One of the most important contributions you can make to your aging dog’s quality of life is helping to keep his mind active. The canine mind, as well , as the human mind not challenged on a regular basis becomes stagnant , bored and less engaged in the world.
Include brain teasing games in your daily routine to keep his mind agile. Ask him to bring you his ball, or play hide and seek with treats you stash beneath pillows. Put his nose to use with a pungent treat. Liver and fishy treats work very well.
First show him the treat, and let him have one. Next allow him to watch you hide the treat in an obvious location-maybe in your shoe, or on the bottom of a bookshelf. “Find it” , “Find it!” Get excited when he finds it, heaping on the praise!1
Puzzle toys that dispense treats can keep your dog engaged and thinking. Clicker training at this age works rather well.
Choose a new route for your walk, which add variety , and new sights and smells to explore. Excercing his mind is one of the best gifts you can give him as he ages.
If you are trying to keep your senior dog reasonably limber, the most important thing that you can do is keep him moving.
Experts urge men as well as women , in orfer to forestall osteoporosis, to keep moving. This use it or loose it principal applies to dogs too. The typical senior tends to spend most of the day on the couch, which can accelerate her physical decline in mobility. This is because dimishef excercise accelerates bone and muscle aging. Staying sedentiray can speed up both muscle mass and bone density. This turns into a vicious cycle.
Every senior dog is unique and that uniqueness extends to his ability to engage in physical activity. You can do some things to adapt to the enviornment ;
Ramping Up- A slanted ramp will aid in getting in and out of car-no more jumping.
Stepping onto bed-Carpeted steps will aid with this
Bedding- Younger dogs don’t mind sleeping on the floor-but as they age, heat and cushioning should be the order of the day.
Stockings over elbows . This will be open to allow feet to be exposed but wil cover the elbows which may be painful
Wood Floors can cause slipping and sliding-Put rugs in as many spaces as possible.
Keep the room a little warmer of provide heating pad
Try and keep the food high enough to reach with out bending over.. Do not raise the dish if your dog is prone to bloat-this is a life threatning condition if not treated
Physical theraphy such as underwater treadmill, with pressure off the joints and legs
Older dogs , in many cases misbehave, not because they don’t know the rules, but , for many reasons, are unable to follow them.
Separation anxiety is one of the most common behaviour problems seen in older dogs. Your little guy will become anxious when he senses you are about to leave. Often this same little guy will become destructive, barks or howls, may urinate or defecate. When you do return he is exhuberant. Chico has decided to lay in front of the door when he senses that I am leaving. Then I have to go into the treat and retreat mode.
Here are some tips to assist you in leaving without the guilt associated with leaving.
1) Do not make a big deal about leaving or coming home
2) Teach your dog to relax
3) Change your departure cues ( I put my purse outside the door before leaving), such as the alarm going off-going to closet to get your shoes or coat
4) Associate your departure with something good. Give your dog a Kong filled with treats, or some other treat that will make him work-and not notice as you head for the door
5) Break up your dogs day-if you will be gone all day-consider day care-perhaps not five days, but two or three days a week. Or you might consider a mid day dog walker
6) Crate your dogs-Dogs feel safe and covered
7) Lastly, as a last ditch effort-if all else has failed-you might look into drugs, such as Clomicalm. Just know that medication is not enough to alleviate the problem.
Bulldogs are determined, persistent, and do not give up easily. People who own bull dogs are said to be silly and love to laugh, but can be viewed as stubborn at times. They are extremely efficient and methodical in completing jobs. Bull dogs are gentle. Owners tend to be hopeless romantics with sentimental streaks.
Cocker Spaniel
Cocker Spaniels are sweet, respectful and gentle. Owners of this breed are charming, trustworthy and affectionate. Cocker spaniels are said to lead busy lives, but put family first.They maintain a group of close friends, which they prefer to meeting strangers.
Sight Hound Group
Owners of these breeds tend to be more relaxed, calm and introverted. Sight hounds enjoy the company of close friends and prefer outings with small groups. They are highly organized, curious and always alert. People who own sight hounds are fast and agile and often excel in sports, especially track and field.
Rottweilers
Rotweilers are determined and are often described as intense. This breeds commands a a certain amount of respect. Rottweilers person tends to be confident, loyal and devoted to their friends and loved ones. They are laid back and quick to react if smeone rubs them the wrong way.
Pugs
Pugs are often viewed as the class clown. People who live with pugs are cheerful and have a zest for living life to the fullest. Pugs owners enjoy a day at the spa and a massage often.
Labradors and Golden Retrievers
Labs and golden retrievers are friendly, good natured and make wonderful family pets. Owners of these breeds put family firt and said to be easy going and carefree. Labs and goldens should have active lifestyles and love the outdoors. Ths can be said of owners of these guys at well. These breeds are social butterflies who are honest and lovable.
Great Danes
Owners of this breed are good-hearted and responsible. They tend to work hard and put one hundred percent into whatever they do. Great Dane owners stay up on news , and current events. They welcome a good debate.
For additional breeds go to www.seniordog playbook/facebook
Pit Bulls
Pit Bulls have a strong desire to please and will do anything for thier family and friends. Pit bulls owners are courageous, full of vitality and are constanly looking out for those they love. They enjoy being around children. There is no better baby sitter.
Bichon Frises
People who won BIchon Frises enjoy being pampered and are considerate of their appearance. They are naturally sociable and happiest when they are part of a family or friends.
One of the truly most painfully heartbreaking things that’s almost unbearable to watch is to see your older dog go. As your senior pet approaches old age, you will notice several changes. They’re not as agile as before, or not as upbeat and sweet. There’s also a strong likelihood that they are suffering from Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS). Characterized by a deterioration of cognitive function in dogs, CDS is commonly known as Alzheimer’s disease for dogs.
1. Your senior dog may start forgetting certain tricks.
Sometimes, old age in your dogs will make them forget certain basic commands that they used to master, such as sitting down. When this happens, you have to be completely understanding and try not to scold them.
2. Your old buddy might wander and walk around.
Your dog will sometimes wake up in the middle of the night and wander around the home, bumping on furniture as they go along. Their reactions will vary: panic, distress, and sometimes, they will simply find their way back.
3. Your dog will have a totally changed routine.
From their eating schedule to their sleeping time, older dogs might totally change their habits throughout the day. If this happens, help your dog adjust to the new lifestyle and, if you can, help them get back to their normal routine.
Problem Behavior In Older Dogs
4. OUTSIDE INSIDE DEBATE
Some dogs may even forget why they are sent outside. While before they would go out and do their business right away, now they will sniff around and ask back in wondering why they were out in the first place. Just as some dogs forget about going outside some dogs forget as well their name or that they already ate.
5. WHO ARE YOU?
Some dogs may even forget who their owner is and may growl or act unusually timid. At other times they may have moments of seeming to remember. This may be very heartbreaking for the owner even because the pet may appear not interested anymore in playing or being pet. (Read more here)
CDS is a challenge for both you and your dog. There are several things that you can do to deal with this condition. For one, you can take your pet out more often, and show compassion and affection more than you usually do. Also, try to make a new routine and stick to it. Wearing doggie diapers might also be necessary. It might also be time for you to place baby gates and have your pet wear doggie diapers. Lastly, hang in there! It’s going to be a bumpy ride, but it will be well worth it.
How do you deal with aging in dogs? Uninformed pet owners view it as an illness that can only be dealt with through euthanasia. In a book entitled Good Old Dog: Expert Advice for Keeping Your Aging Dog Healthy, Happy and Comfortable, the authors Dr. Nicholas Dodman and Lawrence Linder talks about how to navigate an often misunderstood stage in a dog’s life: advanced age.
One of the first things you need to know is that older dogs are more sensitive to temperature changes. As their metabolism rates change, they are more prone to experiencing heat or freezing bouts. The capability of their bodies to thermoregulate will decrease as they age, so you don’t want to leave them out in the yard during a hot summer day.
Exercise is another important issues that needs to be address, lest their heart and lung function deteriorate. You also have to watch out for senior diet sold in grocery stores, as they may not be as healthy as they claim to be. To ensure the safety of your dog, check with your veterinarian first before introducing a new diet to your senior dog.
How do you deal with aging in dogs
Another concern for many owners, says Dodman, is what to do when their pet gets a terminal disease. Cancer kills 500,000 dogs a year in the United States and affects half of all dogs older than 10 years.
But deciding whether or not to treat cancer aggressively is difficult for many pet owners, says Dodman, because there are so many things to consider: the cost of treatment, a pet’s quality of life after treatment, whether the treatment is painful and how long a dog’s life can be extended.
“If, for example, you had a relatively noninvasive procedure that wasn’t going to cause your dog a lot of pain, and it was going to buy him an extra six months and you could afford that treatment — and those six months were quality life — then why not, if you can afford it?” he says. “But, on the other hand, just to drag out an existence. … Some people, I have known in the past … have done that. Owners, with cooperating vets, have just gone step after step after step, when really, you’re on a highway to nowhere. If the dog is in chronic pain and doesn’t have long to go, sometimes I question the wisdom of that approach.” (Read more here)
But what about declining cognitive functioning, the equivalent of Alzheimer’s in humans? This illness is not quite as easy to detect, and you might need the expert opinion of a veterinarian for it. In the unfortunate circumstance that your old buddy ends up having this condition, it’s no reason to let go just yet. Ask your vet about your options, so you can make an informed decision.
At the end of the day, your dog’s advanced age is yet another adventure for you and your buddy to go through together. Will you give up now that your fur baby needs you the most?
This video is from a normal, every day kind of ‘dog whisperer’ and talks about how older dogs can sometimes seem to have a hard time letting you know how they feel since they physically are not the same as they once were. When they were younger, they could easily wag their tail or hop around to let you know they were happy. They could get low to the ground or skulk behind furniture if they knew they had done something you didn’t like etc. But when they are older, they cannot give these clues…so you might need to see about tuning in to their energy or emotions a bit more. This will help you to maintain a connection with your loving old friend and assist you in helping them when they really need it. Be sure to touch them as shown and to spend a little quiet time with them so that you can try to see if you can feel what they are feeling.
Changes in senior dog’s behavior, and what you can do
Is your old buddy acting in a strange and uncharacteristic manner? Old age can result in a lot of changes in senior dog’s behavior, as in humans. You have to pay attention to these changes early on, so you can make the necessary changes and allow your beloved pet to live a happy and full life.
One of the first senses to decline are your dog’s sensory or cognitive functions. Your dog will not be able to hear high-pitched sounds like before, so you might want to use your lower tone. You might also need to learn hand signals, which older dogs can fortunately learn easily.
Your dog’s mental functioning will decline at around six years. If your dog won’t turn six in a while, you might want to counteract the ill effects of aging on your dog’s mental health by feeding them foods that are rich in antioxidants and providing them a safe and socially healthy environment.
Physical decline is inevitable at your dog’s old age. Sure, they won’t be able to run and jump around but that shouldn’t stop you from playing with your old buddy. Exercise is still possible by playing small and fun games with your dog—like hiding treats in familiar areas and taking them on rides in your car.
Changes in senior dog’s behavior, and what you can do
If you find your older dog walking around aimlessly, pacing back and forth, barking randomly, or standing in a corner looking like he’s stuck, he may be suffering from cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS). With CDS, the dog forgets he’s house-trained, or gets stuck behind furniture, or stares into a room as if he’s forgotten where he is, or barks for no apparent reason, or fails to recognize familiar people, or paces around, especially in the evening. In one study, two-thirds of dogs between 11 and 16 years of age showed at least one sign of CDS, and in another, almost half of dogs over the age of 8 years.
The brains of dogs with CDS show similar, but not identical, changes as those seen in human Alzheimer patients. These include deposits of beta-amyloid and the formation of plaques in the brain
Where indicated, your veterinarian can prescribe medication that can control the signs of CDS in many dogs. After a month of daily treatment, about 75 percent of dog owners report improvement in at least one sign of CDS in their dogs. About one third showed dramatic improvement, one third showed mild improvement, and one third showed little to no improvement. (Read More Here)
At its worst, advancement in age can result in some physical problems, like loss of sphincter control and urinary incontinence. These are problems not caused by CDS alone, and may be related to hormonal problems, diabetes or kidney disease. However, they are fully treatable—ask your veterinarian for drug therapy. You also ought to use urine puppy training pads, and rinse-free shampoo.
Through all the changes that your older buddy is going through, the most important lesson of all, of course, is to treat your beloved pet with respect and compassion. This is, after all, the time when your dog will need you the most.
