Mar-07-2011, 01:59 PM (UTC)
I know we're way off-topic here and I'm not sure how to put this without offending anyone (I know no advice was asked so it's not my place to give it). However, I want to mention this "in general", because a lot of it was new information for me too just a few years ago. Vets' knowledge of older pets has increased a *lot* in the recent years and there's lots that can be done to make an old dog's life comfortable before it's time for that one final visit. Regular check-ups (twice a year) are usually recommended, even if there are no visible problems, because it's easier to prevent things or slow the progress of many conditions when they are detected early. For example, there are simple injections that help to "oil" old joints that can be administrated at home once the vet has shown how it's done (no need to locate veins and it's not used daily), there are pain meds that can be given safely over long periods of time and there's huge amounts of information about what part nutrition plays in problems like arithritis.
"Green nubs on the dry sticks of the clematis promised that the appearance of death was not death itself." - Ship of Destiny