What has been on my mind recently every day for awhile now is watching Sammy grow older.
I was reading on line about aging pets and came across this chart. Sadly, Sammy is equivalent to 55 years.
| Dog’s Age | up to 20 pounds | 21-50 pounds | 51-90 pounds | over 90 pounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 |
40
|
42
|
45
|
49
|
| 8 |
48
|
51
|
55
|
4
|
| 10 |
56
|
60
|
66
|
78
|
| 12 |
64
|
69
|
77
|
93
|
| 14 |
72
|
78
|
88
|
108
|
| 16 |
80
|
87
|
99
|
123
|
| 18 |
88
|
96
|
109
|
|
| 20 |
96
|
105
|
120
|
One morning as I was getting ready for work I looked at Sammy and she glanced up at me. As I looked into white face, her eyes looked older to me as well. I teared up. It seems like yesterday that I adopted her. I still remember getting the phone call that she had arrived from some mountain up in Northern California. Candy and Gordon were so kind to pick her up for me on their way back home. It was a rainy day in LA and I left work, well, ran from work to meet her. Its been a love affair ever since. I cannot tell you how much joy this blond lab has given me. I know other dog owners can relate. Going through the adjustment period when I first got her was a lot of work but we made it through. A dog trainer once said to me Sammy will always be shy, skiddish and afraid of everything and everyone. Sammy has proved her wrong time and time again. Even Sammy has evolved and grown as we people hopefully do as well.
We had been working on her weight as well. She’s a lab and loves to eat.
But we even have that under control! She is 72lbs now I believe, same weight as when I got her. She looks fantastic. I can see those hips! I was walking her the other night and glanced down at her and thought what a good looking lab! I know, I’m partial, but she’s beautiful. Speaking of hips, when the Vet told me she was getting canine hip dysplasia, I started her on glucosamine and reiki every day. Every night still I reiki her hips. She’s still running and able to get in my car. I had even bought a ramp for her but haven’t had to train her to use it. I hope I never do. I tell her every night how much I love her and how much happiness she has brought me.
Those white faces seem to appear out of nowhere, don’t they? (Just like those darn wrinkles!) The good news is that well cared for canines are living longer and longer these days. Lately I have met people even with large dogs, living well into their teens. I know that our companion animals live much shorter lives than we do, but for someone (ahem) pushing an age close to Sammy’s, I feel like someone about 20 years younger. I think dogs can feel this way too.
That is certainly good news! I just want Sammy to grow older but not be in any pain either. So far the reiki is working on her hips, but yes, the white faces just seem to appear! Thanks for the comments!
As much as we hate to see the white faces, they are so cute…Sammy is a testimony to that. She is adorable! Bailey, my basset hound, turns 13 next month. My vet is in disbelief that she is in the condition she is. Even with cancer, she is still feisty and alert. Glucosamine/Chondroitin/MSM worked wonders on her when she was having joint issues. She’s not on it anymore but I think I’m about to start her on it again just for good measure. We’ve battled weight issues as well, so I know how hard that is. Bailey is finally at a somewhat ideal weight, she could probably stand to lose a few more, but I’m not worrying about it. Best of luck with Sammy, she is precious!
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