It has been far too long since I’ve posted any dog pictures so above is a picture I took of Tally a couple of days ago. You can click on it for a larger version. She turned 13 a couple of months ago. Although she does not quite have the imperial composure that her mother had, she has developed some of the dignity of age and she also possesses that benignity that I have found common in good, old dogs.
Her body is not serving her as well as it did. She’s lost a number of her teeth and it’s clear her arthritis bothers her. On a daily basis she takes a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory formulated specifically for dogs and it appears to be doing her some good. After she’d taken it for a while her liver numbers began to deteriorate so we began giving her milk thistle, a dietary supplement for which there appears to be some scientific evidence for effectiveness in supporting liver function. Her liver numbers bounced back and have been in a good range ever since.
We also give her an Adequan shot (polysulfated glycosaminoglycan) every couple of weeks. Adequan was originally used for aiding in the rebuilding of joints in racing horses and it definitely does Tally some good. We’ve adjusted her diet as she’s aged.
However her body has declined, her spirit is as bright and energetic as ever, sometimes to her detriment. She’ll walk or play ball insistently, to and beyond the point at which she’ll start hobbling.
As you can see from this picture she still enjoys life and relishes nothing more than spending time as reigning queen of the backyard.
Previous posts featuring Tally:
The pack plays together
My girls
My pack
Happy Birthday, Tally!
Dogsledding Chicago, 2007
Tally
Quite the life cycle study.
Her body is not serving her as well as it did.
There’s a lot of that going around.
I know what you mean. However, since in my own case I take no medication and I’m honestly in better shape that I was a decade ago I feel pretty fortunate. When I look around at my contemporaries I see a lot of old men.
Since I was already an old man four decades ago in any number of ways, the years have treated me pretty kindly.
I’m in as good a shape as I generally am, but my left knee seems to have decided it’s had it with me.
A pity I don’t live in Chicago or I’d bring my wife’s two dogs over to play in hopes that your dogs would eat them.
There is not a chance in the world that my dogs would eat your wife’s dogs. Sams are pack-oriented in the extreme and they are inclined to view any animal larger than a guinea pig and smaller than a 10 year old human regardless of species as a prospective pack member.
They’d be much more inclined to try and enlist them in play than they would to eat them. Their desperation to get cats to play with them is a sight to behold. They try to make themselves as small and non-threatening as possible. Cats being cats, they’re not at all impressed.
Guinea pig-sized or smaller is definitely prey, especially for the girls. The way they dive after mice is a sight to see.
I wish my doctor was as good as your vet.
Happy Birthday, Tally, from one old broad to another!
nice to hear you’re hanging in there, you are my inspiration,
love aunt annie
what a sweetie!