Senior dogs!

[mumofjust1]

Just wondering if anyone else has an elderly dog?

What kind of changes have you noticed in them? How old are they?

And are you also dreading "that" day :(

We have three greyhounds. One is 12 next month, a beautiful blonde. He did his Gold KC Award last summer, thus disproving the adage about old dogs! Another is an approx 12year old bitch, who has arthritis bless her. This is managed with hydrotherapy and medication. Third will be 8 in April thus officially marking his eligibility for Veteran classes! Ours are all very healthy, though the two black ones have noticeable grey hairs ( a bit like me really). Because of their good health, and because they are greyhounds can't say we've really noticed any major changes in them. They spend huge quantities of time sleeping, farting and being tickled. Blonde and dear Nephew enjoy going to local Charity dog shows during the summer - classes such as Best Veteran, or best rescue, best child handler. Nephew and grund have accumulated a nice little collection of rosettes.

No, I'm not dreading that day. Death is inevitable for us all. Every single day with them is precious and a joy. As they are all healthy, they will probably be around for a while yet - greys are quite long lived for large dogs and commonly make their mid teens. One of the things I've learned is that there are no guarantees in life - they could go tomorrow or could be here for years, same as for people. I know that I will mourn them desperately when they do go, because they are a hugely important of our life, and we love them very much, but sadly as you can see from some of the threads on here, even young dogs can sometimes experience sudden illness. I prefer to concentrate on enjoying the present, while being aware of its vulnerability. I still miss and think about dogs who have been part of my life going back over many years - I am looking forward to the eventual reunion!!

I have an elderly dog - lab aged 13. He is like a puppy at heart but arthritis is slowing him down and in the last couple of months his back legs have gone a bit wobbly.

Yes I am dreading the day, we have had a lot of crisis to deal with in the last couple of years, all of which I have coped with and he has been there with me for all of it.

Treasuring everyday is important and I am very grateful that he has spent his life with us.

x

I have an almost 14 year old dog. Since going on thyroid medication six months ago she has had a new lease of life and sometimes she still positively bounds around the park.

She does seem to get a little confused from time to time and can wonder off. She definitely seems to be going deaf and a little blind we are just trying to give her the best possible end to her life, with loads of love, good food and interesting walks. I nearly lost her at 2 to a very aggressive cancer so the fact that she is still here is amazing. I am really trying to enjoy and appreciate her and am encouraging my ds's to do the same.

I lost my pfbdog 9 months after ds1 was born. I had lived in fear of her dying for a very long time. She died of lymphoma fairly young. It was utterly devastating.

15 year old lab here too. She is a star, very deaf, a bit arthritic but a very happy girlie!

She still loves her walks, although has lots of sniff breaks and happy to plod along rather than tear around with the youngsters. She goes swimming which she loves.

She does let the young dogs get on with the games and chase etc but will come out and watch all their training as if she is supervising. In my house the dogs learn a new trick a week and she is still up for that and although less energetic, is one of the quickest dogs to learn. This week she is learning to put her blanket back in her bed. Started on Monday and now as soon as I get the clicker she gets the blanket and drags it to her bed and it is only Wednesday!

She is a PAT dog and loves going on her weekly visits to get stroked and pampered.

I do not think about the day she will not be here but know she will be the dog that lives for ever! (if only)

She has had a fantastic life, and has been an absolute delight to spend time with. I can only think of her in a positive way and am delighted that I may have some more pleasurable times with her.

I truly love the oldies, they know our ways, they seem to understand our moods more, they know how we think and what we expect of them.

It's lovely to hear some positive stories of elderly dogs!

My boy is 14 and a Staffie. He's a dopey, soppy thing - always has been. I've had him for longer than my DD!

He's been fairly healthy, with exception of a couple of mast cell tumors a few years ago. He has dome arthritis in his legs but has always been a healthy weight so the vet puts it down simply to old age. He's going blind and deaf, sleeps a lot in the day time and I think he's going a little bit senile

He has taken to getting me up at least twice during the night by barking - usually to go out for a wee or to have a drink honestly, it's like having a baby!

I can't walk him anymore but he's happy enough pottering around the garden, and tolerates our 3 cats well.

I'm dreading the day we have to say goodbye - he's part of the family - but as another poster said, it's inevitable. Sad but true

Jrt is 14 (other one is 9 so no spring chicken either) All his brown bits are grey,apart from the spot on his side.Doesnt always get all four legs under him when he gets up, walks into things and sleeps a lot.Shout walk very loudly or wave a treat in his direction and you would think he was a puppy the way he bounds about ! Will miss him but as a rescue dog who was next on the list to be put to sleep, pound wasnt full so he had two weeks grace,think hes had a good life !

Our enormous hairy shaggy beast (otterhoundX) is 13 now. We rescued him at 9 months (went for a cat but couldn't resist his huge paws) and he's given us so much love and loyalty and fun. He has hip problems, back problems, stinky breath and an ability to pick up ticks and mange like you wouldn't believe, but we adore him and I dread the day he's no longer with us. On a good day he bounds about like a puppy, all perky and pricked up ears ready for mischief. On a bad day he scrabbles around trying to get his back legs to support him and I panic The vet says he's doing Ok though and he certainly seems to thoroughly enjoy his life

We have a staffie who is 10. He doesn't seem that elderly yet as he hasn't started to put in weight or have any joint problems. He has a few grey hairs, sleeps a lot and breaks wind a lot!! I am dreading the day he leaves us especially for DD who is 3. She loves him to bits and it will break my heart when they aren't together although hopefully we have a few more years together

We have a 10 year old Rottie, recently rescued. He's very weak on his back legs unfortunately, we were warned by the rescue people that he might not be with us for very long :(, though he seems happy and well in himself. It's a shame as he's so keen to go out for walks etc, but on a bad day his legs just aren't up to it, and he struggles to even get out into the garden.

He's a lovely old boy though. We didn't want to get too attached to him, for obvious reasons, that hasn't worked though. So yes, dreading the day when we might have to make that awful decision for him :(

Epiphiny - If only there were more like you who would take on the elderly rescues. We are considering taking on another dog and I would like to rescue oldies but having trouble convincing hubby.

I have a 15 year old collie cross. She is a wee darling.
She is now partially blind(cataracts) and deaf as a post. I sometimes find her standing in the middle of the room in the dark, looking like she doesn't know how she got there.

I have to check her for signs of life each morning as she sleeps so deeply now.

Other than that she seems happy. She has bursts of liveliness, and is eating, drinking and pooping well :)

I am dreading "the day". I've had her longer thans the DCs and I know they will be devastated too :(

We have a almost 11yr old staffie!
She's great! Is very grey on her face and has grey socks :) and sleeps a lot!
When she's awake though she's like a pup, bouncing round, playing tug a war but she will suddenly get a little tired and go back to her bed.
She has put on a little weight and has a few large (ish) fatty lumps! But other than that she's fit and healthy and our little baby :)
We will be so sad when that day comes but we recon she'll be here for a good few years yet!

I have a late middle aged dog - 10 year old sheltie.

He's much like he was, still in excellent health as far as we can see and according to the vet. :)

He likes walks a little less than he did, and generally prefers a quieter life. If we go out, our 20 month old dog makes for the car and he makes for his crate .

He's a bit of a grumpy old man at times. A friend's little girl was over the other day and started hugging him rather over-affectionately. He growled. I put him straight in his crate (not for punishment, to give him peace and quiet) and he was delighted to go. Not long ago he would have tolerated the hugging no problem. A bit longer ago he would have enjoyed it.

No, I don't dread "the day". I try not to think about it; he's healthy now and so we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

My boy isn't doing to well

His back legs have become quite weak, and he keeps trying to get up, but collapsing

He's fine in himself and not in any pain, eating and drinking and happy to see people (and telling the cats off whenever he spies them) but it's horrible to see him increasingly unable to manage.

That sounds a lot like my older boy on a bad day. It's so sad to see them struggling, especially when they're well and happy enough in themselves, wanting to get on with things but the poor old legs just don't work :(