She is definitely declining. Her hips are deteriorating, and there are some indications that her medications may have stopped agreeing with her. That is what happened to our first dog, the amazing Gypsy: she couldn't live comfortably (couldn't walk) without the medication, but her system couldn't tolerate it anymore. Of course that was a long time ago; there are more medication options now. But we're already on the third one. Cody's panic attacks and anxiety have also gotten worse, now triggered by any change of weather.
That's the bad news. The good news is Cody is still clearly enjoying her life. She goes on short walks, has a good appetite, even plays with Tala a little in the backyard. At the dog park, she surprises everyone with sudden bursts of energy, sprinting around like a dog half her age.
Cody insists on pulling herself upstairs to sleep in the bedroom - and when we're not home, she still sleeps on the bed! People have suggested we put up a baby-gate to keep her on the first floor, but we're very resistant to that. I don't want her to feel punished or cut off from her family at the end of her life. If she really can't walk the stairs, she won't.
Tala dotes on Cody, doing whatever it takes to get her attention, including annoying the hell out of her. When Cody was in Guelph for her surgery, Tala didn't eat the whole time; she stayed in her crate with her head down. A preview of things to come.
But not today.
Our first place in Port Credit
She looks so young!
And even younger! A few months after we adopted her.
This morning.
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