In This Chapter
- Easing the aging process
- Dealing with older-dog health concerns
- Letting go
- Getting help when you’re grieving
- Providing for your pet in your will
Your dog’s health as he ages is
not entirely in your control, but you can have a real impact on his attitude.
When you see those first gray hairs appear on his muzzle, getting a little
upset about them is natural. The normal life span of a dog isn’t even remotely
close to ours, after all, and those first signs of aging remind us that the
years between a puppy’s first gasp and the last sighing breath of a dying dog
are not really that far apart.
But consider the following:
Unless the guesses and assumptions of science are wrong, your dog doesn’t know
he’s getting older. His gray hairs do not concern him, nor does he worry about
the other visible effects of time, including the thickening of his body and the
thinning of his limbs. He doesn’t count the number of times he can fetch a ball
before tiring and compare that to his performance when he was a young dog in
his prime. He doesn’t know that his time is growing shorter and that he’ll get
weaker or grow blind, perhaps, or deaf. He doesn’t know that he’ll die someday.
Tip
You know all of that, but this information is a secret best kept to yourself. Your dog takes his cues from you, and when you’re upbeat, encouraging, and loving, he’ll be at his best no matter what his age. Keep your aging dog fit and healthy, and don’t exclude him from your activities. This time can be a special one for both of you, and it’s up to you to make the most of it.
Special Care for Canine Seniors
Next to you, your dog’s best
friend as she ages should be her veterinarian. Preventive care is not only more
cost-effective than crisis care, but it’s the only way to catch problems before
they lessen the quality of your dog’s life.
Maybe you’ve had such a healthy
dog that you’ve rarely taken her to the veterinarian. Take her in for a
thorough senior-dog physical anyway when she hits 8 or so (as early as 6 for
giant breeds, as late as 10 for tiny ones), including whatever tests your
veterinarian recommends — blood, urine, and so on. The information these tests
provide can spot treatable problems early and provide baseline information
against which your veterinarian can compare new data as problems develop.
This rapport with your vet is
never more important than when you’re guiding your pet through her senior
years.
Nutrition
Your dog’s nutritional needs
change as he gets older, and so, in most cases, should his food. If you have
been satisfied with a particular food, you may be able to switch to the brand’s
formulation for older dogs. If not, your veterinarian may be able to suggest something
suitable.
The biggest food-related problem
for older dogs is obesity, which puts pressure on joints and internal organs
that aren’t able to withstand the pressure. If your pet is portly, talk to your
veterinarian about safe ways to trim him down slowly.
Remember
Unlike us, dogs have no control over how much they eat: Your dog’s weight depends on your self-control, not his.
Dogs with chronic health problems
may end up on a special diet available only through your veterinarian. These
diets — which come in both canned and dry varieties — are formulated to address
your pet’s particular health needs. Some pets may not like them, especially
compared to the fat- and treat-based diet they were on before, but don’t
sabotage your pet’s care by adding goodies to the mix. A simple strained broth
made from boiling chicken bones with a crushed garlic clove or two — no added
salt — may make the diet more palatable. Check with your veterinarian, though,
before adding anything else to a prescription diet.
For the rundown on dog food — what’s in it, what your dog needs, and how to choose — see Chapter Ready, Set, Stop: What You Need to Know Before You Choose a Dog.
Putting junior in his place
If you have an older dog and a younger one, the competition
between them can be frustrating to the older dog. Here’s an exercise that
lets the older dog win and improves the obedience of the younger:
After your younger dog has chased a few balls to
get rid of his excess energy, put him in a “down-stay” (make him lie down and
tell him to stay — see Chapter Basic
Training and Beyond). If you’ve never tried this
exercise under such tempting conditions, leave his leash on and then stand on
it. Repeat the “stay” command and then throw the ball — a short throw — for
your senior dog. Let him get the ball a few times, and then release the
younger dog and praise him. Then tell them both they’re wonderful.
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Exercise
“Use it or lose it” is true for
both humans and dogs. No matter what her age, exercise keeps your dog’s body in
good condition and brightens her outlook.
The secret as dogs age is
increasing the frequency and diminishing the intensity. Instead of taking your
dog to the park once a week to chase tennis balls until she’s exhausted, take
her for a daily walk. When you throw a tennis ball, keep it low to avoid leaps,
twists, and hard landings, and consider walking to the park and back rather
than driving. Warm-ups and cool-downs are more important for older dogs, whose
bodies aren’t as able to withstand the pounding a younger dog endures without
pause. Inactivity punctuated by bouts of overexertion isn’t good for any dog,
but for the older dog it can be painful or even dangerous.
Despite your best intentions,
sometimes an older pet will make like a puppy and play hard. The next morning,
she’ll surely feel it. Give her buffered aspirin, 5 milligrams per pound of
body weight, every 12 hours. If the stiffness lasts for more than a day,
consult your veterinarian. If your dog is on other medications, check with your
veterinarian first.
Walking is good exercise for
older pets; supervised swimming is another if you have a dog who enjoys it.
(Choose a lake or pool rather than a river, and keep her close to the bank.)
Keep her moving every day. Push her a little on the distance and the time, or
at least try to maintain what you’ve got going, but don’t overextend her — let
her set the pace.
Think about games she can do just
as well — or better — than when she was younger, such as Sniff Out the Hidden
Toy. In my house, senior dog Andy no longer chases tennis balls at a gallop.
Put your dog on “stay,” show her a toy, and hide it for her to find.
Very few dogs, even young ones,
get enough exercise to keep their nails short without trimming; senior dogs
certainly don’t. Arthritis and muscle stiffness make moving around hard enough
for older dogs; overgrown nails make things worse, and they’re something that
you have the power to fix — so do it. (See Chapter Caring
for Nails, Teeth, Nose, Ears, Eyes, Face, and . . . Elsewhere for tips on how
to keep nails short.)
Dentistry
One of the most important recent
advances in the care of older dogs is in the care of their mouths: Canine
dentistry is an area of preventive care that you ignore at your pet’s peril.
(See Chapter Caring
for Nails, Teeth, Nose, Ears, Eyes, Face, and . . . Elsewhere for a full discussion of dog dental care.) Start teeth
brushing when a dog is a puppy — an older dog may never allow you to brush his
teeth for the first time.
Preventive care involves brushing
your older dog’s teeth — two or three times a week is fine — using gauze
wrapped around your finger or a toothbrush, whichever your pet tolerates best.
Toothpastes made just for dogs are available, with flavors that appeal to the
canine palate and ingredients that can be swallowed. Because dogs can’t spit
and rinse, people toothpaste and baking soda, which is high in sodium, aren’t
recommended.
Before you start your at-home
regimen, your pet will likely need some help from your veterinarian. A complete
dental work-up under anesthesia takes 45 minutes to an hour and involves not
only cleaning and polishing the teeth, but also treating broken or rotting
teeth, cavities, abscesses, and periodontal disease. This procedure is
especially important if you’ve neglected your pet’s mouth: Brushing prevents
plaque from forming, but it won’t help much with the muck that has already
built up — and it won’t fix bad teeth or infections.
Dental care is very important in
older dogs, especially small ones, who tend to have mouths crowded with teeth.
Neglected mouths can make eating painful. Infections are a problem, too, and
the adverse effect of bacteria from chronic mouth infections takes a toll on
your pet’s internal organs and can overwhelm his immune system. Bacteria can
even travel through the bloodstream from your dog’s mouth to his heart and
infect his heart valves.
The benefits of such care extend
to more than the elimination of bad breath in an older dog: When your pet is no
longer fighting infections and pain, his spirits lift along with his health,
all of which can spark his appetite.
Some Common Age-Related Health Problems
Although every dog is an
individual, a few age-related maladies seem to strike many of them. You should,
of course, discuss how they affect your dog and the best approach to treating
them with your veterinarian. But knowing a little bit about what you’re dealing
with before you go in is helpful.
Decline of the senses
Deaf and blind dogs do just fine,
as long as you do your part to keep them out of any danger their
disabilities may cause. Blindness, in particular, is a problem dogs adjust to
with an ease that stuns their owners. But consider the following: Dogs don’t
have to read the newspaper, they don’t care about TV, and they count on you to
read the ingredients label on a bag of kibble. Sight isn’t their primary sense
anyway — they put much greater stock in their senses of smell and hearing.
After they learn the layout of the land, they rarely bump into things (as long
as you don’t keep moving the furniture).
Handicapped pets should never be
allowed off-leash on walks, because they can’t see danger and cannot hear your
warnings.
Tip
How do you know if your dog is really blind? Lunge at his face menacingly with your finger (don’t make contact!). If he doesn’t blink, he’s blind.
Even if your older dog is blind
(or deaf — check by clapping your hands behind his head), you may be able to do
something. Ask your veterinarian for a referral to a specialist such as a
veterinary ophthalmologist. Problems such as cataracts may be treatable with
medications and surgery.
Incontinence
Many dog owners start wondering
why their older dogs are no longer house-trained — and how to get them back on
track. The first rule of any sudden-onset behavior problem is to make sure that
it’s not a health problem, and it could well be a health problem if an older
dog is suddenly urinating in the house. Your pet could have an infection or, if
she’s an older, spayed female, she may be suffering from the loss of muscle
tone related to a decrease in her hormone levels. Both are treatable; see your
veterinarian.
At a certain age, a little
dribbling of urine is practically inevitable, especially while your older dog
is sleeping. You may want to place old rubber-backed bathmats in her favorite
sleeping area. They catch the dribble and are easily washable, keeping odor and
dampness — and flea eggs — under control. Living with pets, like living with
children, can be one big mess.
Lumps and bumps
Benign fatty tumors are common in
older dogs, and the vast majority are nothing to worry about. Benign tumors are
round and soft, with well-defined edges. You can usually get your fingers
nearly around them, and they don’t seem well anchored. Showing them to your
veterinarian for a more complete evaluation is important, and you should inform
her of any changes in size or shape, especially if they happen rapidly. Your
veterinarian may be concerned enough about the size, appearance, or location of
a mass to suggest its removal and a biopsy; most bumps, however, are left
alone. The best time to check for lumps and bumps? During regular grooming —
weekly, at least. Run your hand over every inch of your dog, and don’t forget
to talk sweetly — he’ll think it’s petting.
Warning!
Some breeds — Boxers, for one — are much more prone to cancer, and you should be more aggressive in investigating lumps and bumps. Work with your veterinarian closely to catch any problems early.
Stiffness
Your veterinarian can help you
determine whether the stiffness is because of temporary muscle soreness — say,
from overdoing it — or the onset of arthritis. Many dogs feel worse in cold
weather and first thing in the morning. Arthritis is common in older dogs, and
although no cure exists, treatments are available that can make your pet
comfortable. Your veterinarian may prescribe buffered aspirin, food
supplements, or anti-inflammatory medications, all of which your pet may need
to take for the rest of her life. For your part, you need to be sure that your
pet is not overweight and is kept consistently, but not strenuously, active.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories
— the best known is Rimadyl — have made life bearable for tens of thousands of
older dogs, but they are not without risk. Rimadyl has been implicated in the
deaths of many dogs — Labradors, especially, seem to be vulnerable. Don’t let
these tragedies dissuade you from considering a medication that can work
wonders, but do press your veterinarian to explain all the risks and benefits
so you can make the best decision for your pet.
Older dog and new puppy
All the trials of old age can make a dog downright
cranky and make some people long to have a puppy in the house. Of course, you
want to be sure that your older dog enjoys the change, or at least tolerates
it. So should you add a puppy to an older dog’s life?
That depends. For some older dogs, a puppy is a big
boost to the senior’s enthusiasm. For others, a puppy’s energy and attention
are enough to make an older dog want to leave home. You must determine which
of these attitudes your older dog has.
In general, older dogs who are still fit and full
of life probably get the most out of an addition to the household; elderly or
severely debilitated dogs enjoy it least. No matter what your dog’s age, try
to keep tabs on the interaction until you’re sure how things are progressing.
Don’t let your older dog overextend himself, and put the puppy in his crate
or behind a baby gate to give your oldster a break from time to time. Finally,
save some exclusive energy and time for dog number 1: Spend time together,
just the two of you, so he realizes he is still very much loved.
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Tip
Some dogs lose strength in their hindquarters as they age or become paralyzed because of a spinal injury. This condition need not mean euthanasia. A company called K-9 Carts manufactures wheeled devices that allow a dog to be mobile again (see www.k9-carts.com).
Reasonable Accommodations
The number of ways you can give
your oldster a break is limited only by your imagination. Consider a few tips
to get you thinking:
- Beds: Think soft. Think cushioned. Think low. Think heated. Your dog will thank you for all these thoughts, especially in cold weather.
- Clothes: Canine clothing isn’t just for Poodles anymore. Older dogs, like older people, have a harder time maintaining their body temperature. This problem is even more pronounced in slender, short-coated breeds like the Greyhound or Whippet. So check out the sweater selection at your local pet-supply store, or consider altering one of your own for the task.
- Dishes: Raised food and water dishes are a kindness to tall dogs of any age, but they are especially easy on the back of an oldster. You can find them at pet-supply stores or you can make your own.
- Ramps and steps: If your dogs are allowed on the couch and the bed, you should be able to find or build something to help the dog who can no longer make it in one jump.
Anesthesia: Weighing the risks
As common as anesthesia is in veterinary medicine,
many misconceptions exist about its use where older animals are concerned. Veterinary
findings no longer support the idea that the risk of anesthesia outweighs the
importance of preventive veterinary care.
The risks can be greatly minimized by a few basic
tests, including a laboratory evaluation of blood and urine, a chest X-ray,
and possibly an electrocardiogram. Although these tests admittedly add to the
cost of a procedure, they allow your veterinarian to provide the life-enhancing
and life-extending benefits of preventive care to the pets who need them most.
Your veterinarian may also recommend IV or subcutaneous
fluids while your pet is under anesthesia, and, for dental procedures, pre-
and post-surgical antibiotics.
No discussion of anesthetic danger can be
complete without a few words on your responsibilities where anesthesia is
concerned:
- Follow your veterinarian’s instructions on preparing
your pet for surgery. If no food is specified, make sure that you deliver a pet
with an empty stomach. Following this one piece of advice is one of the easiest
and most basic ways to reduce risk. Under anesthesia, a dog can regurgitate
and inhale the contents of a full stomach into her lungs.
- Be prepared to provide special home care for
your pet after surgery. Releasing animals before the preanesthetic sedation
wears off is common practice. Such animals must be kept safe from hot or cold
environments because their reflexes are reduced. If you don’t feel
comfortable caring for a sedated pet, arrange for your veterinarian to extend
the care.
- Don’t hesitate to ask questions. Make sure that
you understand what the procedures are and what to expect. For example, pets commonly
have a cough after anesthesia because the tube used to deliver the gas may
cause some irritation. If the cough does not clear up in a couple days, call
your veterinarian.
No matter what the age of the pet, chances are very
high that the anesthetic will present no problem if both you and your
veterinarian work to minimize the risks.
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Knowing When It’s Time to Let Go
Euthanasia, the technical term
for putting a person or animal to sleep for humane reasons, is one of the
hardest decisions you will ever make, and it doesn’t get any easier, no matter
how many times over the years you face it. Your veterinarian can offer advice,
and your friends can offer support, but no one can make the decision for you.
When you live with an elderly or terminally ill pet, you look in her eyes every
morning and ask yourself, “Is this the day?”
Some owners don’t wait until their pet’s discomfort becomes pain and choose euthanasia much sooner than others would. Some owners use an animal’s appetite as the guide — when an old or ill animal is no longer interested in eating, they reason, he’s not interested in anything at all. And some owners wait until there’s absolutely no doubt the time is at hand.
What about the remains?
You can handle your pet’s remains in many ways,
and doing so is easier if you make your decisions beforehand. The choices include
having your municipal animal-control department pick up the body, burying the
pet in your backyard or at another site (where it’s legal and with the land
owner’s permission, of course), arranging for cremation, or contracting with
a pet cemetery for full services and burial. Some people even choose to have
their pets preserved like hunting trophies, or have a part of them
cryogenically saved for cloning later. Again, no choice is wrong. Whatever
feels right to you and comforts you best is what you should do.
The next topic is difficult, but you must
consider it. If your pet dies unexpectedly or while under the care of your
veterinarian and theirs is any question about the cause of death or your veterinarian
believes lessons can be learned by performing a postmortem examination, you should
agree. This procedure may not help your dog, but it may help hundreds or
thousands of others. What better way to demonstrate your love for dogs than
to assist in the advancement of care for other pets with similar health
problems?
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Each guideline can be the right
one, for some dogs and some owners at certain times. You do the best you can,
and then you try to put the decision behind you and deal with the grief.
Ironically, the incredible advances in veterinary medicine in the past couple
decades have made the decisions even more difficult for many people. Not too
long ago, the best you could do for a seriously ill pet was to make her
comfortable until that wasn’t possible anymore. Nowadays, nearly every
advantage of human medicine — from chemotherapy to pacemakers — is available to
our pets.
If you can afford such extensive
care and have a realistic expectation that it will improve your pet’s life —
rather than simply prolong it — then it is an option that you should pursue.
But let nothing push you into making a decision based on guilt or wishful
thinking.
Remember
Euthanasia is a kindness extended to a treasured pet, a decision we make at a great cost to ourselves. It is a final act of love, nothing less.
Evaluating euthanasia options
As performed by a veterinarian,
euthanasia is a quick and peaceful process. The animal is unconscious within
seconds and dead within less than a minute; the euphemism “put to sleep” is
actually a perfect description. People who attend the procedure usually come
away reassured that their pet felt no fear or pain.
You’re not alone
You may find talking to others about your pet’s death
helpful. Ask your veterinarian about pet-loss support groups. Almost unheard
of a few decades ago, such groups are available in many communities today.
You may also want to see a counselor.
Veterinary schools and colleges have been among
the leaders in creating programs to help pet lovers deal with loss. A handful
now operate pet-loss hot lines staffed by veterinary students trained to
answer questions, offer materials that may help you (including guidelines for
helping children with loss), and just plain listen. These programs are
wonderful, and they’re free for the cost of the call. (If you call during off
hours, they call you back, collect.)
The American Veterinary Medical Association
(AVMA) lists many pet-loss hotlines at www.avma.org/careforanimals/animatedjourneys/goodbyefriend/plhotlines.asp.
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Some people stay with a pet at
the end, and some don’t, but no decision you make regarding the last few
minutes of an animal’s life will change the love you shared for the years
before those final moments. If you want to be there, then by all means stay.
But leaving euthanasia to your veterinarian is no less a humane and loving
gesture.
Call ahead to set the
appointment, and make it clear to the receptionist what you’re coming for. (The
tone of your voice will probably tip her off, anyway.) That way, the practice
can ensure that you don’t have to sit in the waiting room but can instead be
immediately ushered into an exam room, if you choose to remain with your dog.
Your veterinarian will do his best to answer all your questions and make you
comfortable with everything before proceeding. He may clip the fur on your
dog’s foreleg to have easier and quicker access to the vein for the injection
of the euthanizing agent; he may also choose to presedate your pet.
Remember
Crying is normal, and your veterinarian will understand. So, too, will your dog.
You may want to hold your hand
near your dog’s nose so the last sniff will be of you. You may want to spend a
few minutes with your pet afterward, and your veterinarian will understand that
as well, and will give you all the time you need alone to begin the process of
coming to grips with your loss.
You may be more comfortable with
having your pet euthanized at home. If this is what you want, discuss the
matter with your veterinarian directly. Many vets extend this special service
to long-time clients. If yours doesn’t, you may alternatively consider making
arrangements with a mobile veterinarian.
Several manufacturers offer
markers for your yard to memorialize your pet; they are often advertised in the
back of magazines like Dog Fancy. Other choices include large rocks or
slabs of stone, or a tree or rose bush. Even if you choose not to have your
pet’s body or ashes returned, placing a memorial in a special spot may soothe
you.
Tip
Another way to celebrate the memory of your dog is to make a donation to your local humane society, regional school of veterinary medicine, or other favorite animal charity. A donation in a beloved pet’s name is a wonderful act to do for a friend who has lost a pet as well.
Dealing with loss
Many people are surprised at the
powerful emotions that erupt after a pet’s death, and they are embarrassed by
their grief. Remembering that pets have meaning in our lives beyond the love we
feel for the animal alone may help. Often we don’t realize that we are grieving
not only for the pet we loved, but also for the special time the animal
represented.
Taking care of yourself is
important at this difficult time. Some people — the “it’s just an animal” crowd
— will not understand your feelings and may even shrug off your grief as
foolish. The company of other animal lovers is very important. Seek them out to
share your feelings. In some areas, pet-loss support groups may be available.
Search the Internet for pet loss to come up with sites that can help.
And don’t forget the AVMA pet-loss hotlines available at the link given in the
nearby sidebar, “You’re not alone.”
Remember
A difficult time, to be sure, but in time, the memories become a source of pleasure, not pain. Coming to terms with grief has no set timetable, but it happens.
A handful of books and one really
fine video may help you help your child with the loss of a pet. From Fred
Rogers (yes, Mr. Rogers of the Neighborhood) comes the book When a Pet Dies (Putnam)
and the video
What If You Go First?
First things first: You can’t
leave your estate to your dog, because in the eyes of the law, an animal is an
“it,” with little more legal status than a chair. Nor can you set up a trust
for your pet, for the same reason. The beneficiary of a trust must be a bona
fide human being, and the fact that you think of your dog as a person doesn’t
really matter, because the courts don’t.
Of course, you should discuss
this matter with your attorney, but talking it over with your friends and
family is even more important, because you must find one of them to care for
your pet after you’re gone. You must state that you’re leaving your dog to that
person, along with enough money to provide for the animal’s care for life. You
have no real control over the outcome, which is why you need to choose someone
you trust and then hope for your dog’s sake that things turn out okay.
No one likes to think about
dying. But you have a responsibility to loved ones you leave behind, and that
includes your pets. Talk to your friends, your family, and even your
veterinarian. Call an attorney. Don’t rely on the kindness of strangers to care
for your pet if something happens to you. Your dog deserves better than that.
Tip
The Association of the Bar of New York City offers an online guide called “Providing for Your Pets in the Event of Your Death or Hospitalization” at www.nycbar.org/Publications/pub-provforpet.htm. And if you want to read more about caring for your senior dog, pick up a copy of Senior Dogs For Dummies by Susan McCullough (Wiley).by Eve Adamson, Richard G. Beauchamp, Margaret H. Bonham, Stanley Coren, Miriam Fields-Babineau, Sarah Hodgson, Connie Isbell, Susan McCullough, Gina Spadafori, Jack and Wendy Volhard, Chris Walkowicz, M. Christine Zink, DVM, PhD
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