Abbye and the new digs
Category: Abbye...
Posted Wednesday, March 26, 2008 at 02:33 PM [GMT-6]

Some of you have kindly inquired as to how Abbye is doing in her new surroundings. The short answer is an unqualified "OK."

We were concerned that moving into a new house would be stressful on her, and she doesn't handle stress well. So we were (and are) pleasantly surprised that the move itself hasn't seemed to affect her, health wise.

Of course, she lost all of her cues for finding things, and that's an ongoing problem. She's gotten pretty good at navigating the path between her crate in our bedroom (where she spends most of her time) and her water dish in our bathroom, and she can eventually find her way into the kitchen around meal time. But more often than not, she gets disoriented and has to be rescued from behind furniture, in corners, or down hallways.

In her defense, until we can completely clear the floor of unpacked boxes and unhanged (is that a word?) paintings, her wanderings will be unavoidably complicated.

On the other hand, some of Abbye's disorientation is no doubt due to a slow-but-steady decline in her overall condition. She's lived for more than two years now with Cushing's Disease and the diabetes that blinded her, and our vet's best guess is that she's about fourteen years old. She could well have a few more years of life ahead of her, but odds are that she doesn't. In addition to being blind, we think her hearing is worsening, and even her sense of smell doesn't seem to be as sharp as it was only a few months ago.

Still, she gets out for a daily walk in the morning, and a shorter one in the evening if it's not too hot, and she knows well when she's due her quota of treats. Losing her eyesight was even a blessing in a strange way, as she's much calmer now that she's no longer got a hair trigger when it comes to being startled by things like blowing leaves. And the daily dose of glucosamine has worked wonders for her arthritis.

I guess you could say that for a dog that's as sick as she is, she's in remarkably good health. We should all be so fortunate.

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Comments

Awww... Abbye.

I'm glad to hear that at least she's in pretty good shape for the shape that she's in.

Posted by: Jim at March 26, 2008 04:36 PM

Aww, poor baby. Glad she's adjusting well, though.

Posted by: Stephen at March 26, 2008 04:45 PM

I am reminded of the old crone from "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," and of late the play "Spamalot:"

"I'm not dead yet!"

Forrest, our previous Magnetic Wonder Dog, lived to a ripe old 17 years old, and seemed to get a second wind at around 14-15 years old. He was losing sight and sound toward the end, but still went (slowly) on his daily walk and generally seemed content until he simply didn't wake up after a nap. A good way to go for a good dog.

Glad to hear about Abbye's adjustment, and allow me to lift my water dish in one of my favorite toasts: "May she be buried in a casket made from the tree of a hundred-year oak that you planted today."

Posted by: Bret at March 26, 2008 06:56 PM

Thanks, guys. I've passed along your sentiments to the old girl, and she responded with an enthusiastic tail wag.

Well, I admit I was also holding a liver treat when I spoke to her.

Posted by: Eric at March 26, 2008 09:52 PM

All I can say is she couldn't have two more wonderful caretakers. I'll loan you Yoda, the three legged wonder dog, as a seeing eye companion.

Posted by: Patty at March 26, 2008 09:57 PM

Yoda and Abbye would make quite a pair, the fat leading the fat. But if Yoda could learn to give insulin shots, I might take you up on that offer!

Posted by: Eric at March 26, 2008 10:03 PM

It's about time we heard about Abbye. Why do you think we really tune in here? :>]

Posted by: Wallace at March 26, 2008 11:49 PM

Why do you think we really tune in here?

I've never had any illusions about that!

Posted by: Eric at March 27, 2008 06:34 AM

I'm glad she's doing well!!

We took Zoie-dog to the trainer on Saturday, and Zack thinks he's lost his best friend. (You know, it seems like it took him so long before he'd have anything to do with her.) Zack finally ate last night for the first time. I was about to take him to the vet and get him checked out.

She'll be gone a while, so Zack will have to adjust.

I really can't imagine life without them.

Posted by: Janie at March 27, 2008 06:41 PM

Janie, they just become an extension of family, simple as that. Sometimes, they're even better than family! ;-)

Posted by: Eric at March 28, 2008 09:53 AM

Eric,
When did you all move?!!! I noticed I had not seen you and Abbye out walking in the mornings. I'm glad to see it's not because something has happened to Abbye. I miss seeing you guys. Hope you didn't move out of town.
Lana

Posted by: Lana at March 29, 2008 11:30 AM

Lana, thanks for the note. I've replied via email.

Posted by: Eric at March 29, 2008 11:46 AM
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