Furry Friday – Little Ol’ Doggies

One of my Christmas presents was a pair of Dog Age tests from Embark Veterinary.  They are supposed to calculate your dog’s biological age based on cellular decay.  Their website claims to be accurate within six months on either side of their actual age. 

Since Gidget McFidget and Bruce Wayne both came from the shelter, I have no way of knowing when they were actually born.  I previously based their ages on what the shelter or our veterinarian has estimated.

In late January, we swabbed both dogs and sent the samples off to the laboratory.  A few days after we returned home from our vacation, we received the emails regarding the test results.

Below are the results for both dogs.  Note:  I apparently mixed up the labels when I put them in their mailing tubes, so the results that say Gidget are for Bruce, and the one that says Bruce is for Gidget.  Of course I mixed them up.  That’s a trademark move for me.

^{_{Although it says Gidget McFidget, this test result is for Bruce Wayne due to my label mixup. When we adopted him from the shelter in July of 2022, his age was estimated at 6 or 7 years old. According to the test, he was probably between 9 and 10 years of age.}}

_{Continuing with the label mixup, this says Bruce Wayne but it should be for Gidget McFidget. She came from the shelter in August of 2012 and was estimate to be around 2 years old. This test result would place her closer to 3 years old at that time.}

I’m surprised and a little saddened to learn that they are both older than I had anticipated.  Gidget is about a year older than my previous belief, and I feel like I’ve been robbed of a year with my little girl.  But Bruce is the biggest surprise.  I would have never guessed that he was more than eleven years old.  That would make him nine years old when we adopted him from the shelter, and I wonder how he spent the first nine years of his life.  I know he was terrified of the broom, has arthritis in one of his rear legs, likely from an old injury like a kick, and he had heartworms.  He was also unneutered.  Whether he spent all that time in one home or bounced around to a few homes over the years, he definitely wasn’t given the love and care he deserved.

People have asked how Gidget has remained such an active little maniac at her advanced age.  I attribute it to her spunky attitude and a healthy diet.  I truly believe that a regular diet of chikkie slop kept Annabelle alive for two years after her cancer diagnosis and has helped Gidget to maintain her energy and health even into her years as a super senior.

Chikkie Slop Recipe

Knowing we have two much older little doggies is not going to change anything.  They will continue to be spoiled and pampered throughout their golden years.  This will likely include running the fireplace when requested, even if it’s not that cold outside, so they can bask in the warm glow while I sit here at my desk.