Manta 1996-2008

On 6th June 2008 our beloved dog Manta passed away aged 12 after a full and contented life.

She had been getting slower and more creaky over the last few months, but nothing overly suspicious. Periodic vet visits confirmed her heart was strong and while a little plump was only a little bit overweight for her breed and age. Her joints were getting creaky and stiff but fish oil chews were taking care of that and she was mostly pretty limber for a little dog of her advanced years. Cavalier's are not the longest lived of breeds, in fact they say anything over 9-10 years is most definitely borrowed time.

Around Wednesday or Thursday last week she started showing signs of being unwell. Previous days had seen her perky and ravenously hungry as she had always been. The decline was swift. By Friday evening it was clear something was very wrong. She was listless and still and anaemic. She couldn't walk without falling over. She was rushed to the vet, where our worst fears were confirmed. There was a lot of fluid in her abdomen, probably caused by an unforeseen tumour, most likely on her spleen. This happens all the time to elderly dogs, apparently, and because they are so good at soldiering on it's not obvious to the naked eye that there is anything amiss.

The vet said that nothing we could have done would have prevented this, and that even if they operated she wouldn't survive the procedure. This was going to happen anyway. We decided with heavy hearts the best thing to do was to let her go.

Mia is obviously devastated by this, but she is consoled in her loss by the fact that Manta had a long and happy life and was loved by everyone and loved them right back. Longevity and happiness, despite spending most of her life asleep and if unchecked eating more than a small horse. We should all hope for such a life.

She will be sorely missed.

Phil