Dogs have an incredible ability to bring joy, companionship, and unwavering loyalty into our lives—I’ve seen it with Caesar and Gatsby, as I’m sure you’ve seen it with your dogs. But as they age, I’ve also seen how their needs and behaviors change—in both positive and more difficult ways.
This year Caesar and I hit 12 years together, and what a beautiful (and sometimes challenging) 12 years it has been.
I brought him home at just 8 weeks only on Aug. 11, 2011. The first time you bring a puppy home—and remember, he was my first—you are so excited about how cute they are, how much energy they have, how much you can both do together. You aren’t thinking about what life will be like 10 years from then. You’re just enjoying the newness of each other.
The Good
In a way, I’ve loved watching Caesar grow up. For years, his energy levels were unmatched, and he had a habit of jumping on people in excitement. Around age 8, he stopped jumping, started to level out, and we began to bond over long hikes and overnight trips.
During the beginning of his older adult/senior years, we began traveling frequently together. To date, we’ve been to 10 states and hiked thousands of miles together, including two national park systems. His behavior became more predictable and he’s always done well on a leash.
During these years, Caesar also became more obedient and could be trusted off-leash.
After Jeter died in 2022, Caesar got to experience truly sharing a home with another dog. After warming up to him, Caesar, at 11 years old, played with Gatsby, and while that has worn off now due to illness and age, it was a major joy for me to see after years of keeping two dogs separated when Jeter was alive.
The Bad
Over the years, Caesar has had his health problems. In 2020, he was diagnosed with Cushing’s Disease after a series of infections. He was put on medicine to help curb the illness and did relatively well for several years.
Partly because of his geriatric age and partly because of the effects Cushing’s has, Caesar has become more irritable. He prefers individuals and other dogs with low energy and doesn’t love it when people run up to him to touch him or frighten him. This has made some scenarios a bit more difficult, but still manageable with the use of a basket muzzle.
Over the past year, Caesar has begun to age more noticeably—losing muscle mass in his back legs, falling down more often, and moving a bit slower than he used to. He’s gotten more grumpy and sleeps more often.
When you first get a puppy, you might get aggravated when they are too rambunctious, especially if you’re trying to get work done, but make sure to cherish those moments, because they do go by quickly.
And with aging, comes more health issues. I’m certain it will happen to us all.
The Ugly
On June 28, 2023, shortly after celebrating his 12th birthday, Caesar had his first seizure. Then then he had more in August. He was put on medicine to help curb those—an effect of aging, I was told. And so now, seizures are a normal part of our life too.
I think of old dogs like I do of old people. The will to go is still there, but the body sometimes does not agree, and like old people, we must respect the laws of nature. As we age, our body slows down and our immune system becomes weaker. This came to light recently when I was certain Caesar was going to die.
On Sept. 7, Caesar had been sick all day—vomiting and sleeping on and off. That night, he started having bloody diarrhea and I knew it was serious. I rushed him to the emergency vet, where he stayed for two days. As it turns out, he had the stomach flu and couldn’t fight it off on his own. Just days before, young Gatsby had a bout of illness for a day but quickly bounced back. Caesar came home on a series of medicines and within a week he was running around the yard again.
As Time Goes By…
2023 has proven to be a difficult year for Caesar and I’m not sure he’ll make it to see 2024. I know our time is fleeting and this is the hardest part of having a senior dog.
It’s not the moodiness or the fact that he now has to wear pee pad wraps. It’s not caring for them during illness or making sure they take their pills or eat their food. It’s coming to the realization that your best friend can’t do the things he used to do with you and that one day—sooner than later—he won’t be around at all.
I try to cherish each and every moment with Caesar and Gatsby. I try to make as many memories as possible with them and spend as much time as I can with them, but I don’t know if any of it will ever be enough for me.
I miss Jeter daily, but I know losing Caesar will be more difficult. He was my first. He’s been here longer. We’ve traveled the world together. How could it not be?
Having a dog is the most deeply rewarding experience I’ve ever had. It’s filled with love and companionship, but it also comes with its challenges, including health issues and emotional difficulties. Despite these challenges, the joy of spending the twilight years with Caesar far outweighs the difficulties. I think the key, for all of us—whether it’s with our dogs or other people—is to cherish each moment, make the best of the time you have together, and provide them with the love and care they deserve.