My best friend has been at our vet's facility for the past day and a half.

It does not look good. He has to survive a major onslaught of canine diabetes which I failed to recognize in him. The symptoms were there, but his so very good disposition, coupled with my own ignorance...

We have a very good vet. His dedication is actually astounding. He works 7 days a week, and has for some 40 years (for perspective).

He told me this morning that he would call me tomorrow if things were progressing, unless things went south today, in which case he would call me this afternoon. He called me at 6 PM and told me to be there at 6:30. It is a half hour drive to his office.

That was one tough drive.

I feel slightly better now. Max cannot walk or stand up, they can't get him to go pee-pee, but his blood-sugar is down from 651 (blood test yesterday) to 429 this afternoon. He gave me a teeny-tiny tail wag, and we hugged alot, even though he can't get up or anything.

There is no way I am going through this bullshit again. (Faithful dog Ben) I cannot deal.

We are constant companions, and that is zero exaggeration.

It is fairly amazing just how incompetent I have been in recognizing his symptoms. I was in denial. I feared that his tumor was acting up--(He has a walnut-sized mass on his skull, it has been operated on) My wife wanted me to take him a week ago---

I'll probably throw out too much humor, too much contrarian shit, too much "everything" in the next day or two... It's how I roll in these things.

I apologize in advance for whatever I might say, look for no sympathy or condolences, but just want my friends to know about it, because you already know just how much I love this dog.

Hope things get better Dave, I have my dog and i would be lost without him he is like my son. We are both praying for good things.

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I hope everything will turn out fine, Dave. Very little is worse than losing a faithfull companion like that. They're always there for you when you need them, dumb as it sounds. I had a pretty tough time when my dog passed away.

Anyway, best wishes to you, your dog and your wife. I hope everything'll turn out fine.

Thanks guys.

It just has to. It just simply has to turn out fine.

I have test-driven the concept in my mind of losing him, and there is just no way.

He is going to make it. I honestly was thinking about requesting that I be allowed to spend the night in his cage with him. I sense that I would be like the ten millionth client of Doc Mimnaugh's that have made that request. It broke my heart to leave him there, (again) but in comparison to the last day and a half, I am so grateful to-

A) Having got to see him, after they "whisked him off" into the "back". I know they do that because of the emotions involved...

B) Not having the doc tell me that he wanted to tell me that we had to put him down and he wanted to say it to my face after I had the opportunity to visit.

Hang in there Max.

Hang in there, Dave. My thoughts are with you.

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I love my little dog. She's a stereotypical laptop who likes nothing better than to spend hours on end nestled in my lap, yet she'll climb all the way to the top of a 600-foot bluff with me, as she did twice last week. I often wonder what it will be like after she's gone, as I've never met another dog quite like her, and it's not a fun thought. I can't imagine what it's like to be in the position you're in, Dave. Don't beat yourself up too hard over his diabetes; I'm sure I'd do exactly the same thing. It's just too dark a thing to face.

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My last dog was at the age of 15... I had him from around age 4... I learned to hunt with that dog.. we searched many a stick together.

There is a solid reason I never got another dog.. Flash was it.

So I can understand your plight my friend. hang in there and may Max suffer as little as possible no matter the outcome.

Feel free to beat down my nonsense prior to the draft.... even if I giggle when Dez is on the board at 23. 😉

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I knew it was a good idea to let you guys know.

You are good people.

It's a damn shame we are not having this talk in person, but that's OK-

Friends come in strange ways, these days.

...When I compare myself to the fellow that came home 6 years ago...

There is no hardness in my heart, or desire to have it be there. I just do not have it in me any more... (mettle, whatever)

I am in charge here, as my wife (God bless her-and my luck) never had it in the first place.

These are (very potentially) sad times indeed. The further I go into retirement, the more retired I wish to be, in all matters, especially this kind.

Doodle and I are a team against all things.

oh no...maxidoodle just has to be ok.
putting down my dog, rudy, after 12 years of friendship was...well you know how it was.
you n max hang in there.