March 13 Is National K9 Veterans Day – 'Nuff Said!

Part 4 in the Dog Blog series

Generally, I fancy myself as a highly pragmatic and sensible person. For example, even if the dog poop is extra icky and it is kind of hiding in my neighbor's ivy, I still pick it up because it is the right thing to do. And if I have a cold coming, I face it head on and start hydrating and going to bed early. But when it comes to my pooch, PL, I am not as brave.

PL is in his senior years—he is 11 and starting to slow down, sleep more, and he is noticeably stiffer. Also, he's gotten lumpier. Yes, he literally has several lumps on his torso. This started a couple of years ago in a sneaky "I-am-not-sure-if-I-just-need-to-cut-back-on-the-treats" kind of way that made it hard to tell but has become more evident recently. So for the past few months, I've been hemming and hawing about taking him to the vet and having the lumps checked out. And that is where I really struggle, because I can't bear the thought of my pets being ill.

As a result, PL squarely dislikes going to the vet. Well, that is not really true. He likes going any place where people like dogs. And he just loves people in uniform. Our vet is on a military base, and so there are uniforms galore at the vet's office. Even the vet wears camouflage. Jackpot for lots of pets and ear scratches! But then comes the inevitable examination, and I get nervous because I don't know if something is wrong with PL. PL picks up on my nervousness, and the whole thing quickly sours and gets very tense.

Now, these vets treat military K9s for a living—so they really know about dogs. And they know a lot about German Shepherds in particular, which makes us truly appreciate that as a military family we can bring our own dog to the on-post veterinary clinic.

So after months of feeling those lumps and obsessing about them by Googling and talking to fellow dog-owners, I finally made the appointment and took PL in. And what do you know? Those lumps are normal fatty lumps that older dogs sometimes get. Phew! I was so relieved. PL got a biscuit at the vet's for being a well-behaved dog, and we both rode home relieved.

Not all dogs are that lucky, though. And today, being that it is National Veterans K9 Day, it's a good day to thank all those dogs that serve us in so many capacities. Use #NationalK9VeteransDay to post on social media today to honor all of the dogs who serve us every day.

Then give your dog a hug and make sure he's feeling A-OK—teeth, fur, ears, paws, and no lumps. And if you need a refresher on dog care or are a new dog owner, here are a few good books on dog care. After all, despite of what all those cat owners claim, dogs are man's best friend.

• ASPCA Complete Dog Care Manual by Bruce Fogle
• Natural Pet Cures: Dog and Cat Care the Natural Way by John Heinerman
• The Complete Dog Book: A Comprehensive, Practical Care and Training Manual, and a Definitive Encyclopedia of World Breeds by Peter Larkin

Don't miss the other installments of The Dog Blog series from Linda:

• Part 1: Ushering in 2018 - The Year of the Dog: How to Regain Your Zen and Stop Worrying About Your Dog
• Part 2: Be Like Your Dog and Enjoy the Simple Things in Life
• Part 3: February 23 Is National Dog Biscuit Day: Don't We All Need a Treat Sometimes?
• Part 5: April 17 Is National (Dog) Haiku Poetry Day
• Part 6: May 6 - 12 Is National Pet Week
• Part 7: June 22 Is Take Your Dog to Work Day!

About the Author: Linda Vandercook has been a Software Developer with ThriftBooks for seven years, many of them working remotely to support her husband's career in the military. She is also a strong animal advocate, volunteering at local shelters, and trying hard not to adopt every rabbit, cat, squirrel, dog, or other miscellaneous critter that shows up in her back yard. Born and raised in Sweden, Linda thinks the U.S. is the awesomest place on Earth!

Read more by Linda Vandercook