Mr. Ranger

Mr Ranger is getting very old.  Old in age, yes,  he’s going to be 13 years old in April.  Human age for his weight and size is around 96, that’s what the vet told me.  We think he has some problem inside him, too.  Inside meaning his organs are shutting down.  It’s either his kidneys are failing or he has diabetes.  Also, he is not listening very well either.  We need lots of patience with this geriatric pooch. 

The good thing is he is still a chow hound.  He loves to eat so much that he even eats poop left by other dogs and the dogs’ owners have not been picking them up.   Mr Chow Hound has so much energy to walk to his favorite spot for his potty, the will walks fast to the spot where he know he will find some poop to mow on.  So we have not been walking him there but guess what???  This fella just does not want to walk unless we walk to that direction where his poop spot is.  This dog is like a kid. 

This morning I walked the boys the usual path and heading towards the poop spot but half way there, I told Ranger turn, go home.  He immediately stop, looked at me, looked over where he wants to go and sat down.  Man, I had to pull him then he will walk but he will stop, looked over that spot and me pulling him again.  So he is one great pretender.  He knows how to pretend; pretend he is aching, limping really bad where I had to actually help him, more like scooting his back to walk home.

We are waiting for an opening with the vet to bring him in.  The vet is fully booked.  I want a blood test done on him if he has kidney problems or diabetes and we go from there.  He is Prednisone for so many years, I’m afraid Cushing disease is very imminent  because of all the signs I’m seeing.  Yes, I have been observing him ever since he has to take Pred for all his life.  The heavy panting and the crazy shedding recently plus drinking lots and lots of water gave me the conclusion he has some kind of problem going on inside him.  If treatment is too expensive, I am sad to say we have to put him down.

Dang….too soon.