Sad days, my friends. Our beloved Andy (aka Black Lips Houlihan, aka The Finest Example) is not in good health. In fact, this looks like it might be the end. We talked to the vet, and are going to give it one more day, to see if he improves. If not, we have an appointment tomorrow afternoon. Gulp.
A couple of days ago I was reading in the living room, and Andy came in there stumbling around like a T-Mobile salesman on Thursday night happy hour at Chili’s. He dragged his entire body along the loveseat, like he was listing hard to the right, then turned and vomited a great load on the rug. What the?!
I took him outside and he was wobbly on his feet, but seemed otherwise fine. He took care of some business out there, and the next morning was back to his normal self: barking at people through glass, and begging for food. Hey, dogs are weird. I didn’t think any more about it.
But yesterday afternoon Toney was on her break, and I was downstairs on my computer. She texted me and said Andy had puked again, but she needed to get back to work. Nice! So, I went up there to clean up the mess, and saw that our old friend wasn’t doing so well. He was lying down, panting really hard, and kept falling when he’d try to stand.
He seemed to get a little better as the evening progressed, but it still wasn’t great. Toney has spoken to the vet twice, and we’re doing what she suggests. But he’s not getting any better, and doesn’t even try to stand or walk anymore. I think he had a stroke. It’s sad.
He’s drinking a little water, but hasn’t really eaten since yesterday afternoon. While he’s lying still he seems fine. He licks my hand, in a friendly way, and doesn’t appear to be in pain or anything. I don’t know. It’s only been about 18 hours, but it feels like a week to me. What’s with all this “let’s just keep an eye on him” bullshit?! I want her to examine him. That’ll happen tomorrow, I guess.
Andy’s 14 years old, and our boys don’t really even remember a life without him. We all love that hound, of course. He’s a sweet and silly part of us. Our hearts are breaking.
I’ll keep you guys updated.
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Condolences to you, my friend. It’s a hard decision to make. I’m sure you’ll make the right one.
I am really sorry to hear about Andy. He’s been a part of your fambly ever since I started visiting your site about a dozen years ago. It’s hard when you have to say goodbye to your dog.
Such sad news, JK. So sorry to hear…
Hoping for the best for Andy. He is an important part of the Kay family and story.
Sorry to hear, hope he recovers.
I’m so sorry to hear this news. Having recently experienced similar loss, I know how hard this must be. He is family to all of us!!
I hate to hear that about Andy – he doesn’t appear in your updates all the time, but he’s always a welcome sight there. Such a character, and you’ve illustrated him so keenly over the years. I know y’all will miss those black lips.
I’m so sorry to hear about your beloved Andy. Good thoughts and positive vibes headed your way.
So sorry for your family. We lost two last year and know how hard this can be. Just a thought – if you want a reminder – some Vets offer a service where they take a pawprint for you and immortalize it like those handprints in clay kids do. We did not want the ashes but we did get those and those pawprints are now happy reminders.
Jeff, Question about Andy – are his eyes moving side to side while he’s having these dizzy episodes? Our dog (collie mix) has had several bouts with something similar so I was just curious.
Man sorry to hear that Jeff I think you should fix him one more huge plate of spaghetti seems like that would be a proper send off
Such sad news. Our old dog exhibited similar symptoms. Turns out she had Cushings Disease which was treatable. She was already old, blind and deaf by that time, but she still could poop and pee and enjoy food and our attention. It was when she finally stopped showing signs of enjoying even her life, we had to say goodbye. That was three years ago and I’m getting a lump in my throat as I type this.
The Kay family has given Andy a fine, happy life.
Jeff, ask your vet about the possibility of Andy having vestibular disorder, an attack on the nervous system that happens to older dogs. My 16yo golden retriever mix was having the same symptoms this past Spring, thought she had a stroke and was done for. My vet mentioned it to me right away, they kept her for a couple of days and kept her hydrated and then we got to take her home. Had to carry her outside for bathroom breaks (and hold her up while she went), give her water through a turkey baster syringe and hand feed her. Couldn’t believe it, but she came out of it after a couple of weeks and is still doing really well after 6 months. Google it, ask the vet, don’t give up on him yet!
That exactly what happened to our dog. She has had a couple of bouts with it. They called it Canine Vestibular Disease, or Old Dog disease. I thought she was having a stroke the first time but she totally recovered. I’m so thankful we didn’t put her down. During the episodes we have to help her walk and eat and we also give her meds to help with the nausea.
Thank you guys. This gives me hope.
My 14-year-old beagle went through it, too. He’s had two bouts of what’s basically vertigo. Took him to the emergency vet, they gave him IV fluids, then sent him home with us and said to give him meclizine – Dramamine Less Drowsy – to help him out. The second bout took him about three weeks to really recover, but he’s fine now. Been close to a year ago the last attack happened.
Don’t give up yet! Get him checked out. If your vet says “wait and see” some more, take him somewhere else.
If you haven’t already Googled the hell out of it:
http://www.petmd.com/blogs/fullyvetted/2011/oct/old_dog_vestibular_disease-11847
I was going to say the same, Geriatric Vestibular Disease. My dog had it for the last year of his life, when it happens it is just due to the age of the dog. It came in what you could call episodes, the beginning of which was marked by nystagmus, there is a gif here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nystagmus. It would last for two to four days, where he would try to stand and fall, sometimes he would vomit too, and pant and drool as if nervous. I assumed it was due to a perceived motion sickness. I had to help him stand and walk during these spells. Then it would clear up and he would function normally, although he had a slight head tilt after the first episode. I do hope that is what it is for poor Andy and that he has more years left in him!
Sorry to hear that. Our two dogs are such a huge part of our lives that I can’t imagine having to even think of that. I know I’ll have to face that one day, but it sucks. Hoping for the best though!
My stomach was in knots reading this. My own fuzzy pal, 16 years old, had a rough day on Sunday (not nearly as rough as Andy’s, thankfully), so I know the terrible, helpless feeling. There’s all kinds of supportive things that are said at these times, but the bottom line is: It sucks.
Jeff – I’m so sorry to hear this. I feel like I personally know Andy. Some of my favorite surf report updates involve blacklips in some way. Terrible news. I’m hoping for the best.
Last March my dog was lethargic and not interested in food (which is NOT typical behavior for him). We took him to the vet and they told us he had Immuno Moderated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA) and was hours from dying…
They brought him back and he’s more or less ok now… but it was the WORST week of my life (including the week after my house burnt down, or after my dad died…).
The waiting fucking sucks, dude…
So sorry man, never easy….thoughts with your clan…
Take solace in knowing that this is harder on you than your precious pet.
Sorry to hear Andy is not well. He’s part of the WVSR family for sure. Who can forget Andy vs. The Hippy Dippy Mailman, and the great cookie vs. vacuum experiment. I hope he pulls through this.
This is terrible news. Please let me know if I can help in some way. The Surf Report and all involved have meant a great deal to me for a very long time. Maybe it would cheer him up a bit if I brought him the head of the Hippy Dippy Mailman…
I’m sorry that he’s so sick, but thankful that others have recommended options. I hope that he makes a rapid turnaround and is around for years to come.
hope andy can overcome this.. hang tough
My first dog as an on-my-own adult was a schnauzer named Reva Shane. I had to put her down because of health problems at 8. Hold Andy and let him know you love him and then let him go. I was there for Reva, took her home and buried her in the backyard. Never been one for boxes of ashes but I have googled her resting place and she’s still fine after all these years.
My thoughts are with you – I hope you all find peace.
Hugs to you and the family, Jeff…Andy knows you all love him.
Sorry to hear about Andy. Hope he can make a recovery.
Sorry Jeff.
It’s always sad to have to make those kinds of decisions. We had to put one of our dogs down when I was 16 and I haven’t had another pooch since. Just make sure he isn’t suffering.
When I have problems with my inner ear, I exhibit some of the same symptoms as Andy when I get badly dizzy. Could that be a possibility as well?*
*I am not a doctor (or veterinarian) nor do I play one on television, but antihistamines work well for that on us human-folk. Just a thought…
Hopefully he is out of discomfort soon, however it happens. My sympathies to your family.
Sorry 🙁 I’ve been there, it’s awful. One of the downsides of pets is we tend to outlive them. I still miss my dog and he died 20+ years ago.
We pulled a cat back from the brink and he lived another 3 or 4 years after that. So long as Andy isn’t suffering don’t give up hope. Good luck.
Thinking about Andy and the Kay family. I hope you get good news from the vet.
Hate to hear it Jeff, hopefully it’s the Vestibular thing and Andy recovers.
Sorry to hear about Andy. Had to make that decision when my dog was 15, it ain’t easy.
Well, shit. I’ve known Black Lips (by proxy) as long as you’ve shared his existence. I’m truly sorry, my friend.
I remember the days when you confused the Secrets that you had two dogs that looked the same. Sad to hear about Andy.
Awww, very sorry to hear about Andy. Perhaps the suggestions of our other dog family members can help. Good thoughts to you and your family during this crappy time.
Jeff, so incredibly sad to hear about Andy. We have a dog that’s just as much a part of our family as any of us, and I cannot bring myself to think of how I will feel at the end (I’m 56 so maybe I’ll get lucky and go first!). I’m not a religious dude, otherwise I’d pray for him…..just know I’m hoping he can pull through.
Jeff my heartfelt condolences go out to you and your family. I’ve been through it and I can’t describe how sad we were. He’s had a good life and through your stories given all of us great joy. It’s the hardest decision but if he’s suffering its for the best. Keep us updated mate.
So sorry Andy is doing poorly – we put our 16 year old dog down in January, and it was one of the hardest things we ever had to do. 🙁 Hopefully the vet will be able to figure something out for him, if not, all you can do is just get through it and let time do its thing to help you all heal. ::hugs::
Good ol blacklips. At least it wasn’t 5 years of updates about how he got progressively worse like carolla. And for good measure f that neighbor dog.
You know – I met my wife just 8 years ago last week and it was a couple months after that that she introduced me to the West Virginia Surf Report. She had a dog when we met – a pup that she and her kids had had for a little less than 2 years. Loved that dog (a Golden Retriever) right away. My wife and I have been married for a little over 5 years and she and her kids and Russell (the pup – albeit 5 years old now) all moved into my house 2 months before the wedding. Hell – even my cockatiel welcomed Russell (but he’s always liked dogs and wasn’t even threatened when one barked right in his beak!).
Two Sundays ago the pup was a little listless and he pitched up his lunch. The next day he was more run down and his nose was very warm. When he upchucked his dinner again the next night my wife took him to the vet. Heart and lungs and blood pressure and blood sample all fine; no infections. They decided to do an ultrasound and with this they found the truth: tumor on spleen, tumor on liver, blood in his abdomen. They offered a splenectomy for a few grand and cheerfully reported they’d had great luck with this procedure; “it usually buys them 3 more months”. Good God: surgery and that trauma/drama; stitches that he’ll try to chew out making it necessary for him to wear the cone of shame; maybe some chemo; maybe giving up the ghost on Christmas Day. Could this suck any more – especially for him?
My wife – my Princess – made the decision to bring him back home with some pills to help with the pain (we finally recognized that he’d been intimating some pain for a couple weeks now) and something to help with his appetite. The next day she took off work to take him down to the reservoir (where he’d never been so he could stroll in the shallow water and plop right down in it to his belly). My youngest stepson bought him a Happy Meal from McDonalds and he gobbled it all down (cheeseburger and fries).
The next day was Friday and he seemed to be holding his own but after I got home from work and he came outside to do his business, he could barely make it back up the basement stairs and he gave up on his rawhide chews after the first one (instead of 3 of them as usual). He hardly got to his feet but for a few steps for the rest of the night. I stayed up until after 4 keeping an eye on him, bawling my eyes out and saying goodbye because – I knew. When my wife got up at 7 to take my youngest stepson to his early-morning hockey game, I told her I didn’t think he’d last the day. She went down and spent time on the floor with him while my son got ready and dressed, as did my stepdaughter. When she got off the floor to go start the car, puppy suddenly rallied for a big drink of water and then stood at the top of the steps looking at her after she’d gone down to go. Now it was wife who knew. She showed him the leash and he perked up readily and started down the steps before his body began to betray him. She called to the kids to hurry up then bid them to say goodbye and sent them off to hockey arena; meanwhile – she was going to the vet for the last time.
I was supposed to follow to the ice rink later (she/they usually go there an hour before the game) but when I came down and couldn’t find the dog (thought maybe he’d gone off to die in solitude like my parent’s beagle did 30 years ago) I looked around frantically then saw the note on the fridge from my stepdaughter. I texted my wife and she told me I could come if I wanted. We’d talked about this the day before and I told her I didn’t think I could be there for this. I was there for my Mom’s passing 2 years ago and that was enough for a lifetime. But neither could I let my wife go through this alone. Unfortunately I was about 3 minutes late. As I later wrote on my FB page:
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“All dogs are puppies – to the day they die. Russell was a sweetheart of a dog; he probably wouldn’t have bitten Hitler. (although he almost certainly would have barked at him). He had such unbridled enthusiasm for most everything he did and the joy in pouncing on a squeak-toy or slavering over a rawhide chew – was a sight to behold. I hope he’s in a place now where he gets to catch the rabbits and the squirrels, eat all the cicadas he wants, and can catch the occasional UPS man or mail carrier. That the next time he barks “GET OUT OF MY YARD!!!!” they listen. “Get ‘eem, pup!” We love you and we’ll always remember.”
I’m raising a cold frosty beverage in honor of ole Black Lips, and in loving support of the Kay fambly in this hour.
Anyone who’s been any kind of a pet owner understands what you’re going through. Good luck tomorrow, and, hang tough, Andy!
Hope it turns out that he has several good years left Jeff
Jeff, I’m so sorry to hear about Andy. But some of the dog people above have offered hope. Let me also add that I had a cat who had what looked like a seizure of some sort, but he pulled through and had several more years of quality life.
It ain’t over til it’s over. All the best to you and yours.
So sorry to hear this! Our critters can be very good friends who just happen not to be human. We can’t talk about music or work on crossword puzzles with them, but other than that they are are legitimate companions. The suggestions by others sound as if they are worth following up on; here’s hoping there’s a way to help him out.
That sucks, Jeff. I was in that situation last month. My 13 year old Jack Russell is part of the family and was as good of a dog as you could have. Abby was nice to everyone, but she was my dog and waited on the back of the couch every day of her life with her frisbee, waiting for me to get home. She turned 13 in the summer and seemed to be doing fine and the she went downhill in a matter of a couple of days and passed away at the vets, as we had to leave her there because she was so weak. At least she passed away without me having to see her put down with a needle. I would have a sobbing mess while that was going on. Dogs really are man’s best friend. I wish they lived as long as humans.
Below is a paraphrase of the epilogue to the Kinky Friedman book, Elvis, Jesus & Coca-Cola.
EPILOGUE
On January 4, 1993, the cat in this book and the books that preceded it was put to sleep in Kerrville, Texas, by Dr. W.H. Hoegemeyer and myself. Cuddles was fourteen years old, a respectable age. She was as close to me as any human being I have ever known.
Cuddles and I spent many years together, both in New York, where I first found her as a little kitten on the street in Chinatown, and later on the ranch in Texas. She was always with me, on the table, on the bed, by the fireplace, beside the typewriter, on top of my suitcase when I returned from a trip.
I dug Cuddles’ grave with a silver spade, in the little garden by the stream behind the old green trailer where both of us lived in the summertime. Her burial shroud was my old New York sweatshirt and in the grave with her is a can of tuna and a cigar.
A few days ago I received a sympathy note from Bill Hoegemeyer, the veterinarian. It opened with a verse by Irving Townshend: “We who choose to surround ourselves with lives even more temporary than our own live within a fragile circle…”
Now, as I write this, on a gray winter day by the fireside, I can almost feel her light tread, moving from my head and my heart down through my fingertips to the keys of the typewriter. People may surprise you with unexpected kindness. But the love of a cat or dog is a blessing, a privilege in this world.
They say when you die and go to heaven all the dogs and cats you’ve ever had in your life come running to meet you.
Until that day, rest in peace, Cuddles
KINKY FRIEDMAN
FEBRUARY 5, 1993
MEDINA, TEXAS
I have no words, Jeff, except I’m thinking about you today. I’m dealing with the same thing, so know your pain.
Andy had a helluva good 14 year run, though. I’m so sorry.