June 2010
Frequent grooming is essential for senior dogs. Brushing improves circulation, skin condition, and helps keep the coat shiny and tangle-free. While grooming, examine your dog from nose to tail... checking for lumps, bumps, rashes and sores... to find any new abnormalities early. You and your dog will both benefit from the touching, attention, and quiet time together.
Trim nails regularly. Since older dogs don’t run and play as much as they used to, their nails won’t wear down naturally and will need more frequent trimming. Well trimmed nails make walking easier, especially on slippery surfaces.
Provide a soft, comfortable, well padded bed. You may want to invest in an orthopedic bed, specially designed to ease pressure on aching bones and painful joints. Have a bed or comfortable area for resting and sleeping in a quiet area on every level of your home. This will also reduce strenuous stair climbing
When you travel and can't take your dog with you, instead of taking him to a boarding kennel, ask a trusted friend to pet sit or hire a professional pet sitter. Familiar surroundings to eat, sleep, and exercise reduce stress.
If your senior dog has impaired vision, don’t rearrange furniture or add new obstacles. Dogs are able adapt to failing eyesight and get along quite well in familiar surroundings. Use baby gates for protective barriers at stairs.
Teach children how to help their senior companion stay safe and well. Rough play cannot be allowed. Extra supervision will be needed around small children, encouraging them to be kind and gentle. Older dogs may not tolerate stressful situations, screaming and being hurt or teased.
Incontinence, even in dogs who were perfectly house-trained, is one of the most frustrating age related problems to deal with. Although loss of bladder control can be a sign of Diabetes.or kidney disease, and these serious conditions must be ruled out before treatment begins, urinary incontinence is usually caused by an infection or age-related changes. A bladder infection can be diagnosed with urinalysis and treated with appropriate antibiotics. Age related changes can include a hormone imbalance, loss of muscle control in the bladder or a weak bladder sphincter. These problems can often be successfully managed and treated with medications. For dogs who do not respond adequately to medication, absorbent pads can be worn, held in place with doggie bloomers for females and belly bands for males.
Never scold or punish a dog for accidents due to incontinence. The dog is probably just as upset as you are by loss of control. Help prevent accidents by taking your senior dog outside more often. Take them out as soon as they wake up in the morning, before bedtime, after eating and after napping... even waking them periodically to go outside every few hours. If you have a securely fenced yard, a doggie door can mean less accidents in the house. For older dogs with urgent and unpredictable bladder and bowel problems, a doggie door will allow them to go in and out whenever they need to, even when you're not home.
Incontinence can also be a symptom of Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome. CDS causes disorientation, confusion, memory loss and personality changes that are very similar to Alzheimer's disease in humans. Canine Cognitive Dysfunction is sometimes referred to as "old dog syndrome", "brain aging", "doggie dementia" or "senility". Click Here to read more about CDS and treatment for this devastating disease.
Give your senior dog lots of love and attention and do all you can to keep him comfortable, active and involved in family life. It may require a little extra time, patience, and attention from you, but having a healthy, happy companion for as long as possible is priceless
Muscle atrophy - Mild loss of muscle mass, especially the hind legs, may be seen with old age. Some muscle atrophy, notably on the head and the belly muscles, can signify diseases such as masticatory myositis and Cushing's Disease. Be sure to have your vet check this out if any muscle loss is noted.
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Caring For Your Senior Dog ~ Part Two