Thank you for all the thoughts and prayers. Today we made the difficult decision to put Max to sleep. He had not drank any water for the last two days, and refused to eat today. He wouldn't even go outside for a treat. Last night, when he was sleeping, when he'd exhale, his sides would start to quiver like he was having difficulty breathing.
I brought him to the vet today, thinking to have xrays done...and a very caring, compassionate vet came in (my new vet had the day off) and he suggested that we let Max rest. He said he could do a bunch of xrays, but if they found something, it would more-than likely mean surgery, which with a dog his age, could be just a painfull prolonging of his life. We are not sure of Max's "true" age...we've been blessed with him for 10 years, but he was a stray we found, and a vet when we found him guesstimated him at 2-3 years old....so he was probably around 13 (and very gray around his beautiful muzzle)
Anyway, I wanted to share this with you all. I'm so sad, and I miss him already...he was like my shadow. My husband laughed because he even layed at the bathroom door when I was in there....and always slept on the floor on my side of the bed.
May you rest in peace, my precious Maxy. Thank you for always being there for me. I pray I didn't fail you.
I want to share with you a tribute to Max. I found this "poem" years ago, and it always reminded me how blessed man is to have a dog's companionship
ONE MAN'S SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO A DOG
The one absolutely unselfish friend that a man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him , the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous, is his dog. A man's dog stands by him in prosperity and in poverty, in health and in sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground where the wintery winds blow, and the snow drives fiercely, if only he may be near his master's side. He will kiss the hand hand has no food to offer, he will lick the sores and wounds that come in encounter with the roughness of the world. He guards the sleep of his Pauper master as if he were a prince. When all other friends desert, he remains. When riches take wings and reputation falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love as the sun in its journey through the heavens. If misfortune drives the master forth an outcast in the world, friendless and homeless, the faithful dog asks no higher privilege than that of accompanying him to guard against danger, to fight against his enemies. And when the last scene of all comes, and death takes the master in its embrace, and his body is laid away in the cold ground, no matter if all other friends pursue their way, there by the graveside will the noble dog be found, his head between his paws, his eyes sad, but open in alert watchfulness, faithful and true, even in death.
