This is my entry for #monomad
Older dogs can scare you!
Yesterday our Lana scared us. She is now 11 years old, and although she still seems super fit, is very cheerful, and is still super active, she is of course a dog at age. Certainly if you are viewing that a Dutch shepherd becomes average between 10 and 14 years old. Our Lana is with her 11 years in that critical group where you have to think earlier in the short term, then the long term.
Both the girls are at age
We had played outside, and despite the fact that both our girls are age, yes ... Myla is another year older, the girls are both still active and want to play them. Every day. And especially Lana is tireless. As soon as she comes out, she grabs the first best ball that she encounters, and it is guaranteed to my feet laid. With every step that I put I have to pay attention to a ball to stumble. Although this can sometimes be annoying, it also gives her enormous drive again. And that can then be admired in a dog of 11 years. She still has the drive to work of a 1-year dog, and according to her insight she is doing me a great pleasure by going to get the ball every time. So in speaking terms I kick the entire day against balls, which Lana then lays tirelessly for my feet again.
Driven and fanatic
She is not only enough driven and fanatic there, but it is also a way to really let Lana listen. A Dutch shepherd is an obedient dog, but also a dog that does not just follow all commands. If she doesn't like it, then just forget it, she won't obey! But if you give her a reward in the form of a ball, then she will do everything you ask with the greatest dedication and enjoyment for you. And not only that, but she performs it for you to perfection. It doesn't matter how difficult the command is, she is incredibly smart, and you almost always understands what you ask from her.
Giving me the laundry
For example, I was able to learn her to give me the laundry at an older age by using a ball as a reward. She takes the wet laundry out of the laundry basket on the floor, gives it to me in my hand ... and then I throw away a ball again for her. What she then puts back for my feet in a fraction of a second.
No balls within the house!
You can maybe understand that it is fun to work with her if you are doing dull household chores. But that it sometimes also produces difficult situations, because by the enthusiasm of Lana, she just doesn't stop! Fortunately, she has also learned the command "Ball loose". So when going back inside the house, she has to let go of her ball, and she has been doing that perfectly since a week or two. This rule is to protect myself from going crazy about her tirelessly putting the ball for my feet. Because she doesn't know how to stop, none of the dogs would be able to rest, and I would go crazy too. That doesn't work out great ... So the rule, "no balls within in the house" is created to protect all of us. LOL.
Obsessively licking
But what did shock us? Well, Lana was quiet, she was cleaning herself, and that can do it in an obsessive driven way. As she can be driven with everything and sometimes can be obsessive. But this time it seemed to go beyond her usual drive. Normally she stops when I say "Lana stop". Not this time. She continued and it only became worse and more. After ten minutes I went to her and gently turned her snout away. Then I saw a very swollen nipple. Whether this came from licking, or that there was another reason, I could not immediately see. The skin around her nipple was red and also swollen and a thought flew through my head of dairy gland infection, or even worse, dairy gland tumors.
Not sterilized
Lana is not sterilized and the risk of dairy gland tumors is therefore greater than with Myla. Myla is sterilized after her first period and was just over the age of 1 year. For her, the risk of malignant milk dairy gland tumors is therefore almost negligible. However, it is a different story for Lana. And certainly with intact bitches from the age of 10, that risk is very large.
Only medical needs would be a reason to sterilize at this age
To sterilize her now also has no utility at all. That risk no longer changes, only sterilizations that are done up to the age of about 3 years influence the risk of malignant tumors. And Lana had been three years when we got her out of the shelter. A sterilization up to the age of about 7 years influence the risk of benign dairy gland tumors a bit, but sterilization is actually almost meaningless and only recommended when a direct medical need arises such as uterine inflammation, or tumors.
Let things come to rest!
So what now? First, take care that Lana would stop licking, let things come to rest overnight and have a look at it again today. And to our great relief we saw today that the swellings were pulled away. So that had to do with her obsessive licking yesterday evening. We did see that there was a very small wound on her skin. And that apparently was the cause of her licking. I used Calendula ointment and calmly massaged that in her skin until it was fully withdrawn. And so far she no longer seated the wound. Fingers crossed that it will stay this way!
No thickenings under her skin
While massaging that ointment I could also feel that there were no thickenings under her skin. What reassured me that there is no dairy gate inflammation or tumor.
Relief
Our lady had a small wound and made everything worse due to her driven obsessive character. Fortunately this time the solution was very simple, and we are comfortable again. Hopefully it stays so, and we can continue to enjoy our old ladies for a few more years.