Harley is getting old!

Harley turned 9 on March 24th of this year. While we think he's still got plenty of pep in his step, his body is starting to show some serious signs of ageing. This morning he had a scheduled vet appointment. We needed to get him up to date on vaccinations and whatever else before the big move, and also because it's required to have everything documented for airline pet travel. Well, according to his vet, Harley flying to Las Vegas is a no go. She said no way, not recommended, that she has seen too many young, healthy animals get put on planes and die. And our Harley boy isn't young, nor super duper healthy. This morning he was so excited at the vet that his temp was 103 and they couldn't give him any of his inoculations until he calmed down and his body temp lowered. On top of that: He has a little cyst in his ear that they have no idea what it is. As I type this he is having it surgically removed. Also, while they have him under anesthesia they are doing his teeth cleaning. He needs antibiotics for his ears and for a little rash on his bootie under his fur. He weighs 110 lbs, down from 114 lbs a year ago, but the vet says he needs a diet asap and to get him down to 100. She suggested a glucosomine supplement for his joints and said that he is not to be jumping up and down from our bed (his most favorite place in the world). This means that in the new house we will have to keep a baby gate at the bottom of the steps because he shouldn't be walking up and down those either. Good thing the master in the new house in downstairs and all the others are up. I can't help but sit here and be a little sad for my ageing dog. Sure, sometimes he's a pain in the a*s, and sometimes he drives me nuts, but he really is just a sweet old dog trying to get into doggie heaven.