Reasons to be cheerful!

[xSilverPhinx]

Yesterday was Thanksgiving day for us here in the U.S. I thought of something that I'm truly thankful for. Actually, it is someone I'm thankful for. I don't know if any of you remember me mentioning Crystal in the past. We've kept in contact for several months now. Our friendship has blossomed into something extraordinary. I'm glad to have her in my life.

That's excellent news, Randy!

[xSilverPhinx]

So I adopted a new puppy. It arrived last night.

Spoiler: ShowHide

Her name is Joy.

One note to keep in mind: If she hasn't been spayed your vet may recommend spaying soon. That is not advisable, for the health of the dog. It's better to wait until after she's at least a year old. That means dealing with her first heat, which can be tiresome and requires extra care that she doesn't meet up with a ready suitor, but it's better for the dog.

"Health Risks of Early Spay/Neuter" | Dogs Naturally

Oh boy 

I guess I'll have to add doggy panties to the shopping list in a few months.

[Randy]

So I adopted a new puppy. It arrived last night.

Spoiler: ShowHide

Her name is Joy.

One note to keep in mind: If she hasn't been spayed your vet may recommend spaying soon. That is not advisable, for the health of the dog. It's better to wait until after she's at least a year old. That means dealing with her first heat, which can be tiresome and requires extra care that she doesn't meet up with a ready suitor, but it's better for the dog.

"Health Risks of Early Spay/Neuter" | Dogs Naturally

Oh boy 

I guess I'll have to add doggy panties to the shopping list in a few months.

Do they make such a thing?

[Dark Lightning]

You bet! One of my parent's friends had a toy poodle that weighed maybe 5 pounds. They never had her fixed, and whenever she came into heat, they had these diapers for her. Our Maltese "Daisy", when she got up to 18 YO had to wear diapers at night due to incontinence. Baby diapers with a tail hole, essentially. I would have put her down earlier, much as I loved that little girl. She was done long before my wife could let go. I thought about euthanizing her myself, given the suffering that I perceived that she was suffering. But if I had botched it, I'd be pretty damned mad at myself.

[xSilverPhinx]

So I adopted a new puppy. It arrived last night.

Spoiler: ShowHide

Her name is Joy.

One note to keep in mind: If she hasn't been spayed your vet may recommend spaying soon. That is not advisable, for the health of the dog. It's better to wait until after she's at least a year old. That means dealing with her first heat, which can be tiresome and requires extra care that she doesn't meet up with a ready suitor, but it's better for the dog.

"Health Risks of Early Spay/Neuter" | Dogs Naturally

Oh boy 

I guess I'll have to add doggy panties to the shopping list in a few months.

Do they make such a thing?

It's not too expensive, at least.

[xSilverPhinx]

You bet! One of my parent's friends had a toy poodle that weighed maybe 5 pounds. They never had her fixed, and whenever she came into heat, they had these diapers for her. Our Maltese "Daisy", when she got up to 18 YO had to wear diapers at night due to incontinence. Baby diapers with a tail hole, essentially. I would have put her down earlier, much as I loved that little girl. She was done long before my wife could let go. I thought about euthanizing her myself, given the suffering that I perceived that she was suffering. But if I had botched it, I'd be pretty damned mad at myself.

It's a tough decision.  With my last dog, a 13 yo German Shepherd, we waited too long until finally deciding to euthanise her. She had become paralysed and these huge bed sores opened up on her legs, despite us always picking her up, moving her and changing her position. She suffered a lot before we finally made the merciful decision to end it. If I could go back and change things I would have definitely not have let her suffer that much. Lessons learned for the dog I have now and those to come.