"Janet Boss" wrote in message
...
The recent (current?) illness of my 3 dogs really brought aging to light
for me. Since we don't know the cause of the illness, there are a lot
of unanswered questions, but there is no doubt in my mind that Marcie's
youth and general health kept her healthier through all of this than
Lucy's aging body.

I think of Lucy as timeless. She's such a playful and happy girl, and
to see her not doing her happy dance for meals (but still eating them
mind you) was crushing. Of 3 sick dogs, she's the only one that
needed to stay at the vet, get her meds IV, have her body get total rest
and 24/7 care. I have to come to grips with the fact that at 12+, she's
not as hearty as she once was and that she won't live forever. I hate
having to realize that.

She is a little stiff sometimes, but no big deal. Some days she can
leap right into the car, other days she needs a boost. Yesterday, she
needed more than a boost, her body weakened by illness and not quite up
to par. She is much improved today, pretty much herself, but still a
little on the quiet side. The house was horridly quiet without her here
on Monday night. How a senior dog missing can create that silence was
quite surprising. I hate the idea of her not being here at all at some
point in the future.

Once everyone is well, I think I really need to make sure we get a lot
of swimming days in, enjoy the summer sunshine, and live canine life to
the fullest. Not that we don't try to do all of those things anyway,
but I feel a stronger commitment to it now. I think every day I have
her with me is a blessing.

I'm sorry to hear that all your dogs have serious illnesses. It is
especially disturbing that your young pup Marcie is also ill. Could there
be a common factor in the environment causing some of this?

Muttley is now almost five. Certainly he is still in his prime, but in a
few years he will be a senior dog already. Time has a way of slipping by
too quickly. We wish you the best. I certainly don't have any expertise in
canine health, so I can't offer advice, except just make sure you provide
the most stress-free and healthy environment for them, and enjoy your time
with them.

Paul and Muttley