Mocha

I did not think I was going to have a blog today. I had a couple ideas but never got to them. I often write the night before or the morning of. I had a novel on the go last night, a real page turner so “morning of” it was going to be.

Then last night my Miss Mocha started having issues. Mocha is my flat coated chocolate Labrador. She is all of 4.5 years old. While most people remember 2020 for many reasons, I remember it because I got my Mocha.

I had asked for a puppy for Christmas and was sorely disappointed when no presents made noise, barked or wiggled under the tree. I surprised myself how sad I was not to get a puppy. The next day, Boxing Day, Brian had been out and he yelled for me to come as soon as he got in the front door. Now because I was still sour over the lack of a puppy I took offence that he “yelled” at me across the house. So begrudgingly and slowly, I went to find out what the hollering was about.

There he stood with a wiggly, squirming puppy, my Mocha. I grabbed the puppy and a box of Kleenex and promptly sat on the floor tears rolling down my cheeks to get better acquainted. He had arranged for a puppy but the folks couldn’t bring her til the day after Christmas. My whole family knew she was coming, I didn’t.

Mocha’s parents looked like regular short haired labs and Mochas’ puppies all looked like regular labs but Mocha got fluffier and fluffier. She had this beautiful long hair. She looked like a chocolate golden retriever, we thought we got ripped off. It took us a long time before someone told us she was a flat coated Labrador retriever. A special kind.

Last night was long, long for me and very long for Mocha. I had been out most of the day and when I got home there was a present on the floor, a pile of poop. It is odd because it is not usual. But I had been out and dismissed it as an accident.

All evening nothing was unusual and when Mocha needed to go out shortly after bedtime, okay. But when she needed to go out 15 minutes after that…. Something was up. Mocha has not slept yet. She was awake all night either pacing or running for the door every 15-20 minutes. I did get 2 hours in different sections but I’m pretty sure that was exhaustion on my part, but she was still needing to go out and she was always waiting to head out when I finally woke up from my short naps. Sometimes Mila, Mochas daughter, now 3 would go with her, sometimes not. Mocha has been pooping and throwing up all night.

After Mocha had her batch of puppies she got ill. She had developed Cushings disease. It is a condition where the dog makes excess cortisol. It can lead to excessive thirst, panting, and a pot belly appearance. In Mochas case we know her spleen is also enlarged. Her energy is not the same, her temperament went through various stages, one being fairly aggressive for a while. Her favourite pastime was to run with the quad, that ceased a long time ago. It hurt her body for 2 days after. She would tuck herself into my ensuite and hide there while she recovered from the run. Not worth it.

The “time span” given for dogs with Cushings is 3 years give or take. Mila, her puppy, turned 3 the end of May.

Mocha has been happy enough but she is obviously uncomfortable now. She doesn’t seem to be able to lay down. She’s sat up all night panting furiously and running for the door.

The last time I saw the vet she recommended to mark the calendar with different colors to show if Mocha had a good day or a bad. That way we could see at a glance if she was having more good than bad days or vice versa. It was a brilliant idea.

I will head to the vet shortly here.

The seasons of life. I have been given a new season and fresh start with my HUGE God given miracle of being proclaimed “cancer free”. But as I look and wonder what God is up to, first taking Brian, then Martha and now my Mocha it gives me pause to question what is up.

Mocha has been my constant companion here in the bush we moved to, I would not have made it without her. She had guarded me, loved me and been my friend for the time God has graciously given us. Definitely not long enough, but she did it well and another piece of my heart will be going with her.