I borrowed a copy of "Senior Dogs for Dummies" from the library. She fits three of the 7 criteria, among which is a fear of things that previously did not make her scared. We had noticed that thunderstorms really bother her lately--so there have been a few nights spent in the big bed. Also, as I mentioned last month, there have been some accidents in the house. She may be on the cusp of not being able to hold it all day while I am at work. Any suggestions on how to introduce piddle pads? I don't want her to be wholly dependent on them, but I want her to use them, and not the bedroom carpet if she needs to.
Another marker of course, is the frosty face, which has only developed in the last year, but the gray is coming in fast.
The other, subtle thing, is her reluctance to get all her business done in the morning and at night. Even though the yard is fenced, if I have to get out to work in the morning and there has not been poo, I take her out on the leash until she does.
Her vision and hearing seem normal, she is eating and drinking normally and she still races across the lawn to drive the squirrels away. :grin:
Have just cracked this book open and have been scanning the chapter headings, but it seems like a very valuable resource.
Does anyone have any input on this stage of their lives? Just like puppyhood, this is all new to me.
personally, I wouldn't call my 10 yo a senior.
I am relying on my own waining memory, but I want to say that my vet told me they consider them seniors at 7 yrs old. 7 or 8, not sure which. I was shocked when Rudy turned 7 or 8 and they told me this !!! But, I have really seen changes in him in the last 2 years from youngster to "older" doggie.
I have always started senior food at age 7. I have noticed a LOT of aging in Hallie the last year. It makes me insane. I miss my always happy playful puppy sooo much! I've told her when it's her time we're both going to go out and sit on the ice flows and shoot rubber bands at the polar bears... :thumb: she's not leaving me!!! When I got her the deal was she would have to live healthily to at least 40... :grin: Hallie will be 9 this August. It just goes by way too darn fast.
My advice...stop reading that book!! LOL
Senior is not neccessarily in years, but in action as well. Sophie, too, has gotten increased "whitening" around the face this last year, and she was emotionally aged by the loss of Stormy. But now, we are seeing some "spring" again in her with her and Sam really starting to bond. And, physically...well, when makes her run in from the back of the backyard, at top speed, she stays just ahead of the younger, larger Sam (yes, she's still a "rocket"), for the first 50-70 feet, but moves out of the way as he closes in so as not to be trampled (Sam doesn't go around much--kind of goes over or through!). She still naturally "begs", sitting up on her hind legs--we didn't teach this, she's always done it easily, and she does it often to see over things. Still very playful (she has a game with a sock that she'll play with Rich, but not with me--it involves her tugging the sock, and she always gives the socks to me) and she loves to do her agility stuff--especially the tunnel. If I get the tunnel out, she goes through it about every time I blink. But, senior? Yes, probably so. But an active senior! Not to be thwarted by any young whippersnapper who may attempt to eat the food out of her dish! (and yes, Sam knows it). Sophie's vet gave her the A-OK already for the year, but she has to go back in June for a dental, where she will probably lose some teeth. Genetically, she's just always had problem teeth--the lower fronts grew in crooked, and now, somehow she has broken a tooth. She naps more now, cuddles more too, but is still a "busy, active & alert" little princess. She killed an adult garter snake about a week & a half ago (poor snake, I'd rather she left them alive, they are less trouble than mice are) but she thought she did a great thing. She's a senior, but she's not slowing down much! (and yes, she has to stay with me forever!) :)
I am so happy to know Sophie is still so active Deb! I have often wondered if she had aged like Hallie has. You are right about being a senior in action. Hallie has aged a lot more than Sophie and more than she should for their age I think...I am afraid it is probably something brewing there that I don't want to think about but there isn't a lot I can do about it. (except worry). My guesses are arthritis, her spinal thing or tummy thing or a combination of all three (or something I don't even know about!). Her change has been pretty apparent, she was always so spry and joyful and active I didn't think she'd ever be one to slow down but now she often acts like she's about 16. :confused: Although the "puppy" does visit once in a while.
How are things going with Sam? Any new pics for us?
Quote from: Dee Dee and Hallie on May 21, 2009, 11:07:15 AM
I have always started senior food at age 7. I have noticed a LOT of aging in Hallie the last year. It makes me insane. I miss my always happy playful puppy sooo much! I've told her when it's her time we're both going to go out and sit on the ice flows and shoot rubber bands at the polar bears... :thumb: she's not leaving me!!! When I got her the deal was she would have to live healthily to at least 40... :grin: Hallie will be 9 this August. It just goes by way too darn fast.
My advice...stop reading that book!! LOL
Could it be the food that's slowing her down? Different nutrients, not enough something?
Funny I've been looking at Oliver with the same going through my mind, he is still like Sophie warp drives most things, but he watches a bit more. With piddle pads leave them near the door, Amy when we both worked would go out the doggy door in the first few days of the week, but by friday NO WAY, it happened after her op, and I think she is a bit scared of going out alone. She went on the piddle pad when we left it near the door. Ollie went on it once when I locked him in by accident. Sometimes they need movement to get a poo going, or a little bit of food as it stimulated the gut. Amy I sometimes give a little itty bitty of prune as she has always been a struggler.
roberta
Well, dis iz Guinness, da "Old Man" of Da Herd. :meme:
I like sleepin', nappin', snoozin', dozin' and slumberin'. I also like Auntie Karen's bed. She has a stair for me to get up and down, but sometimes I'm in a hurry to yip at something and just launch myself off da bed.
I got a new sweatshirt! It keeps me warm all the time. It has a hood and it has a Harley Davidson logo, even tho we are a BMW family - Uncle Glenn has one!
I'm 14 years old an' Auntie Karen says I act like I'm 14 months old. I can't tell if she's insulting me or not!
Guin-Guin, my little vienerschnitzel, you keep me young at heart! You're my favorite mini-wiener!
Shucks, Auntie Karen, you're not goin' to start slobberin' all over me are you??
:hkiss: :hkiss: :hkiss: :hkiss: :hkiss: :hkiss: :hkiss: :hkiss: :hkiss: :hkiss:
I think like hoomans, they are as young as they feel. Case in point: Maddie is 11 years old and could win the Li'l Ol' Lady award of the year. She walks slow (except when there's food, and then there's a big burst of energy), she loves to snooze and her squeaks (much diminished since Bonnie disciplines her when she does her "Maddie squeak") have gotten PITIFUL! She is perfectly capable of coming up the back steps but will cry at the bottom until she sees her papa and then she'll shoot up 'em 'cuz she knows she'll get a treat.
Bonnie, on the onther hand, is 10 and acts like she's 3. She is a total spaz wiggle butt and loves to go on marathon walks. She knows how to get into trubbo (she was recently found dining on the cardboard under the bed that holds a dresser mirror we never attached, hence the new name, Termite). She loves her ball and especially loves to play when Mark is at one end of the hallway and me at the other and we play keep away. She LOVES it!
So, it seems it just depends. Still, I have them both on senior CA Natural and their coats are especially doing well on that. Hail to all the beautiful senior wieners on our board. :apls:
Well, my senior, Max P. is almost 12 and does show lots of signs of aging. His muzzle is very gray and he has cataracts in both eyes and probably has a 60-70% sight loss. He is slow moving in the mornings and likes his nap times. That being said, he still loves to play ball and fetch and would chase the ball and retrieve things until he fell over. He is a very happy boy and still has his big cheesy grin. Lily is almost 8 and she is getting a little gray, and any slow down in her I attribute to the back surgery she had 4 years ago. Otherwise, she still acts like a puppy most of the time. Gabbe is almost 7 and still looks and acts like a puppy. Of course Minna is only 4 so she still has a lot of get up and go.
Also Max seems to have some hearing loss, but I am not sure how much is real loss or male selective hearing. LOL!