19-year-old dachshund still going strong
Rick Bobrowski of Houston with his longhaired dachshund, Abby, who recently turned 19. (Photo by Karen Mansfield)
Abby the dachshund, above, recently celebrated her 19th birthday. Owner Rick Bobrowski said he鈥檚 planning something special for her 20th. (Photo by Karen Mansfield)
When Abby, a longhaired miniature dachshund, was 8 years old, a very good thing happened to her.
She was adopted by Rick Bobrowski of Houston, and she鈥檚 led a doggone good 鈥� and long 鈥� life since.
On April 29, Abby celebrated her 19th birthday with a cream-filled vanilla cupcake with a treat on top, and lots of snuggles from Bobrowski.
鈥淪he鈥檚 a happy girl,鈥� said Bobrowski, who rescued Abby and another dachshund, Mocha, in July 2011. 鈥淪he has a good life.鈥�
While better health care and medical knowledge has contributed to longer life spans for pets, it鈥檚 unusual for a dog to reach 19 years old, said Dr. Michele Sacksteder, a veterinarian at All About Pets who has provided medical care for Abby since the tiny wiener dog was adopted.
鈥淎 19-year-old dog is highly unusual, though much more common in small breed dogs than large breed dogs,鈥� said Sacksteder.
Sacksteder said Abby might be the oldest dog she鈥檚 treated.
In human years, Abby would be approaching 100 years old. And health wise, she鈥檚 had her struggles, including recurrent urinary tract infections and weight loss.
The once 8 1/2-pound pooch now weighs in at under 5 pounds.
She鈥檚 also toothless.
When Bobrowski rescued Abby and Mocha, both dogs were suffering from a life-threatening dental infection that required Sacksteder to remove of all of their teeth and insert bone graft material.
Without the surgery, Abby and Mocha 鈥� who passed away at age 17 鈥� would not have lived as long or as comfortably, Bobrowski and Sacksteder said.
Abby鈥檚 diet consists of Cesar鈥檚 wet dog food, and a limited supply of her favorite snacks 鈥� buttered toast, potato chips, and crackers. She also is fond of carrots.
For special occasions, Bobrowski treats Abby to steak, chicken, and hamburger that he grinds up and cooks.
Bobrowksi said Abby is slower and a bit more wobbly (and he periodically has to give her fluids subcutaneously to help her with hydration and to fight infections), but she is as sweet and affectionate as ever.
鈥淪he鈥檚 less stubborn than she used to be, but she can still be stubborn,鈥� he said.
Bobrowski said he feels a special bond with his aging canine friend, and he is happy he could provide a happy life for her.
鈥淒ogs always deserve fair treatment in life. She deserves a good life,鈥� said Bobrowski. 鈥淚t鈥檚 my responsibility to do the best I can for her.鈥�
Before Bobrowski adopted Abby and Mocha, he had two other dachshunds. Rusty lived to be 16 and Buttercup lived until she was 12.
鈥淚t takes a lot of loving, caring, and understanding about dogs to help them live that long,鈥� said Bobrowski, who acknowledged it鈥檚 been a team effort with Sacksteder to help make sure Abby lives a long and healthy life.
Bobrowksi doesn鈥檛 know how much longer Abby will be around, but he鈥檚 looking forward to planning her 20th birthday party.
鈥淣umber 20 is going to be the special one,鈥� said Bobrowski. 鈥淚 haven鈥檛 figured out how I鈥檓 going to do that, but she鈥檚 going to have a special day.鈥�