The last several months, Nemo hasn't been quite himself.
His eternally energetic and exuberant mind has been quieter, and for those of us who know him, we have been able to sense that something has not been as it should be.
With a dog that has failed most of the dog disease registry tests, it is naturally difficult not to be concerned.
Because where do you even start? Is it because his leg hurts again? Is it that his pancreas is more strained than it should be, is it that he is stressed, or is he hurting somewhere completely different this time?
Time has passed, and the symptoms are ad hoc, but we are all sure that something is not as it should be.
And with a 6-year-old dog who loves to be with us everywhere, and who now suddenly prefers to romp around the house and go on short walks, it naturally requires some adjustment to our everyday life. Because of course he doesn't have to come along if he doesn't want to.
This means that he often decides when and where I should go in the car – and that the customers have had to do without visits from Nemo for most of the summer.
Of course, we have been to the vet, who has also treated a massive back injury – but it is clear that the thoughts undeniably lead one to – what if he has become tired of a life on the go.
A life where we often have guests or spend the night out, and where he is generally fully integrated.
Could it work any other way? And in whose interest is he involved?
Is it better for him to have another, more peaceful everyday life – and as much as it hurts my dog owner's heart, another family that better matches his needs?
The questions are many, and together with the worries they pile up. Because I personally think we have the best life in the world together. He is my partner and partner-in-crime, and I honestly have a hard time imagining a life without him, let alone with another dog.
But of course it has to be on his terms – and of course he also has to think it's fun.
Now the vet is calling for a thorough examination tomorrow, and I'm crossing my fingers that they find the cause of my grumpy dog so he can be really happy again.
Because it's almost worse not knowing exactly where the shoe is pressing - than finding an actual cause, because hopefully you can do something about it.
I think we all know that.
All the worries that are also part of being a dog owner.
Where we would give everything so that the dog could speak and tell us what was wrong or what it needed.
But I know that I know my dog best, and that I 100% know when something is not as it should be – so with that conviction we cross our paws that an answer can be found soon – so that Nemo can become his old happy, energetic self again.
When something isn't quite right
The last several months, Nemo hasn't been quite himself.
His eternally energetic and exuberant mind has been quieter, and for those of us who know him, we have been able to sense that something has not been as it should be.
With a dog that has failed most of the dog disease registry tests, it is naturally difficult not to be concerned.
Because where do you even start? Is it because his leg hurts again? Is it that his pancreas is more strained than it should be, is it that he is stressed, or is he hurting somewhere completely different this time?
Time has passed, and the symptoms are ad hoc, but we are all sure that something is not as it should be.
And with a 6-year-old dog who loves to be with us everywhere, and who now suddenly prefers to romp around the house and go on short walks, it naturally requires some adjustment to our everyday life. Because of course he doesn't have to come along if he doesn't want to.
This means that he often decides when and where I should go in the car – and that the customers have had to do without visits from Nemo for most of the summer.
Of course, we have been to the vet, who has also treated a massive back injury – but it is clear that the thoughts undeniably lead one to – what if he has become tired of a life on the go.
A life where we often have guests or spend the night out, and where he is generally fully integrated.
Could it work any other way? And in whose interest is he involved?
Is it better for him to have another, more peaceful everyday life – and as much as it hurts my dog owner's heart, another family that better matches his needs?
The questions are many, and together with the worries they pile up. Because I personally think we have the best life in the world together. He is my partner and partner-in-crime, and I honestly have a hard time imagining a life without him, let alone with another dog.
But of course it has to be on his terms – and of course he also has to think it's fun.
Now the vet is calling for a thorough examination tomorrow, and I'm crossing my fingers that they find the cause of my grumpy dog so he can be really happy again.
Because it's almost worse not knowing exactly where the shoe is pressing - than finding an actual cause, because hopefully you can do something about it.
I think we all know that.
All the worries that are also part of being a dog owner.
Where we would give everything so that the dog could speak and tell us what was wrong or what it needed.
But I know that I know my dog best, and that I 100% know when something is not as it should be – so with that conviction we cross our paws that an answer can be found soon – so that Nemo can become his old happy, energetic self again.