The last couple days brought a health scare for our family dog. He is a beautiful little (or not so little) Maltese poodle mix. He is twelve years old, and he joined the family just a few weeks after he was born.

C. is the first dog that anyone in the family has had as a pet companion. And getting him was only half-planned, though I’ve been grateful for my parents’ inexperience and sensitivity more than once since. They had planned to visit a breeder to see some puppies just to learn more about the process of buying a dog. It turned out that C. was the last puppy left from his litter, and they fell in love instantly!

C., relaxing, taken a few weeks ago (2018)

His health scare started with a cough during the day, and when he visited the vet, he was given antibiotics for a bacterial infection. He stayed up nearly all of that night coughing, and he continued to have sporadic fits of coughing yesterday, too. (So far, he seems all better today!)

This is the first time he has been sick, and while his age might not be the main factor (I mean, we’ve all had throat infections, right?) I can’t help but feel he has slowed down. And that’s been a reminder for me to enjoy every single moment I have with him, because I don’t know how many more I’ll get.

We have all been spoiled by his always energetic personality and this infection along with some behavioural changes in the last few months have been a total surprise. I can’t tell you how much I regret all the times I put off taking him to the dog park! I didn’t appreciate just how lucky I was to have a dog on my hands that wanted to go. One of his behaviour changes is that he is not as enthusiastic about his walks–he goes twice a day. Whereas in the past, any mention of the word “walk” would have him wagging his tail and waiting by the front door, there are now days when even a treat won’t do the trick to make him want to go.

Observing these changes in C. has been so humbling and such a great, difficult–and slightly painful–reminder that as wonderful and beautiful as life is, it is also ever-changing. We are all only here temporarily, and even who and what we are changes.

C., winter 2018

I remember hearing a cheesy quote about chasing your dreams because tomorrow you might be here but your dreams might not be, and it rings true. We should chase the dreams in our hearts as they call us.

As for C., I feel beyond blessed and lucky to have him in my life even with his changing moods and aches and pains. We’re off for a walk now.