I received a few email recently asking how Professor Jiggs is doing. This picture should answer that question. I took it yesterday on our walk between Oregon autumn downpours. He is begging me to allow him to cross the street to extend our walk.
September and October were not very good months for him. He would have good days, and then the next he would spend almost a minute trying to struggle to his feet. I was almost convinced that the time had come to consider putting him down.
But he had no trouble eating. He was alert and with no obvious signs of pain. My one concern was that he showed little interest in going for his morning and evening walks.
He recovered from his lethargia after his steroid injections. This month, he is once again his old -- but aging -- self.
I have given up planning on whether he will be able to accompany me to Mexico. For the moment, I will simply enjoy the pleasure of his company.
Enjoy your time with Jiggs. Homie, my aged cat, did not make it to Honduras. He had a brief respite from failing health shortly before I moved, but it didn't last long. I started calling him Lazaro, the Spanish equivalent of Lazarus because he really did use his nine lives very well.
ReplyDeleteAwww... he is such a sweetie! I do hope he's around to make the trip with you. It's tough when they get old...
ReplyDeleteGood idea. No sense thinking or worrying about things you have no control over. What will be will be.
ReplyDeleteLaurie -- For almost the last year. Jiggs has been up and down. I find taht I spend almost all of my free time with him.
ReplyDeleteCairelle -- Sweet he is. When he is not pretending to be the seed of Satan.
Nancy -- I know you and Paul had to go through the dogs or no dogs decision. I can better appreciate what you went through.
Glad he is better right now, and as you say what will be will be. Thinking good thoughts for him.
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts about Mr. Jiggs are always good. I pray for him and his health. Enjoy your time with him, nothing could be better. Hugs for Jiggs.
ReplyDeleteProfessor Jiggs must be feeling a lot better to be anxious for a long walk in the wet weather we are having. I used to have a hard time just getting my dog to go out in the back yard to do her business if it was raining.
ReplyDeleteNice photo of the Prof. He looks happy. I am glad to hear that he is doing well.
ReplyDeleteregards,
Theresa
Glad to hear Mr Jiggs is once again enjoying his walks. On rainy days I have trouble convincing Meko to come with me. I coax him by saying maybe we will see one of his dog friends along our route. One of my study participant's suggested a book that I think you'd really enjoy. I'm reading it now, "Merle's Door". This dog sounds like he had many of the willful characteritics that you've encounted with Mr. Jiggs. Plus it describes how we adjust our lives to accommodate our pets. Hope you have time for some reading, with all of the projects you're working on.
ReplyDeleteBrenda -- Thanks. The Professor has certainly been feeling his oats this weekend.
ReplyDeleteGloria -- I intend to enjoy him. However, he really pushed the limits today when he would not let me take my Sunday nap. He thought the day was too nice to waste on sleeping. He was correct.
Jackie -- Jiggs loves the rain. He would lie in it for hours -- If I would let him.
Colette -- I am convinced that Jiggs makes believe that the rain is simply a very odd creek. This way he does not have to swim. I read Merle's Door while I was in Melaque in July. I wrote about it here on 29 July. It was a good read. I just finished reading James McPherson's Tried by War, a Lincoln biography limited to his role as commander-in-chief. I will probably write about it later this week.
Smiley dogs make me happy!
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to the day we can get a family dog... I'm going to have to convince my husband to let go of his typically Salvadoran "animals only belong outside" notion of pet ownership though, since it is so drastically different from my own.
Enjoy every moment you can with The Prof--you'll both be all the better for it!
Thanks for the update on Professor Jiggs. He looks so bright and alert in the photo. The good days are to remind you not to give up on him yet. I'm still betting on seeing a photo of him chilling out on a beach in Melaque. We'll continue to pray for his health.
ReplyDeleteaighmeigh -- When I was in Melaque last July, two Irish setters would play on the beach in front of the house. They were extremelt well-behaved. The Mexican, who owns them, takes them everywhere with him -- including, in and out of houses. I guess for every cultural "rule," there is an exception.
ReplyDeleteBobo's Mom -- I suspect one reason Jiggs is so chipper is that the temperature has cooled. He is not very happy in the heat, but he always knows where to find shade. He would most likely like to meet Jackson and Jade.
My husband Ron has a yellow lab guide dog named Rusty. This week is Rusty's 7th birthday! I can't imagine even beginning to think about "when" with him. He is such a part of our lives, it is frightening to think of his eventual departure from us.
ReplyDeleteWish you and the Professor as much quality and loving time as possible. He looks like a great companion.
As a side note, Rusty is taking us to Mexico in 2 weeks to begin our year long adventure!
Carpe Diem!