A couple of weeks ago, when Cricket lost the ability to hold off peeing until she could reach the wee wee pad by the front door, we created a yellow brick road of wee wee pads, from Grandma’s bed to the front door, to help her out. And, either as a result of the Gabapentin and ACE she takes every day (in order to tolerate the subcutaneous fluids for kidney disease), or because of incipient dementia, Cricket has started to pace around the apartment at all hours, peeing along her wee wee pad path, especially in the middle of the night.
After she’s jumped off Grandma’s bed, to get a drink of water and to pee, Cricket will come to my room, sometime around four o’clock in the morning, and bark at me for the mommy-elevator up onto my bed, where she wanders around and around in search of the perfect sleeping spot, which is often elusive. For some reason, Ellie has decided that instead of staying in my room at night, the way she used to, she prefers the wee wee pads – at least the as yet unused ones – as her favorite place to sleep.
When I accept the inevitable and finally get up, around 7 AM, Cricket and Ellie are ready to go outside, walking down the stairs together if Cricket is up to it. Neither one of them can run and play the way they used to, but Ellie gets a lot of enjoyment just by standing still and listening to the sounds of the neighborhood, while her sister wanders around the yard sniffing all the smells.
When we get back inside it’s time for Ellie’s medication, carefully stuffed into small pieces of chicken or chicken liver, with a few pieces going to Cricket as well. And, if she’s willing, Cricket gets her ACE and Gabapentin in her food too, so we can get her fluids done early and give her time to pee it all out during the day, instead of needing to walk her path so much overnight.
We’re still in the trial and error phase with all of this, constantly adapting their diets and schedules and adapting our expectations of what they can and can’t do, based on how things are going each day. Ellie is mostly consistent, though she needs new high value treats every few days to help her tolerate all of her pills. Cricket is the wild card. Some days she seems like she could go at any moment, and other days she seems so normal that we almost get complacent. Almost.
We’ve started to get rid of rugs that have been peed on too often, by both of them, and we’re doing a lot of extra laundry, but we love them, so we walk the wee wee pad path, replacing one pad here and there as we go along, trying to keep them happy and comfortable. I wouldn’t have chosen this, but I wouldn’t want to miss a day of having them in my life either, so this is what love looks like right now.
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Yeshiva Girl is about a Jewish teenager on Long Island, named Isabel, though her father calls her Jezebel. Her father has been accused of inappropriate sexual behavior with one of his students, which he denies, but Izzy implicitly believes it’s true. As a result of his problems, her father sends her to a co-ed Orthodox yeshiva for tenth grade, out of the blue, and Izzy and her mother can’t figure out how to prevent it. At Yeshiva, though, Izzy finds that religious people are much more complicated than she had expected. Some, like her father, may use religion as a place to hide, but others search for and find comfort, and community, and even enlightenment. The question is, what will Izzy find?
rachelmankowitz 
Creating a path of wee wee pads shows a great effort to accommodate Cricket’s needs. I hope she feels better soon!
Thank you!
Are the pads effective regarding odor? Are they expensive? I’m glad Ellie and Cricket use them.
They’re more expensive than I’d like but they do a good job.
I have found in the several dogs that have owned me that fresh chicken gives them “poopie pants”, so I do not give them this.
It’s definitely a balancing act!
Poor Cricket is so lucky to have you to take good care of her. We found the pee pad smells quite strong ion our son’s apartment and implemented stronger cleaning procedures. It seemed to help. Luckily, Benji the Wonder Dog only needs one pad so far. Have a good evening Rachel. Allan
Thank you!
‘this is what love looks like right now’–so very true, Rachel. So much love. Such a sweet post. I hope your girls continue to do well. My kitties send love, too. 😻
Thank you!!!!
Your dogs are very fortunate to have your loving care
Thank you!
Cricket is lucky to have you taking such good care of her and treating her with so much empathy compassion. As you say if you love them you cannot do it any other way.
Seeing her make it through one more day, and find joy, makes it worth the effort.
Oh the things we do for our dear pets.
Yep. Totally worth it!
Love is forever. When the inevitable comes you will remember, with sweetness, the days when love was its sweetest.
You are so right!
My eyes are brimming over as I read about your family of love! ❤️💕
Meanwhile, Cricket is rolling her eyes at me.
At least her sense of humor is intact!
You’re doing the right things for you and them, that’s what matters.
Thank you!
You’re very welcome Rachel
Oh, bless you and your mom, Rachel for being the absolutely best friends two dogs, Cricket and Ellie, could ever have. Those pups are so lucky to have you both. Again, I totally understand what you’re going through and my heart goes out to you all. Hang in there, and have faith in your pups — they are truly amazing creatures. 🐶🐶❤️
Thank you!
I’m so sorry your puppies have reached the point of old and unwell. I pray that they let you know when it is time to let go and that they aren’t in pain. I say the same prayer about my 13 year old boxer/husky mix.
Thank you! And good luck to you on this difficult journey.
I am sorry to hear about the problems Cricket is having. We have an old Pug, she will be 15 years old in less than two months, and she is having incontinence problems, as well as arthritis. We put a dog diaper on her, and that seems to work. One problem we had initially is that the diaper keeps sliding off. However, then we bought diaper suspenders and now the diaper won’t come off. You just can’t forget about changing it every now and then.
Cricket has a particular talent for removing doggy diapers.
LOL I guess that would make dog diapers a lesser solution
I did enjoy reading this- it reminded me of the senior days of our last beloved dog.
Thank you!
The biggest fear of owning a pet is losing it, I appreciate that how focused you are on helping your furry baby and creating a path of wee wee pads is just amazing, I’m sure that your efforts will light soon!
Thank you!
They are lucky dogs to have such loving and devoted care in old age. We are heading in the same direction with Ollie, sadly.
Best wishes, Pete.
Best of luck to you!
Thank you for being so tolerant with them! We all need that as we age!
I need that too! Thank you!
What a sweet post. Your love for your little fur babies is so clear. ❤ ❤ ❤
Thank you!
Love them as long as you can!!!!❤️
I’m trying!
I can relate. In Max’s last year and as the congestive heart failure symptoms became more pronounced, I would take him out late at night lest he water the hard wood floors. Typically, I’d wake between 1:30 and 3:00AM, scoop up the Malt and carry him to the back yard and then wait until the perfect urinary target was identified and attacked. Then, back to bed for us both while his DogMom slept uninterrupted. One full year of nightly pee forays but I never once begrudged him that time and oddly enough I still wake each night at about that time. I will admit that the next door neighbor was confused and a bit concerned because we have a motion-activated security light that would shine brightly each time Max and I went outside. Finally she inquired if we had been experiencing nocturnal intrusions by wild animals or sketchy characters and I explained the greatest danger was her possibly seeing me in my pajamas, a sight that could induce trauma.
I so miss your Max stories! He’s still resting snugly in my heart.
You are the bestest Mom! Like you, as our pups become seniors with special needs, we just meet them where they are and savor the moments. We had a baby girl Llasa mix several years ago who had to have IV fluids daily. Luckily, my mom helped with this, too. She had ups and downs like Cricket. She passed peacefully and we were both heartbroken and grateful. Your love is tremendous 💕
I had a Lhasa named Butterfly who totally had my heart. These puppies know how to make the most of the time they have.
Oh, what a beautiful name. They are most inspirational!
Bless her.
Thank you!
I love the picture of the two of them cuddling together. So sweet. And I’m with you on doing whatever it takes to keep them around as long as possible.
Thank you!
Poor thing. You really take good care of them both!
Thank you!
Love hopes all things, bears all things. This is how love operates in real life.
Bless all of your hearts.
Thank you!
Hygienic mats for pets are very useful.
You are such a patient dog mom. It is so hard in their later years. My little doggie was able to control her bladder right up until the last few days when she was having seizures. She is gone now, but I would put up with most anything to have her back. We owe it to them for all the unconditional love they give us for their entire lifetime.
They agree!
Love can be difficult, and we do everything we can to keep it in our lives. Even crazy wee wee pad paths.
Yep.
Your animals are like your children: you love them and care for them no matter how hard it gets.
True.
Absolutely! That’s how I feel.
You guys are doing an exceptional job!
Thank you!
The things we do for love! I remember carpeting the whole house with wee wee pads when Millie and Pearl were old. Even now, with two-year-old Lyra, I have to put a pad down in the night as she can’t always wait till morning and she doesn’t always manage to wake me up to let her out.
They try so hard!
cricket looks so cute!
Thank you!
🤍🤍
I sympathize with you, Rachel. I’ve got 2 cutie dogs myself – Jackie and Popcorn, both Jack Russells. One of these days, I shall talk about them too. My love to your 2 kiddoes.
I knew a Jack Russell named Trinket and she was adorable!!!
Nice name, Trinket! Cute.
All the best to you and I know Cricket understands how much she is loved. Sending virtual hugs to both Cricket and Ellie.
Thank you!
Yes, that is what love looks like right now and Cricket and Ellie are so fortunate to be recipients of you and your Mom’s care. Sending hugs
Thank you!
I have cats and all this is very relatable. I want them to be with me as long as possible, but watching them age, with all the attendant health problems, is heartbreaking. Wishing the best for all of you.
Thank you!!!!!