My 14-and-a-bit year-old black Labrador/Pointer cross also known as Nanna World's Best Dog, hasn't been seen since she went out yesterday morning at 7 am.
She has become increasingly doddery recently, incontinent (treated effectively) although no other physical problems bar a bit of stiffness in one shoulder on first getting up.She has her habits & never goes more than an absolute maximum of 150 metres from the house these days.
She has become a bit strange in her behaviour, there's been a fair bit of repetitive to-ing and fro-ing and hovering by open doors etc - if she were human she'd probably be mildly demented.
I have been to the Mairie, there haven't been any reports of her; I have searched through the vines and along the roads, everybody here in Monbazillac knows her, she has a fluorescent orange collar with my name and telephone numbers printed on it in huge letters and nobody has rung me so I very much fear she has gone off into the woods to die, in which case we may, or may not, find remains at some stage.
Is this something any of you have experience of? Do dogs really do this? Is it likely that that is what has happened? There have been no reports of her at all and although I appreciate that 24 hours isn't long in the great scheme of things, it is for an old lady.
My long gone beloved Rosie became a basket case. Deaf, blind and mainly asleep in her basket. She remained continent, made her way to her bowl and ate, came for a cuddle and a stroke and one day did not get up. She just put her head over the side of the basket and sighed. We called the vet, he had a look and listen (he had known her from a a couple of weeks old and she used to be his dog Gypsy's 'best friend') and said that she would be gone by the next day, her heart was failing and she would go out with a massive heart attack probably. We asked him to give her the jab, he left with tears in his eyes, we were beside ourselves but she was 18 years old. Then two weeks later, Joe my GSD's hips went completely. He was 12 years old, so in terrible pain. The vet came again. The last of the trio from that time, Alex, made it here with us and lasted a few months, was taken to the vet in much the same state as Rosie. We visit her grave here and my daughters still cry when we do.
I've had a lot of dogs. I remember them all and miss every one of them. Likewise the cats, ferrets and other wonderful companions I have had.
Animals certainly do have their own way of doing things which I think is often simply, as humans, beyond our understanding. Saying that though in the past (or is it just in the movies?) American Indians living so close to nature for generations adopted a similar way.
I've been watching our old foster dog recently. He's 14 now, deaf, almost blind and losing the use of his hind legs. He has a tendency to walk around in circles and then drop to the ground. Whether he's circling trying to pick up a scent or he is disoriented I don't know but I think his time with us may finish soon. He doesn't appear to be in any discomfort (although he does trip/fall frequently) and I am not looking forward to the day I need to take him to the SPA.
One of our cats (23 in human years) disappeared for four hours one Sunday when we still lived in Norwich. My wife rang the RSPCA and reported him missing. One hour later - four little people at the door with a photograph of him and an RSPCA person behind them. "He was in our garage - he's very thin". My wife and I took him to the vet the next day (it was Sunday he went missing) and said goodbye. He was ready to go - we had just been ignoring it as best we could. My wife said to the vet "it might be his teeth again?" The vet said "No Alison - he's made it as clear as he could - time to say goodbye - as long as you're ready?"
Once anyone shows that they're having to go off - time to go. Keeping them back continues the pain for everyone. Cags had to have fits to let us know it was her time yet afterwards Ali said - "she kept telling me you know but I tried to ignore it".
Age comes to all of us in different ways. It's how we deal with it that counts. I'll shut up now.
Thank goodness she is back, but I would like to share my experience of this problem with older dogs.
My jack russell became senile at the age of 15 and wandered off. I was lucky to find him. My other jack russell started to show the same 'distant' demeanor, going out into the garden and just looking around as if to say 'what did I come out here for?' I hated the idea of her disappearing and not knowing, I had her put to sleep once the symptoms got too scary for me to bear. A vet once said to me...'you can always have them euthanized too late, but never too early'...that sounds a bit odd but after having so many dogs, cats and horses in my life I understand what he was getting at. ....you may want to hold onto them for as long as possible but they may be ready to go.
My big Griffon X hunting dog wandered off into the forest last year and never came back, he was 15 with health problems and when he didn't come home I knew....it broke our hearts to think of him dying alone, but we knew it was his choice...the way it was meant to be.
So sorry to hear this - wherever she is it is her will and she knows on some level what she is doing. I am sure you know that love never dies and on another level you will get to meet her again. Thinking of you.
Veronique!! Sorry, just grabbed the computer quickly as "someone who shall remain nameless" (but who is 9 years old and a YouTube freak) just went to put his pyjamas on. HUGE grin on my face when I saw that she'd come home. You must be so relieved - and she must be exhausted. I'm so, so happy for you.
I just saw that she is back home! What a relief!!! If she wanders off again, you may want to try this technique I was told about recently. When a dog goes missing leave items of clothing or a blanket etc in areas that she may come back to to confirm that she is in the right place. If she is a bit senile, then she may have come near to the house without realising it and wandered off again. Usually the clothes are left where the dog was last seen with water and food but hopefully she won't wander off again and you won't need to try it... xx