Defender Doggie Has Problems

Friends,

Our dear ol' Defender Doggie has problems.

Most obviously, he has itches. One place on his back haunches that he's gnawed almost raw. It's not fleas or ticks or spider bites or the like, we don't think. Not sure if he got in the poison ivy or something. It's been bad, though.

He's also acting depressed. Not sure if it's just the itching or more than that. Goes outside, looks around, comes back in without exploring - unusual. Coming home last night, I had to haul him out of the car. Sometimes he just stands there, unmoving, for a minute, like he's undecided what to do next; that's weird-scary. Part of his seeming depression could be the wetness - he's never been fond of rainy times.

Living in wet fur and itchy skin would depress me!

He comes over to me, sets his head in my lap, rests a paw on my knee, looks at me with pleading eyes for... something. Not sure what, really. He's been getting lots of pettings, scratchings, and brushings lately, but never seems to be enough.

So many ways lately I've been realizing how he's getting old.

We'll see what the vet says this afternoon.