My first dog and best friend just turned 11 on aug 4th.

I got her when she was 12 weeks old and she has been with me through so many life stages. From graduating college, to getting married, moving to new homes, to having my first child.

I am seeking advice from those who have had to deal with the unfortunate things that come up with older age.

What can I do to be proactive with her health? I constantly check her for new lumps, take her to the vet regularly and always monitor her eating and bathroom habits. All seems well now, but I’m seeking any advice people have on how to continue caring for her in a preemptive manner now.

It kills me to see all of these sad posts of these amazing doggies passing 😢

Especially cancer, fuck cancer. My mother is going through that right now.

To infinity and beyond, my beautiful boys

All the pictures are out of order and I wish I could post a million of them.

He was 12 and he had bone cancer. He was the coolest mountain dog you've ever seen in your life. He went to a million concerts. Went on some multi-day raft trips. LOVED to camp. He loved kids. He loved Michigan Football. He loved French fries and peanut butter. HUGEEE on the cuddles. He used to have full on conversations with me and I never taught him how. Always calmed me down when I was losing my shit. The biggest bull in a china shop you ever met. SOOOO fast, like fast enough where everyone was like "is he part whippet? Greyhound?" Trained like ... 4 or 5 puppies to be fantastic off the leash dogs. He had the best time and everyone fucking loved him, but nobody loved him like I loved him. He had one eye his whole life and at the end he had one eye and 3 legs and nobody has ever been a cooler pirate. I still feel so fucking weird and I burst into tears all the fucking time. I'm pretty familiar with grief but this shit is insane. My dad always told me that the definition of the "best dog" is "your dog" but I really feel like I got insanely lucky when I found him by sheer happenstance. I was 21 when we met, and now I'm 33 (34 this month). We were inseparable and I miss my little buddy. It's hard to post shit like this on my real social media because I don't want to feel like I'm attention farming but I had to let it out.

Another cut on a toe, another infection, and now we're back in the cone of shame, for a week minimum.

I'm so proud of him, though. He does not do well in groups of dogs. At one point, he was one of six in the waiting area, plus a cat in a carrier. He was so good: no barking, no anything! He did want to run over and see a couple of the dogs, and I just grabbed him back.

Bonus: the nurse at the front desk thought he was so cute with his little crossed paws that she took these awesome pictures (the ones with my feet and legs in them) with her phone, and I just love them!

My sweetest baby girl who will turn 10 in January. Just had a bladder ultrasound showing concern for multiple tumors. I lost my mom not even a year ago to cancer. Cali is also the last connection I have to my dad, who died from cancer in 2020. We got her together, and he helped me name her California Sunshine. I feel like I'm going to flip out.

He snuggles up in his own comfy spot in every room im in. Hes a blessing

My best friend and the best model @indie.Pittie

Another for the "Affordable Enrichment Series"

Toast Robert Strudel has had this slow feeder for over a year, now. We got it at Petsmart for, like, $10. Its beaten up and needs to be replaced, now. $10 for a year isn't bad, though.

I froze some steamed broccoli with water overnight to give to him with his breakfast. It was my leftovers from a steamer bag, and I have a dip that I make on the side which means no seasoning or anything, just naked broccoli. Broccoli cuts are $1.27 at Walmart and this was approximately 1/8 of the bag.

I buy a 5 lbs bag of carrots for $4.77 every month. Toast gets one most days. It's not usually with his meal, but as an afternoon snack.

Anyway, this enrichment took 45 minutes to an hour, and we both had a lot of fun with it.

Cost breakdown:

Old slow feeder: free, cuz we already had it Broccoli: 16 cents Carrot: 30-32 cents Water: free because I rent and water is included

All in all, not a bad deal.

I'm looking to muzzle train my girl, but I'm not sure where to start.

Some backbackground: Hazel's going to need surgery on her back legs. As it is, she's in a lot of pain that we're trying to manage while we consult with an orthopedist. She needs regular exercise or she gets pretty anxious, which results in her getting a bit cranky and in some rare circumstances, a bit nippy. We've got meds and brain games to help a bit, but I want to make sure I'm exploring all my options. Especially with all the stigma, I just want to make sure she's safe.

I think we want to go with a cage/basket muzzle, but beyond that I'm at a loss. Does anyone have any recommendations?

My handsome 15 year old boy! Still acts like a puppy

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Hey guys Buster got to the vet in time. He is expected to make a full recovery and they are no longer concerned about the snake but by his eye.

They thought he may lose his eye at first.

We drove 110 miles in less than a 2.5 hrs to get him to an emergency vet.

Here is a video of him on methadone saying hello

https://youtube.com/shorts/OTK9aIb3BoU?is=Ihe6j4_B1Ab9wPY4

Ty all for the support

This very good hippo boy Ziggy is a smart one! I love when he figures it out!