Maximus, My Little Warrior In The End
A heartbreaking tale of strength and loss.
I want to share a deeply emotional connection I had with one of my dogs. But I want you to know about one of the best dogs I have ever had. His name was Maximus, a black and tan Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. When I got Maximus, I had been a dog owner for many years of family Cavaliers, and I had never had a male dog. He came into my life when our kids were 5 and 10, busy with camp, school, and friends. Even though we had another female Cavalier in the house, Isabella, there was something about Maximus that I connected more with. Our bond was powerful, and the companionship he gave me was unmatched. He followed me everywhere, and he always positioned himself to see me when he lay down.
When he was around seven years old, we sometimes noticed a few stumbling up the stairs. We thought nothing of it as it looked like he tried to run up the stairs too fast. It wasn’t until he was 8 1/2 years old that the stumbling increased, now with wobbling or looking like he was having difficulty getting up. He never looked in pain; he kept going as if nothing bothered him. You need to understand that Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are known for heart disease. That’s their primary problem. I had had 2 Cavaliers before Maximus, so I saw how they aged. What was going on with Maximus was different.
My husband and I took him to the Vet, and after doing an examination, seeing that he was in no pain, he failed the neurological test. Our Vet sent Maximus for an MRI and consult with a well-known neurologist. After the test, the neurologist asked us to sit down so he could go over the results. The results were devastating. Maximus was diagnosed with Degenerative Myelopathy, a spinal cord disease that slowly causes paralyzation from the hind legs to the lower back.
Sitting there numb with Maximus in my lap. What did this mean? We asked the neurologist question after question. Pain meds? PT? Vitamins? We pondered what we could do.
No cure.
We had 6 to 18 months, depending on if we could keep Maximus moving as long as possible. He told us if we did PT, water treadmill therapy, certain exercises, and wheelchair walks, maybe we could have Maximus longer than shorter. With our hearts broken, my husband and I knew a few things about us as dog parents.
First, we knew we would do what was best for Maximus; two, we would try to make whatever time Maximus had left fun for him. I am an artist and photographer; I would document him so we would never forget him. My mission in life became to keep his legacy alive. Because you see, Maximus taught us a precious lesson. To live in the present moment, not taking things for granted, and not losing hope.
We managed to keep Maximus with us for 17 months. He was 10 years old.
Thank you for reading.