Yet Another Cycling Forum

Random Musings => Miscellany => Where The Wild Things Are => Topic started by: Wowbagger on 16 October, 2017, 07:45:59 pm

Title: Poor old Morph (22/3/2004 - 26/5/2018)
Post by: Wowbagger on 16 October, 2017, 07:45:59 pm
Morphy is now the wrong side of 13½. That's a good 18 months in excess of expectations - setters don't normally survive beyond 12, or so I'm told.

He's normally a cheerful chap, despite having lost a lot of weight, eating far more than he ever did, and suffering from arthritis.

A couple of weeks ago he was clearly in a lot of pain from his hips. I gently touched his hip to move him a bit and he cried out. The following day the same happened when Dez tried to get him to move. That prompted a vet visit. He's been on Metacam for a little over a week and for the past couple of days he has had the runs. It has clearly reduced the pain a lot though. I shall stop the Metacam for a few days to give it time to clear up, but I think we are not far off the time when a one-way trip is in order. I don't want him to be in pain, and having the shits distresses him.

As an aside, one of Morphy's long-term acquaintances, a Yorkshire terrier named Barney, shuffled off this mortal coil a month or so ago. He had gone blind, his back legs were duff, but he still seemed quite waggy when you met him. He went into the garden one night to empty himself and was longer than usual. Dave, his owner, found him dead by the back door. Heart attack, in all probability. 15 years 2 months.

Barney was a lovely little dog, very affectionate and outgoing, and a real character. In the good old days when both dogs were young and spry, I used to spend quite some time every day in the park, throwing a ball for Morphy and he would retrieve it, drop it at my feet and then bark like a maniac until I threw it again. No matter where in the park Barney was, the sound of Morphy's barking would prompt him to come zooming across the grass like an e-type broom-head in order to scrounge liver cake from me. Dave would follow on his bike (Dave's replacement knees make it hard for him to walk far) and we would natter about life, the universe and everything. Even though Dave is about 15 years my senior, he went to the same school as a pupil where I started my teaching career. Some of my rather ancient former colleagues were the bastards who taught Dave, and quite probably assaulted him physically.
Title: Re: Poor old Morph
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 16 October, 2017, 11:13:38 pm
Poor Morph. Hard as it is, I'd rather do the one way trip a week too early than a day too late. I'd rather be grieving than know an animal I love was in pain. Morphy sounds like he's been a brilliant dog and he's had a long happy life. I hope the rest of his time is happy and comfortable. Good boy.
Title: Re: Poor old Morph
Post by: hellymedic on 16 October, 2017, 11:58:14 pm
Poor OLD Morph!
He has done well...
Title: Re: Poor old Morph
Post by: Wowbagger on 25 October, 2017, 12:32:53 am
An update: after a few days on the Metacam, I took him off it. He had terrible diarrhoea which took a few days to get better. Now, although he is still slow on walks and has the occasional stumble, he is very cheerful. He takes an interest in people and dogs when we are out, nags me for treats and still does that endearing thing where he gently takes hold of my little finger between his teeth to take my hand off the keyboard to stroke him, or get him food, or pay him attention in some way that sitting at a computer doesn't do. He quite often comes in when he hears me playing the piano and either lies down nearby or leans against the piano stool.

This is him after about 10 minutes of the Schubert G♭impromptu:

(https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/22712536_1894601644192369_2665205542827099022_o.jpg?oh=587d3e14fdc87849eff43282e29365bf&oe=5A7863D0)

It seems quite possible that his arthritis behaves as mine does - one hell of a lot worse on some days than on others. His appetite is very good.
Title: Re: Poor old Morph
Post by: T42 on 25 October, 2017, 08:33:35 am
Poor chap.  I reckon Metacam would go for the gut, NSAIDs do that.  Would the vet have an appropriate PPI for him, something like Omeprazole?
Title: Re: Poor old Morph
Post by: bobb on 25 October, 2017, 10:26:14 am
It's nice that he's musical though. If I sit down at the piano, Boris the Blade is off to the furthest corner of the house before I can play an E7 aug 9....
Title: Re: Poor old Morph
Post by: Ham on 25 October, 2017, 11:25:37 am
Having been through similar, it does feel as if you are playing an end game with Old Father Time.  Good luck.
Title: Re: Poor old Morph
Post by: Peter on 25 October, 2017, 12:15:47 pm
It's nice that he's musical though. If I sit down at the piano, Boris the Blade is off to the furthest corner of the house before I can play an E7 aug 9....

You and your Hendrix!  Although I think the chord was popular with Stravinsky, too....
Title: Re: Poor old Morph
Post by: Wowbagger on 25 October, 2017, 12:42:21 pm
Would that be Wee Jimi Stravinsky from the Gorbals?
Title: Re: Poor old Morph
Post by: Wowbagger on 25 October, 2017, 12:43:16 pm
Having been through similar, it does feel as if you are playing an end game with Old Father Time.  Good luck.

I always prided myself on my endgame technique. :)
Title: Re: Poor old Morph
Post by: Peter on 26 October, 2017, 09:28:35 pm
Would that be Wee Jimi Stravinsky from the Gorbals?

That's the one; wrote Mctrushka and The Fight of Spring
Title: Re: Poor old Morph
Post by: Wowbagger on 27 October, 2017, 03:19:16 pm
Morph had a very good walk this morning. He allowed himself to be fussed over by small children and socialised with other dogs. He also falsetto-barked at me for treats.

There's life in the old dog yet!
Title: Re: Poor old Morph
Post by: Wowbagger on 26 May, 2018, 09:57:32 am
Things have taken a turn for the worse lately. Vet appointment this afternoon. This may well be it.
Title: Re: Poor old Morph
Post by: Basil on 26 May, 2018, 10:04:59 am
Oh dear.
C'mon Morph.
Title: Re: Poor old Morph
Post by: T42 on 26 May, 2018, 10:38:10 am
Horrible thing to go through. Give him a hug.
Title: Re: Poor old Morph
Post by: hellymedic on 26 May, 2018, 12:48:40 pm
Love to you all...
Title: Re: Poor old Morph
Post by: andrewc on 26 May, 2018, 01:13:25 pm
Hugs to all of you.
Title: Re: Poor old Morph
Post by: Wowbagger on 26 May, 2018, 03:21:45 pm
It is done. Thank you all for your good wishes.

He had lost about 2.5kg in the past 2 months. He was 33kg top whack, about 26kg in October, about the same in March, and about 23.5 today. I could feel that he was lighter, when I lifted him into the car, than he was when I last took him in the car just over a week ago. I'm amazed he kept going as well as he did. A couple of times in the past week he had walks of over a mile, but suddenly, on Thursday, he took a turn for the worse. Stopped eating, drank very little. Yesterday I cooked him a couple of chicken breasts and he ate those with rice, but no improvement today. In the past three days, he was refusing walks. Would go out, have a wee, and then dig his heels in about going any further. I persuaded him to go round the block last night, and he had 3 wees, but it didn't stop him weeing a lake on the floor some time in the small hours. His legs have been very bad with arthritis for quite some time, but his back right leg started letting him down over the past couple of days. I always felt that the wagometer was the critical factor, and it had detected very little in the way of wags over the past couple of days.

To be honest my biggest feeling is one of relief.
Title: Re: Poor old Morph
Post by: Jaded on 26 May, 2018, 03:25:51 pm
That's very sad to hear, but the best for him.

Sounds like you'll need a warming whisky tonight.
Title: Re: Poor old Morph
Post by: barakta on 26 May, 2018, 03:56:40 pm
Sorry to hear this, but it sounds like you made the right decision and knowing it was coming you tried to balance quality of life against knowing when to make the call.

Thinking of you all.
Title: Re: Poor old Morph
Post by: Jurek on 26 May, 2018, 04:09:45 pm
JD sums it up well, Peter.
Much commiz.
Title: Re: Poor old Morph
Post by: Wowbagger on 26 May, 2018, 04:16:50 pm
I last took Morphy to Priory Park early in the week. He still had enough energy left to try to break into a canter as he woofed at some ducks. They obligingly took off with a satisfying amount of quack!  ;D
Title: Re: Poor old Morph
Post by: T42 on 26 May, 2018, 04:21:57 pm
Sounds like a good old lad. Sorry he's gone.
Title: Re: Poor old Morph
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 26 May, 2018, 04:46:22 pm
What they all said. You did the right thing.
Title: Re: Poor old Morph
Post by: pcolbeck on 26 May, 2018, 05:49:52 pm
Ahh sorry to hear this Peter. He obvioulsy had the best life with you though and you knew when to help him out of his pain.
Title: Re: Poor old Morph
Post by: Ham on 26 May, 2018, 06:20:24 pm
As others have said, very sad but you clearly did the right thing. Hope you adjust without too much pain.
Title: Re: Poor old Morph
Post by: Feline on 26 May, 2018, 06:23:54 pm
Sorry to hear this sad news  :(
He did well to live to the age he did. I'm sure he's left quite an empty hole in your lives. Take care x
Title: Re: Poor old Morph
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 26 May, 2018, 06:37:32 pm
You did the right thing, and he knew he was a good boy.
Title: Re: Poor old Morph
Post by: Wowbagger on 26 May, 2018, 06:49:11 pm
The vets were always impressed by how compliant he was. He had a catheter fitted in March when we took him and didn't complain at all. The urine sample shows no blood in his bladder but blood when the urine emerged out of his penis. Enlarged prostate...

At that same time, he had a blood test. To quote the vet "It's the sort of result I would expect from a healthy 2-year-old dog." No cancer, normal kidneys, liver and thyroid, no diabetes.

I was sure it would be muscle wastage that got him.
Title: Re: Poor old Morph (22/3/2004 - 26/5/2018)
Post by: Wowbagger on 26 May, 2018, 07:02:22 pm
Dez has just unearthed this:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWykbSZ4DHs

I don't remember who the other dog was that kept nicking his ball! Although the published date for the at is 2012, I reckon it's more like 2006. I wasn't wearing glasses full time and I had a bit of colour in my hair!
Title: Re: Poor old Morph (22/3/2004 - 26/5/2018)
Post by: T42 on 27 May, 2018, 08:32:44 am
 :thumbsup: :'(
Title: Re: Poor old Morph (22/3/2004 - 26/5/2018)
Post by: Pingu on 27 May, 2018, 09:53:06 pm
Aww, he had a good innings.
Title: Re: Poor old Morph (22/3/2004 - 26/5/2018)
Post by: Wowbagger on 05 July, 2018, 03:38:43 pm
I went for a walk this morning to Two Tree Island, with my good friend Penny and a 50% reduction in the dog count.

Penny gave me this:

(https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/36678932_2039224766396722_8444319949236731904_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=98dc0fe3bf3fdcc1eea0b57e9c76ab13&oe=5BE6DAC2)
Title: Re: Poor old Morph (22/3/2004 - 26/5/2018)
Post by: T42 on 05 July, 2018, 05:12:41 pm
 :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Poor old Morph (22/3/2004 - 26/5/2018)
Post by: delthebike on 05 July, 2018, 05:22:34 pm
Just caught up with this news, Morphy was a splendid dog!  :'(
Title: Re: Poor old Morph (22/3/2004 - 26/5/2018)
Post by: Gattopardo on 05 July, 2018, 11:09:00 pm
Sorry to hear about morph.
Title: Re: Poor old Morph (22/3/2004 - 26/5/2018)
Post by: Ruthie on 01 August, 2018, 09:05:43 am
I just found out. RIP Morph, I wish we’d had a chance to meet. Sorry for your loss  :(
Title: Re: Poor old Morph (22/3/2004 - 26/5/2018)
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 17 May, 2019, 06:22:37 pm
Very belated condolences, Wowbagger. RIP Morphy.



I’ve only just found this post. I saw what I thought was a reference to his passing in another thread somewhere, and looked for a thread on the subject in what I mistakenly thought was only likely sub-forum.