Elderly dog club

[Random789]

Is there a long-running thread where people share tips, questions, etc. about living with an elderly dog?

Probably the biggest concern I have at the moment is this paradox: As my terrier (15.5 yo) becomes older and slower I find it harder, not easier, to give him enough exercise. When he was lithe and fast and vigorous we strode together across the countryside for hours and it worked well for both of us. These days, I think he would very happily be out for just as long as before but what he wants to do is stroll for a few yards then investigate a smell immensely throughly for minutes on end, then stroll another few yards ... .

Obviously I'm completely committed to spending time letting him do just that - it's part of his retirement package. But I get nothing out of it. Shuffling slowly about makes me feel really tense, whereas in the past our speedy hiking relaxed me and kept me fit. As a result I know I am short-changing him a bit. I think he should probably have three or more short-to-medium strolls a day to help keep his joints flexible and strong. But he gets one decent-ish walk and one tiny walk that is little more than a toileting opportunity.

I need to make myself do better, and I guess I'm looking for ways to make the walk more fun for both of us (especially me). And I need to find lots of little ways to keep him moving and stimulated at home, too.

Other items for consideration by Elderly Dog Club:

1. How do you minimise the steep cognitive decline associated with your dog becoming profoundly deaf? He seems to be falling into a slightly confused world of his own. And when should I stop letting him off the lead altogether for fear of him becoming confused and bolting off in the wrong direction? We've had a few 'senior moments' on walks when I've had to sprint after him cos he's darted off the wrong way.

1. Creeping incontinence. The poor soul does his best -- he's always been very fastidious. But he is having accidents now and so far I've not been able to teach him to use the puppy pads we put out for him at night.

Hi, we have an elderly rottie x, probably about 16 (rescued so not sure of age/start in life). Deaf, going blind, back legs failing and in the last week or so off her food, but will still lick plates and stuff in the dishwasher! No real interactive though will still bark as school children passing the window! Have had lots of pets and sad to say have had a lot put to sleep but just think it too soon still. Keep trying different food (dog and human) in different bowls but just little interest and we need to get her meloxaid into her. Vet no help just suggested tests and we really don't what to start down that route. Any suggestions?

@Roystonv
If it’s liquid meds I use a syringe and just put down the back of her throat that way I know it’s in, tablets I have a pill launcher; similar idea, no wasted meds here 😁
My decision that its the end is if they’re not eating, struggling to walk and generally low in mood, I always stick with better a day early than a day too late, I’ll never watch them deteriorate into misery to save my feelings. We had to let our mastiff go in June at age 7, he was crippled with arthritis due to an injury from before we adopted him, it was awful but I was not going to see the light go from his eyes with the further loss of mobility, he had 6 years of love and living well and I miss him every day.

Thank you. Yes will have to resort to giving by mouth but it does make her miserable. Oh I agree with you, it is just that with others there has been a point where you knew you were doing the right thing and this time I just can't quite call it. Have cooked rice and got some leftover chicken for her tonight so will see what she thinks of that. Just hand fed her some corned beef which she ate but she was meh about it. Vet says mouth/teeth fine but I wonder.

I think if she’s struggling to walk and eat and is miserable then her quality of life is very poor and it’s time to let her go, 16 is a fantastic age for a rottie, the oldest I’ve known myself is 12/13.

Wishing you and your Rottweiler all the best @Roystonv
Great thread, just what I was hoping for with lots of advice. I have a nearly 11 year old lab cross with osteoarthritis. I wondered if anyone else had noticed a deterioration in their elderly dog with the change in the weather? We live in the south east and it’s only just turned wet and cold and he’s been struggling. I’m going to investigate Riaflex; he’s on Hills J/D food. I’ve never heard of belly bands before so had to google them - he is a little incontinent following an illness earlier in the year. Has anyone found the bands helpful? Thanks!

I have a 14 year old Lhasa Apso. Various issues, pretty deaf and failing eyesight, I sometimes find him wandering into a room and looking like he's no clue why he's there (I can sympathise actually ). Barks randomly, slowing down lots.

He still goes for short walks but he's very slow now and I've bought one of those pet prams so that he can still get out and about with us on a long walk but when he's tired he goes in the pram, then he gets out for a bit etc etc. Okay I look a bit of a plonker pushing him but honestly it's been one if the best things I've bought, he loves it and actually it's been really good exercise for me too pushing the little lump 😃.

He still enjoys his food, no accidents yet. I reckon there's still a little bit of life left in him. I'm dreading the day he goes 😭

Roystonv t’s so hard knowing ‘when’ as they are nearing the end, but having just been through a truly awful experience when my younger dog died at home (he was seriously ill and on palliative care only, but the way it happened was unexpected and still a shock) I would now be even more set on the ‘better a day early’ thing. There was a point a couple of weeks before we lost our boy when we decided it was time and actually called the vets, but they told us we would wouldn’t be able to be with him at the end and would have to leave him with them and we couldn’t do that to him. Thankfully he then rallied, so his last couple of weeks were a peaceful, relaxed time for him. There was no way I could have left him with strangers at the vets, no matter how lovely they would have been with him, but given the choice, with what we experienced at the end, I would rather have let him go earlier had it not been for lockdown and the restrictions at the vets.

@Chunkychipsohyeah the colder, wetter weather definitely has a negative effect, on my joints, as well as the dog’s. We’ve found that he now likes to be tucked up under a blanket on cold days, even though it’s not cold in the house, I think because it keep his joints warmer. He’s always been the type of dog that runs hot and will lie on the floor and in draughts (whereas our other, more typically sighthoundy Lurcher, was a complete wuss and always wanted to be tucked up and wear his fleece) but definitely prefers to be kept warm and draught free these days. Today he’s been snuggled up on a memory foam bed, with two double fleece blankets under and one tucked over him. I’d swear he was actually smiling in a blissed out ‘soooo comfy’ sort of a way.

@Tanfastic, he might benefit from Aktivait to help the vagueness and random barking. I wasn’t at all convinced, but decided to give it a go for my boy and it’s definitely made a difference. He’s far more himself and less vague and odd and back to sleeping well, rather than wandering around in the middle of the night. As I said upthread, some of that might be due to the improvement in his pain levels as well, but he’s definitely sharper cognitively since he’s been on it.

I think the pet prams are great for dogs that need them, if it means the difference between being able to get out and have some stimulation and interaction with the world or having to miss out, then it’s definitely worth it.

Thank you for your good wishes, she has enjoyed the meals I have been preparing - chicken, salmon and it means she gets her meds in a non stressful way. Dd is a vet nurse and as said I fully agree with sooner rather than later so we review each day.

Coming from another golden oldie owner here, top tip for icontinence is to use a reusable (washable) pad rather than a traditional puppy pad. They always feel a little flimsy and crackle a bit and our oldie didn’t like them but took to the pads very well.

Vetfleece Inconti-Pet Absorbent Puppy/Kitten Training Pads, 90 x 75 cm, Large, Pack of 1 amazon.co.uk/dp/B019E53N00/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_qdyEFbJ2YASKJ]]

I’ve often found that tinned sardines will get them to eat if they’re refusing most other things.

Lovely thread. I currently have two thirteen year olds but I lost two others last year, a twelve year old who lived happily for two years after a diagnosis of inoperable cancer that the vet had predicted would just give him an extra few weeks, not even months. The other lived to two weeks short of her twentieth birthday. She had lost some sight & was very deaf but happy & fit otherwise. We have a very big garden, bit of a jungle in places, which she used to potter round rather than going for actual walks. If she lost her bearings she would stand stock still & bark for me to come & find her.
Interesting to read of the supplements you use, one of mine has arthr in her shoulders. I’ve been using Jointsure ( fairy dust which I’m not sure is making much difference & she’s on rymadil from the vet.

Meant arthritis of course, bad typing, sorry, & yes the weather does make a difference as I find too as I have it.

My boy has definitely decided this weekend is for hunkering down and snuggling up. Dd built a cocoon around him with blankets, then tucked another over him and he’s looked so snuggly and comfortable in his bed today that I’ve actually been quite jealous!

He’s just gone out for a trundle round the park between rainstorms with dh and the dcs. I still find it really odd being home alone when they take him, as I was so used to having my poorly dog still with me (he wasn’t allowed walks due to being immune suppressed). Our house is tiny, but suddenly feels very big and quiet when they all go out.

He doesn’t feel the rain as he has the thick Deerhound type coat, which water either runs off or sits on, rather than soaking him, but he’s definitely feeling the cold in his joints these days. Debating whether or not to buy him a coat before the really cold/winter weather sets in, but not sure if it will be of any help to him - or if he’d be happy to wear one.

@Roystonv so pleased to hear she is eating and enjoying her food again.

When my boy was really poorly we bought frozen portions of wild salmon steak from the freezer section in Tesco and microwave steamed those. So quick and easy, which was helpful, as he was on 6 meals a day. When he couldn’t tolerate anything else we bought their frozen white fish fillets and did the same. I find fish often seems to encourage them to eat, I assume because it’s so stinky.

Before he had to be fat free we used to buy soft pasteurised goat’s cheese, as it’s stinky enough to be interesting and so sticky they struggle to separate the pill from the cheese and spit it out. I used to drop a couple of blobs into his food, one of which had his pill in and he never seemed to notice the pill.

Just to let you all know we said goodbye to our sweetheart today. Hope she is having happy pain free romps. Sad times. Thank you for your help.

I'm sorry for your loss @Roystonv

Oh Roystonv I am so sorry. She was a very lucky girl to have such a lovely family taking care of her and surrounding her with love in her old age.

Run free girl, out of pain and forever young now.

Sending lots of love and light to you and your family. x

@Roystonv
Your girl had a life of love and I’m sure lived well once you adopted her.
Rest easy beautiful girl 🐾🌈

I am so sorry @Roystonv I know my babies will meet her on the rainbow bridge and show her where all the good treats and best snoozing spots are x

Such lovely messages, thank you.

I’m really sorry to hear that you’ve lost her, it’s hard, takes ages till you can remember without crying. Thinking of you

Oh Roystonv I am so sorry. It is a diffcult time and such a big loss Look after yourself.

Roystonov, I am so sorry for your loss. Be kind to yourself.

So sorry @Roystonv

I'm pleased to find this thread as I also have an old boy and starting to wonder if there are things we could be doing to help him. Reading with interest, thank you

My Jack Russell is 15, and has certainly slowed down on walks, just wanting to sniff and explore, with the odd energetic spurt downhill! I also have another much younger dog so we do walks together with the older one, and some bigger ones without him.
But can anyone shed any light on this - Sometimes he coughs (more clearing his throat, probably after licking floor or dog bed) but after the few coughs he will have a strange little episode where he is shaky and wobbly and sometimes even falls over with no strength in back legs. Seems disoriented for a few seconds and then carries on life as normal. In every other way he is completely fine. Does anyone else have experience of this, and is this just something that happens towards the end of life? Or is there something we could do for him?