Oh Seniors, Where Are You?

[BowWowMeow]

Chama here. I'm wondering how all my cyber pals are doing these days! Please post your updates and a few recent pictures, if you want.

Here's a little update on me. For those of you who don't know me, I'm a 13.5 yo muttweiler. My mom has been fiddling around with my herbs, supplements and vitamins and she's finally got it just about right! It's about time! I am still walking 3 times a day and now my walks total at least 2 miles! I have been going down the stairs by myself in the morning and lately I've also been going upstairs by myself too! I am also a lot less cranky! I try to jump on my mom when she comes home from work and sometimes I pick up a toy (this causes my brother to panic!) and shake it at her. This is a pretty big deal b/c I have unrepaired torn ligaments in both of my knees and arthritis just about everywhere else. This morning I did splat when I hit the wood floor but I got up ok. The shock of that cold floor must have been what caused it!

My lungs are still messed up but it's easier for me to breath in the colder weather. Plus my mom got some sort of herbal tincture that helps me when I have problems breathing. My mom put two flannel sheets and a blanket on my upstairs futon and bed and that's keeping me really nice and toasty at night.

My mom says I have so many fatty tumors she can't keep track of them all. They don't bother me though, even the big one on my elbow. This is from my rottie dad, rotties are very prone to these things.

I play for at least 2 minutes every day with my brother, Rafi. I love him very much even though he is really spoiled and leaves balls and toys everywhere for me to trip on. My mom has taught him to wait for me to go down the stairs and to wake me up when I don't hear her calling me.

My 16 yo kitty sister, Cleo, is also doing well, although her hip really bothers her in the cold weather. She gets very cranky when it gets bumped! She spends most of her time snuggling with my mom or my brother (I don't like her to snuggle with me) or in her fleece tent. She has also been going on walks with us lately. My mom says she is a bit crazy.

All of sharing a nap in the sun two weeks ago:



Me and Rafi sharing a leaf pile:



Me in the snow this afternoon. I am hunting for poop but DON'T TELL MY MOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bdanise1]

Ruth,
Great pictures. I did not think Chama was that old. she looks wonderful. I can only hope my Fur-kids are doing as well as she is.

I love reading your post. Last week I wondered where you were, I had not seen you on and missed reading all your post helping everyone.

I have to say I have learned so much for you, If I need an answer for one of my fur-kids I just go looking for your post.
There it is ,the answer.

[elsie]

hey chama, dylan here. glad to hear your getting around much better. hey, that's big news about the steps. i'm glad we live in a rancher; i only have a few going out my back door and even with my HD, i can still jump down if i have to, you know, run down a squirrel or a puss-cat. i'm 8, and i sure hope i'm as in good shape as you when i'm in my teens. i'm a pro-tennis-ball-destroyer-catcher and i can do a good game of frizz-biz about 10 times a day. i don't like to go for walks; i have to stay around camp and keep an eye on my soldiers, make sure they don't get captured by general flynnie (my dad) and locked up in the "box" like he tries to do to them.

well, gotta go look after the troops. hope for another update from you soon. rock-on !

your friend,
dylan

[kelso]

Great pictures, Ruth! Chama looks great! the seniors!

[LadyHawk]

Looks like they are both in great shape..... what ever you are doing, keep doing it!!!!!!

[LadyHawk]

Originally Posted By: LadyHawk Looks like they are both in great shape..... what ever you are doing, keep doing it!!!!!!

as you can tell the seniors and NOT SO SENIORS are sleepy here too!!!! And Neither Guinness NOR Timer will go up and down a full set of stairs so you're doing WAAAAAY better than us here!!!!!

[3K9Mom]

Chaaaaamaaaaa! Your girlfriend Boni here. What is UP with you?

Thanks for Twittering us!

Me? I'm so busy. Mom and Dad have been building Agility Equipment at a crazy rate here. Ok. I took agility class how long ago? Now that Meri and Camper take classes, all of a sudden, it's important that we have equipment for them to practice on. Not that I'm complaining!

So, I'm doing that. When the others do their runs, I have to sit in the spectator section (the 3-foot high x-pen) and watch. I bark and cheer. Ok, I'm not cheering. I'm telling them to hurry up because I want another pass.

I haven't been swimming in a couple months. Camper, Mer and I all developed UTIs and Mom figured it might be from the pool. So I need to switch to a new pool. But Mom wanted me to get my cardiologist consult done first. I saw him last week, and he said I am in great condition. He doesn't want to see me for at least a year to 18 months. So now I have to find myself a new pool.

Always something to do, you know?

I have a bit of an issue with my right front leg I need to get checked out tomorrow. Mom says I shouldn't worry about it. I know it has something to do with the swollen inflammed pad that used to be in my foot that is gone. Mom always thought I had a tiny piece of blackberry thorn there, although the work-up by my vet and surgeon couldn't establish anything there. But now my lumpy pad is fine, and I've been licking with my leg a lot (it hurts sometimes). I think Mom is worried, but she won't tell me.

Mom hasn't developed film in a while (Film. I know. This is 2008. I keep telling her she needs a digital camera). So here's a photo from about last month. It's me keeping the pack in line.

[BowWowMeow]

Hey all you friends--everyone looks great! Boni dahling--you especially look mawvelous! Glad to see that others enjoy sleeping and bossing other dogs around too! And it sounds like everyone is feeling ok!

My mom wanted me to tell you that anything she knows about dog behavior and health has NOTHING to do with me because I am perfect in every way and always have been!

My mom let me wear my jacket on my walk tonight. I love my jacket because it makes me feel like a superhero! But I'm having some trouble with my feet in the cold and my mom thinks I've got arthritis in my feet. She wants to know if any of you wear booties. She thinks she might try some for me.

Also, just in case any of you have kitty siblings I want you to know that it's important to check all lumps in your bed at this time of year!

[3K9Mom]

Boots. Bah! Mom bought me some for my lumpy foot thing because walking on gravel and snow hurt my foot. I refused to walk. I wouldn't. I just stood there in the rain, snow, blistering sun.

So Mom made nice and gave me delicious snacks and asked me very sweetly. And when I did try to walk once or twice, they made me trip and fall on my nose. So then, I pitched a fit and wouldn't even let Mom put them on me again. Not even on just that one foot.

I've always worn Mushers Secret Paw Wax. And that's what I'll always wear. And when I'm done playing outside, I lick it off. It tastes pretty good.

[BowWowMeow]

I have the paw stuff but it doesn't help with my arthritis. I think it gets a little colder here than there, Boni!

And you are a beagle mix which means that are very stubborn and princess-like! I, on the other hand, do not a have a stubborn bone in my body!

It is very easy to bribe me with treats though. I LOVE anything edible and even some things that my mom says are NOT edible!