Category: Labs

ruby

whbeebe1 Comment
Ruby being photobombed by Zoë

While the drama of the presidential election was occurring, an even bigger drama was taking place that Tuesday at my vet’s with Ruby. Ruby has developed something of an intermittent dry cough, a chuffing kind of cough. The vet examined her and came by with sobering news. First, he had a hard time listening to her heartbeat; it was muffled as if there was fluid in the thoracic region of the heart. He took an X-ray and saw the area was indeed filled with something. One of our thoughts turned to cancer. My wife was with us at the time and the three of us discussed what it might be and possible treatment plans. In the end they gave Ruby a shot of steroids and some pills I’m supposed to start giving her this coming Sunday. Ruby has improved and sleeps a lot easier.

Ruby is now 16 years and three months. Labrador retrievers are supposed to live an average of ten and twelve years. Ruby has beat those statistics by a good amount. She’s been remarkably healthy the entire time. Even now she goes on her walks (slowly) and waits for her treats, and comes over for rubs and scratches. She likes to sit next to me and look up while I’m working on something around the house.

Ruby’s having greater and greater difficulty standing. I can help her up so she can go outside and go to the bathroom. Once outside on the concrete or the yard proper she has no difficulty going down to rest or getting back up. But in the house on the tile floors she no longer has the strength in her hips and back legs to simply stand. As a consequence I’ve ordered a set of dog boots for each paw to give her added foot traction, for as long as she needs them.

I know that Ruby will leave soon. I am prepared. I’ve lived through Lab end states since 1994, when our first Lab, Rhett, left us. After Rhett I bid farewell to Katie, Babe, and Max. Very soon I’ll bid farewell to lovely Ruby.

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sweet 16

sweet 16

whbeebe

Ruby turned 16 back in late August. Unfortunately I was preoccupied with other personal matters (surgery, COVID), so the exact date skipped past me. Today I’m finally getting around to writing about the longest-lived Labrador Retriever we’ve ever had live with us.

To give you some idea how much has occurred with Ruby, I’ll start off with the photo of when we picked her (or should I say, when she waddled over to pick us) when she was five weeks old. She was all Lab, wanting to play and romp with her littermates, and then when we brought her home at eight weeks, with Max.

This was Ruby on 8 November 2008, twelve weeks after she was born. She was smitten with Max, and spent all her waking hours playing with him. He, of course, tried to be cool about the whole thing.

Max and Ruby were always two peas in a pod as far as doggos go. They loved to do everything together. It’s unfortunate we lost Max back in 2015, nearly 10 years ago. But his spirit lives on with Ruby, and with Annie, our Labradoodle.

I’m back to walking the girls after evening meal, as part of my physical therapy, and as part of the three of us spending time together. Ruby still leads me on the walks, although we’re both walking slower than we used to. Annie is always tugging on her lead, while Ruby just walks with a trained elegance that only comes with age.

I’m blessed Ruby is still with me, and I try to take time out of every day to spend it with her. Ruby, and all the little ones, are one of many joys of retirement.