He exhales.
And he sleeps.
That would be enough.
Until Then, the Trembling Legs Tell the Story
Louie's face can look peaceful against the wall.
His eyes are closed.
His breathing is slow.
If someone saw only his head, they might think he had found a comfortable way to nap.
Then the camera moves lower.
His hind legs are shaking.
The muscles are still fighting gravity.
His knees begin to bend.
His rear end sinks.
The peaceful picture disappears.
Louie is not truly resting.
He is trying to sleep while his body is still working to keep him upright.
Tonight, Louie Returns to the Same Corner
The medical kennel becomes quieter.
Louie is tired.
His bed remains nearby.
He takes several slow steps toward the wall instead.
His front paws stop inches from it.
Then he leans forward.
His forehead touches the familiar spot.
Louie's eyes close.
For a minute, he stands almost perfectly still.
Then the trembling begins.
One hind leg.
Then the other.
His hips slowly descend.
His legs buckle.
Louie wakes as his body drops.
For a few seconds, he remains low.
This could be the moment he finally stays there.
Instead, Louie braces his front legs.
He gathers his hind feet underneath himself.
He pushes.
His rear end rises.
He wobbles.
Then he is standing again.
Louie takes one small step toward the wall.
His forehead returns to the same place.
His eyes close.
And the cycle begins again.
The most painful part is not that an eight-year-old dog sometimes falls asleep standing.
It is that Louie's legs eventually become too tired to hold him, yet getting down and back up appears difficult enough that after they buckle, he chooses to stand again anyway.
And until Louie can finally lower himself onto a bed without that struggle, one question will remain every time his eyes close against the wall:
How uncomfortable must lying down feel for an exhausted dog to keep choosing sleep on trembling legs instead?