A few days ago, Mom decided to take a special outing with just Katie. You may have heard through the grapevine that Katie isn’t doing very well. Mom thought it would be a fun idea to take her to a place where she enjoys walking. She brought along a lot of treats, and they took lots of photos, like this silly selfie!
Katie has had trouble walking for a couple years now, but recently her ability has really taken a turn for the worse. She no longer goes any further than about 100 yards on walks, and that far, only once a day. Her balance is way off, and her legs simply don’t work like they should. Not only does she have osteoarthritis, but she has some neurological issues especially in her back end. Last fall Mom took Katie to this same lake and she was able to walk around the entire thing, about two miles.
Mom wanted to spend some time with Katie in a place she enjoys going to, and she was hoping it might motivate Katie to walk a little bit more. Katie was thrilled to be at the lake she used to walk around all the time, but she didn’t have the energy to walk much more than her usual 100 yards. About fourteen months ago, Mom took all three of us to this lake for a walk and photos. It was the last walk we ever took all together. It became just to hard for Katie to keep up. Three dogs, three speeds and one human is too much.
The biggest problem right now is Katie isn’t eating. Her appetite has declined and she has lost a lot of weight. These days she only will eat a few bites of food at mealtime. She is getting thin and weak. Mom has tried so many tricks including changing food, adding wet food, adding treat crumbs, adding real meat, but nothing works anymore. She does still drink water which is a good thing. Katie always has room for treats, and she really was happy Mom brought along a lot of different treats to give her on their little trip.
Katie is now about 80% deaf which just adds to her troubles. She doesn’t like to be out in the yard with us anymore. We think she might be feeling vulnerable outside, not being able to move and not being able to hear. At least her eyes and nose are still in good working order.
Mom and Katie both admit they are lousy at taking selfies, but they sure had a blast trying! The time together what made the special outing so special, but the photos they took will be wonderful for memories. We don’t know how much longer Katie will hang on, but we are all enjoying every day we have with her. She still seems pretty happy which is the most important thing. Katie goes into her slumps and comes back out, but the slumps are more frequent and longer lasting every time, and the not eating isn’t changing. She is the best big sister ever, and we all love her!
Katie is such a sweetheart. Sending loving hugs and healing thoughts that she’ll feel better and start eating like she should.
Thank you. We just hope she stays happy and comfortable too.
what a nice idea… I love the mom&katie-time and it was so great to invite her to a trip to HER lake… I send potp and hugs and I hope for as much as possible good days you have together…
With Katie it is a roller coaster, but hopefully it will be a good ride for a while longer.
Mom time is really important right now! Will Katie eat the “super paste” they use for nutrition – it comes in a tube like tooth paste, but looks like molasses in October ( not quite as thick as it is in January, LOL).
She was a very picky, not big eater until she was almost three. Had to eat puppy food for the calories. Now she seems to be back to that stage. We have tried all kinds of foods, mixers, toppers, nutrient gravy stuff, but if she eats it once or twice, that is the most. We have even done the warm, cold, room temp trials, but it doesn’t help. Eating has been a battle with her now for about a year and half, but the past two months she has really stopped wanting to eat.
MOM time is very important right now. Has Katie tried the nutrition supplement that comes in a tubve like toothpaste but looks like molasses in October(not quite as think as itis in January, LOL).
What a great outing for Katie! Love the pictures! One on one with our dogs is always a very special time for them. Sending prayers for Katie and your family. Hugs to all of you and a very special hug to Katie!
With three of us, one on one is not always easy, but we are making it work. We all love the special time.
Lousy at selfies? HA! Those are fantastic! I’m so glad Katie got to go on a private outing with mom, Emma. I’m just sorry that Katie isn’t feeling better. Sending hugs and love to all of you.
Thank you. As long as Katie can walk and seems happy we are good. She loved her little trip with mom, but it’s hard to find a place to go with her that is close to the car and flat. She also doesn’t ride well in the car these days so it has to be fairly close.
No matter how long they are with us it is never long enough.
It never will be long enough. We always wonder why creatures like the giant turtles who no one has as a pet live so long but beloved dogs don’t. Not fair.
My heart, thoughts, and prayers are with you all. Healing hugs to Katie and love to all of you. I hope Katie gets to feeling better; but I know the “Just Mom and Me” trip probably did wonders for her spirit. I know it helped Callie. And those selfies are great! POTP
Thank you. Katie really enjoyed their outing, but it is hard to get her out these days. We just keep on loving her and wishing she stays happy and comfortable.
I’m so sorry that Katie isn’t feeling well. Those are great pictures and you will be so glad you took them. I wish I had taken more of Scout in his last couple of months. I sure hope Katie starts feeling better and you have a lot more time to spend with her. Thinking about you guys and sending lots of hugs your way.
We figure she will come out of this slump as she always does, but then next one won’t be far away. It is a progression but we are enjoying the time we have.
So sorry to hear that Katie is declining more, that’s so hard. Getting old sucks, for everyone. Such a great idea to go to her favorite spot and take some wonderful pictures for memories. Hang in there, and we are sending hugs.
Getting old does stink! Well, as far as knowledge and experiences it is a good thing but for the body it stinks! We just learn to make the best of every day and enjoy those around us.
Katie is such a sweet, happy, fun loving pup! If treats were there, it had to be a fun outing!
She always has an appetite for treats. Katie is a wonderful lady dog, and we hope she remains happy and has more time with us.
Special outings with mom are always so much fun. We feel like it’s a bonding moment
Snorts,
Lily & Edward
It is, especially when you live with multiple pets.
My heart hurts for you all, watching Katie, it’s so hard as you guys age. Has mom tried Liverwurst for Katie? My dogs will eat that no matter WHAT is going on.
We all love liverwurst and Aldi sells a big roll of it, but same story…she eats a bit and that is it, done. I think there is more going on than we see, but there isn’t much that can be done, so we just deal with it.
Hugs and love to Katie and to all of you. It isn’t easy getting old and it isn’t easy for those watching either. Katie, you are a beautiful gal.
It’s hard getting old, but almost more difficult watching others get old.
those are such special movements to have and remember – it is the hardest thing about having a dog in our life that we find something that can love us so unconditionally and yet have it such a short time
It is not fair, that is for sure. Mom has had Katie almost 25% of her life which is a lot and can’t imagine her not being with us every day.
Keeping you both in my thoughts and prayers. I hadn’t heard about Katie (I am not one who is glued to facebook all day), so this is the first I heard. I am so happy you were able to take Katie to one of her favorite places. Sweet girl……….sending much love (((hugs)))) DakotasDen
What? I’m going to send super glue for you to get stuck on Facebook! She is having a bad phase, but most likely she will come out for a bit and then go into another. It’s hard to see, but she still has her will to live and is happy which is all we need to know she is alright.
Getting old is such a bummer. It’s hard to watch our pups decline. All we can do is make the most of the time we get – and it sounds like your special outing was a perfect way to do that. Maybe you can get someone to take some nice photos of you and Katie together. Since I am always the one behind the camera, I didn’t have any good pics of me with our Abby, or of all of us together, so shortly before she passed we had someone take some pics for us and they are definitely a treasure now. Hang in there. I hope she is comfortable and happy and has many more good days ahead!
Three years ago, Mom had a shoot done with me, Katie and her. Then Bailie came along, so last August we had a shoot done with the three of us and Mom. There are some great shots. It is hard getting us all together with Mom, but it is important to have some photos like that. Thanks for thinking of it as we are photo oriented at my house.
Katie looks SO happy in those photos, and that is the most important thing. What a special outing for her and your Mom; that must have picked up both of their spirits.
It’s so tough when they won’t eat, but at least Katie is still enjoying the treats. I always figure when they get old like this as long as they are eating something to give them some strength (and drinking) that is the important thing.
Our thoughts are with your whole family, we hope Katie still has a few bounce backs left in her. ♥
I am so sorry, I did not know that Katie had been so poorly. How lovely to do a special outing for her to remember when she is gone. I hope she isn’t suffering and when the time comes I know you’ll do the right thing for her.
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She has good and bad days, but as long as she shows her will to live, sparkle in her eyes, and smiles, we keep loving her and caring for her. She is a large dog, that being said, she is doing amazingly well. She isn’t doing much with the blog anymore as she really can’t these days.
Thinking of you and Sweet Katie, and I’m so glad she got to go to the park with Mom. Those moments are so special. Good girl, Katie! I am thinking of you.
Katie and Ace should hang out together!
That would be so nice if they could! Too bad we aren’t in your region anymore.
I’m so sorry that Katie hasn’t been feeling well! I think it’s really awesome your mom took her on a special outing! ((hugs))
Mom is good about giving us each alone time, sometimes more than others if it is needed.
I’m sure that Katie appreciated some special Mom time. ♥ It is so hard to watch our babies grow weary. We are sending our biggest POTP for all of you. ♥ ♥
It’s very hard to see her decline. We often don’t notice the changes so much because we live with her, but when people see her out and ask what is wrong with her, it starts to hit us how bad off she must look even though to us she doesn’t seem all that bad.
What a special, special day! Oh sweet Katie, I hope Emma reads you these comments and you know how many people are pulling for you!
Sounds like Katie has longtime food issues, but I can say for me, it takes a lot of blood to digest food, and when your heart is working too hard getting blood to the rest of your body, it’s quite nauseating. I have to take medicine to make myself hungry because my constant tachycardia took my appetite away. Also takes a lot of energy to keep that blood flowing, and it makes me incredibly sleepy too…so I can relate to Katie’s fatigue!
As my girls age, I try very hard to enjoy even the smallest moments. I wish I could freeze time. We’ll keep praying and sending good thoughts your way!
That makes a lot of sense with her heart and not wanting to eat. Our vet said basically the same thing. Some days she must feel better as she will eat and eat, but 99% of the time she just picks at her food.
I think your selfies are great. What an awesome day, and a really nice way to spend some quality time together. It’s so stressful when our dogs get older, and my thoughts are with you.
It’s very hard because we feel bad and we never know what to expect from day to day, but it is life and we are in it together to the end.
Katie, you are such a beauty and such a strong, brave girl. Your mom knows exactly how to make you feel good, and you make her feel good, too. I love how your smiles pop right out of the picture and make Mom and me smile, too….
Love and licks,
Cupcake
Thank you. Katie does have a real pretty smile and she can sure show when she is happy. We hope she stays happy for a while longer.
Glad your momma and Katie got to have some nice time together.
It’s important for all of us to spend one on one time with Mom, but since Katie can’t do much these days an outing was real special for her.
We are so happy to see your Mama and Katie spending some fun quality time together! Our Mama is doing the same with our Bilbo. Live each day to its fullest!
Smileys!
Dory, Jakey, Arty & Bilbo
We think about Bilbo too. Those super seniors are so wonderful, but scary at the same time. Cherish every moment.
I am so sorry to hear that Katie is feeling her age. I remember taking my Zippo out for some special Mom time. I treasure those days. As long as she is still smiling and enjoying being with you…that is the important thing. Sending POTP for her…and hugs to you. It is difficult to see our furry family members age…
She seems happy most of the time, and that is important to us. Hopefully she will continue to be happy for a long time, but one never knows.
Crikey …….. dear Katie ……. Mom time …… it’s the best!!! huuuuuuuugs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Katie has never been a real snuggle, type of dog, but Mom knows how much she means to her even if she shows it differently than the rest of us.
Keeping Katie in our thoughts and prayers! What a wonderful bonding time she had with you mom!!! 🙂 She is such a sweet, sweet girl!
She is a true lady dog and a happy girl as well. We hope she continues to fight and be happy for a long time, but one never knows.
Katie looks happy and beautiful as ever. I say, let her do and eat whatever she wants. Deck life and fast food – it always makes my day. Hugs to all of you.
She does pretty much get to eat and do whatever she wants these days. We don’t mind as she is sleeping most of the time anyway. The problem is when she gets the idea to walk a bit further as she can’t make it back and Mom ends up carrying her.
That is so great that Katie and your mom got to spend time together with just the 2 of them. Those are the most special times!
It’s hard with three dogs to get that one on one time and since Katie can’t do much, she doesn’t get as much alone time but it works sometimes and they both enjoy it.
Those are best selfies! It’s nice to spend a day or days just one on one with the ones that are sick and may not be with us for very long. I did that with Norman and crossed stuff off my list of things I wanted to do before he passed, I have great memories as you will too, hugs
Mom did something similar with Trine her last days and has great memories. With Katie we never know how it will go as just when we give up, she has super great days. We are happy she still has those great days.
Katie is a lucky girl to be surrounded by such a wooftastic family who loves her so. Love is the greatest gift life has to offer.
Stay strong Katie <3
<3 nose nudges <3
Olivia
She gets real spoiled these days, but she deserves it!
Awwww, she has the sweetest face. I hope you all get to spend as much time with her as pawsible. Thinking of you.
She prefers to sleep most of the time, but we do hang out with her when we can!
What a special day for both Katie and your mom! I’m glad they got some great photos too.
They both really enjoyed their outing. One on one time is always so special.
I really glad Katie got to have an outing with Mom to her favorite place. I’m sure she enjoyed her day out. We hope she has some happy days left. We really love Katie for her sweet loving personality.
Mom and Katie really enjoyed their rare outing. She is doing better the last few days, but the good days are shorter and the tough streaks longer. We take it all day to day.
Awe Katie hope you had fun at the lake and you get your appetite back.
Her appetite appears now and then, but we are not expecting it to make a full return at this point.