Getting To The End: A Dog's Life

Nana, the Wonder Dog, is nearing the end.

Last week, I mentioned that she'd been doing poorly. For a couple of years now, she'd start to go downhill, and then rally. This past week was different.

The Friday before last, I noticed she kept favoring her back leg. I already have her on a box load of meds for her skin, her ears, and her arthritis. But this was new.

Many years ago, we had a rottie called Isis. She had a grasp of understanding that made her seem almost prescient. Isis liked to hop up on the couch and survey her kingdom. One day, she looked up at the couch soulfully and then resigned herself to the floor. She knew she couldn't make the hop anymore.

Nana had that same look that Friday. A chill swept over me and I knew she wouldn't rally again.

Isis lasted three weeks before both her hips went out and we had no choice but to put her to sleep. She was 12.

Nana is 12 1/2. This time though, there's a new drug out called Librela. It's a drug of controversy because trials have shown that some dogs die from complications. It's what I call "a last chance" drug. My vet tried it on her dog and it gave him a whole year pain free before the joints gave out completely.

It takes two weeks to work because it has to bind itself to new growth nerves preventing them from interacting with the pain receptors. It's not a cure. It's a mask.

Why give her a few extra months when we know the end is the same? 

Because we can. Because we want to give her a few months without pain. When Librela stops working...and it will, then we'll do what's required.

Unfortunately, it takes a couple of weeks for the serum to take hold. She has to last long enough for it to work. 

She was very weak at the start. We actually thought she was going to die that Friday, but five days in, I noticed she managed to get up unassisted. She's still unsteady and holds her more painful leg up, but it was a glimmer of hope.

We'll know more in another week. If we can give her a few months where she can enjoy life without pain, we'll take it. I doubt we'll get a year, but we'll be grateful for any time we get with her.

Meanwhile, pray for our old girl. I want her exit to be as peaceful and as pain free as possible.