Donnie

In August, I took Donnie into the vet because his eyes were really bothering him.  His poor blind eyes had developed terribly painful glaucoma, seemingly overnight.  The pressure in his eyes should be less than 15 psi and his were at 35 psi.  😟  Our vet actually recommended that we have his eyes removed or put him down.  I was blindsided....not ready to make such a major decision.  I asked if we could try eye drops and medicine first, which he of course said it was worth a shot.  Thankfully, these wonderful prescriptions bought us 6 more months with Donnie.  His pain was dramatically reduced, but I don't think it was ever truly gone.  Our big boy grew more lethargic and growly by the month, indicating that his pain was still prevalent.  In mid-January, it just hit me.....it was time to relieve him of his maladies.  I made the appointment for MLK Day so that we could take the boys to daycare and we'd have the whole day to ourselves.  It was horribly painful taking our big guy into the vet's office that morning, but I know he is free from his pain now.  Losing a pet is absolutely gut wrenching.....he was such a big part of our family.  Mama misses you so much, Big Don......"I love you so much" is what I whispered over and over into your ear as the veterinarian administered the medicine......and I couldn't have meant it more.  I held your big head with one hand and stroked your fur between your eye and ear.......whispered in your ear and comforted you.  I feel so guilty and almost like I tricked you....I hope you don't see it that way.  I miss you so much, big guy. 

We cremated our huge fur baby.  I picked his remains up the other day and he is now back home with us.  It was a very painful week, but we don't regret sending him over the Rainbow Bridge.  Our big guy was in so much pain....it was selfish of us to keep him around any longer.  I hope he understands our reasoning......

These are pics from early August 2016-January 2017:

Now these two can play with each other in Heaven.....sweet things. 

My sweet mallet head......Mama loves you. 

Donnie loved laying on the deck or in the grass under the tree.  He would stick his nose up into the air and sniff from side to side.  Although he was blind, his senses of smell and hearing provided him with so much information. 

I love the way dogs' paws smell.  With most dogs, they usually smell like Fritos or Doritos to me.  I don't know why.....but they always have.  However, with Big Don's paws, his were different.....they literally smelled like sweaty shoes.  hahahahaha  Always sweaty.

He didn't let anyone touch his paws but me.  He wouldn't let me trim his nails anymore, but he would let me hold his paws.

Oh how he loved water!!!  He could hear a sprinkler a half a block away and would walk quickly in that direction.  He would bite and fight the water stream......hysterical!

I took a nap one day when I was off from school but the boys weren't.  These fur babies joined me.  I had to lift Donnie onto the bed and he loved the cuddles.....so did I.

I loved how he curled his paw underneath his head like this.  We called him the "cat dog" because he could curl into a tight ball....all 73 pounds of him. 

This was taken in early January.  His eyes were starting to bulge out again and the redness never fully faded.  His eye drops were no longer working effectively. 

I wanted to take the dogs on one more walk....just me and them.  Just like I did when we lived in Texas and it was must me and them after school.  These dogs are members of our family.......sweet things.  However, Cal asked to join us and I of course said yes.  Our boys really loved Donnie, but he was never cuddly with them.  He was scared and fearful because they were so busy and loud....always moving and wrestling.....and he never knew where they were going to land.  Yet, he would still give them big kisses and play with them when he was in the right mood.  lol

I loved his speckled ear.

Grawning.....growling and yawning.  :)

He really did some work on his toy on Sunday!!! 

This was the last picture I took of our sweet guy.  It was about 2 hours before we took him in for his appointment. 

January 16, 2017:

My big mallet head.  My big Bubba.  My big panda bear.  I will miss stroking your velvety ears and smooching your giant muzzle.  You were a giant disaster at times, but you were our disaster.   We showered you with love and I hope you know how big of a part of our family you were.  I hope you know that you provided us with so much joy, entertainment, and laughter.  You were one of a kind.  I keep turning the corners in our house, expecting to see you laying there....slightly growling.  Harmless of course, but growling nonetheless.  I hope that you are whole again in Heaven.  Running free with no backaches or hip pain.  I hope your knee is healed.  I hope you have the keenest of sight and you can bark all day at the squirrels in Heaven's trees.  Lay outside and sun yourself in the grass, big boy, for we will miss seeing you in ours. 

I love you, big guy.