Caring for an Aging Shepherd

 

In this chapter

• Feeding and exercising an older GSD
• Taking into account special health concerns that come with age
• Saying good-bye
• Coping with loss of a true friend

One day, you will look at your youngster and be shocked to discover that his face has silvered and his gait has stiffened. He sleeps longer and more soundly than he did as a younger dog, and he’s slower to get going. He may be less eager to play and more content to lie in the sun. Congratulations! Getting your dog to a healthy old age is a worthy accomplishment.

You can’t turn back the clock — and besides, you learn to appreciate the different stages of your dog’s life as you share the years together. Puppies are full of curiosity and mischief; who could resist them? Adolescents begin to blossom into adults, sometimes doing the goofiest things but astounding you with feats of loyalty and intelligence just when you think, “This dog is hopeless!” Adult dogs mature into truly dependable companions whom you can trust with your life. Anyone who has had a German Shepherd for his entire life, however, would probably assert that a senior GSD is really the best. With the wisdom of years, a GSD becomes almost humanlike in his ability to tune in to your emotions. An older GSD, his gait stiff, his face gray, and his eyes often hazy due to cataracts, is, in the opinion of many GSD fanciers, the most beautiful of all.

Dogs age at different rates, but by 6 years of age most German Shepherds are considered to be middle-aged, and by 10 years of age they are considered geriatric. The average life span for a German Shepherd is 10 to 12 years.

As a caring owner, you must understand and respect your senior dog’s special needs. This chapter explains how to nurture a German Shepherd in the last years of his life and how and when to say good-bye to your trusted friend.

Keeping Your Senior Fit and Trim

Both physical activity and metabolic rates decrease in older animals, meaning that they require fewer calories to maintain their weight. If you continue to feed an older dog the same amount of food that you fed when he was younger, you put him at risk of becoming obese; an obese dog has a greater risk of cardiovascular and joint problems.

Some German Shepherds lose weight with age, which can be equally bad. Your dog needs a little bit of fat so that he has something to fall back on if he gets sick. Other Shepherds lose weight and may need to eat puppy food in order to keep on the pounds. High-quality (not high-quantity) protein is especially important for older dogs, which means that feeding a high-quality food is especially important for older dogs. Chapter Feeding Your German Shepherd tells you how to select a high-quality dog food.

Most older dogs do not require a special diet unless they have a particular medical need. (Your veterinarian can tell you whether your dog needs special food.) Just make sure to feed several small meals instead of one large meal, and serve those meals on time.

Tip

Moistening dry food or feeding canned food instead of dry can help a dog with dental problems enjoy his meal. He may also enjoy eating while lying down or eating off of a raised platform, both of which reduce the stress on his neck and joints.

Many people have the macho idea that their dogs will never slow down with age. Dogs do age at different rates, but being in a state of denial about your dog’s increasing age or decreasing abilities does not do him any favors. Older German Shepherds who had joint problems when they were young can now really begin to suffer with them.

It’s important to keep your older GSD relatively active, but without putting too much stress on his joints. If your dog is sore the next day, you probably asked too much. You may have to walk with your dog and do your marathon running by yourself. If you and your dog enjoy hiking together, pare down your trips and camp in just one spot. Swimming is an excellent low-impact exercise as long as the dog doesn’t get chilled and is never put in a dangerous situation. (See Chapter Exercising Your Dog for safe swimming tips.)

Understanding the Changes a Dog Undergoes as He Ages

You may have depended on your dog for years when he was younger. Now it’s your turn to let your dog lean on you. You can be a much better caretaker and friend to your dog if you understand the kinds of changes he will experience and know how to cope with those changes to help him remain comfortable.

Behavioral changes

Older dogs tend to like a simple life. Although they’re still up for adventure, you may have to tone that adventure down a bit, or at least shorten it. Long trips can be grueling for an older dog, and boarding in a kennel may be extremely upsetting. Consider getting a house-sitter whom your dog knows if you want to go on vacation. (Chapter Ten (or So) Tips for Traveling with Your Dog provides much more information about traveling with your dog or safely leaving him at home while you go away.)

An older dog may welcome a new puppy that encourages him to play, but if your dog is not used to other dogs, he will more likely resent the newcomer. Some older dogs become cranky and impatient when dealing with puppies or boisterous children.

Warning!

Don’t just excuse behavioral changes as a part of the aging process, however, especially if they come on suddenly. The changes could be symptoms of pain or disease — talk to your dog’s vet.

Physical changes

Older dogs may experience hearing or vision loss. The slight haziness that appears in an older dog’s pupils is normal and has a minimal effect on vision. However, some dogs (especially those with diabetes) may develop cataracts, which look almost white through the pupils. A veterinary ophthalmologist can remove the lens of the eye if a cataract is severe.

Dogs with gradual vision loss cope well as long as you keep them in familiar surroundings and follow extra safety precautions. For example, don’t move furniture, and place sound or scent beacons (such as perfumed items or radios) throughout the house or yard to help the dog locate specific landmarks. Also lay pathways in the yard, such as gravel or block walkways, and create paths in the house with carpet runners. Block open stairways or pools.

Dogs with hearing loss can learn to interpret hand gestures and also respond to vibrations. You can teach hand signals the same way you teach voice commands; if your dog still has some hearing, the easiest way to teach hand signals is to precede your voice command with a hand signal.

Warning!

Be careful not to startle a dog with impaired senses, because a startled dog may snap in self-defense.

Like people, dogs lose skin moisture as they age, and although dogs don’t have to worry about wrinkles, their skin can become dry and itchy. Regular brushing can help by stimulating oil production.

Even in the healthiest dogs, something has to give way first, and often it is the hindquarters. Your dog may need help getting up and may need some steadying when he walks. You can wrap a big towel under his belly and steady him by using the towel as a sling. Hindquarter harnesses are also available. Of course, any rear weakness, especially in a German Shepherd, needs to be checked thoroughly by a veterinarian.

Staying Well Up in Years

Just like older humans, older dogs tend to be more susceptible to disease and other health problems because their immune systems may be less effective. Therefore, an older dog should see his veterinarian at least twice a year — blood tests can detect early stages of diseases that can benefit from treatment. Shielding your dog from infectious disease, chilling, overheating, and stressful conditions also becomes increasingly important.

At the same time, an older dog who is never exposed to other dogs may not need to be vaccinated as often or for as many diseases as a younger dog. Discuss your options with your veterinarian.

Remember

Following are some points to keep in mind about older dogs and signs of illness:

• Vomiting and diarrhea in an old dog can signal many different problems. Keep in mind that an older dog can’t tolerate the dehydration that results from continued vomiting or diarrhea; do not let the condition continue unchecked.
• Older dogs tend to have a stronger body odor, but don’t ignore in-creased odors, which could indicate specific problems, such as periodontal disease, impacted anal sacs, seborrhea, ear infections, or even kidney disease. Have your veterinarian check any strong odor.
• Arthritis is a common cause of intermittent stiffness and lameness. You can help by providing a soft bed, moderate exercise, and possibly drug therapy, and by putting a heating pad (preferably one that uses moist heat) on the affected area. New arthritis medications have made a huge difference in quality of life for many older German Shepherds, but not every dog can use them. Ask your veterinarian to evaluate your dog.
• In general, any ailment that an older dog has is magnified in severity as compared to the same problems in a younger dog. Some of the more common symptoms and their possible causes in older GSDs include the following (see Chapters Dealing with GSD Hereditary Health Problems and Taking Care of a Sick Shepherd for more on these diseases and conditions):
• Diarrhea: Kidney or liver disease, pancreatitis
• Coughing: Heart disease, tracheal collapse, lung cancer
• Difficulty eating: Periodontal disease, oral tumors
• Decreased appetite: Kidney, liver, or heart disease; pancreatitis; cancer
• Increased appetite: Diabetes, Cushing’s syndrome
• Weight loss: Heart, liver, or kidney disease; diabetes; cancer
• Abdominal distention: Heart or kidney disease, Cushing’s syndrome, tumors
• Increased urination: Diabetes, kidney or liver disease, cystitis, Cushing’s syndrome
• Limping: Arthritis, hip or elbow dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy
• Nasal discharge: Tumor, periodontal disease

Remember

If you’re lucky enough to have an old GSD, you still must accept that the end will come. Heart disease, kidney failure, and cancer eventually claim most of these senior citizens. Early detection can help delay their effects but, unfortunately, can seldom prevent them entirely.

UNDERSTANDING ARTHRITIS

Many, if not most, older German Shepherds suffer from some degree of arthritis, a degenerative joint disease. Understanding how arthritis affects the joints can help you help your dog cope. Joints occur at the moving junction of two bones. The ends of the bones are covered with cartilage, which helps cushion impact and allows for smoother movement between the bones. The joint is enclosed by the joint capsule, the inner layer of which is the synovial membrane. The synovial membrane produces synovial fluid, a thick liquid that fills the joint cavity and provides lubrication and nourishment. Cartilage can be injured from excessive joint stress or from a pre-existing joint instability that allows the bones to bump together abnormally. Injured cartilage releases enzymes that break down the normally thick synovial fluid into a thin fluid that neither lubricates nor nourishes adequately, in turn resulting in further cartilage deterioration. If the dog continues to stress the joint, the damage will increase until it extends to the joint capsule and bone. Only at this point are sensory nerves affected so that the dog feels pain. This means that considerable joint damage has already been done by the time your dog exhibits lameness from a pre-existing condition. In arthritis, the synovial membrane surrounding the joint becomes inflamed, and the bone develops small bony outgrowths called osteophytes. These changes cause the joint to stiffen, become painful, and have a decreased range of motion. In cases in which an existing condition is exacerbating the arthritis, surgery to remedy the condition is warranted. When considering surgery for a joint problem, keep in mind that the more the joint is used in its damaged state, the more arthritis will occur. Even though the surgery may fix the initial problem, the dog will still be plagued with incurable arthritic changes if too much damage has occurred. Preventing arthritis is the key. Conservative treatment entails keeping the dog’s weight down, attending to injuries promptly, and maintaining a program of exercise. Low-impact exercise such as walking or swimming every other day is best for dogs with signs of arthritis. Newer drugs, such as carprofen, are available from your veterinarian and may help alleviate some of the symptoms of arthritis, but they should be used only under careful veterinary supervision. Some newer drugs and supplements may actually improve the joint. Polysulfated glycos- aminoglycan increases the compressive resil-ience of cartilage. Glucosamine stimulates the synthesis of collagen and may help reju- venate cartilage to some extent. Chondroitin sulfate helps to shield cartilage from destructive enzymes.

Saying Good-bye to Your Trusted Friend

Despite the best of care, a time will come when neither you nor your veterinarian can prevent your dear friend from succumbing to old age or an incurable illness. It seems hard to believe that you will have to say good-bye to a dog who has been such a focal point of your life — a real member of your family. That dogs live such a short time compared to humans is a cruel fact, but one that you must ultimately face.

Realize that both of you have been fortunate to have shared so many good times, and make sure that your GSD’s remaining time is as pleasurable as possible. Many terminal illnesses make a dog feel very ill, and there comes a point when your desire to keep your friend with you as long as possible may not be the kindest thing for either of you. If your dog no longer eats his dinner or treats, this is a sign that he doesn’t feel well.

For every person, the ultimate point is different. Many people put off doing what’s best for longer than is really kind because they don’t want to act in haste and be haunted by thoughts that the setback may have been temporary. And of course, they put it off because they can’t stand the thought of saying good-bye.

Euthanasia is a difficult and personal decision that no one can make for you. Ask yourself the following questions as you face this decision:

• Does your veterinarian believe that your dog has a reasonable chance of getting better? Is it likely that your dog is suffering?
• Is your dog still getting pleasure out of life? Is he still enjoying most of his days?
• Does treating an illness mean that you will have to go into debt in ex-change for just a little more time with your dog?
• Is the constant worry and stress taking too hard a toll on you and your family?

Of course you wish that if your dog has to go, he will fall asleep and never wake up. Unfortunately, that almost never happens. Even when it does, you’re left with the regret that you never got to say good-bye. The closest way you can simulate this experience is with euthanasia, which involves giving an overdose of an anesthetic, which is painless. Essentially, the dog falls asleep and dies almost instantly. This process may take slightly longer in a very sick dog because his circulation is compromised, but the dog is still unconscious.

If you do decide that euthanasia is the kindest farewell gesture for your beloved friend, discuss what will happen with your veterinarian beforehand. You might ask about giving your dog a tranquilizer before leaving the house if he fears the vet’s office, or about having the doctor meet you at home or come out to your car to meet you. Although it won’t be easy, try to remain with your dog so that his last moments are filled with your love; otherwise, have a friend whom your dog knows stay with him. Try to recall the wonderful times you have shared and realize that however painful it is to lose such a once-in-a-lifetime dog, having to cope with the loss is better than never having had such a partner at all.

After losing such a cherished friend, many people say that they will never get another dog. True, no dog will ever take the place of your dog. But you may find that another German Shepherd is a welcome diversion that helps keep you from dwelling on the loss of your first pet — as long as you don’t keep comparing the new dog to the old one. By getting another dog, you sentence yourself to the same grief in another 12 years or so, but wouldn’t you rather have that than miss out on a second once-in-a-lifetime dog?

The loss of a companion may mark the end of an era for you, a time when you and your shepherd grew up or grew old together. But one could scarcely ask for a better life partner than a special German Shepherd — perhaps the most magnificent being ever created.

COPING WITH YOUR LOSS

Many people who regarded their German Shepherds as members of the family nonetheless feel embarrassed at the grief they feel at their loss. Yet this dog often functioned as a surrogate child, best friend, and confidant. Partnership with a pet can be one of the closest and most stable relationships in life. Un-fortunately, the support from friends that comes with human loss is too often absent with pet loss. Such well-meaning but ill-informed statements as “He was just a dog” or “Just get another one” do little to ease the pain — many people simply don’t know how to react. Many people understand and share your feelings; however, if you’d rather speak to a professional, many veterinary schools (such as the University of California at Davis, 800-565-1526, and Iowa State University, 888-ISU-PLSH) have pet bereavement counselors. You can also find information — and solace — on the Web by searching under “pet loss.”

by D. Caroline Coile, PhD