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Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Hiking With A Senior Dog Sometimes Is Not An Option

Our Linguini may be a senior citizen suffering from dog arthritis and some nasty dog tumors, but with proper care, she's still able to enjoy her life and go dog hiking. Our friend Olivia though, is not so fortunate. Olivia is 13.5 years old, exactly three years older than our Linguini. She's mostly blind, her joints are stiff and she has difficulty walking. A dog in her condition, should not go hiking. Do not feel sorry for her. She's one happy senior dog and she has a wonderfully attentive family. We welcomed a break from the newborn kittens* and we invited Olivia over for a fun day in our yard, a supposedly controlled environment. 


Double the pleasure

Linguini (front) is a dalmatian and german shorthaired pointer mix. She's on K-9 Liquid Health, a dog joint supplement that has visibly helped her with her dog arthritis issues. 
Olivia (back) is a pure bred Dalmatian. She's on Petco's Senior Stage Joint Support and her mom says she saw a big improvement too. 
Olivia's mommy, Ms. Cyndy Wood, is Frankie's trainer, and she's the one we have to thank for Frankie's passing the AKC Canine Good Citizen test. Without Cyndy, I'm not so sure the  oversensitive chiweenie would have made it. Cyndy is focused on positive training only!

"I know you're not my sissy, you impostor!"

Frankie and I were not easily fooled. Not only did this dalmatian have fewer spots than ours, she's also brown. She may be beautiful, but first I had to make sure she was nice. She sure was. We spent hours exploring our own yard through her eyes and nose. 

Happy senior dog escapes drowning

Poor Ms. Olivia, is partially blind and is lacking depth perception. Olivia went to the side of the pool and put her paw hesitantly down. Splash! In she went, the camera went flying somewhere off to the side of the pool, as her mom and my mom were trying to help her out. Olivia came out of the pool, totally unaware of the panic she had caused, wagging her tail happily and then she immediately enjoyed rolling on the lawn. She seemed invigorated, excited and not at all traumatized. Can't say the same about the poor bipeds. They were shaking as well. 

Senior dog reflections

The rest of the day went on smoothly as my pack did not feel at all threatened by Olivia's sweet disposition. We got tons of dog treats, one of the perks of being friends with a dog trainer, and we can't wait to have Olivia and her mommy back. 

Happy senior dog

At the end of her visit, Olivia, happy and spent, got in the car where she was secured in her dog car seat with her harness and the seat belt. In her case, the seat belt not only keeps her safe in case of an accident, it also keeps her more secure and comfortable because otherwise she can't balance very well in a moving vehicle. We waived bye bye from our driveway. 

Twinkie

* If you don't want a break from the kittens today, Here's the latest kitten video








32 comments:

My Mind's Eye said...

Hi Twink...what sweet pictures of Linguini and Olivia and of course you and Frankie. WE bet Olivia sleeps very well tonight.

That poor Mama cat...she has her paws full of some hungry, healthy cute kitties. Great Video Have you all decided on names yet?

Madi and Mom

Sagira said...

Gotta love the senior dogs. Olivia is beautiful and oh my that kitten video is so darn cute.

Kitty+Coco said...

Guess Ms. Olivia had a Senior Moment. hehe. She may be nearly blind, but the old girl just wanted to take a quick dip. Lay off moms, geesthe! Sometimes the seniors can surprise us. Just the other day dad's 84 year old grandma with dimentia told a hilarious dirty joke.
Sighs (Kitty), and Snorts (Coco)

♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥ said...

Awww, little squirmy butterballs - they are growing rounder and rounder by the day. Do they ever stop moving?

What a nice day for Olivia! We had a blind dog once, well, no eyes. He did very well until we moved. Then he really got confused.

Very nice of all of you to let Olivia have some fun.

Woos - Phantom, Thunder, and Ciara

♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥ said...

Awww, little squirmy butterballs - they are growing rounder and rounder by the day. Do they ever stop moving?

What a nice day for Olivia! We had a blind dog once, well, no eyes. He did very well until we moved. Then he really got confused.

Very nice of all of you to let Olivia have some fun.

Woos - Phantom, Thunder, and Ciara

kks said...

what a beautiful senior dalmation! and glad that she's no worse for wear after her fall into the pool! such a lovely scene rolling in the grass...
i had dalmations growing up...ours weren't as sweet as you two...
xoxo

Amy & the house of cats said...

Hi Twinkie! Olivia is a cutie! And I can just picture everyone going flying after her when she went in the pool and her coming out like it wasn't a big deal! I am just glad she didn't like it in there enough to try again - we can just imagine! It is great that you all showed her a great time while she visited!

And the kittens are so cute - they are so squirmy - and they don't even seem to mind bumping into each other (or having someone crawl over them).

Remington said...

Senior dogs ROCK! Love the kittens! My little Oz is getting BIG!

houndstooth said...

Hee hee! Olivia's not so senior that she can't get the bipeds moving at her beck and call, it seems! I can imagine that scene.

The kittens are still as cute as ever! Perhaps you should put two in the envelope, since they seem to like to roll up on each other.

Bunny

Pat Wahler said...

I'm glad Olivia enjoyed her surprise swim, even if it did startle everyone else!

Pat
www.critteralley.blogspot.com

Frankie Furter and Ernie said...

A nice hike is fine, butt not necessary for MENTAL or physical health. I'm thinkin that Olivia just taught you all to... relax and smell the roses. A lovely stroll and a short (though unplanned) swim can be just as healthful. Olivia certainly does not LOOK like a Sr. Dawg.
I am really glad to hear the the meds. are working on both Olivia and Linguini's Arthur Eye Tis. Maybe I should get some for my mom.

brooke said...

Olivia is a cutie! Love her brown spots! Poor thing that she fell in the pool!

Hank said...

Love 'em all.....young AND old!


Sarah, Hank, Molly

pam said...

Olivia looks like she's a pretty healthy gurl.

We like the video of dat mommy kitty lookin over hew babies.

Bobo and Meja

Taffy said...

I agree with Rem! Us seniors do rock! Did you ever think Olivia might not be able to see but I bet her sniffer works. She more than likely knew she was going for a swim.....great plan on her part to get some extra loves!

Did you just say, "Help they're getting cuter?" giggle!

snuggles,
Twix

the magic sleigh said...

Wooos Twinkie! woo were very nice to woo old friend,I am very proud of woo. Mom remembers when our old girl fell in the pool, I was just a young one myself, and it was winter and Mum had to go in to pull her out. It was not as nice as your lucky dog, but our old girl was fine after a few o=hours, I do not think Mom ever recovered though....
Awwww to the kittens!
~husky kisses~
-Kira The BeaWootiful

the booker man said...

it's a KITTY PILE! woohoo!
that miss olivia is a sweet 'n pretty senior lady! i'm so glad she didn't get hurt when she fell in the pool!
*woof*
the booker man

Lola and also Franklin, too said...

Loved the photos of the senior ladies. I bet they really enjoy each other's company, too. And the kittens just look like they're doing great, don't they? Anyway, thanks for all the photos that made us smile.

wags, Lola

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

A post with so much khool and tasty stuff!

Thanks fur sharing!

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra

Two French Bulldogs said...

You gotta love those beautiful seniors.
Benny & Lily

Buddy Dawg said...

Wow! Iz so kool to get to meeted more blindy dawgies liyk me. I iz so glad dat yer frend gotted to come played wif you, and even gotted to go swimmed. Sownds liyk da graytest day.

Oh, and mom sed da kittehs look liyk we cud be twins wif our eyespots! Eggkespt dat dem kittehs wud getted to opened der eyes soon, den we wud not be twins no more.

Ok, kisses & snuggles,
Buddy Dawg

Sonic said...

So many dots! I heard that if you stare into a dalmatian long enough, you can see 3D images in their fur, like a sail-boat and stuff.

Sonic

Lorenza said...

Hi, Twinkie!
Olivia spent a nice time with you all! That splash sure was scary!
Glad she is ok!
Kitties! I love them. I saw Farrah there keeping an eye on them!
Kisses and hugs
Lorenza

Life With Dogs said...

They look as happy as can be, and that speaks volumes for their senior existence. Something tells me they are fairly well cared for. :)

ocmist said...

Those were some great pictures today, and it was nice to meet Olivia. Grammy says she's never seen a brown Dalmatian before. It was nice of you guys to give her an opportunity to make new friends and have a play day.

Molly the Airedale said...

We love our Seniors!
I'm on K9 Liquid Health too. Mom says it's been a doGsend for me!

Love ya lots
Maggie and Mitch

My Mind's Eye said...

Yes Twink you read that right 1 year ago mom had no pictures of me except ones that were developed from an old camera. She knew how to download pictures but didn't really have anything to do with them until we
(don't you love my use of the plural) started our blog. Now she is ready for a new camera!!! She is one shutter bug now.
Madi

♥ Sallie said...

She just wanted everyone to go swimming. :)

I love the kittens!

The Adventures of the LLB Gang said...

What a fun day you had with Miss Olivia! Well, except for that whole swimming thing.

Mama says the dog reflection photo was PAWESOME!

Mama also says that those kitties are the cutest EVER!

Smileys and Snuggles!
Dory, Bilbo, Jacob

Cheryl, Indiana, Shingo and Molly said...

Awww furry cute wittle kitties!!

Looks like you all had a grrrreat time with Olivia, without the hiking!!

Woofs and Kisses!
The Fiesty Three

Golden Woofs! SUGAR said...

Woof! Woof! What a beauty, Olivia. I'm a Senior too n I say Senior Dog ROCKS!!! Lots of Golden Woofs, Sugar

Olivia said...

Dear Twinkie, Frankie & Linguini -
Thank you so much for the fun day! Who knew swimming could be so much fun? Don't know why the M's were looking so weird when I got out of the water - don't understand 'em but gotta love those bipeds!

I don't know how you guys do it - there are so many cool places to hang out in your yard and the sniffs - OMD - I think I could wear my nose out!

Twinkie - you are a great watch dog, barking at leaves and air and anything else that invades your space.

Frankie - it was so good to see you other than in class where we had to behave and be on those stoopid leashes!

Linguini - Wow! You are one beautiful girl - I love your spots, even though they are black. Thanks for showing me around.

I haven't had many play dates before and I hope we can do more - you are one cool pack!

Sniffs,
Olivia

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