77 to snow? And melancholy

Today is supposed to be in the 70s in Denver.  But probably one of the last 70-degree days in Denver this year.  Thursday will be snow and low of 20-something.

My old English Bulldog, Vinnie, is 9.  He’s been so healthy all of his life, and the last couple of days he’s been having breathing difficulties, he seems so quiet and out of energy, and completely out of sorts,he just woke up from his nap crying, and I don’t know what to do to make him feel better..  The vet is coming tomorrow so I don’t have to haul him in to the vet’s office when he feels so not-right. English Bulldogs generally only live to age 8, so I feel like I got an extra, great year, but I want more, but only if he’s relatively healthy and free of pain.

It’s always weird when you get used to having your pup be completely healthy and then one day he just goes off a cliff. I’m hoping it’s a cliff he can recover from, and it’s something that’s treatable.

Meanwhile my deaf/blind/going lame Lab is 13 and seems prepared to outlive me.

So I’ll hope for the best and prepare for the worst.

I was going to write about the Puredistance exclusive that’s not getting launched to the public, Warszawa.  I didn’t explore too much, except to spray it on and gasp a little at how beautiful it is.  I forget what pretty perfumes Puredistance does. Galbanum, grapefruit, violet leaf, jasmine, broom, orris butter, patchouli, vetiver and styrax.  Old world beautiful, thick, chewy kind of gorgeous.  It’s good to have something beautiful on today.

And I got nothing else today while I wait for news about my beautiful, stubborn, lovely bully.

  • Cheryl says:

    Patty, so sorry to hear about your sweet doggy. Please keep us posted on his condition. When my 22-year old Maine Coon passed away, it was very sudden. One week he was fine, and the next he lost weight and finally his hind legs just didn’t work. That was not a good day. Sending positive vibes your way.

  • Pam says:

    Patty, I am sending positive thoughts. I went through some bad illnesses with my favorite mutt and a couple of times thought “This is it”, and he had a happy life for fifteen years. I hope your baby has a speedy recovery.

  • lizbee says:

    Oh no. I’m so sorry, Patty. Wishing you and your pup the best. ?? Must be the hardest part of having pet partners. ?
    And 77 to snow?? Crazy.

    And Warszawa? Might be my first spendy blind buy when it comes around. I’m so eager to try it.

  • lizbee says:

    Oh no. I’m so sorry, Patty. Wishing you and your pup the best. ?? Must be the hardest part of having pet partners. ?
    And 77 to snow?? Crazy.

    And Warszawa? Might be my first spendy blind buy when it comes around. I’m so eager to try it.

  • Kandice says:

    What a cute pic! All my prayers and positive thoughts for you and Vinnie. Please keep us updated. It’s so incredibly hard when our fur babies are sick.

  • Koyel says:

    Poor baby 🙁 all my love to you and Vinnie. I hope he feels better soon!

  • March says:

    Aww, honey. Sending you the most positive thoughts today. Please let me know how you and sweet Vinnie are doing.

  • tiffanie says:

    That is so difficult. Hope things take a turn for the better and you both feel well in the coming days.

  • maggiecat says:

    Just wanted to say I’m thinking about you and Vinnie, hoping things will be ok, sending comfort regardless.

  • eldarwen22 says:

    It’s always tough to lose your pets. Hopefully, your vet will be able to find out what’s going on and it’s treatable.

  • So sorry to hear Patty- it drives me to distraction when one of my pets doesn’t seem to feel good- I feel so helpless and they can’t tell me a stinkin’ thing. I hope he perks up soon. And yes, I have a few, um, special, cats that I love more than God but that are a constant challenge. Wishing the best for you and your critters.

  • Maya says:

    Vinnie’s picture makes me smile. I hope the little fellow will be OK, for you and for him. I am also sending much love.

    • Patty says:

      Thanks, Maya. I hope so too. I just keep watching him today anxiously. He’s even weaker, but his breathing is eased, and I’m thinking that’s either a good thing and he’ll get some energy back and appetite or a bad thing as his body is shutting down. He only ate a little and hasn’t had water I’ve offered him. You’re just never ready. My lab, Buddy, who I am sure will live forever, deaf, blind and lame, makes me nuts with all of his craziness, even at 13, but I know when it’s his time, losing all that crazy love will be incredibly painful.

  • DinaC says:

    Hope the vet can help Vinnie get better! He looks very cute. Those crazy boomerang temperatures are hard on all of us, I think. The list of notes for Warszawa sounds very good. I look forward to your eventual review.

    • Patty says:

      He IS cute! i know before I was a bulldog owner, I thought both English and French were ugly things. Once you have one, their personalities are so outsize and amazing, you can’t see anything but beauty in their big old wrinkly faces. Warszawa is amazing. I just have a tiny sample they sent me, and I wasn’t sure there was enough to do a giveaway, but I might figure out how to squeeze out a small sample.

  • Kathleen Smith says:

    Love, thoughts, and prayers are with you. All of us animal lovers are right there with you, hugging you for support. Big hug to Vinnie and hoping to hear good news.

    • Patty says:

      Thank you, Kathleen. I know, and my heart aches when others have to face this. I hope it isn’t it, but I’ve had dogs for a long time, you just know when they are looking for an exit and aren’t right. Even if it’s not today, I know we’ve begun the climb down the hill. The wheezing with the shaking screams heart problems, which is pretty common for EBs when they get older. But maybe they can do some things and give him a good quality of life for some more months? I hope so, but I won’t torture him just to not have to say goodbye.

  • MMKinPA says:

    Thinking good thoughts to Vinnie. What a sweet doggie.

  • Debra says:

    I love those dogs. At one point, I volunteered on a Dangerous and Vicious Dog Board for my city. Not only did the Animal Control Officer claim that a lab was a pit bull (and the lab-ness was proven via Wisdom DNA testing), she also claimed the same of an old English Bulldog. I nearly croaked. I still have that dog’s picture in my screen saver. I couldn’t change the law, but I did stop that….I’d use the word “nonsense”, but it’s too light of a word for the terrible consequences once breed specific legislation hits a family.

    I’ve always wished I could have one. I am so glad you have been able to share your life with one! May you have much more time with him; may this cliff really be just a short ledge.

    • Patty says:

      I am shocked at the number of people that think any Bulldog is vicious. I’ve heard story of people snatching children away from French Bulldogs. They are as vicious as a mouse. They’ll lick you to death probably. And English? As mild as milk. Even if they weren’t, they don’t move very fast, easy to run away. But they are just placid and happy and funny. I’ve not experienced personally other bully breeds, but dumping them mentally – all of them – into some vicious pot is crazy. I’ve run into little dogs I was actually afraid of that allegedly aren’t a vicious breed. It’s about the dog and temperament and training.

      So hope Vinnie sharing his life with me isn’t at the end. It’s been an amazing relationship with a dog with the soul of a poet. He’s beautiful and happy and funny and gentle, and I selfishly want him forever.

  • Rosemary says:

    Much love to you and Vinny <3

  • Nemo says:

    Keeping my fingers crossed for Vinnie, I hope the vet can help!!

  • SnarkyShiba says:

    Sending positive vibes for your bully. Fingers crossed that it’s nothing serious.

  • Shiva-Woman says:

    I hope it’s something treatable. Very often, when an illness comes on this suddenly, it usually is. Fingers crossed. I’ve been there.

    • Patty says:

      I hope so. I’ve had pets all my life, and the worrying never gets easier. I cried like crazy this morning because Vinnie was still sleeping, and I didn’t want to wake him for breakfast. Doing four doggie breakfasts instead of five made me an awful puddle. Let’s hope the easier breathing is a good thing, but he just seems really puny and no energy.

  • Tara C says:

    I’m so sorry to hear your puppy boy is not feeling well. I am going through the same thing with my 10 year old Papillon, who has had a sudden decline in her health. Papillons are supposed to live 14-16 years, so on one hand I feel it’s unfair she is declining like this already, but she has so many health issues I am incredibly lucky to have had her this long, after discovering her first major issue at the tender age of two. I fervently hope that we both get good news for our beloved furry friends.

    • Patty says:

      I will keep your little Papillon in my prayers. Why do we put so much stock in averages, like we are entitled it? I guess I’ll just feel grateful that I’ve gone beyond the average, hopefully for more years. I do hope you get good news too! hugs.

      • Tara C says:

        Thank you Patty. A friend once said to me than any time you get with a dog after 10 years is gravy, certain breeds even less, but we are on bonus time and I am going to love on her until the day we have to be parted.

  • Jennifer S. says:

    Sorry to hear. It’s tough when our pets don’t feel like themselves but I’m sure just by being near and attentive, Vinnie can sense your wanting to help and the love you have for him.

    Now….if only I could remind my 20 year ‘old man cat’ that peeing in the litter box is preferable to peeing on the floor…..grrr

    • Patty says:

      He does. That is always the one thing I feel really sure of – he knows how much he is loved. His breathing is better this morning, and his face looks less puffy ( I know, this is hard for non-English Bulldog owners to comprehend when you look at their big,old, wrinkly faces, but there’s a lot of difference), but he didn’t eat much, just wanted to make sure he got a little breakfast. I still think I’m going to hate this day, but I am relieved that he seems more comfortable.

      I have an 11-year-old Bengal that thinks he’s not neutered and is territorial. It’s been the most frustrating 11 years of my life, but I love me some Rex.