The expression, dying like a dog, has a negative connotation. Not sure it should. It evokes the image of some poor canine smashed by a car and taking its last whimpering breath alone on the side of the road. We’ve had many dogs, and when it was necessary, facilitated good deaths for them: a special meal, a comfortable bed, petting and paw-holding as the needle went in. But this post isn’t about dying like a dog, it’s about living like one, especially in the face of medical uncertainty.
Dogs don’t even try to make sense of the universe. Maybe that’s why they sleep so well. They wake up each morning with high hopes, tail-waggingly ecstatic just to be alive and with their family to start a new day. They like their routines and have certain expectations, sure. Something good happened once, maybe it will happen again. Like breakfast kibbles. Or that bird who flew into a window and landed stunned at the bottom of the outside basement stairwell. Our three dogs checked that space for months afterward for another gift from heaven. (Don’t worry. We rescued the bird before it came to any harm but it was exciting for the dogs, just the same.)
Dogs are optimistic but they are not without their fears, and that doesn’t just pertain to rescue dogs. The gate fell on one of our dogs once. Now she will not push on it even when it’s clear to an observer that it’s just resting against the stair. Or something fell on another dog from a shelf when he was eating in this corner of the kitchen – he really can’t have a relaxing meal in that spot so the bowl gets moved.
When I admire how dogs live I am thinking of how they live in the moment and find joy in routine things – a walk, just being let out into the backyard, going for a ride in the car, finding an old toy. Each happenstance sparks pure happiness. It never gets old. Dogs are always up and always up for anything. At least a good part of the time. Dogs get ill and dogs get injured but how they deal with these setbacks is to minimize them and try to carry on. Animal behaviorists say this is due to the pack mentality – if a pack member shows weakness, they will be left out, left behind or perhaps killed. I get that, but I wonder if there’s more.
Just as dogs naturally want to exercise their bodies, which of course, is beneficial to their health, I wonder if they naturally want to continue to enjoy life through illness and injury. To live until they die, so to speak. We had a chocolate lab once who quite suddenly lost the use of her back legs due to a spinal tumor. She valiantly attempted to walk in the yard and managed to do her business. She wasn’t in pain and when she noticed our concern looked nonchalant as if to say – what? I walk like this now. She also famously pulled herself up the stairs to the 3rd floor that same day. She refused to give in to this thing that was happening to her. Sadly, we found the tumor was malignant and the prognosis dismal, and she was euthanized.
As a health care provider, I applaud when my patients take care of themselves and value their health. However, I have friends, acquaintances, relatives and yes, patients, who I think spend too much time worrying over every symptom when they could be enjoying the day. By all means, get your symptoms checked out if they’re worrisome or you are unsure. Follow your provider’s advice in terms of treatment and surveillance. But don’t obsess about the unknown. None of us knows exactly when we are going to die, but die we all will. The thing you worried about the most, likely is not the thing that will kill you. And even if it is, what did the worrying accomplish but compromise your enjoyment of everyday life?
Live like a dog while you can. Run after the ball, savor the treat, and smile when the wind blows back your hair. Be generous with your affection and most of all, spend time with the people you love.