
Originally Posted by
murphy's mum
That's the hard part for me. How is Misty's quality of life? If Misty has something to do, or there is something going on about the house that she's watching, she's great, you wouldn't think there was anything wrong with her. She eats well, she loves her walks. she doesn't often scratch when out walking, unless I need to pop her on her lead, that walk around Hoddom really opened our eyes to how bad she is when she has to have a lead on though. It's when she's in the house her symptoms are the worst, or if she's over excited about getting ready for a walk.
As I type she's laying beside me, every now and then she's grinding her teeth a little, or licking her lips, and then she'll get up and move across to the footstool and then back to the sofa. She's wanted her cuddles less over this last week, she seems happier to lie on the floor or the dog bed, although she still seeks me out later in the evening most nights. How do you decide if she's happy when she's can't tell you herself? We know that dogs hide their pain, but to what extent. We've never had a sick or old pet, and had to assess their quality of life. I think she's mainly happy, but is it simply because she's distracted from the chronic pain while she's busy.
"How do you decide if she's happy when she's can't tell you herself?" This is why SM is such a horrible condition. So much is guess work.
We have to be advocates for our dogs because they have no one else, but it is very difficult when we cannot know for sure just what they are feeling.
I have spent so much time trying to decide whether I am being paranoid and imagining ordinary behaviour is abnormal or whether I am being neglectful for not acting on the vague uneasiness I feel.
I think we know our dogs so well that if we think they are uncomfortable then we are usually right..........as Melissa says that "Mommy gut" feeling.
With Tommy restlessness in the evening and pawing at my legs for attention tells me he is not comfortable. He head rubs a little, seldom scratches. When he lies behind chairs or under tables I suspect he is especially touch sensitive and guarding his body from being jostled by the fluffies.
I believe that I can see in his eyes when he is in pain.
Margaret C
Cavaliers......Faith, The Ginger Tank and Woody.
Japanese Chins.... Dandy, Benny, Bridgette and Hana.
Remembered with love......... Tommy Tuppence and Fonzi
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