My sweet Rigby turned ten at the beginning of December.
This girl has been slowing down these last few years. She still has flashes of the crazy puppy who liked to play tug of war with socks, open jars of peanut butter, and hump her stuffed eagle, but she mostly lives a life of leisure. She lies on the couch, on my lap, or at my feet 95% of the time, and that’s where she’s happiest.
The last few months have been a bit difficult for Rigby. Ever since her bladder surgery five years ago, she’s been on a strict diet that forbids human food. We used to be able to give her the occasional treat or scrambled egg, but lately she can’t tolerate anything other than her prescription food. This is very hard for James because the foundation of his relationship with Rigby is based on their mutual love of him throwing his food at her (we still, of course, do everything we can to prevent this).
When Rigby eats food she shouldn’t, it sends her into digestive distress. It breaks my heart. She shakes, can’t get comfortable, and just wants to cuddle. I am always happy to oblige, because that dog comforted me through the hardest times of my life.
I was so elated when, ten years ago, I was able to make my life-long dream of having a dog come true. Rigby has been an amazing little pal. She’s tolerant and loyal, and she loves me sooooo much. She imprinted on me when we brought her home, and I’ve tried to live up to that responsibility. I hate when her stomach hurts her because, as she shakes in pain, she looks at me with her big eyes and I can almost hear her beg me to make it better (at this point, only time makes it better).
Rigby growing older makes me so emotional. I can’t imagine my life without my constant companion. She follows me wherever I go, and is always the first to greet me at the door when I come home. I’ve cried into her fur and kissed her with happiness. She loves my babies (okay, mostly tolerates them), and they adore her. I worry that as she gets older, her intestinal issues will progress…I let my imagination run away with me. I know that time is marching on, but I’m just not ready. I don’t think I’ll ever be.
Nadinsche says:
Such a sweet dog. And so sweet how you write about her.
Sue says:
Thinking of you and Rigby, Heather, and wishing her all the best. We had to say good-bye to our Yorkie,,, sweet, sweet Lily (she was a week away from turning 13)3 months ago, and I still cry,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
lisa says:
I met the sweetest old lady lately at a shopping mall; we met in the lift and started chatting because of the contents of her shopping trolley: a very old yorkie all snuggled up on blankets and pillows. this boy was turning 16 (!!!!!), and as we chatted about him, the lady’s eyes filled with tears. much like you, she lives with that latent (in her case, less latent!) fear of what’s next for her companion. just wanted to share as I was gobsmacked by his age!
Debbie A-H says:
Man, it’s amazing how dogs can work their way into our hearts. Here’s hoping you have lots and lots more years with your sweet Rigby. Hugs.
Kate says:
I am the cat-mom to a crotchety 14-year-old housecat who’s been my baby since she was five weeks old (and I was 17). I am lucky that she’s still in fairly good health, all things considered, but she’s starting to show her age . . . and it scares the crap out of me. This cat moved with me from Illinois to Arizona to Kansas, she’s been my companion through every stage of my life (high school, college, and law school included), she is the one who cuddles with me when I’m sad and bites my arm when I laugh too hard, and it terrifies me to think of what happens next.
(Worse, she firmly believes that the best way to sleep with me is to sleep between my knees and to resolutely not move when I need to roll over, so have I woken up some nights to 9 pounds of dead weight in my bed and a cold hand of dread in the pit of my stomach? Yes. Is she always just whiny and indignant when I move her? Also yes.)
Pets are wonderful but man is it scary as they age. They should all just live forever.
Megan says:
I’ve had my two cats for eight years. It also breaks my heart to think that they won’t be around forever, to the point that I cry about it fairly often. Rigby has a wonderful life with your family, and you all are lucky to have each other.
Megan Beecroft says:
I loved this post! I am currently sitting at my office with my soon to be 15 year old pup beside me. I was lucky enough to have a boss that allows me to bring my dog to work every day. I have the same thoughts about how much more time we’ll have together. I try to enjoy this time with her, but it’s hard knowing that eventually it will end. Is someone chopping onions??
TonyaM says:
This may be of no help at all, but I wanted to share just in case it is…
My border collie had surgery a year ago to remove a large cancerous tumor attached to her spleen. She was given two weeks to two months to live, and she’s still here and doing well. I noticed that she seemed uncomfortable a lot and the prescriptions the vet offered made her even more so. She’s on a very restricted diet, but even so, it finally occurred to me that her issue was gas. I started giving her a gasx pill twice a day. She’s now passing gas like crazy and quite comfortable!
This may not be your baby’s issue at all, but it may be something to consider. She’s so tiny, maybe she could do the baby drops if it is.
Christian Kay says:
YES! My Cooper shakes and gets uncomfortable often due to some of his meds. Finally got him an x ray and he was FULL of gas. 1/2 a teaspoon of baby gas med twice daily and he is so much more comfortable!!
Jane says:
Dogs are pure love. They want to be loved, they have tons of love to give. They are good listeners and happy companions. I have the same feelings about my dog Sunny. She’s only 5, but still! I would never say that I love my dog like I love my kids, but she is a very close second.
(pat)(pat)(pat) for Rigby!
Nicole says:
Awww. I feel your pain. Paris just turned 10 as well and I see how she struggles sometimes with getting up to walk and how she walks so slow compared to Loretta. It is the one downfall to having furbabies. They are such a big part of our lives, you want them to live always.
Melissa says:
It’s so unfair that dogs don’t live as long as us. I totally understand the dread. Hugs.
Glenda says:
i feel your pain. My shih tzu turned 12 in October and some days she still thinks she’s a puppy and other days she’s content laying around. She is our little baby…our princess and it’s so unfair that they don’t live longer. Wishing Rigby many more!!! Xx
Lenora says:
I had to have my sweet kitty, Snuggles put to sleep about three weeks ago; it was so hard but she was in pain and it was time. I still have her sweet older brother, Aloysius who is the first pet I was able to have living on my own. I dread losing him but I am trying to enjoy the time we have. I know how you feel. Rigby is lucky to have you! I’m sending Rigby good health vibes!
Erin says:
Random side note- I love that your pets name is Aloysius! That is my son’s middle name and my father in laws first name!
Denise says:
Oh this is so hard! We had to go through with this with our Jenny. She gave us 13 wonderful years, but things got hard for her.. Rigby looks like an amazing friend. I am so sorry.
Rita A. says:
Oh how I know this fear. My dog Pinto is going on 8 and he too has seen me through the toughest times in my life. He loves me like no other and now has to tolerate my 1yr old son. Which he does much better than I had anticipated. But I won’t go as far as to say he likes the baby. lol I often find myself worrying about life without my Pinny also. I will never be ready. I hope you have many more years of shenanigans with Rigby. And by shenanigans I mean the lounging around kind.
Kakali says:
Praying for your sweet Rigby! I am sure she will get better soon and will have a healthy life again!
Jordan says:
Before I opened this post, something told me after reading the title that this was about Rigby. I was somewhat afraid something had happened (and am so glad that is not the case!), but am still so sad. It’s so unfair how dogs are the most loyal, kind, generous creatures yet are predetermined to live short(er) lives. It’s so wrong that we could live for decades, and they only can live a small percentage of that life with us.
I’ve mentioned here before about our pug, Sebastian. I miss him SO much everyday, even though he’s been gone for 16 months. Not a day goes by where I don’t think of him. He was my mom’s companion, but he was also my partner and my buddy- he got me through middle, high school, and most of college. It’s surreal some days to look at pictures of him- he was SO lively and energetic right up until the 3 months before he passed- and realize he’s not here anymore. I hate it. I HATE it.
Sorry to get off on a tangent (and I know reading stories about losing my pet isn’t helpful, I’m sorry if this hurts you). But I know, from reading your blog and seeing your pictures of Rigby just how much LOVE you have for her. And I can tell you, there’s not a doubt in my mind she loves you right back just as much.
I’m so glad you’ve had her through the hell life has put you through- and I hope and pray you have her for more time to love. I really do.
Lisa F. says:
I love how much you love Rigby, especially after having your own human babies. So many people dump their pets at shelters after the “new baby” comes, and it just doesn’t have to be that way. Bless you for still loving your “first baby” as much as you did the day she came home! If only they lived longer, right?
Melissa says:
Aw sweet Rigby! They get older and slow down but they’re always a puppy on the inside. We just had to put our cat to sleep last week and it was the hardest thing ever. She was almost 12 and I got her at 12 weeks old (when I was single.) She was my partner in crime, She had been with me through my whole growing up life, from dating my ex (who she never liked), to moving in with him and getting engaged to breaking up with him and moving out on my own again, to buying my first house and meeting my now husband (who she always loved) to moving into a bigger house and now I’m expecting a baby in 3 months. I like to think that she was with me during the rough period and helped me find a wonderful man and now that I’m expecting she felt her work was done. But gosh, we miss her so much. It’s the hardest thing in the world to see them get old.
Johanna says:
I know exactly how you feel. My family got our first dog when I was 9. She lived until I was 26 years old. A year after she passed, I got my first dog on my own. I’ve had her for nearly five years now and she is my constant, my little buddy, and my protector. When I have a bad day at work, she is always excited to see me at home, ready to wipe away the bad day. I once sat on my floor and cried and within moments, felt her paws on my shoulders, she had placed them there from her perch on the bed. She licks away my tears when I cry, she alerts me to nefarious noises and sounds (I live in an apartment and I pity the person who ever tries to break in and confront her). She too has digestive problems, an undiagnosed auto-immune, likely IBS or something similar, and twice has been hospitalized while seriously ill. She’s now on prednisone every other day to keep it at bay but it terrifies me that one day it’ll stop working and I’ll lose her. Having a pet is like having the best cheerleader in the world with you at all times. Losing them is like losing a piece of your heart.
Jeanie says:
I love her so much! I have had many, many dogs, and it’s hell watching them get older, especially when they have medical issues. I also had a dog (a big one, German shorthair pointer) on prescription food. I think I paid more for her to eat than I spent on myself, son and grandson. That stuff is insanely expensive. She was worth every penny, though. Now you’ve gone and made me teary-eyed. Small dogs live longer than large ones, so keep that in mind.
Heather Bixler says:
We have a cat that is almost 18 years old and she has kidney failure. I want a dog so bad but I don’t want to ever have to go through seeing my beloved furry friend go through the pain like that again. I’m with you, it’s difficult to think about how the time is ticking on and they won’t live forever.
Mary Ann says:
My dogs got me through some of the worst times in my life with constant unconditional love. Rigby is the cutest dog ever. I love watching her movies, and hearing stories about her. So sorry to hear she is slowing down. She is one lucky dog to have had you come into her life, and you are equally lucky to have found such a great companion. Love you Rigby!
KaraB says:
I know how you feel, I cannot even imagine anything happening to my sweet pup, my first one, but she’s 7 and it scares me.
JT says:
The hardest thing about pets is knowing our time with them is so limited. The love and support they give us is so amazing.
I have two right now (a 5 year old Pyrenees mix and a 10 year old shepherd mix). There are times I get so very sad at the thought of them getting old and losing them. I can’t believe they are 5 and 10! They were just puppies!! I’ve lost two in the past (5 years ago and 11 years ago). I never thought I would ever get over the pain or be able to get a new dog. But I decided to rescue new dogs to honor my past dogs.
Hugs. Cherish that you get to work from home and cuddle with Rigby whenever she wants during the day.
Lindsay says:
It’s really tough to think of them and not get a bit nostalgic and upset. I can relate, my boys are 8 and 7 and I really see the 8 year old slowing down. Or rather, he should. He doesn’t realise he’s not a puppy anymore and his joints and limbs can’t take what they once used to.
I just simply wish they could live with us forever and ever….
Barbara says:
So sorry Rigby is in pain! I have a Papillon with tummy issues too. This is my Vet approved regimen for her: Boiled, frozen chicken tenderloin (takes 10-15 minutes), plain, cooked white rice, Famotidine (acid reducer) 5mg (I cut the 20mg pills in quarters), Bene-Bac Plus Pet Gel (probiotic), Life’s Abundance dry dog food (I buy online, search for Life’s Abundance dog food).
Morning 1/4 Famotidine pill in a few tablespoons of water chicken was
boiled in.
1 tablespoon cooked rice
Available all day Dry Kibble
Night Few tablespoons chicken water, 1 tablespoon cooked rice,
Approx 2 Tablespoons shredded, cooked chicken, 1gram squirt
of Bene-Bac Plus (available from some vets and online without
Rx)
The amount of rice and chicken can be adjusted for your dog’s weight. My Pixie is 7 lbs.
I’m actually going to try the suggestion in comments about gas relief Meds-after I check with my vet, of course.
Hope this might help!
sara says:
I had a recent health scare with my almost 8 year old pup, and my mind immediately went to a bad place. He’s been with me through breakups, cancer and many other events and has always been my best friend. I can’t imagine my life without him!!!!
Effie says:
Loooove sweet doggies. My fur baby turned 9 this December, and oh, I totally get the whole mind running away with you thing.
Just a thought about Rigby eating food from James-Can you keep her in a different room while he eats? I know he’s a toddler and probably grazes all day, but keeping her away might really help!
kris says:
i don’t even like saying this but prescription food is usually the worse food ever created. fiull of grains and fillers and crap. you should join a list on yahoo called k9 nutrition and describe what her diagnosis is and what you feed and what happens and see what they come up with. they also have a group on facebook. i have fed my dogs raw for the last 12 years, i have 4 small breed dogs ranging from 4 years to 16 years old. good luck to you and your pup regardless of what you decide to feed her.
Meg says:
I have so many memories of my little brother giggling in his high chair, his chubby little hands dropping food directly into the mouth of Cocomo, our wonderful-but-crazy Beagle mix, who’d sit patiently next to him as soon as mom put him in the chair. (She did not like Cheerios, but everything else was adored.) She lived to 15 and was a rascal until the end. (My first words were, “Dog, git!” showcasing both my Texan and dog-loving essentials in the most concise manner possible.)
We adopt our furry, four-legged babies, knowing that we will have — at the very most — a decade and a half with them, knowing they will see us through a few stages of our lives, because we are dog people. This is what we do. We are complete when we have nose prints on windows and paw prints in cars and fur on EVERY SINGLE THING EVER and soft snuffles and sleepy grumbles and excited barks and wet noses in our hands. Rigby will always be the first baby and the whole internet sends her love.
(I’m writing this with my laptop resting on my sleeping Rosalind, my snuggle Puggle, who is almost four and I can’t believe she’s not a tiny puppy anymore.)
Sarah M. says:
I have a soon to be 17 year old kitty that I love and has been with me since I moved out of my parents’ house. I have mini heart attacks at least once a month when I think something might be wrong with her. I can’t imagine life without her as she has been with me longer than my hubby by a year and with me through a lot of ups and downs. At least once every 6 months she will attempt to kick my hubby out of our bed because she’s mad at him.
Susan says:
I’m a huge animal lover and rescuer. I’ve raised my boys with animals and they too love them as much as I do. Until this past Tuesday we had 2 dogs and 2 cats, turtles and reptiles. All rescued. My beloved 17 year old beagle had to be put down due to cancer. Oh I loved her. Both of my dogs are older and I shutter at the thought of losing my 2nd. It is the absolute worse of owning a furry friend. Your Rigby is a sweetheart. Just keep enjoying him =)
Allison says:
As i’m reading this, my sweet maltese Gus is cuddled right up against my feet. He sends love and well-wishes to his friend Rigby and says he knows EXACTLY what it’s like to be a momma’s dog.