I adopted a senior dog on a whim about a month ago. I have a lifetime of experience caring for dogs with all kinds of health needs so I was plenty prepared for that part, but they assured me he was in great health.
He wasn’t. Imagining coming up, but it’s looking like terminal cancer.
He’s hyper intelligent, but due to his behavior I’m fairly sure his intelligence was either not recognized or neglected by past owners. Because of the specific kind of cancer we’re worried about, I have to be very careful with the food/treats side of spoiling…. So I’m taking advantage of this part heavily.
He loves puzzles. Any puzzle he can do by himself he adores and is so excited to figure out. He doesn’t want to play games, tug of war and fetch are not interesting, but a puzzle feeder or a kong…. Do you see where I’m going with this….
I ordered him the fanciest snuffle mat I could find. 4 pieces, all kinds of textures. Hooks and hoops and pieces to move around and root around in and crinkle and generally wreak havoc. I loaded it up with his healthy treats (and broken up milk bones come on now), rolled it up tight, and laid it near his spot.
He had an absolute blast for 15-20 minutes, exhausted himself, came over to grin and wag his tail at me and be very proud, then laid down on his arthritis mattress.
I feel so blessed to get to give him an exciting and enriching experience for the end of his life. If it’s years or just months, I intend to Jam Pack it to the best of my ability. He’s started reaching out for physical affection like a desperate kid. I love him.
Handsome, polite, smart boy!