Last October, we had to lay Bandit to rest after a long illness. Just prior to that Flash had what the vet believes was a mild stroke, leaving her to walk with her head tilted all the time. She suffered some dizzy spells which they also believed was due to vertigo. A once active dog who bounded up and down steps had been reduced to a dog who sometimes missed a step and find herself falling down several steps. However, through all that time, she walked with pride and grace.
If Rosanne was in the garden working a young Flash was there watching over her. When she played, she played hard. If you did not belong in the yard, she let you know real fast with a deep growl and a snap of her teeth.
Over the past weekend we put her in a kennel so she was cared for while we were at the Cub Tug. The other dogs were fine with staying home, but we wanted to make sure she got her medication. When we went to picker her up Sunday, the kennel owner had he moved to a different pen. She aid Flash could not stand on her hind feet. I had to carry her to the car to take her home. About an hour after I laid her in her favorite spot on the porch I found her laying by the door wanting to go out. I carried her to her favorite spot in the yard and let her sit. Later we found her in several other areas of the yard. She had been pulling herself around with her front paws. Last night she was sound asleep under the motor home when I came in for the night. She was still there when I went out this morning. She ate her morning meal and looked at us with her sad eyes.
This morning we had her at the vet. After a few tests he determined that Flash had no feeling in her backside and attributed it to nerve damage, possibly as a result of the stroke. He said there really wasn’t anything he could do. At that point I made the decision I was hating to make.
About 12:30 pm today our beloved Flash went to sleep for her final time. Rosanne, Melissa and I know she is now enjoying her time with Bandit in Dog Heaven. She is now at peace.
