Once again, Casey the Wonder Dog

Took our old buddy to the vet today for his hips. He's been having more and more trouble getting up and down the stairs, shifting from one side to the other when lying down, etc. It takes him a bit of maneuvering to stand up or lie down, and he's been increasingly subdued and even surly lately. Clearly the over-the-counter doggie aspirins weren't doing it for him anymore.

Since he's been a reasonably inexpensive companion over the years—no major health problems, excepting a broken nose and a few stitches after a coyote chomped him once (quick on his feet back then, Casey managed to escape further chomping)—I decided to spring for the x-rays to see just what the poor guy is dealing with. Wow! As the vet herself said, I don't know how he's as spry as he is given the amount of calcification on his hip joints! Lots of lumpy bumpy nastiness that would have completely crippled a lesser dog. (The x-ray shown is not Casey's—just one I found on the internet—Casey's was much worse.) And he was his usual jovial self while getting all the tests done, charming all the tech staff and making new friends right and left. You'd never know he ought to be in a doggie wheelchair!

Anyway, he's now on prescription anti-inflammatories/pain relievers and glucosamine. The rest of his bones and joints were clear of any arthritis or other problems, and he passed the blood tests with flying colors. So once the drugs kick in, he should be back to his hoppity-hooper self. For a guy in his 80s, he's doing damn fine! What a great dog, in every possible way.