Our dogs are already part of our family, so losing them meant losing a member of our family, too. Life without them is unimaginable, even though we know that they only had short lives. We do our best for them to stay healthy so we can live with them for many more years that a dog’s life could possibly live. However, when the time comes, we must learn to accept the reality, just like one family in Baltimore, Maryland, whose 17-year-old dog Toy Poodle, fell suddenly ill. But then, the unexpected happened.
Owners Dr. Melo-Jean Yap and Taina Brown’s dog, Luna, are showing worrying signs of serious illness after she refused to eat, unable to stand up, and appeared to be weak. They rushed Luna to the Veterinary Clinic, preparing themselves for the worst. It was then that the veterinarian confronted them that it was time to say goodbye, given her old age.
Yap and Brown prepared for Luna’s final moments with them. They remembered her as part of their family for seven years after they adopted her from a dog shelter in Kanab, Utah, called Best Friends Animal Society. They couldn’t imagine a life without Luna, but knew they would eventually have to let go.
But then, something miraculous happened. All of a sudden, Luna, who was limped and unresponsive, sprang to life. Both Yap and Brown noted that Luna could no longer eat or walk, but once she was at the veterinarian’s office for quite some time, she jumped out of her owner’s arms and began walking as if nothing happened.
Luna hadn’t consumed any food for days, but she finished her favorite food as she was observed at the veterinary office. They were happy over the improvement of Luna’s health but of course, they are all aware of her old age. n a social media post made by Luna’s owners, they expressed their gratitude for the extra time given for the life of their dog.
Their followers eagerly wait for their updates on Luna’s condition. To everyone’s relief, they bore good news as they shared that Luna’s health was improving. Although the future is uncertain, given Luna’s age, they are just thankful for Luna’s miraculous recovery as it has given them extra time to be together.
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Making a Senior Dog’s Life Worthwhile
Like us, our dogs age too, and they have a much shorter lifespan than humans, so they hope to spend their entire dog years with their family. Not every senior dog is lucky enough to recover like Luna, so while they’re under your care, make the most out of it to make them healthy and make their last years worthwhile.Â
Here are some tips to make their last few years worthwhile:
- Spend time with them – Probably one of the most important things is to spend time during the last years of their lives. Take them to the park or a trek like you promised, but of course, do note that they may easily get tired, so make sure to bring enough water and rest for a while. Make sure to leave no room for regret in the future when they cross the rainbow bridge.
- Regular veterinary visits – As your dog ages, make sure to visit the vet regularly to keep up with his health. Veterinary visits may sometimes require you to undergo laboratory tests, especially when the vet sees something abnormal from their bodies. While illness can’t be prevented as dogs age, at least you can help prevent it by knowing what’s happening with your dog’s body. The veterinarian will also recommend lifestyle changes, such as proper diet, which would benefit your dog’s health.
- Move, move, and move – A dog’s joints may suffer as they age so it is important to continue those daily walks outside your house or at the park. Observe whether your dog is feeling any pain and report it to your veterinarian immediately. They might require your dog to take supplements to ease the pain and make your dog’s joints stronger.Â
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From The Club
I relate to the owners of Luna because I have a 14-year-old senior dog who is scheduled to be put to sleep soon. Unlike Luna, my dog didn’t have a miraculous recovery as dementia is slowly eating him alive. He can no longer walk, and he cries all day due to confusion and pain, so the best option is to let him sleep. My family has prepared for this to happen, and instead of grieving, we wanted to celebrate his life because he made it long enough to be with us.
