The Dog Who Started It All...

It only makes sense to start with the dog that sparked my love for seniors. I found Max through the instagram account “Susie’s Senior Dogs”. He was a 9 year old mixed breed from Tennessee. When I called the shelter to inquire about him, they were thrilled he finally had interest so they waved all his adoption fees and arranged free transportation. Suddenly in my first year of veterinary school, I had my first dog of adulthood. 

Max was originally an untrained mush with heart-worm disease and horrible teeth. His previous life was filled with neglect and abuse. But, after some TLC he was all fixed up. 

Anyone who met Max quickly fell in love. He was a quick study and he quickly passed the Therapy Dog International test. Together, we frequently visited the Ronald McDonald house, nursing homes and children’s libraries.

Towards the end of our 3 years together, Max's back legs started to get weak. He would start slouching and could only stand for short periods of time. I ensured that he had appropriate pain management and once a week he could come to school for physical therapy. During these sessions he would get acupuncture, laser therapy, strength training, massage therapy and more.

Eventually Max's disease progressed and he began having trouble urinating. That’s when I decided that it was time to let my sweet boy pass peacefully. Even though he was still eating, his quality of life wasn’t what he deserved and I wanted his final days to be filled with as little suffering as possible. This was an extremely hard decision but I kept in mind that Max used to LOVE his walks. His favorite part of the day was our time outside. As soon as he realized we were heading home, he'd slow down to a snail's pace, reluctant to end our outdoor adventures. However, as his walks became less enjoyable, marked by the stress of his weak legs and difficulty urinating, I knew it was time to recognize his declining quality of life.

I planned Max's euthanasia and made sure the days leading up to it were filled with his favorite things. On that day, Max got to pass away under the sun, laying in the grass, surrounded by all the people who loved and cared for him. His belly was full of all the snacks you can imagine, including Doritos, while he drifted off peacefully hearing all about how he was a "good boy."

I think of that exact moment often and I refer to it a lot when I have to discuss euthanasia with owners. While I’m sure I could have had more time with Max, I’m not sure if it would have been as happy of an ending. I think back to him eating Doritos and laying under the sun with such bittersweet joy. That final moment brought him so much happiness, and that's what keeps a smile on my face even through tears.

Max was my soul dog and I will always miss him. I’m not sure if we get multiple soul dogs but keep following along in my animal journey and we will find out together.