Buster's condition is deteriorating fast or so it seems. His eye sight is failing and along with his idiocratic vestebular disease he is really struggling. I am just taking it a moment at a time with him and think I may have to put him down, end his life since he is so struggling with just being here now. I am delaying my decision to put him down because it is so painful to think about life without Buster. He is such a loving dog, but I have to think of his quality of life, if he is in pain etc. The vestebular disease is completely horrible and he has compensated masterfully, but even with his compensation, he struggles so much. I've had to walk him on the leash just to keep him from leaning and then falling down to the side.
Last weekend I took him to Oaks Bottom and let him go swimming. Bad idea, even though he has been a good swimmer in the past, his balance issue came out big time in the water. As soon as the river bottom got deeper, he lost his balance in the water and rolled over like a log and began thrashing. If I hadn't run into the river, he would have drowned since he couldn't seem to right himself.
He has old blind dog disease and vestebular disease. I'd heard the band Old Blind Dogs but it didn't strike me as being about dogs, but that is what happens to dogs eventually and some people too. We grow old and the qualities that we have come to expect of our lives leave us. It is because of this aging that makes it tough for our living friends and families. At least Buster and Jerky have me to look after them. It is just tearing at my heart that Buster is going down faster as the moments pass......
That is so sad. I hope you find the strength to make the right decision at the right time for both you and Buster. Best wishes.
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