The vet had an emergency yesterday, so our appointment was moved to this morning. Dennis and I took Spike in his travel bag and drove to Alpine to see the doctor. The vet calls Spike the "miracle dog" because he has endured three critical illnesses including two surgeries. He almost died the last time he was there, but he is such a fighter, the vet said, that he survived.
Today, though, the vet said that it was just a matter of time now. He's lived a good, long life and we can just make him comfortable now. We have pain medicine and antibiotics for the infection from his tooth. Spike is still eating and drinking, which is good. He wanders around the house and somehow finds his way to his food, water and the doggie door.
We love him and will keep him as long as he wants to stay.