My old man...

Fargo is now 12 1/2 years old. He has cognitive dysfunction syndrome (doggie Alzheimer's) and really is starting to drift away from us. It makes me so sad because we had to put down our other collie last spring. I wasn't expecting Fargo to slip so fast. We have tried the medication (gave him diarrhea) and he's on the prescription dog food now without much change. I'm hoping he continues to peacefully drift away and doesn't become to anxious or in pain. But, already he is getting grouchy with the kids and suddenly has begun chasing the cats and growling at them (not in very aggressive way, just a "get out of my way" way.) I don't want to have to put him down because he becomes aggressive. That's just sooooo not who he is. He has been the most docile, sweet, attentive and loving dog toward the kids. Never an aggressive bone in his body. I would hate to have this disease take that essence away.

For now, he wanders and paces the house in circles. He gets lost. I found him just standing in the bathroom facing in and he had no idea how to get back out. He just stood there wimpering. He sleeps all the time. I'm kind of hoping he just slips away in his sleep, so the kids can see him and understand that he is gone (unlike when we took Beaner in to be put down.) He came inside last night before I took my bath and when I came out of the bathroom he looked at me dazed and just peed on the floor.

I miss him already because so much of him is already gone...