I just got back from the veterinarian taking the cow and it was her first visit to the dentist. I couldn’t help feeling a little lost when the technician pulled her by the leash and led her to the back, saying, “Let’s go for a walk!”
She will be fine. We do not expect any extraction, just level 2 cleaning. She hasn’t had anesthesia since she was sterilized when she was about a year old. They do blood tests first though, so I really have nothing to worry about.
But I can’t help but think about our eventual last vet visit. I think this is the best way – to sleep peacefully in the arms of someone who loves them.
I am sorry. I am too dramatic.
Matilda and Cow are both 7 and they were born around April or May, so they are almost eight.
Last year, when Matilda was a dentist, I was surprised to see that the bill said she had an “advanced blood test” instead of just a routine blood test.
I don’t know if my dogs are getting old, but I’m taking early health precautions to help them get really, undeniably old.
When do dogs become senior dogs?
Small dogs become seniors around age 10, while larger dogs can be considered seniors around age 5. The bigger the dog, the faster they age.
But when it comes to Matilda and the cows, it feels different. Matilda started turning white around her mouth when she was 4, but she’s a 5-pound Chihuahua hybrid, so most people wouldn’t consider her a senior yet, even though she has a lot of white hair now.
The cow’s color doesn’t seem to change, at least for now, but since she weighs about 30 pounds, she’s probably experiencing inherent signs of aging, even though she looks otherwise young.
When did you start feeding premium dog food?
Premium dog food is often high in leptin to combat the muscle loss that comes with aging. It is low in fat and helps control weight gain. It may contain anti-aging ingredients like glucosamine, MSM, and chondroitin, the amino acids that make up dog joint tissue. These nutrients have been linked to slowing the progression of arthritis, which most dogs will eventually get at some point.
Foods may also contain omega-3 fatty acids, which help with joint inflammation, cognitive health (dogs get dementia, too!), and eye and heart health.
The key to all these ingredients is that they are good for dogs of any age. A sporting dog, or any dog prone to injury, may heal faster when taking joint supplements.
If her food contains more than 12% fat, the cow will suffer from pancreatitis (manifested by extreme diarrhea). So, we feed advanced weight management kibble most of the time with some fresh lean meat like chicken, eggs or sardines on top. However, she has a very fragile stomach system and if I don’t get rid of the fat from my homemade boiled chicken breasts, she’ll have flare-ups. So it’s hard to eat fresh food these days.
As for Matilda, when she gets her own bag of kibble, it takes her a few months to finish it, so on busy days she’ll get the same thing, but she’ll get something fresher , like Honest Kitchen, Homemade Protein, or Raw Chicken Neck every now and then.
In short, starting advanced foods too early shouldn’t be a problem, but you should ask your veterinarian to make sure it’s okay. Advanced joint supplements can also be started early. You don’t have to wait until your dog starts showing any signs of slowing down.
How long is a dog’s advanced stage?
With any luck, my dogs will live to see their quinceañera (a coming-of-age celebration of a young girl’s 15th birthday), and if they live longer, we’ll also throw a Sweet 16.
Maybe they’ll see 18. or 20. or 21.
I’ve noticed that sometimes the least cared for dogs live to be old. Toothless, living outside, never seeing a vet, full of parasites, but hanging there around thirty.
Then again, the dog that gets the best care isn’t always so lucky.
But, for example, suppose that Matilda lives to be 20 years old. If she is a senior now, she has been an old lady for thirteen years.
For humans, you are 60 years old, our global average life expectancy is around 72 years old, but you can live to around 90 years old. In this case, you will still spend 1/3 of your life as an “old man”.
I don’t know what to think. We don’t know how much time we have left. This applies to everyone, and always has been.
So don’t forget to hug and kiss everyone you love today, four-legged or otherwise.
