Last Swim

This weekend, we did what you always do in Arizona when the temperatures climb up well past 100 degrees.  We went swimming.  Saturday we tried something new - we went swimming *after* dinner, when the sun was behind the mountain and we were in all shade.  It was much colder than we were expecting!!  But the whole family was out - Mommy, Daddy, Alli, Natalie, and Bagheera.  Bagheera hasn't been swimming much this year, I figured it was because he has lost his hearing and is sleeping more and just didn't realize we were going to the pool.  But Saturday he was right there with us.  We threw his ball in the pool and he cautiously got in.  He swam to the ball and then turned around to come back to the steps.  He was grunting a big, but looked happy.  Kim helped him up the steps, but when he got to the top we had some problems.  His back legs just kept giving out on him so he kept falling.  Kim was still in the water, doing what he could to help the dog.  Alli was at the steps.  And I was trying to protect Natalie who was sitting on the top step splashing water.  I could just imagine a 75 lb dog falling on her!  We finally got him standing but his tail was lifted and it looked like he might go to the bathroom right there in the pool.  So I freaked out a little cause it would have landed on Natalie.  Kim tried to move him along but his back legs started failing him again.  Kim and I looked at each other wondering what we should do and what was happening.  My fear was stroke.  Kim got out of the water and picked up Bagheera and carried him to the deck.  He got his feet stable and then we watched him.  He started acting normal, and although the back legs weren't necessarily the most stable, he didn't fall anymore.  He was still excited to be around us, and even brought his ball to the water again.  He didn't try to get in though.

Today we went swimming again.  Bagheera came out and we had second thoughts about letting him swim.  He stayed on the top step but he didn't try to go in the water.  I splashed him a little bit so he could cool off but he didn't like that.  He left and went in the house.  :(  Poor old man.

His swimming days are over, and I'm sad cause those were some of his happiest times.  He always loved the water.  At least his last swim was with the whole family!!