RA and Dogs: It's Complicated
I’ve always loved animals. When I was a kid, I joked that I was going to be a wild animal vet and my little brother had to be my assistant for the muscles required. I sometimes play a mental game of what would I have done with my life if the JRA hadn’t been a part of it and I always come up with careers like a vet, wildlife biologist, or oceanographer.
So, it would follow that pets have been in my life for most of my life. As a kid, I convinced my parents to get me parakeets and a rabbit, but my dogs have always been my best pals. They never asked me how or when I would feel better or why I couldn’t do something - they just wanted to be with me.
Dealing with the loss of my two pet dogs
As an adult, I’ve had two dogs, Willow and Jasper. Willow was like the proverbial first child. As a puppy, she never chewed up anything she wasn’t supposed to and she was potty-trained within a week. She was gorgeous and made me think I was the best dog Mom ever.
Willow
That is until she got hit by a car when she was five and passed away. At the time, my JRA was in a prolonged and very bad flare and when Willow ran across the street to chase a cat, there was no way I could do anything but hobble up the yard to get to her.
Jasper
A year later, Jasper came into my life. He was nothing like Willow. He was messy, never did what he was told unless he wanted to do it anyway, and he stole food off the counter in front of a party of people - the guy had no respect! But he made me laugh every day, all day. He melted my heart and, as he got older, he turned into one big heart. His whole life was spent keeping me company through all the ups and downs my life brought.
Two days after I had a joint replacement in December of last year, Jasper took his final breath and left this world. Anyone who has lost a pet will relate to the hole in my heart I’ve had ever since.
Maybe I'm ready for a new pet in my life
Just last week I decided that maybe, just maybe, it was time to start thinking about bringing another pal into my life. Then I started thinking about dog breeds that I love, and Willow and Jasper. Willow was a Golden Retriever and, as well-behaved as she was, she had a ton of energy as a pup. I took her to the beach every day to run and swim when I lived in California and hikes almost every day in Colorado.
Jasper was a man of mystery, who we are 99 percent sure was half Golden Retriever and Wolfhound. He had long legs that were made to run, so when he was young I would take him hiking or biking almost every day. I adore big dogs and, if I could have what I wanted, I would be adopting another big boy or girl. But as we all know, rheumatoid arthritis is really good at spoiling good plans.
Pets and pet care with RA
The past few years as Jasper aged, I was aging quickly too and, at the end of his life, we settled into a great, mellow life. Most days, he didn’t want to walk more than a mile or so and, honestly, neither did I.
Maybe a smaller dog is a better choice
So, as I think about when and how to bring another dog into my life, I am having some hard conversations with myself. As much as I want another Jasper or Willow by my side, I’m wondering if I have the stamina for this. I’m no longer in a place with a yard; instead, I’m living in a condo. I wake up stiff and sore and the thought of a Wolfhound pup jumping on me in the AM, or actually, anytime, the way Jasper would when he was young, makes me realize that a smaller dog is a better choice.
Another compromise due to RA
Living with rheumatoid arthritis involves compromise at its best and sacrifice at its worst when it comes to life decisions. As an Occupational Therapist, I wanted to work in a different area than I did, because my body just couldn’t handle a faster-paced, more physical setting. It ended up being a compromise that worked well.
As attached as I am to the idea of having another big buddy, the reality is that this will be another compromise JRA has forced upon me. I do know that whatever size my pup will be, my love for him/her will be just as strong.
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