The Vet

Last night was not a good night. Buck was in obvious pain and whimpered something awful, having an awful time walking. I gave him a painkiller from when he cut an artery open and nearly bled to death in our yard. Anyhow, by the time that I went to bed last night, I had a sick feeling that I'd wake up to a dead dog. Nope. He was much better this AM. He had a visit to the vet anyways. The diagnosis is arthritis in his back. He needs to lose weight, the vet said. About 25 pounds. That was astonishing to me. He is a big dog and sturdy. I never thought of him as overweight. She gave him a strict diet of one cup of diet dog food, and one tablespoon of his Alpo. A day. Less than half of his normal rations. I'm glad Buck doesn't understand people talk. If he had known what she was saying, he'd have probably attacked her before she could finish her lecture.

**************

Anyways, I managed to delay his supper until after 7. We went swimming at the neighbor's pond. Well, he did. I watched. He liked this very much, diving in and doing a lap, leaping out to roll in the grass like a puppy, and then diving back in for another lap. I think he probably forgot he was hungry.

**************

He remembered he was hungry on the way home. One measured cup of new 'senior' dog food, topped with one half a can of his Alpo. We'll work our way down to the one tablespoon. When I set this before him, he looked at the bowl, and he looked at me. He daintily ate the Alpo from atop of his new dog food and sat there looking at me in askance. Like "Okay. Nice first course. Where's my dinner?"

**************

I guess dieting is no more fun for dogs than it is for people.

**************

And he won't stop looking at me.

**************

( Stop, Buck!)