So sorry to hear about Merlin. Having Inky, I know what it's like to have to change your expectations of what you planned to do with them. Despite all the research you can do, it still comes as a shock and takes time to assimilate I think. But despite his problems, I wouldn't swap him (most days!) and I'm sure you feel the same about Merlin, they are what they are. Sending positive thoughts your way.
I will preface this by saying I have had gin and I’m still not back to full force after a third of a year off the pop. So, apologies where they are necessary. As s friend of mine says, “if I’ve said anything I’m sorry for, I’m glad of it” I bloody love these responses. Karen, we are so sorry. You know for yourself that, if one of us had been the one giving this news, you would have been feeling and saying the same. We are so sorry. This is shit. You don’t deserve this. You have done everything right and for you to suffer such bad luck just isn’t fair. It’s horrible. Yet, I’m sure that every one of us is also thinking how lucky Merlin is. There are plenty of people who research their dogs, who seek out the best, as you have done. That is admirable but self-serving, nonetheless. There’s nothing wrong with being self-serving, we all make our choices for our own reasons. But when things don’t work out the way we planned, it’s easy to give up. We all know you will never give up. That is why he is the luckiest dog alive. Because we know that you will do anything not just to keep him as physically fit as possible, but also to work out how to keep him as fulfilled as you had always intended. I know you are hurt, scared, worried for the future, and I can absolutely sympathise with that. But you are the best doggy mum going and, bleak as it may seem at times, you will find the light to get you through this. ... ... ... ... And they say that gin makes you miserable. What do they know?
I'm so sorry for you. I know how you feel when your perfect puppy turns out to have a life changing, even limiting, condition. While it's devastating news, you don't yet know how limiting it will be - you have to wait and see, regardless of the results on paper. Charlie continues to exceed the expectations of the best vets in the country....maybe he'll pay for that later. But he's still packed in more joy and excitement in his first 5 years than most dogs do in a lifetime....
As you know, Lilly and her severe bilateral hip dysplasia live so far happily together with a mutual love of deer chasing. Keep your chin up. Merlin is a lucky boy to have you. xxx
So sorry about Merlin, your plan looks good - he's lucky to be with someone who can give him so much.
Thank you, all of you, SO MUCH. You don't know how much it helps and how much it means to have support and understanding. I really, really appreciate it. Feeling really quite teary here... Merlin, of course, is completely oblivious to all this - he just wants to sniff other dogs' bottoms, get muddy, eat disgusting things and then fart under the coffee table all evening. Long may he continue to do so. Xxx
What devastating news, Karen. What are the odds, eh BUT, you've got a solid plan going forward and you're going to do whatever you can to mitigate it. He's lucky to have such wonderful humans looking after him.
My husband is 63 in a few days. I can’t say that he goes under the coffee table, but the rest sounds pretty accurate. Merlin, you have a long, happy, flatulent life ahead of you
Sorry to hear about Merlin. Don't know what to writte, all I know is that he will be loved and looked after no matter what. Loke some have already said, it might not come of anything until later as he gest older. As long as he can enjoy muddy walks, swims, plenty of cudfles and gets his own bed. That is a life full of enjoyments
Such a hard blow, one I’m expecting to hear someday myself. All the pups in Duggans litter are healthy and strong, he seems to be the one with all the issues. With such a young and amazing mind I blindly look through the health issues and pretent he’s fine. After Bilateral TPLO’s and pending HD he’s like a giant expensive poker pot that I keep chasing even though my hand sucks. Medical advancement in the canine field is so advanced now that surgery can fix HD but at a heavy cost. I’m already half bankrupt from vet bills but as I already said, his mind is amazing and i couldn’t pull the plug on such a young and otherwise amazing animal. Chin up and keep plodding on. Sometimes I think our dogs can teach us lessons in humility and life. They keep going as if nothing is wrong even though they live in pain. Xx
Wow, I’m so sorry, you guys can’t seem to catch a break these days. You have a great plan set out, and Merlin will have a wonderful life because of you.
