My "grandpuppy", Louie-the-mini-dachshund, had surgery twice in July. The first time, the vet found bits of bones and onion and other things in his insides, and a bone had punctured the lining of his stomach. My daughter never feeds her dog bones or onions, so we assume her extremely-messy (and inconsiderate) roommate forgot to close her door and he went in there and ate things he ought not to have eaten. He healed up nicely and was himself in a week. But then he began to throw up again, and wouldn't eat or drink or pee or poop. Back to the vet he went for a second surgery. This time the vet said it appeared he simply wasn't digesting his food any more. So they cleaned him up inside and sewed him shut again, and put him on medicine to help him digest his food. But he has never been quite the same since that second surgery. My daughter thinks he has doggy dementia, and sundowner's syndrome. He gets confused, doesn't recognize people, sometimes refuses to eat or drink, gets anxious, and does a lot of whimpering. Sometimes his stomach gets noisy, as if he still isn't digesting properly.
We don't know for sure how old he is. She has had him for 7 years, and was thought to be 2 or 3 years old when she got him. But he could be older. He is at my house today, because my daughter didn't want to leave him at her apartment all alone while she went to work. He doesn't act like he used to at all. He isn't barking at everything that moves; he doesn't even care about the workmen who are putting in a new power pole just down the road. He looks sad and confused, and just lays around in the sunshine on my deck. He isn't even bothering the cats!
I am very sad to see him like this, and have shed a few tears today. I am concerned that he may be in his last days. He has been part of the family for so long; it will be an extremely sad day when he dies. He has been a major source of emotional support for my daughter, who is going through very difficult times right now. I am worried about how she will manage when her puppy is no more.
