Argh, I'm so sorry, Chikat.

This would be taught by Clovis the Devilbunny, right?

hahahaha. And Owen.

Wow. That would be a lot of fun, and only a smidge frightening.

Gah, Chikat. I am so sorry. That just sucks.

bonny, I have a dog question (to which there might well not be a black-and-white answer): could a consistent pattern of licking/nibbling at his paws and other joints mean that a dog is experiencing the inevitable aging and should get on glucosamine right away?

Kato is 9, so not a geezer, but not a pup, and we've been walking him a lot since we had Chloe put to sleep. Frankly, in the winter, we almost never walk him, so this is like a couch potato suddenly starting a workout program. The walks are flat sidewalk, generally under a mile or maybe just a little over a mile, usually 15-30 minutes. Not every day, either -- probably 4-5 days a week. So nothing strenuous, no running, etc.

To my eye, when he walks he seems kind of stiff (although he is *extremely* bow-legged, comically so, and that might be affecting his gait), and I know that aging joints are an issue. I've been trying to research glucosamine for dogs, and one site I found (but only one) mentioned licking paws/joints as a possible sign of joint discomfort. And he certainly does that, all the time.

I know he *could* be licking his paws just because he's a licker. (Seriously -- he licks the floor, his bed, our shoes, our pants [possibly a sign it's time to do laundry] -- so licking his paws could just be because they happen to be the closest thing.)

Actually, I guess maybe my question is -- if he doesn't need glucosamine, would giving it to him be harmful or problematic? I know I should ask the vet, but we just haven't gotten him in this year -- he's due for shots some time before summer, but it's not urgent, so we haven't gotten in there.

Absolutely not. I began giving Bartleby a glucosamine supplement (Nupro silver) a couple of years ago as an immune support and joint problem preventative.

I did GOBS of research, as one does, and asked a couple of vets if pre-dosing was a problem. Everything pointed to NO, it's actually a good thing.

The bow-leggedness concerns me a bit. Have you had a conversation with a vet about disproportionate weight on Kato's joints? I know a bow-legged dog (who almost became Bboy's brother...I intended to name him Gimli) who had to have his front legs straightened. It worked great, but was a pretty harrowing recovery.

About the licking. If it is not a recent onset sort of thing, I would not worry too much, but I WOULD keep a very close eye on his paws and legs to make sure he is not creating hotspots due to stress/grieving/under-exercise or being overweight.

Try giving him the glucosamine supplement for a month and see what happens with his gait. If he does not have prominent hips, get him on a diet right NOW. He's not old and keeping him slim will keep him young for much longer than you can imagine.

Also, make sure his teeth are in super shape from this point forward. Brush them and give him Plaqueoff to keep his mouth healthy.

I'm sorry about the RIF, Chikat. I hate the way teachers have been caught up in our current political wrangling.

It was the weirdest thing. I woke up today and was moving around doing my morning things, and I realized that nothing hurt. Which made me realize that one thing or another had been aching for at least a year now. Nothing that would send me to the doctor—aches in the ankle I tore up in November '09, a sore back, legs hurting from gardening, etc. Today, everything was fine. I don't know what happened, but I'm glad it did.

The bow-leggedness concerns me a bit.

It's just his back legs, and the vet says that's not uncommon with hound breeds -- but he is a plump dog, so when we go to the vet next time, I'll double-check with the vet.

About the licking. If it is not a recent onset sort of thing, I would not worry too much, but I WOULD keep a very close eye on his paws and legs to make sure he is not creating hotspots due to stress/grieving/under-exercise or being overweight.

The licking in general is not new, but I kind of think the paw-licking is new-ish. And we keep a close eye on his licking because he manages to give himself a hot spot about once a year. (Holding a cool tea bag -- black tea, not hippie fruit tea -- on the spot really helps heal it quickly.)

If he does not have prominent hips

I honestly laughed when I read this. He *has* gained weight over the past year, but I'm not sure he's ever had prominent hips. Although I'm not sure what they should look like, since I keep picturing poor Chloe's bony hips. This isn't the best angle, but this is a picture of him from a month or so ago: [link]

get him on a diet right NOW. He's not old and keeping him slim will keep him young for much longer than you can imagine.

We actually have reduced his food since January, because we did realize he was turning into a chunk.

Also, make sure his teeth are in super shape from this point forward. Brush them and give him Plaqueoff to keep his mouth healthy.

We do brush his teeth. He loves it.

Steph, is it the top of his paws or the bottom he's licking? If he's walking so much more I wonder if it could be the concrete on his paws bothering him. (Kind of like when you get a good pedicure and then realize those callouses were doing something.)

This isn't the best angle, but this is a picture of him from a month or so ago:

Perfect. I wish I had one of those 'write on the screen' tools so I could draw some arrows on his belleh. Short of that, picture this, the place where his hip meets his torso should have what vets call 'an abdominal tuck', meaning an inverted V. On Kato, that means that about about 3 inches of tummy needs to be pulled up.

Here is a very basic chart to help you identify what an ideal weight looks like. Of course, breed by breed, there are differences. But not as many as you'd think. Even a Mastiff is going to be healthier with nice hips and an abdominal tuck.

It doesn't seem like the paw licking is too much of a problem. I wonder if the increased exercise might reduce that as well. Good job using the tea bags. They are the perfect, noninvasive treatment. Tea Tree Oil is also good.

If, at any time, it seems like Kato is becoming obsessed with the licking...like he can't stop even when you call him to do something else, you can try Bitter Apple, Bitter Cherry, or a product called YUCK! (seriously) as a lick deterrent. I'd rather find out the source first, but if worse comes to worst, these products are available.

Actually, This page has an even better weight comparison chart about half way down the page. It's in color, so easier to see the nuances.

When you look at Bartleby, you can actually see a slight ripple where his ribs are, so they are visible...and that is the perfect weight for him (40lbs). For Kato, being black means you probably wouldn't see his ribs at the ideal weight. But still.

Gah, ChiKat. So fucked up.

I am exhausted. This cold is kicking my ass, and it's been a long day to end a long week with a number of frustrations today. I was hoping to be done with all the volunteer stuff today, but such is not the case. Oh, well.