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We went to town and I visited my doctor this week! Nowadays, I enjoy mostly laying on the porch, watching the Spring warm up, the chickens scratching, and still a few wild turkeys, Deer wandering in and hoping for hay with the horses, even the horses coming up and hoping for treats. The older I get, the more I like staying home and just patrolling my range, often from my favorite corner of the porch.
We’ve had more days of sunshine and warming weather, still with frosty nights of course, too cold to plant anything but trees – they will be arriving soon. We had a one-day cold snap Tuesday, though. How can it go from 60 degrees and sun, to 30 degrees and snow, in less than 24 hours? I guess that is “Springtime in the Rockies”, but these old bones don’t like it and it interferes with my watch duties on the ranch.
But sometimes we all go to town, and once a year I visit my doctor.
Now, I’ve seen the same vet for many years, since I was first rescued and came to live here. The very first time, an assistant unceremoniously tried to stab me with a needle and I snapped at him. Nearly got him, too! Turns out he was really a kind guy who loves Heelers, and just did not take time to introduce himself and to understand I was a little frightened with all the new events in my life.
A young and impetuous Ladysmith
From then on, though, all my trips have been pleasant. They treat all kinds of animals here,
Alice
but I’m pretty sure cowdogs are their favorite.
There have not been too many visits to my doctor, I am very healthy. I did have to go there once for a small surgery, but I was so scared by being caged, I panicked and punctured my paw on the cage door. They were more worried about infection there than my original ailment and were very careful to take good care of me. From then on, mom always waited with me, so I never had to go in a kennel again.
A couple of years ago, it was a dental visit.
I had a nice nap, and when I woke up, I had the whitest fangs in the county!
Otherwise, I only go for annual check-ups now, and get pain pills when an old shoulder injury acts up.
So this week was my yearly visit to my doctor.
My vet has built a new clinic; I have only been there one time before, but there sure were a lot of smells to check out, especially outside. 
Inside it was very clean with fewer interesting odors. I didn’t see any other patients there, except a cat in a carry case. I did hear horses in another part of the building.
I found I had 5 extra pounds of winter weight, but we blamed it on Dad who gives extra treats – all I have to do is smile and bark incessantly at him – works every time!
Then mom and I went into Exam Room 1, where Dr Greg greeted us. 
He called me “Oldtimer”, but said it with a smile so I didn’t mind too much. He carefully felt the lumps and bumps, checked my ears and teeth, and looked into my eyes. He gently felt my bad shoulder, then listened to my heart.
My vet told us, with a smile of admiration, that I have a strong and healthy Heeler heartbeat. I knew that was so, because I am featured in the Heeler Heart and Soul designs here:
And you can get it too, here:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/AnythingForJess?ref=shop_sugg
or here:
https://cowdogsadvice.com/shop/?orderby=date
He was awed by my excellent health, and what a precious gift it is! It is the gift of good care, exercise, adventure, fun. We all need to do whatever we can to keep it. Dr Greg can’t make me young again, even though mom has asked him for that. We each get exactly the number of days that God has given us, but we can make each moment of those days count.
When we got home, I again used mom’s newfangled step device to get out of the truck and it went pretty good.
I use it to get on the couch now, too. It is neat because it is not steep steps, but more like a bumpy ramp and very easy to climb.
You can find it, in many sizes and colors, here: https://amzn.to/3qVfGb5
There was still some snow on the north side, so I took time to celebrate my good report and played in it for awhile.
I got just one treat, and was so tired I went to sleep early and even skipped dinner.
Age brings troubles – like stiffness, blurry vision and sounds, sore paws, more irritation with things like cats. But it also brings wisdom and grace. In true Heeler fashion, I have years worth of that saved up, and use it freely now.
I know you all can’t visit my doctor, but I hope you have a good clinic too. Stay strong and healthy, even if you can’t stay young.
Many thanks to Doctor Greg Carlson and all the staff at Horizon Vets. See ya next year!
