DIAPERS, DIAPERS, DIAPERS (PART 2): CARING FOR A NEWBORN AND A SENIOR DOG AT THE SAME TIME BY: JULIE, THE MUTTLY CREW

BY: JULIE, THE MUTTLY CREW

We were sooooooo happy about expecting our first 2-legged baby! Despite Teddy having serious health issues, we would remind him he was going to be the best big brother and we need him. With every good checkup on our bun in the oven, my gratefulness was sometimes offset by guilt that Teddy didn’t feel better. I felt like the pressure was on even more, for us to find him permanent relief. Was Teddy ever going to really enjoy his quality of life close to what is was before? Could we help him further before the baby arrived? How were we going to give Teddy the attention he needs while caring for a newborn? And I knew sleep would already be a lost cause. My husband already had a demanding job while my business partner and I were building a company. Obviously, raising a baby is one of the most rewarding and challenging jobs in the world. I was excited and elated to be a hair-baby momma in addition to a “fur-baby mutter.” How the heck were we going to do both well? At this point, my husband is taking him outside 6 to 8 times a day. Getting through my pregnancy and making sure the baby was okay was now our top priority.  Rescuing Teddy in 2007 had changed my life. Sorry to be corny, but yes, he saved me more than I saved him. (Then a couple years later, my husband-to-be saved us both, ha!) Teddy is really our family, our kid with the tail. Giving up on him is not an option. But what about our sanity? Guess that’s out the window! And really, how did Teddy’s health demise like this?! He is a mutt, on another level. According to the DNA test Wisdom Panel, he took years ago, he is descended from 4 different breeds. How is he this sick?  Multi-breeds are supposed to have less issues, right? What did I do wrong? I thought we took great care of Teddy, above and beyond actually. “Of course, at this time he is pushing 13 years of age (91 in dog years). I expected some senior issues but come on!" Teddy was such a cool, sweet, quiet and chill dog before his urinary continence and back pain issues. But as my pregnancy progressed, Teddy got more thirsty and needy. Mostly he couldn’t help it, but time-to-time, we knew he could. He was sticking it to us. How dare we have another child while he wasn’t well! He would just walk him and help him take a long pee outside and return home only for him to leak or pee inside 15 minutes later.  Or he would all the sudden become a shadow and continuously and quietly walk up right behind us, tripping us.  He wanted us to know he needed help and was irritated. We were really trying.

To make matters worse for him (and eventually better), we decided to finally neuter him. This happened during the first trimester of my pregnancy. Three veterinarians said this may help his prostate shrink, putting less pressure on his bladder.  The timing of the potential positive results were not predictable. Teddy was understandably upset we took his manhood. He had to go through the healing process from a serious surgery and hormone changes. (I didn’t neuter Teddy early on because right after adopting him, we found out he had several serious health issues to tackle first).  Looking into his back issues required anesthesia, a MRI, and possible surgery. Veterinarians said this may pose more a risk to then 12-year-old Teddy’s safety than helping him. More months of managing Teddy’s health day-by-day by moderating water, Teddy pep talks, clean-ups, “walks” and trying this medication, stopping another one or using a natural option. He would start to have a good day occasionally where he didn’t leak inside and was in better spirits. Then our beautiful baby boy arrived!