13 years of fun ended a year ago as Louis XIV passed away at the age of 16. I know it's been a year but this was a hard loss to take and I'm just now writing about it.

He was my partner in crime, my therapist, and my boy. He survived the dreaded cavalier murmur for 7 years until a massive brain seizure forced me to make the final decision.

I bought him in Laplace in July 2008. Vet OT'ers will remember when I posted the news I got him and his pics. When I first met him, he jumped in my lap, placed both paws on my shoulders, & put his head against mine. How do you say no?

He was the most fun dog I ever had. Those little big eyes were more expressive than a person's. He never let you out of his site. Some made fun of him for being clingy but that meant I could take him anywhere I wanted without a leash. He never once ran away. I spoiled him rotten and it showed as he went from a spoiled brat to a little jerk to a little monster as no demand nor imposition was too great for him but that's what made him special.

Spoiled? He got to where he recognized the coffee shop and bank where he got his treats from the street. He could jump on the bed all day long - until you got in it. Then he would wait you out until you picked him up. I tried to outlast him. After 30 min's, I gave up. He won. Jerk.

Smart? He was still learning new tricks at 14. At the park, I would fake a throw and toss the ball the other way. It might take him 10-15 minutes to find the ball but he always did - and never searched the same area twice.

Youtube. In his prime.

The fun finally came to an end last year. April '21 was the beginning of the end. He had a massive infection and his tongue turned blue. He stayed on O2 all day but the vet wrote down "humanely euthanize him" in the chart when I picked him up. We watched the sunset and then I took him home for his last night. A friend in rescue came over. She looked at him, got a syringe, and fed him water, then milk. He began to perk up after awhile. Then smiled some. At 2 AM, he sat up next to me in the bed, smiling and panting. Ok, Operation Rescue Louis XIV was underway.

I took him back for more O2 & an IV for nutrition as the antibiotics kicked in. While he was safe there, I nabbed an O tank and mask for dogs. For the next week, I kept him under the mask for 1-2 hours a day. Finally his tongue was pink and stayed pink. The knucklehead made it but I knew we were on borrowed time. The good Lord gave us six months and I made the most of every minute.

Missing most of his teeth, he got fried catfish (cut up) on Fridays. He went with me everywhere. We always went to Pepsi Pops at the Rez so although he was weaker, he enjoyed the wagon ride. When he stopped perking up at home, I saw he still did in the car. So.. we went for at least an hour ride every day. Checked his bloodwork every few weeks.

The kidneys began to fail in October but we fought that. However, the last weekend his energy was way down and I fed & watered him w/a syringe. A massive seizure hit and I had no choice. They doped him up on benzos for awhile, giving me time to say goodbye.

I'm going to miss The Knucklehead for the rest of my life. He was the best baby and he was all that I had.

Infrared treatment when he got some arthritis in his hips. Worked like a charm and never had a problem w/it again.

Damn near lost him.

Last week. Still playing around with his bone.

Finally.

Youtube

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