Category: Challenges With Adoption

Challenges With Adoption

7 reasons why you should consider senior dogs for adoption

7 reasons why you should consider senior dogs for adoption
7 reasons why you should consider senior dogs for adoption

They may be past their prime, but don’t write them off just yet. Senior pets have a few qualities that merit every loving pet owner’s attention, and some of them are outline below.

1. Senior dogs need a home. And they need it fast. Unlike younger, more agile puppies, the time of senior dogs are about to pass. Can you pass up the opportunity of feeling loved by them.

2. You may end up saving their lives. Most senior dogs that are not adopted end up getting euthanized once they hit the age of five. Adopting a senior dog may very well save a life.

7 reasons why you should consider senior dogs for adoption

3. Older dogs are not necessarily “problem dogs” as many tend to think. Senior dogs lose their homes for a variety of reasons, usually having nothing to do with their behavior or temperament, but more due to the fact that their owners are unable to keep them for reasons including: the novelty of owning a dog wearing off, allergies, death of a guardian, a new baby, loss of a job, a move, change in work schedule, and various other lifestyle changes. These dogs need homes just as badly as young adoptees do, and make wonderful household pets.

4. Older dogs usually come trained and understand at least basic commands. Most older dogs are potty-trained and have mastered the basic commands such as “sit,” “stay,” “come,” and “down.” Adopting an already-trained dog will save you a lot of time and energy that you’d normally have to dedicate towards training a young dog.  (Read more here)

5. Older dogs may very well know new tricks. At their ripe age, older dogs are smart enough and have an attention span that make them easier to train.

6. Senior dogs have a calmer disposition. Do you find yourself running out of breath trying to catch up with a puppy? Then a senior dog is probably for you. Their lower energy level means that you don’t have to spend your waking time running after them.

7. Older dogs are great companions. Unlike puppies that will take a while before they warm up to you, adult dogs are loyal in an instant. They are your loyal partner from the start and you will bond with them much faster.

These reasons, and so many more, are exactly why senior dogs are starting to grow on pet owners. If you haven’t considered getting one yet, perhaps it’s time to seriously start thinking of adopting a senior dog.

Why Adopting a Senior Dog is the Best Decision You’ll Make

Why Adopting a Senior Dog is the Best Decision You’ll Make
Why Adopting a Senior Dog is the Best Decision You’ll Make

For those who are looking to visit the dog shelter, adopting a senior dog might be out of the question. Why would you adopt an older dog when you can go for hyperactive puppies or energetic middle-aged dogs? However, if you’re looking for a dog that’s a lot easier to train and will love you dearly (among plenty of other reasons), a senior dog might be a perfect fit for you.

Training a puppy takes a lot of time and effort. If you simply don’t have either, you might want to go for a senior dog. Most older dogs are already crate-trained or house-trained. They already understand basic commands. Believe me: that will save you a lot of time trying to get your dog to obey you — time that you can use for bonding with your older buddy instead!

Why Adopting a Senior Dog is the Best Decision You’ll Make

How much energy do you want in your house?

Puppies and adult dogs have varying degrees of energy, but overall they’re pretty lively. On the other hand, senior dogs have mellowed out and won’t pester you every waking moment to play ball. These dogs are content just to have a home and someone to scratch their ears.

Are you extremely active?

If you’re looking for a jogging partner or a pet to take on the family hikes, you probably want a middle-aged, energetic dog. Older dogs still need exercise, but a walk around the block every day or throwing the ball a few times will cut it. Puppies require constant physical activity, whether it’s with toys or tussling. (More here)

Another consideration is if you have children. Some older dogs get easily irritated by the rabid noise of smaller children, while others are willing to have their tails get pulled by little kids all the time. In any case, the kids must meet the dog before they go home.

You also need to take note of regularly visiting the vet. You might also want  to get health insurance, which will cover most of the medical costs.

Getting a senior dog really isn’t any different from adopting a younger dog. What matters most in the end is how much you want to bring a loving, loyal, and caring dog to your home. All three can be provided by a senior dog.

Helping Your Dog With His Arthritis

It can be hard to see your dog in pain from arthritis
It can be hard to see your dog in pain from arthritis

There are several causes of arthritis in dogs. It may be caused by misaligned joints when the dog was born or by an unfortunate accident. As I mentioned before, it may also be the normal wear and tear of joints as your dog advances in age. Whatever the cause is, the pain and suffering usually will not be apparent until your dog grows old. At this point, you should immediately seek senior dog arthritis treatment.

There are several treatment options available for a dog suffering from arthritis, but it’s first important what happens to your beloved pet dog with arthritis. Unfortunately, not a lot of studies have been conducted explaining this. What we do know is that there’s not much difference between how humans’ and dogs’ joints deteriorate over time.

Arthritis is known to be difficult to detect in older dogs, but it’s even harder to identify if your dog is large. Dogs of large breed tend to resist pain, and won’t manifest their pain until it’s quite severe. The same problem holds true for overweight dogs, because it can be difficult if their pain is caused by their condition or arthritis. This is precisely why going to the vet is even more necessary if your dog is either of the two.

Helping Your Dog With His Arthritis

Your veterinarian has learned to be a very good judge of the subtle signs that dogs give to tell us that they are in pain. It may be just a worried look in their eyes when the veterinarian overly flexes their joints. Or you pet may withdraw its leg, or even growl or snap. You veterinarian will probably ask you to lead your pet around the examination room so he/she can observe its gait and locomotion. Over their career, vets get very good at that. The veterinarian may notice that the major muscle masses of your pet’s legs and spine have shrunken (atrophied) due to disuse. Your pet may wince when areas of it spine are palpated.

But the key tests your veterinarian will perform are x-rays. Depending on how subtle the changes are, it may take more than a single x-ray film. X-rays of advanced arthritic joints are very distinctive. If you look at the hip and spinal photos of Hannah, at the top of this page, you can understand the changes your vet will see. Most veterinarians will set these x-rays up in the exam room and point out to you the important bone changes that they are seeing. (Read more Here)

Once the vet determines that your older dog suffers from Arthritis, he will make sure that your dog doesn’t suffer from any other health problems that will make the condition worse, such as hypothyroidism, Cushing’s diseases, and diabetes.

Do not administer any drugs to your dog, unless the vet says so. The traditional medication for arthritis is Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs, or NSAIDS, although it’s not as simple as just feeding it to your dog. NSAIDS can have serious side effects, especially to your dog’s digestive tract. Your dog might have diarrhea, characterized by dark-colored stool or worse, develop kidney problems.

There are several NSAIDs, but you should only choose the brand that your vet prescribes to you. Carefully follow the instructions of the vet regarding when to administer the drug, and what should be done before or after it. Observe any changes your dog might be going through before or after taking the NSAIDs. Most importantly, just let your dog feel that you’re there, and everything will turn out fine.

Mature Works! Adopting a Older Dog

Older dogs rock!
Older dogs rock!

When people are considering adopting a dog from a shelter, they often only want to consider adopting a puppy or younger dog.  Sometimes the perception is that there must be something wrong with older dogs.  I mean, if they were great dogs, the owners would have kept them, right?  That’s not quite the case.  Shelters are often full of older dogs based on issues that the people were having and not because of any illness or behavior problems presented by the dog.

Mature Works! Adopting a Older Dog

Older dogs lose their homes for many different reasons….most of them having nothing to do with problems the dog has, but rather with those of the person or family surrendering the dog. Many folks think dogs who end up at shelters or in rescue are all genetically and behaviorally inferior. But, it is not uncommon for very expensive, well-bred, well-trained dogs to outlive their usefulness or novelty with folks who bought them on impulse and no longer want to take responsibility for them.

Other reasons older dogs become homeless: death of a guardian….not enough time for the dog…… change in work schedule….. new baby…..need to move to a place where dogs are not allowed…. kids going off to college…. allergies…. change in “lifestyle”…. prospective spouse doesn’t like dogs. (All these reasons are taken from real case histories.)  (Read more)

Some of the advantages of adopting an older dog are that they often have already been trained.  Sometimes this training is quite extensive, more often, they are at least house trained already and understand what “no” means and what should and should not be chewed on in the home!  They are already socialized and usually deal well with kids, other dogs and other pets.  You will still want to get a report on the dog’s general health from the vet, but you get to start with an instant friend and companion.

Not only these reasons, but adopting a mature, older dog can show a respect for age and keep the horrid puppy mills from getting your money to further their practices.  Respect for dogs and the current problem with so many being put down because there is simply not enough homes for them all should also help with your decision.  Do the responsible thing…do the loving and amazing thing of welcoming an older dog into your home.  The rewards will outweigh any risk!