Do For vs. Do To

Mary-Ann Sontag December 29, 2024

I have a thirteen-year-old Berner whose only known health issue is osteoarthritis (OA), especially in her (long-ago) surgically-repaired knees. This is unusual — to be a Berner at age 13+ dealing only with old dog issues is not a gift most of our dogs receive.

While older age is not a disease, there are things we can do to make a super senior more comfortable.

Keep them skinny. Harper B for Body Condition Score was described by her new veterinarian as, “on the thin side with slightly visible ribs and obvious waist and abdominal tuck. Body Condition Score of 4 on a scale of 1 to 9.”
Discomfort management. Harper is on Rimadyl (name brand only!) twice a day and receives a Librela injection once a month.
Keep Moving. I walk Harper at her pace a few times each week. Last night, for example, we did 3/4 of a mile in 20 minutes. She loves her walks.

Excess weight in dogs — as with humans — is clearly linked to various bad outcomes, and so it is something we should all be paying attention to in our dogs. We should not let our dogs get fat — or stay fat if the extra weight snuck up on us. Love sometimes means saying no.

Even the weight of younger dogs need to be managed. Capella’s recent Body Score Condition was described as, “…5 on a scale of 1 to 9. Capella is ideal with palpable ribs without excessive fat. Waist is visible from above and abdominal tuck is present when viewed from the side.” 🎉

Capella trying to trash her “ideal” Body Condition Score 😂

Harper does not receive glucosamine, acupuncture, cold laser or any other “treatments” for her arthritis — this is intentional. There is not good evidence that those things actually work for what ails her, and I am not going to burden Harper with something that does not have evidence-based benefits. [Check out the section on Glucosamine for Osteoarthritis (OA) in THIS SkepVet post.] Things without established benefits can be burdensome to the dog or even harmful. I am sticking with what is known to work for my Super Senior.

I cannot stress enough the importance of exercise for dogs — and humans. Bodies were made to move.

I attribute’s Harper B for Been Here a LONG Time’s longevity mostly to good luck. But that doesn’t mean I won’t continue to try and stack the deck to maximize long lives in my dogs — both the ones at my house now and the ones who started life because of me and my decisions.

More on this in future posts but here is an easy one to get you thinking: Do you know your dog’s Body Condition Score?

Happy Sunday, Friend ❤️

Gifts

Mary-Ann Sontag December 25, 2024

Eight years ago today:

Sparkle has always been SUCH a good sport 😂

I get to include the final Sparkler update on Christmas, which feels appropriate since each of them — and their families — are such gifts 🎁

Ashlee shares: “Abbie is amazing!!

Helping bake cookies, cleaning up after meals, teaching us not to cry over spilled milk (because she’ll get it), and always up for snuggles!!

We are redoing our kitchen and she has talked all the work men into extra pets and tag during their lunch.

We love her!

That last picture!!!!!! ❤️

Thank you to Abbie’s wonderful family and HAPPY BIRTHDAY ABBIE, you Lucky Dog 🍀🩷

And much gratitude to every member of the Sparkler family for sending updates — they are so appreciated.

And with that, let’s all enjoy a very Merry Christmas and a bright and Happy Hanukah.

The Heavenly Birthday Girls

Mary-Ann Sontag December 24, 2024

The last living Sparkler update (Abbie) is forthcoming — the life of her family is a busy one and the holidays are not the easiest time of year to generate updates. We look forward to seeing Abbie soon 🩷

There were nine puppies in the wonderful Sparkler litter and seven of the nine are now eight years old. Neither of the two who died had cancer. That is all actually pretty amazing.

Tika and Claire — the ones who had to leave the party too soon.

Someone named Scott recently left a comment on a blog post. He wrote, “It still breaks my heart to read how much of a lose Claire was to you.”

That comment meant so much to me. I felt seen — me and my wordless grief.

Wordless. Without words. That is how I still feel most of the time about Claire.

She should be here to celebrate being eight — so should Tika.

I say “should” as if I am owed something even as I know that I am not.

I may be wordless but my grief is not. It whispers to me all day long, inviting me to exist with Claire in my memories, to see her in photos and in the faces of her family — her mom, her children, and during this week — her siblings (thank you).

I did not know last year that this would be Claire’s final birthday photo.