Tips for keeping an old man comfortable?

[GhostsInSnow]

Just come back from a rush to the vets with Bob. Had a horrible morning, he came in from the garden and promptly lost footing with his back legs. He wouldn't settle and was struggling to walk (our wooden floors didn't help)

Bob is 13 and a half (the half matters ) he's a bit blind in one eye and stone deaf. His breath stinks, his coat gets greasy quickly and he's quite lazy. All things to be expected at his age.
The vet has examined him and said he has muscle wastage on his back legs due to arthritis, a heart murmur, emphysema and his bladder is a bit on the large side, which may or may not be anything sinister but at his age they are reluctant to put him through any procedures unless I specifically want it (which I don't)
He's been prescribed Tramadol for now and arrived home and promptly had a mad 5 (albeit a slower mad 5 than usual).

I know we are at the beginning of the end with the old guy, and should he show any signs of pain then I will let him go, but for now he's happy to stretch out with me on the sofa and plod on.

I've ordered him some gripper socks to help with the floors (currently have rugs scattered everywhere to help him, my entire home looks like an explosion in Ikea's textile dept).

I lost my other dog at 9 to Liver Disease so this is my first experience in trying to keep an old man happy in his twilight years. Does anyone have any tips for me?

[GhostsInSnow]

Aww larl poor boy. Glad he's found a happy forever home though! He can be forgiven for being a bit grumpy I think.

Bob has always been quite happy to wear things (much to DH's annoyance hehe). I have a lovely photo of him somewhere in a Hawaiian shirt lazing in the sun on the deck. He's quite laid back. Thats why I know he'll happily wear these gripper socks when they arrive which I'm hoping will be tomorrow because I'll break my neck on all these carpet offcuts before long

[larlemucker]

Aww bless!! Would love to dress our dog up but he would probably have my hand off for trying! He has 'issues' and a nasty past (rescue doggy)

[GhostsInSnow]

EvenBetter
He's being royally spoiled and loved lots, not that he wasn't before but he's certainly getting a lot more titbits
I'm fortunate being a SAHM I can devote lots of time to him so he always has company.
He's not had any more wee accidents so I'm not too worried about that now. It will be interesting to see if his bladder is still swollen when we go back to the vets.

larlemucker
The house is always warm, and I'm moving his heatpad between sofa and bed so he isn't cold inside, outside he has a lovely snuggly parka (with hood) to keep him toasty He'll mostly be wearing a Dracula halloween costume tomorrow though hehe

[larlemucker]

Now it's getting cold have you thought about getting him some jumpers from equafleece? Our very poorly yorkie lived in his, they are fab. Really snuggly and repel water

[EvenBetter]

All these posts are so relatable, we lost our 14.4 year old superstar in September very very very quickly. She'd had lumps, a heart murmur and a failing back end, I too had mats all over the house! And wee rubber booties and all manner of things to try and help her not slide about but all that helped was us scooping her upright again and helping her on steps etc. she was on glucosamine.

She'd got incontinent towards the end (poo) it must have been because of her back end plus the fact she couldn't squat normally long enough to go to the toilet normally. She hated the vets passionately, and we knew they'd just be itching to knock her out for tests and charge us for the pleasure (our vets are bastards). She was on heart medication and wasn't in pain (until her last few hours) so we simply did our best to care for her.
She was never alone
She got extra extra cuddles on demand
We let her do whatever she wanted.
You could get puppy training pads to put under his bum when he's lying down?

Just cherish him while you still have him. You sound like you're doing a good job.

[GhostsInSnow]

Twooter thats something to bear in mind, thanks. He's not insured anymore as the costs at his age were becoming astronomical. I saved that money for treatment instead so he has money to one side should we need it. I've been really fortunate with him actually, I can count on one hand how many vet trips we've had in 13 years (vaccinations aside) and those have never amounted to more than antibiotics or ear drops. He's been an incredibly hardy little dog.

Yesterday was like having a different dog. He was bouncy, following me around etc. I decided to drop the Tramadol down to one a day initially and see how he goes with that. I'd said to DH if he seemed stiff/sore this morning then I'd put him back on his nightly tablet as well.
I normally go in to him and have to prod him awake (deaf as a post you see), went in this morning and he was up and waiting for me, tail wagging. No sign of stiffness etc. He came into the living room and jumped on the sofa, something he's been incapable of for at least the last 6 months. He's had his morning Tramadol now along with a cod liver oil and a glucosamine and is having a little snooze on 'his end' of the sofa...

sleepy

So for now he's comfortable on one a day so there is scope to up his dosage later. I don't know what went wrong on Monday, whether it be the cold or he was just having a bad day but he's sprightlier now than he's been in a very long time.

[Twooter]

May be worth trying to find a veterinary acupuncturist - doesn't work for all dogs, but I've seen enough that have had a big improvement to think it is always worth trying for old arthritic dogs. Insurance companies will usually pay for it as well.

[GhostsInSnow]

He seems a lot happier today, a lot more willing to move and weight bear. He had a dry night so I'm wondering if he did have a bit of a bladder infection.

He made me laugh last night, until the last 6 months his most favourite place in the world was perched on the back of the sofa because A)It was above the radiator so was warm and B)He could see out of the window if he turns around. He stopped jumping up there. Of course now I realise it was because he simply couldn't jump up there with the pain.
DD was sat with me last night when he suddenly scrambled up into position, curled up like this and fell fast asleep...

Tinypic link

I'm hoping the painkillers have made that small difference for him and he'll continue to surprise me

[GhostsInSnow]

daisy I'm so sorry about your girl, I prayed for cushings when Jack became ill because I knew that was controllable, sadly he had copper storage syndrome and there was no cure for that.

strumpertron I bought him an igloo bed last year which he loves. He can skulk off into it if needs be but mostly he loves the corner of the sofa. The kids are grown so there isn't anyone to bother him really. He has his bagpuss who goes everywhere with him and has done since he was a pup.

running she sounds just like Bob, the vet said this morning if he's sleepy let me know and ill lower the dose. I said I'd be more worried if he wasn't sleepy

mitchelmum thank you :) So sorry about your dog too, after Jack I became versed in liver cancer, such a horrible thing and so sad to watch.

He's a bit brighter. I have him a warm bath earlier in the hope that it might ease him a bit and help with his greasy fur. It seemed to perk him up a bit and he's been stalking me for carrots in the kitchen just (he may have had a few......)
Now he's snoring again on a warm hot water bottle. I've ordered him a heat pad as well for extra comfort. He's been having the odd wee accident over the last few weeks as well, which I can't be sure if it is related to the bladder or because he can't get to the door as quick. Poor love looks so guilty when he does it, have to reassure him its ok.

I was thinking of trying a little glucosamine and some cod liver oil as well to maybe give him a boost.

It's so difficult isn't it? He doesn't look old, in fact oddly I found a photo of him with DD last week as a pup, DD would have been about 2 and a half (she's 16 now) and Bob doesn't look any different at all! His ears never came up (he was the runt, funny story, he sort of chose us) so he has that eternal puppy look and its easy to forget just how old he is.

I've had a good cry, some snuggles, given him more treats than usual and I'm resigned to taking every day as it comes now.

[daisy5569]

I was in the same place with my old girl recently, she was 15 1/2 and my house had many aids to help her, old sofa cushions so she could get onto new sofa, and my bed, she only had little legs being a jack russell.

She also had a heart murmur (had it for years) was a bit stiff on her legs, so had metacam now and then, was covered in warts which sometimes she knocked so they bled, but she was a happy little thing and enjoyed her life, she passed away at home just over a month ago and apart from the morning that she died I didn't worry about her, she was just her usual happy self.

I now have an old boy who is nearly 15, with cushings disease, and who sleeps an awful lot too but who also loves his walks and has a tantrum if he doesn't go out at least once a day.

I think you are doing the right thing, give him lots of love and cuddles, and these old dogs still have their moments, my old boy really surprises me some days with the energy he has... sending Bob (and you!) lots of love

[Strumpetron]

Make sure he has somewhere he can go for alone time, is there anywhere he usually favours? If so shove an old blanket and some soft toys there for his comfort.

An obvious one but you just being there will mean the world to him, lots of cuddle time, sneaking treats and stuff.

Think it's lovely you've bothered to make this topic by the way.

[runningonwillpower]

I'm in the same boat with our old girl. She's not in pain, she's just fading away.

Our decision is that she can do pretty much as she pleases in her wind down time. Truth is, she pretty much pleases to sleep.

Until or unless she shows signs of distress, we're just treating her like the old lady she is. With respect and not a little sadness for the lively girl she was not that long ago.

Love him while you can!

[1MitchellMum]

I think you're doing it! Letting him dictate the pace of life - sometimes he may want to walk, sometimes he may not. If the vet talks about Tramadol causing liver damage then don't panic. My boy has been on it for a few years now without any adverse effect (and I wouldn't take him off it now as he's already an old boy). I would give my boy whatever pain relief is needed. Your fella may get colder now so may need a coat (or the central heating on!) but most of all he needs your love, which clearly he's getting. I also lost my first dog to liver cancer, at 10 years old. Hope your fella keeps enjoying life for a while longer yet.