I Wish Our Dog Lizzie Would Stay

"The two-mile drive from our home on the north end of the island to the center of our little town was long enough. Even the short distance after turning onto the main street and passing the three churches, the fire station, the seafood restaurant, and the pizza place before arriving at the vet's office seemed long. But the ride home with our soon-to-be-seventeen-year-old black Labrador whimpering in the back seat seems infinitely longer."

"We had taken Lizzie to get help for what we thought was a urinary infection, her sudden loss of bladder control creating a sense of urgency for us all. We had taken her to get help, perhaps a pill or a shot that would cure whatever was ailing her. But suddenly, Ernie and I are the ones who need help."

"The soft black nose that used to detect a biscuit tucked in my jacket pocket in the hallway closet is now most often found burrowed deep in the nest of blankets we have fashioned for her on the family room floor: she just lies there, day after day after day. The ravenous appetite that once scarfed down breakfast and dinner in record time, the rest of the day spent searching for any snacking opportunities, now seems to have vanished,"

Owners drive their nearly seventeen-year-old black Labrador, Lizzie, two miles to the town vet concerned about a suspected urinary infection and sudden loss of bladder control. The veterinarian's serious assessment prompts deeper questions about Lizzie's daily eagerness and overall quality of life. Lizzie exhibits pronounced mobility decline, frequent slipping on floors, episodes of becoming stuck and panicking, and extended lethargy in a blanket nest. Her once keen nose and voracious appetite have faded; she no longer scavenges or eats meals reliably. The couple faces emotional distress and uncertainty about caring decisions as their longtime companion shows progressive physical and behavioral deterioration.

Read at Psychology Today