A couple quick announcements

"Should I get up for this?"

Actually it's partly about you, buddy!  As you know, Scrappy has fallen on "hard times in his old age".  Particularly, last week at this time he was having a real streak of 1) not wanting to eat- or really even beg; 2) a spate of increased accidents- made worse by the cold, wet weather; and 3) his breath was really coming hard after any exertion.  With this in mind, we made a "wellness appointment" for the other Old Man for Saturday.  In the meantime, he snapped out of the worst of it around Tuesday, but was it just a brief reprieve?

Results?

"I don't know if I want to hear 'em..."

No, it's okay!  Doc said stomach was fine, lungs were fine, heart was strong.  Only thing the Doc was real concerned about was his legs.  And even their problems are just the typical "getting as old as Methuselah" stuff...

"That's great!  But 'Methuselah'... really?"

Well, the "dog year conversion chart" calls you between 74 and 78 in people years, but those legs are saying "between Betty White and George Burns".  In fact, here's a story from the vet visit.  The nurse left us in the exam room to get the Doc.  Scrappy decided to lay down- a process that now is basically letting his legs slide out from under him in a controlled manner.  He was by the Doc's door, and Laurie said, "I think that door opens inwards," meaning, "Chris, get him to move before he gets bopped."  Before I could reply, or move for that matter, he heard his Mommy and started pushing up with his front feet, his back end staying still, until he was sitting up and out of the way.  We laughed our butts off, and Scrappy struggled over to see what was so funny.

Due to the fact that his legs basically work like a quadruple amputee on stilts, the Doc prescribed an anti-inflammatory and a revisit in 2 weeks to see if they help.  I expressed my leeriness about this, because our last dog, Fred, was close (but not quite, I don't think) to Scrappy's age when he developed a limp.  He got put on meds that helped for a while, but came the day it got worse and the Doc (not the same one) decided to try another med- BUT he had to take two days off of the old ones before he could start.

Within 18 hours, he couldn't move.  Just stare at me saying, "Help".  I told the Doc that story.


"We're not going to let that happen," she said.  "We'll give him the right medicine."


So I feel better- some.  I'll have to let you know about whether HE is, but it's one pill in right now.



Now the other announcement- it's Expanding Martin Planet time again...

Peanut is getting a little full-brother or sister, around mid September!  I've known for a bit now, but wanted to wait until the kids were ready to make it public.  Since Jessica posted this last night, I assume it is that time.  Right now, I'm betting on a girl and for the time being calling her "Pistashio".  KC floated out the name Londyn for a girl.  Mom isn't real happy with either one of us...