Murphy

It's been a while since I posted, but not much has changed for Murphy. He'll be 14 in exactly 2 weeks' time. He still loves his walks, although now he doesn't get to go out with Mike (the dog walker) and Maddie any more. The muscle wastage in his hips means he shouldn't walk for more than about 20 minutes at a time. So when Maddie goes out he gets a doggie puzzle with treats to make him feel special and distract him.

He goes to hydrotherapy once a week with me. There, he walks on the treadmill in water, with me stationed at one end feeding him titbits every now and then to keep him motivated. We have to keep an eye on him - it's ok for him to keep his front paws on the edge because it's the back ones he needs to exercise, but sometimes we'll notice he's got one back one on the side and is just going through the motions with the other one!

He's nae daft!

He lives to eat - we have to keep him on the lead on his morning and evening walks around the school as he will eat anything and everything he can - and I mean anything! He has always barked (once, imperatively) to get out or in the back door; now he has started the same thing if we've maybe left the remains of a snack or any other food out and he wants it. It's a strong incentive to clear up!

He needs help onto the sofa now and then, and he's started to skite about sometimes too - the hydro can only delay the inevitable now, it can't build the muscle up.

He's also getting a bit "fiel" - he'll suddenly realise he's alone in a room and panic; maybe he thinks he's been abandoned, so he barks until distracted - which can involve some loud shouting in the right tone, since he's pretty deaf too!

This morning I noticed he was really dragging his back right paw in the snow (always easy to see it in the snow) and tonight he suddenly seemed to get really tired. He was staggering quite a bit - clearly that same leg has suddenly lost it a bit. I don't know why now, or why so suddenly. Maybe he's just tired, and that's the weakest leg.

He's asleep in the middle of the living room floor now, where he can see my legs stretched out in the sunroom as I watch TV.

Despite all the ailments and weaknesses that are coming with his old age, he's still our Murphy. Still loves attention, treats and his Daddy (me too, but he's Richard's adorer). Still desperate for his walk when he thinks he should be having it, even though he daunders along, would be happier with a shorter one (but Maddie wouldn't be!) and goes faster downhill purely because he can't slow himself down anymore. Still independent, taking the lead out my hand if he wants to go himself (the kids going to school love seeing that - "the doggie's walking himself!")

Who knows how long we've got left with him, but I'm determined to treasure it. My darling.