was a real character. She didn't like being on the furniture but she would let us share her dog bed. She was an awkward cuddler, all Norman Rockwellish until her tongue fell out of her mouth and landed in your eye. Or ear.
I'll miss my Millie strolls. The other two got walks, Millie ambled. She couldn't go for epic hikes so we would just go out alone, her on her leash so I'd have no trouble following along behind. Not far at all, usually to the corner and back. She'd stroll along, checking out the peemail and on cooler, good days we'd take a break at the park around the corner. There's a playground there and usually a few small children who were good for a few Millie snuggles.
I want to remember this Millie:
Two weeks ago I noticed that her eye, more like that little inner eyelid, looked a little swollen and red. I figured she was, once again, the victim of a happy tail whipping Riggin. The next day it was obvious there was more to it as it appeared she had gone completely blind in that eye. Long story short, after testing and treatment it turned out that she had a tumor in the sinus cavity behind her eye. After spending the last three years actively keeping Millie happy (being upset aggravated her LP) we just couldn't put her through any more. We spent the day yesterday doing what we had always done, keeping her comfortable and making her feel loved, then let her go.
But this isn't a thread about her passing, it's about what she brought to our lives.
Millie was a bounce and didn't come into our home until 2010. She looked so darned fragile when we brought her home that I truly believed she wouldn't be with us long. I nicknamed her "Betty White" because she proved that looks could be deceiving. The minute you started thinking of her as a poor little old senior she'd swear (or, in Millie's case, give you the stink eye and grumble).
I mentioned "keeping Millie happy". I do have to add that that wasn't difficult, she was such a joy.
Millie wasn't supposed to run, because anything that made her pant made her gag. But try stopping her. She loved nothing better than to do a turn or two around the yard. I think the neighbours thought her name was "SLOW DOWN!!!".
We took making her meals to a science, soaking her kibble and mashing it until it was "just so" for our near-toothless wonder. But if you weren't standing RIGHT THERE, her and Holly would quietly do a "1-2-3 SWITCH" because Holly loves mush as much as Millie loved sucking back crunchies. Speaking of crunchies, she also liked backyard *chocolate bars*, ugh!
If she barked too much during the course of a day, she'd make these strange gagging/honking noises all night. So any time she barked, somebody would be at her side. She learned that the quickest way to get my attention was to bark especially when I was on the phone. Every time. Yeah, she trained us well but we all kind of thought it was pretty funny anyway.
Each one of us will miss something unique about her, she was a real character. She didn't like being on the furniture but she would let us share her dog bed. She was an awkward cuddler, all Norman Rockwellish until her tongue fell out of her mouth and landed in your eye. Or ear.
I'll miss my Millie strolls. The other two got walks, Millie ambled. She couldn't go for epic hikes so we would just go out alone, her on her leash so I'd have no trouble following along behind. Not far at all, usually to the corner and back. She'd stroll along, checking out the peemail and on cooler, good days we'd take a break at the park around the corner. There's a playground there and usually a few small children who were good for a few Millie snuggles.
I want to remember this Millie: