Dallas has just returned from her spring trip to the groomer's. She has been washed, trimmed, fluffed and puffed. She looks like a puppy again. Despite all the accumulated winter coat, once shorn, she actually retains her hips. She had been looking pretty seal-like there for a while, but- she remains svelt as ever.
I like griping about prices in this blog, so I will note that for her annual check-up this year, plus one x-ray for chicken bones- the price topped $1100. This included new bloodwork, rabies shots, pain meds, heartworm pills... I think that's it. It's shocking how much more vets soak you for now than they did when Dallas was younger. I used to pay $150-$200/yr for everything, but now they are crazy to pile test after test on top of basic service. Despite Dallas's bloodwork coming out healthy across the board, we were coaxed into an extra $140 test to see if her thyroid was deteriorating. I don't quite know what made us say yes. Dallas will be 14 in 3 weeks, or 88 in human years. Her bloodwork is still perfect? She has hips?? I should have said, "get out of my face with your tests!" At least they didn't get their eager little knives into her.
We continued with the whole walk/feed/pet/cry routine all last week, and although we never saw that large bone come out, Dallas acts so normal that I've almost forgotten it. The pain meds for her arthritis are kicking in, and she has some of her old bounce back. This means of course, that she can more easily find trouble, but what fun would it be if I could relax for once? I have trouble remembering what relaxed feels like, but I suspect I last felt it over 14 years ago.
And now I will take my little character on her morning rounds, to be exclaimed over, petted and cooed at, and then watch her nap for the next 4-6 hours.
