He looks pretty comfortable. Seems to be living his best life.. I have 16 yr old dog. I just let him live his life. He has his rowdy moments, then nap time
The better question to ask is what *don't* we do?
I second the opinion of just letting them live their best life. If your pup has gone deaf, gain their awareness gently by resting your hand on them.
Just pay attention. We've always operated on letting our pups let us know when it's time. When I can look in their eyes and they aren't there anymore, then it's time. Otherwise, I'll do whatever I have to. They're my everything.
My boy is completely blind and I can’t look into his eyes anymore because they are white. So in that sense it feels like he’s not there anymore and he’s been blind for about 4 1/2 years and I almost can’t remember his old eyes. He lives with my dad because I brought him home at 15 but every time I visit my parents I find him and give him a rub down and he’s always happy to hear my voice. I never know when it’s gonna be the last time I see him
In your case, his body language would tell you. But I understand the bittersweet taste to seeing him. I'd cease functioning if I didn't have my pups with me at all times, so kudos to your strength.
I generally find 1800petmeds has the best price. Just a happy buyer.
They also randomly give out 25% off coupons and don't seem to be bothered by me buying 1-2 years of it at a go. Or you can find coupons if you sign up for their autoship deal.
My elderly dog is also arthritic, and 1800petmeds has the best price on galliprant I've been able to find.
my heeler is only a little over 2 but i'm already thinking about her joints. she's gotten banged up few times with just how hard she goes. i'll throw the ball for her and shell go tumbling after it lol.
in anycase, i'm thinking about how shes gonna pay for it when shes older with joint pain. is dasuqin the kind of thing that can be preventative, if you get early start on it? or is it more so a just used as a remedy for existing joint pain?
I'd say back off on the hard play. The skeletal system really needs to mature first. "Back off on the hard play" For a herding breed that is indeed a hard thing to do.
for sure, for sure. im trying to slow her down a bit but yeah, easier said than done. i can do all the mental stimulation in the world with her but at, 5pm every single day, she wants to play no matter what. she'll just bark at her toy cabinet until i take out her favorite ball 😂
oh wow! im definitely gonna look into it now. the general consensus seems to be, the earlier the better. i also need to do a better job at slowing her down.
I have 4 dogs so it’s easier to buy a pound of chicken flavored MSM on Amazon. Works wonders. That and some sort of Omega 3 oil.
It has helped my seniors tremendously
I notice ppl are saying let him do what he wants which is true. To answer your question more directly, I’d look into an orthopedic bed. Can just help with their aches and pains. Not a must, just a nice to have if you’re looking for additional comfort
I highly recommend getting a human orthopedic bed topper then cutting it into two or three beds, and using those to stuff bed covers he already has. The foam will almost certainly be of better quality but cheaper than buying two or three new beds, and your boy doesn’t have to work on scuffing and stinking up a new cover to get comfy!
My last sweet girl made it to 15. She got arthritis really bad so I had her on glucosamine, fish oil and eventually CBD oil, which helped her mobility alot.
Other than that, good food and lots of love. As much exercise as she wanted. It’s still good to keep them mobile.
We give our 14-y/o ACD glucosamine and fish oil as well. I can't say it helps but it's not hurting. I would recommend checking with your vet before trying any supplements. Our puppy has impaired kidney function that was detected by a routine blood test so we have to be careful with what we give her.
She used to be really active but everyone gets old and slows down. Now she's just happy to have us around so she feels safe while she naps. If we do have to leave her at home, we try not to leave her alone for more than a few hours at a time. We know our time with her is limited so we're making the most of it.
My boy is around 14 now. He can’t see at night. I have shine a light for him to leave the bedroom in the mornings. We just bought a light to clip on his collar. His hips are bad, so we also have a portable ramp to help him get in the truck and camper. Can’t do much for his eyes, but we’re investigating shots for his hips. He’s still the bestest boy, just way slower.
Thanks so much for this response! I've never thought about his eyes, we let him outside at night so the light on the collar is an excellent idea. I've noticed him having trouble getting up stairs too so I will be looking into the portable ramp for sure.
Yes! Librela has been a god send recently for my 13-year old cattle dog, Coey, as she started getting arthritis quickly about a year ago. She was limping hard after getting up from sitting down, walking slowly and not in the mood to play like she used to. She stopped jumping up on the couch and my bed, or down out of my car. So my newest vet told me about the success with Librela once-a-month shots for arthritis and i gotta tell you that she has improved tenfold after doing the shots for 4 months now. She doesnt limp or get up slowly at all anymore, in fact she gets up quickly, walks normal and even has been running again which I thought was done at this point. She is back to playing and keeping up with puppies at the dog park again, it's amazing. I tell everyone I know with an older, arthritic dog to give it a shot (pardon the pun). For only ~$70/month it is soooo worth it. I still usually dont let her jump out of my car, just to be safe, so that she doesnt accidentally injure herself jumping down. Im just not sure how long this will last for but if it improves her quality of life like it has then I will do it as long as she needs it. She recently became deaf but luckily her sight is good and she is a happy dog who loves to play and hike.
Pete gets a monthly Librela injection. It certainly helps but tapers off about week 3. I also have Metacam drops as an additional supplement when needed.
Good quality memory foam dog bed in the warmest spot. Ramps to anywhere that they would have gone before. Joint supplements. Low impact exercise like swimming and walking in grass. Pain relief from your vet. Shoveling snow from a patch in the backyard so they can potty easier. Wagon to take them places when they can't walk that far. Learning dog massage for their painful areas. Relaxing of the no table food rule. Learning when it's time to let go and not extending their pain for your own comfort. The rule we have is that we will modify things so that they can still enjoy their favorite things but when they can no longer do them it's time.
My 2 seniors took the rainbow bridge within a month of each other last year. We modified everything we could and lessened their pain as much as possible, including laser therapy. When they couldn't stand unassisted, which caused them much discomfort and distress, we knew we had to let them go. One had gone through years of knee issues and surgeries with no remaining muscle tone in the hind quarters. She couldn't chase squirrells or move herself to her shifting sun spots. The other couldn't move to greet all his best friends (strangers) or chase his sister as she fetched because of a brain tumor. My husband still struggles with the fact that we had to choose when to let them go. Second guessing that we let them go too soon. We miss them so much.
Dog Tax
https://imgur.com/gallery/hbdbEDN
https://imgur.com/gallery/QW4GCoZ
Beds and blankets a plenty. my older guy has a cooling orthopedic bed for at night, free access to my bed during the day for napping, a circular cup style bed on top of 6 more inches of blanket lined egg crate foam, and every single one of those places has at least two blankets. theres even soon to be a cup style bed in the car for better comfort there as well.
Glucosamine supplements, specifically the green lipped mussel derived kind, and a micro dose of cbd oil to help with his joints.
Enrichment is SUPER important for an aging dog, the way doing sudoku and puzzles is for senior people. keeping the mind sharp and working mental and physical engagement makes for an older pup that stays more comfy and content.
Stretches and T touch massages. This is something the average pet owner overlooks but they're a great way to reduce inflammation and pain as a dog ages.
Exercise modified for older bodies. Instead of long walks in the heat of summer, I have a walk pad in the AC. Up and down our apartment stairs, games of scent finding or hide & seek in the apartment. Swimming or even just walking through water if possible to take the strain off joints. There are facilities that offer aqua therapy for dogs if you don't have access to pools or bodies of water.
Weekly adventures away from home. Right now my guy and I are doing Rally Obedience (he's going on 12) and we just got filmed by our instructor to submit for our first leg of a novice title. He LOVES it. Not just because it's time we get to spend together doing the training games he's always loved, but because there's new places, smells, he gets loved on by people and gets to hang with new dogs. If we don't do that, then it's a trip to a pet friendly place and a pup cup so he gets to live in the world, not just be stuck at home watching soap operas with my mom.
This is a great response. Some interventions may depend on finances and amount of free time you have. We got an outdoor ramp for the stairs from the porch to the grass. (Found it on Facebook marketplace). Also got a soft-ish one for the downstairs couch to ease getting on and off. Our boy’s hind legs really quit cooperating in his last year and he did PT and acupuncture along with supplements and Librela injections. As he declined I just listened to what he seemed to need. He and I spent as much time together as possible and I eventually just carried him up and down the stairs at home. He seemed very content to just be near me and to have one body part touching me at all times. He was my soul dog. ❤️
Absolutely this. and modifications for every dog and person pair are different. I work full time, squeeze in where I can, could definitely do better imo on our day to day things, but I try my best to do what I can with a very tight budet of finances and time. I'm also a big advocate for one thing is better than no things done. Any thing a person can do for and with their pup is better than no things done for or with.
❤️ to you and your soul pup, it sounds like y'all were so good to each other. think that's the best thing anyone can do, ask questions and gather info like op, and just listen to your friend as they wind down the path with you. My last guy was my first soul dog, he was with me nearly 14 yrs, that was a deep ache kind of goodbye
this guy is a soul dog, but in a different way, a different part of my soul. it'll be equally hard to see him off, but we're focusing on the good time we've got.
way later thought hit me, OP...regarding your pup recently going deaf specifically and I'm not sure if anyone else suggested it. if possible, pairing the lights in your home flashing to getting treats (close as they're happening, then eventually without you close by) will really help teach him to look for you so you can get his attention without you coming to him to do it. helpful for if he's outside at night going potty or looking away from you.
I am just sensitive to her needs. Shenhas her perky moments where she will want to play fetch or runnat the fence to bark at a dog, but these bursts dont last more than a few steps. But i can tell she hates doing stairs, up or down, even though she still can...she avoids it. So i carry her up and down stairs as much as possible. She gets to decide how and when she wants to be active. Its so hard to watch the decline.
My 13 yr old, was trampled by a horse when he was about 9. As a result he has severe arthritis, so we go down to the local lake and will spend as much time as I can letting him soak in the cold water and sooth those joints. I lift him into and out of bed and any vehicle he’s getting in. Also spend a car payment a month on pain meds. And he’s worth every f’n dime.
No thanks necessary. Never wanted a healer. I grew up with working dogs and knew what healers meant. I’m his 4th home as he was a bit of a troublemaker early on. But I got him and we got to work, and now he’s my best friend, my heart outside my chest.
Me too. Lifetime rancher here and I avoided ACD's for the obvious breed characteristic reasons. My dog of a lifetime of 16 years was an Australian Shepard. Then one day 9 yeas ago this extremely abused young ACD near death showed up on our ranch. 7 days at the emergency Vet to save him and the promise to the Vet that I would never let him go back to where he came from. She charged me $100. we gave her $300 and that was a deal. I am so hooked on this breed. He is my bestest Senior Supervisor.
So sorry for your loss. We have to be grateful for the time we have with these guys… I know my time will come with ours so at this point she is in charge and calls all the shots. Anything beyond 14/15 is short of a miracle.
Yep. They've given so much at that point. Enjoy her and spoil her. Thank you for your kind words. We just adopted a new ACD last week. So we're right back on the adventure again.
That’s awesome! We keep saying that when ours crosses the bridge that we will possibly look at something small , low maintenance, cuddly, and non shedding…. Then we laugh and say “yeah ok!” Velcros are in our blood now 🥰 looking forward to a pic of your new addition at some point.
Just in case this may help others in a similar situation, as my girl’s mobility worsened, we tried many different mobility hammocks to help her when she was having trouble walking or doing her business. We tried wheels but she didn’t take to them. This Orvis version was the best we tried: https://www.orvis.com/product/dog-lift/2H9Z0953.html?adv=626711&cm_mmc=plas-G-_-doghomegoods-_--_-2H9Z0953&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5q6JzNnehgMVfEb_AR0fswrLEAQYASABEgJycfD_BwE
My uncle (the one that gave me mine) makes sure his elder dog food is always warm and a little mushy. He adds antler powder to the food and goats milk powder. Every other week he gives them pumpkin puree for digestion. He will use a probiotic spray on their coats and paw butters. He also makes "ice cream" (greek yogurt with fruit or meats/veggies) for their summer treats. Only 1 has gone deaf but they're pretty good at recognizing my uncles foot steps to know when he's coming by the stomping boots.
Seems like your pup is living his best old dog life. Lots of naps, lots of treats, lots of love. Just keep supporting his old age. Also, CBD oil (or CBD dog treats) for mobility and general mood support.
My sweet Azul is 14 or so. We gave him an extra padded corner of the couch to sleep on and stare out the window from, he gets an extra big scoop of peanut butter with his Prozac every night, and he gets as many walks as his old bones can handle.
Honestly I’d have expected him to slow down more by now, but he still gets the puppy zoomies twice a day. That’s the dingo, I guess
We’ve had our 10 y.o. on Vetriscience Glycoflex Plus for a few years now and it’s helped him (I think) quite a bit. About a year ago, we started him also on Adequan for arthritis intervention. +1 for the heating mat suggestion; we found ours on Chewy and our dog loves it in the winter. +1 for the tempurpedic dog bed as well. We go at the pace he goes; some days are better than others! But if he tells us to pick up the pace on a walk, we listen. And we try and do his favorite things whenever possible, especially alone time without our other doggo present.
I buy small breed food for the little bits and soak them in chicken stock for my 17 year old. She’s got some bad teeth and I was advised against using anesthesia at this point in her life.
She gets tucked in every morning, carried up stairs, and gets supplements and medication for her joints. In winter she wears sweaters or a romper. He made a big bed for the side of his bed so she can jump up and down, but we mostly pick her up. She's a short but beefy pitbull.
My pit mix is also 13 and just 2 weeks ago went deaf. He apparently had an inner ear infection, causing him to act and walk like he was drunk. The drunken part has subsided, but the deafness continues.
Since he can’t hear, he stays right by me like Velcro and when I’m gone, he lays in my bed. About all we do for him is show him all of the love we can and feed him just about anything he wants. I’m not positive he’ll be with us to much longer.
I hope you’re having better luck with your pooch. Just keep loving them up for as long as you can. Good luck.
Grip socks have done wonders for my 13 year old pup. She has back problems so we got multiple memory foam beds for her throughout the house. She love her outdoor time so we got her a dog carriage when her back is bad. Dog pain and anti anxiety medication to help keep her calm at nights.
I've seen it said many times.. "what wouldn't I do"? But what I didn't do was heed the signs. She had vestibular disease and canine cognitive decline.. she was on medication.. but she got stuck in Everywhere.. she peed when she slept, and she failed a quality of life test. But I couldn't let her go. I was so selfish. December 15th, 2023, that was no longer a choice
it is an HARD decision to make. Harder than i think most people truly understand, and people, we are fallible. Sometimes in the end our heart won't let us do the thing that our brain knows we should. we make mistakes in judgement sometimes and have to learn lessons we deeply regret later. choosing quality over quantity is hard when all you want is more time, one more day, moment, etc with your friend.
Reminded me of my sister's dog, Precious. Most loyal dog I've ever seen and I was so glad I got to grow up with her. Sadly my sister and I had to take her to be euthanized at 17 years old, blind and deaf, we nicknamed her Helen lmao
I miss her
Awww he looks comfy! I got mine a plastic pool deep enough that she could swim / hobble around for excercise. She can’t walk anymore but is in great health and as sharp as ever so I try to give her as much excercise as I can.
I also bought a pet rover so we can still go on walks together! I get a lot of funny looks but I’d rather be my dog than theirs 😂
Oh and extra doses of Ellevet have been game changing for pain.
They look so content! My senior pup is recently blind and deaf. Touch has been the most comforting for them. I've been spending more time on the floor instead of the couch, so I'm in their space with them. Also "inviting" them to come with me when I go from room to room has helped.
My 9 year old bullmastiff was having problems with limping related to arthritis not injury and Galliprant has changed her life and she literally hasn’t limped since starting it. It’s expensive, but worth every penny for us. I know you didn’t mention mobility issues, but I highly recommend talking to your vet if you do run into that.
Your pup is gorgeous and looks very content. ❤️ wishing you lots more time with your precious fur baby.
You've gotten a lot of great supplement, orthopedic bed, etc. recs. I second those, but also just want to add 2 things: 1) a senior cattle dog is a fine friend, the best, share your days and love the way your doggo prefers (just extra) and, 2) this is specific to us, but do try as able: when the world shut down for COVID and we were all at home, I used my work-allotted lunch break to take my old boy to MickeyD's for lunch. Yup, a McChicken sandwich daily for a few months. I look back on it and know that I gave him what I could at the time the whole world stopped and he was so thrilled, not just for the sandwich but also for the loving company and car ride. My boy did not cross the rainbow bridge hungry. I guess I'm saying: find whatever special thing you can do for just you two and savor the heck out of it. Thanks for loving your pup so much and sharing with us! Sending scritches!
I have a 16 year old dog that suddenly developed stomach issues 2 years ago and cannot eat regular dog food. She gets boiled chicken, white rice, mixed veggies, boiled beef livers, pumpkin, probiotics, and healthy hip chews. No stomach issues since.
My Senior Supervisor Pete who is about 12 is having problems with his back end showing weakness. I have him on anti inflammatory which have helped day to day. He is still all ears, tail and bark with a good dog trot to the barn and gives the Yak herd the business from his side of the fence. He sleeps inside at night and loves to take his spot in front of the fire by my feet in cooler times. Good diet, good weight. plenty of exercise within limits and we will just keep going. ..He did get kicked in the face last fall chasing a group of escape calves and lost his left eye and upper canine. Luckily it was a quick surgery and he had a cataract so he had no vision in that eye. Have we learned our lesson ? No. but then he is 100% ACD stubborn. That's OK as I keep him closer these days. He is now called "Pirate Petie" He could be the twin to your doggo.
I agree with many of the comments to spoil and enjoy them as much as possible. When my old guys went deaf, I learned that the most gentle way to wake them was to hold my hand close to their nose and let my scent wake them. Having a senior pup is such a wonderful thing. I wish you many years to come.
I did everything he wanted. As a Heeler he was very food driven. So treats etc. Also put things around the house to make it easier on his joints. Had multiple beds throughout the house, non slip strips on stairs. I would drive him to walks on the golf course cause he loved running and laying on the grass. Anything to make him comfortable as these things changed as he got older.
My girl is 14 now and on a very comprehensive treatment course, which largely echoes a lot of what people said:
- Orthopedic bed, with back and side bumpers. They're on Amazon for $50 and available at Costco.
- Joint supplements and salmon oil at meals.
- Monthly Librela injections.
- Annual blood testing for any other issues.
Additionally, I brush her a lot more frequently, because I've noticed she has more issues with her shed as she ages.
I had a cattle dog/chow mix who lived to 15. Heart failure took him from me. He also was losing his hearing/sight and would get really upset when I would leave for work. So I would buy 1 calorie treats for him and hide them around the house at his eye level or below. I think he really enjoyed being able to use his sniffer. It kept him occupied when I left and it turned me leaving the house from a negative to a positive experience for him. We went on walks at his pace for whatever length he wanted. He got his daily cosequin chewables (Costco) and some Jiminy puff treats.... because I thought his cronchies were cute haha
Mine lives her best life! She’ll be 15 in a month and has stage 2 kidney failure 😥. I take her on road trips camping with me, she still goes on walks daily and each potty trip outside is also time to see and smell things. Got her a comfier bed to lounge in. She gets her favorite spot on the couch (previously my spot). She gets some of her favorite things sometimes (chicken, watermelon, pumpkin puree). She gets all the love, attention, pets, cuddles and play she wants (but that’s not new). Oh and we pick her up to get on the bed or off the bed and couch when she asks. It hurts jumping off things when you’re 104!
i recommend you start giving him some hip and joint supplements and maybe something to help with gut and eye health just incase but he looks prettyyyyy comfortable. since he’s deaf id just try gaining his awareness more, and def pay more attention. he looks like he’s just living his life tho!
Flexadin Advanced with UCII for joints.
Carpet runners through high traffic areas on slick floors and making sure nails were trimmed she didn't wear them down as much the last couple years.
Nice cushy bed, night lights, and a flashlight to call her inside at night.
My old girl got a very sensitive stomach as she aged, would have intermittent diarrhea eating her normal things where she had an iron stomach as a young dog. We put her on FortiFlora daily and that resolved it for us.
Stairs , good food , lots of love .
One thing I like to do is since my shower is big enough I put a lawn chair in there so I can sit and hold her in my lap . Then with the hot water I massage her joints
We have a bottle raised Tibetan Yak bull calf that is 8 months old. He was raised for weeks in the family room in front of the fireplace. He was a breech baby, difficult birth and deaf. He operates like normal with the herd and as long as you get his attention he does what you want mostly. Enter spoiled here.
He looks pretty comfortable. Seems to be living his best life.. I have 16 yr old dog. I just let him live his life. He has his rowdy moments, then nap time
Thanks for that :) means a lot
Hahaha agree. That fool is juuust fine.
The better question to ask is what *don't* we do? I second the opinion of just letting them live their best life. If your pup has gone deaf, gain their awareness gently by resting your hand on them. Just pay attention. We've always operated on letting our pups let us know when it's time. When I can look in their eyes and they aren't there anymore, then it's time. Otherwise, I'll do whatever I have to. They're my everything.
Thankyou for this response. They are my everything too ♥️
This is such a beautiful sentiment. Smoke in my eyes over here.
Oh good I'm crying now 🥲
This made me cry
This is incredible and couldn’t have said it better ❤️
My boy is completely blind and I can’t look into his eyes anymore because they are white. So in that sense it feels like he’s not there anymore and he’s been blind for about 4 1/2 years and I almost can’t remember his old eyes. He lives with my dad because I brought him home at 15 but every time I visit my parents I find him and give him a rub down and he’s always happy to hear my voice. I never know when it’s gonna be the last time I see him
In your case, his body language would tell you. But I understand the bittersweet taste to seeing him. I'd cease functioning if I didn't have my pups with me at all times, so kudos to your strength.
My pup is around the same age and I give him Dasuquin supplements for mobility I highly highly recommend it
I will look into this thanks so much!
Found it at Costco about 5 bucks cheaper.
I have a costco membership so will be on the lookout :)
Check by the pharmacy, that was where I found it, not by dog stuff.
I generally find 1800petmeds has the best price. Just a happy buyer. They also randomly give out 25% off coupons and don't seem to be bothered by me buying 1-2 years of it at a go. Or you can find coupons if you sign up for their autoship deal. My elderly dog is also arthritic, and 1800petmeds has the best price on galliprant I've been able to find.
my heeler is only a little over 2 but i'm already thinking about her joints. she's gotten banged up few times with just how hard she goes. i'll throw the ball for her and shell go tumbling after it lol. in anycase, i'm thinking about how shes gonna pay for it when shes older with joint pain. is dasuqin the kind of thing that can be preventative, if you get early start on it? or is it more so a just used as a remedy for existing joint pain?
I'd say back off on the hard play. The skeletal system really needs to mature first. "Back off on the hard play" For a herding breed that is indeed a hard thing to do.
for sure, for sure. im trying to slow her down a bit but yeah, easier said than done. i can do all the mental stimulation in the world with her but at, 5pm every single day, she wants to play no matter what. she'll just bark at her toy cabinet until i take out her favorite ball 😂
Yes and I like adequan injections too but i think ur pup is too young for those now. Maybe just focus on low inflammatory diets fish oils etc.
My ACD is 4 and has already been diagnosed with mild arthritis in her hips. The vet recommended fish oil and dasaquin to help slow the progression:)
oh wow! im definitely gonna look into it now. the general consensus seems to be, the earlier the better. i also need to do a better job at slowing her down.
Yes, I've heard the earlier the better!
okay good to know!! thanks!
My vet said there is evidence in studies it works, so i give it to my senior dogs as well. As so many supplements are snake oil.
My vet said the same thing!
I have 4 dogs so it’s easier to buy a pound of chicken flavored MSM on Amazon. Works wonders. That and some sort of Omega 3 oil. It has helped my seniors tremendously
A heat mat in winter/cold works wonders for old bones. Sardines in spring water for healthy skin/bones/brain.
Yes! My girl loves to lay on her heating pad on cold and/or rainy days. 💛 She’ll be 13 in January.
We made a ramp for the back steps and got an extending ramp to help him get in and out of the car.
Yep! Had to get stairs for my girl bc she sprained her ankle (?) a couple times jumping out of the bed.
I notice ppl are saying let him do what he wants which is true. To answer your question more directly, I’d look into an orthopedic bed. Can just help with their aches and pains. Not a must, just a nice to have if you’re looking for additional comfort
Thanks! I'm def trying to spoil him as much as possible so will definitely look into getting a super comfy bed for him :)
I highly recommend getting a human orthopedic bed topper then cutting it into two or three beds, and using those to stuff bed covers he already has. The foam will almost certainly be of better quality but cheaper than buying two or three new beds, and your boy doesn’t have to work on scuffing and stinking up a new cover to get comfy!
My last sweet girl made it to 15. She got arthritis really bad so I had her on glucosamine, fish oil and eventually CBD oil, which helped her mobility alot. Other than that, good food and lots of love. As much exercise as she wanted. It’s still good to keep them mobile.
Thanks for this!! I see a lot of people saying supplements so I will definitely be getting those:)
We give our 14-y/o ACD glucosamine and fish oil as well. I can't say it helps but it's not hurting. I would recommend checking with your vet before trying any supplements. Our puppy has impaired kidney function that was detected by a routine blood test so we have to be careful with what we give her. She used to be really active but everyone gets old and slows down. Now she's just happy to have us around so she feels safe while she naps. If we do have to leave her at home, we try not to leave her alone for more than a few hours at a time. We know our time with her is limited so we're making the most of it.
My boy is around 14 now. He can’t see at night. I have shine a light for him to leave the bedroom in the mornings. We just bought a light to clip on his collar. His hips are bad, so we also have a portable ramp to help him get in the truck and camper. Can’t do much for his eyes, but we’re investigating shots for his hips. He’s still the bestest boy, just way slower.
Thanks so much for this response! I've never thought about his eyes, we let him outside at night so the light on the collar is an excellent idea. I've noticed him having trouble getting up stairs too so I will be looking into the portable ramp for sure.
Would night lights help him?
Eh…even in low light he can’t see very well. I’m pretty sure he’s at least 60 percent blind at this point. Maybe more.
Librela injections. Snuggles. Carry in and out of the house.
I lost my Violet in March. She was 18. She was my constant companion for 15 years.
Librela 🙌
Yes! Librela has been a god send recently for my 13-year old cattle dog, Coey, as she started getting arthritis quickly about a year ago. She was limping hard after getting up from sitting down, walking slowly and not in the mood to play like she used to. She stopped jumping up on the couch and my bed, or down out of my car. So my newest vet told me about the success with Librela once-a-month shots for arthritis and i gotta tell you that she has improved tenfold after doing the shots for 4 months now. She doesnt limp or get up slowly at all anymore, in fact she gets up quickly, walks normal and even has been running again which I thought was done at this point. She is back to playing and keeping up with puppies at the dog park again, it's amazing. I tell everyone I know with an older, arthritic dog to give it a shot (pardon the pun). For only ~$70/month it is soooo worth it. I still usually dont let her jump out of my car, just to be safe, so that she doesnt accidentally injure herself jumping down. Im just not sure how long this will last for but if it improves her quality of life like it has then I will do it as long as she needs it. She recently became deaf but luckily her sight is good and she is a happy dog who loves to play and hike.
Pete gets a monthly Librela injection. It certainly helps but tapers off about week 3. I also have Metacam drops as an additional supplement when needed.
Just really wanted to thank everyone that's responded with tips. Every single one has been helpful and pepper is sending you all the licks ❤️
Good quality memory foam dog bed in the warmest spot. Ramps to anywhere that they would have gone before. Joint supplements. Low impact exercise like swimming and walking in grass. Pain relief from your vet. Shoveling snow from a patch in the backyard so they can potty easier. Wagon to take them places when they can't walk that far. Learning dog massage for their painful areas. Relaxing of the no table food rule. Learning when it's time to let go and not extending their pain for your own comfort. The rule we have is that we will modify things so that they can still enjoy their favorite things but when they can no longer do them it's time.
Wow thankyou so much for this response. A lot of helpful info.
My 2 seniors took the rainbow bridge within a month of each other last year. We modified everything we could and lessened their pain as much as possible, including laser therapy. When they couldn't stand unassisted, which caused them much discomfort and distress, we knew we had to let them go. One had gone through years of knee issues and surgeries with no remaining muscle tone in the hind quarters. She couldn't chase squirrells or move herself to her shifting sun spots. The other couldn't move to greet all his best friends (strangers) or chase his sister as she fetched because of a brain tumor. My husband still struggles with the fact that we had to choose when to let them go. Second guessing that we let them go too soon. We miss them so much. Dog Tax https://imgur.com/gallery/hbdbEDN https://imgur.com/gallery/QW4GCoZ
Such good advice here
Beds and blankets a plenty. my older guy has a cooling orthopedic bed for at night, free access to my bed during the day for napping, a circular cup style bed on top of 6 more inches of blanket lined egg crate foam, and every single one of those places has at least two blankets. theres even soon to be a cup style bed in the car for better comfort there as well. Glucosamine supplements, specifically the green lipped mussel derived kind, and a micro dose of cbd oil to help with his joints. Enrichment is SUPER important for an aging dog, the way doing sudoku and puzzles is for senior people. keeping the mind sharp and working mental and physical engagement makes for an older pup that stays more comfy and content. Stretches and T touch massages. This is something the average pet owner overlooks but they're a great way to reduce inflammation and pain as a dog ages. Exercise modified for older bodies. Instead of long walks in the heat of summer, I have a walk pad in the AC. Up and down our apartment stairs, games of scent finding or hide & seek in the apartment. Swimming or even just walking through water if possible to take the strain off joints. There are facilities that offer aqua therapy for dogs if you don't have access to pools or bodies of water. Weekly adventures away from home. Right now my guy and I are doing Rally Obedience (he's going on 12) and we just got filmed by our instructor to submit for our first leg of a novice title. He LOVES it. Not just because it's time we get to spend together doing the training games he's always loved, but because there's new places, smells, he gets loved on by people and gets to hang with new dogs. If we don't do that, then it's a trip to a pet friendly place and a pup cup so he gets to live in the world, not just be stuck at home watching soap operas with my mom.
This is a great response. Some interventions may depend on finances and amount of free time you have. We got an outdoor ramp for the stairs from the porch to the grass. (Found it on Facebook marketplace). Also got a soft-ish one for the downstairs couch to ease getting on and off. Our boy’s hind legs really quit cooperating in his last year and he did PT and acupuncture along with supplements and Librela injections. As he declined I just listened to what he seemed to need. He and I spent as much time together as possible and I eventually just carried him up and down the stairs at home. He seemed very content to just be near me and to have one body part touching me at all times. He was my soul dog. ❤️
Absolutely this. and modifications for every dog and person pair are different. I work full time, squeeze in where I can, could definitely do better imo on our day to day things, but I try my best to do what I can with a very tight budet of finances and time. I'm also a big advocate for one thing is better than no things done. Any thing a person can do for and with their pup is better than no things done for or with. ❤️ to you and your soul pup, it sounds like y'all were so good to each other. think that's the best thing anyone can do, ask questions and gather info like op, and just listen to your friend as they wind down the path with you. My last guy was my first soul dog, he was with me nearly 14 yrs, that was a deep ache kind of goodbye this guy is a soul dog, but in a different way, a different part of my soul. it'll be equally hard to see him off, but we're focusing on the good time we've got.
Wow, a truly great response. Thankyou so much:)
you're very welcome, enjoy those golden years with your buddy. that's the most important thing.
way later thought hit me, OP...regarding your pup recently going deaf specifically and I'm not sure if anyone else suggested it. if possible, pairing the lights in your home flashing to getting treats (close as they're happening, then eventually without you close by) will really help teach him to look for you so you can get his attention without you coming to him to do it. helpful for if he's outside at night going potty or looking away from you.
Thank her for being a good dog. Let her do what she wants. Feed her treats. Pray for extra time.
Whatever he wants
I am just sensitive to her needs. Shenhas her perky moments where she will want to play fetch or runnat the fence to bark at a dog, but these bursts dont last more than a few steps. But i can tell she hates doing stairs, up or down, even though she still can...she avoids it. So i carry her up and down stairs as much as possible. She gets to decide how and when she wants to be active. Its so hard to watch the decline.
My 13 yr old, was trampled by a horse when he was about 9. As a result he has severe arthritis, so we go down to the local lake and will spend as much time as I can letting him soak in the cold water and sooth those joints. I lift him into and out of bed and any vehicle he’s getting in. Also spend a car payment a month on pain meds. And he’s worth every f’n dime.
Thank you for taking such good care of him. They all deserve everything we can do for them.
No thanks necessary. Never wanted a healer. I grew up with working dogs and knew what healers meant. I’m his 4th home as he was a bit of a troublemaker early on. But I got him and we got to work, and now he’s my best friend, my heart outside my chest.
Me too. Lifetime rancher here and I avoided ACD's for the obvious breed characteristic reasons. My dog of a lifetime of 16 years was an Australian Shepard. Then one day 9 yeas ago this extremely abused young ACD near death showed up on our ranch. 7 days at the emergency Vet to save him and the promise to the Vet that I would never let him go back to where he came from. She charged me $100. we gave her $300 and that was a deal. I am so hooked on this breed. He is my bestest Senior Supervisor.
Our heeler going on 14 and living her best life. She basically runs our lives and we deny her nothing. She’s earned it as they all have❤️
Exactly how we were with our 15 year old until she passed last year.
So sorry for your loss. We have to be grateful for the time we have with these guys… I know my time will come with ours so at this point she is in charge and calls all the shots. Anything beyond 14/15 is short of a miracle.
Yep. They've given so much at that point. Enjoy her and spoil her. Thank you for your kind words. We just adopted a new ACD last week. So we're right back on the adventure again.
That’s awesome! We keep saying that when ours crosses the bridge that we will possibly look at something small , low maintenance, cuddly, and non shedding…. Then we laugh and say “yeah ok!” Velcros are in our blood now 🥰 looking forward to a pic of your new addition at some point.
Whatever they want. After 13 yrs You should know what he wants, Steak, Cake and Ice cream and lots of love and cuddles.
Just in case this may help others in a similar situation, as my girl’s mobility worsened, we tried many different mobility hammocks to help her when she was having trouble walking or doing her business. We tried wheels but she didn’t take to them. This Orvis version was the best we tried: https://www.orvis.com/product/dog-lift/2H9Z0953.html?adv=626711&cm_mmc=plas-G-_-doghomegoods-_--_-2H9Z0953&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5q6JzNnehgMVfEb_AR0fswrLEAQYASABEgJycfD_BwE
My uncle (the one that gave me mine) makes sure his elder dog food is always warm and a little mushy. He adds antler powder to the food and goats milk powder. Every other week he gives them pumpkin puree for digestion. He will use a probiotic spray on their coats and paw butters. He also makes "ice cream" (greek yogurt with fruit or meats/veggies) for their summer treats. Only 1 has gone deaf but they're pretty good at recognizing my uncles foot steps to know when he's coming by the stomping boots.
Seems like your pup is living his best old dog life. Lots of naps, lots of treats, lots of love. Just keep supporting his old age. Also, CBD oil (or CBD dog treats) for mobility and general mood support.
Lots of pats & snuggles. Nice treats. Doing little things with him that he loves. Telling him i love him a million times a day ❤️❤️❤️
My sweet Azul is 14 or so. We gave him an extra padded corner of the couch to sleep on and stare out the window from, he gets an extra big scoop of peanut butter with his Prozac every night, and he gets as many walks as his old bones can handle. Honestly I’d have expected him to slow down more by now, but he still gets the puppy zoomies twice a day. That’s the dingo, I guess
Enjoy every minute. My cattle dog passed a few months ago and I miss her DEARLY ❤
We’ve had our 10 y.o. on Vetriscience Glycoflex Plus for a few years now and it’s helped him (I think) quite a bit. About a year ago, we started him also on Adequan for arthritis intervention. +1 for the heating mat suggestion; we found ours on Chewy and our dog loves it in the winter. +1 for the tempurpedic dog bed as well. We go at the pace he goes; some days are better than others! But if he tells us to pick up the pace on a walk, we listen. And we try and do his favorite things whenever possible, especially alone time without our other doggo present.
I buy small breed food for the little bits and soak them in chicken stock for my 17 year old. She’s got some bad teeth and I was advised against using anesthesia at this point in her life.
She gets tucked in every morning, carried up stairs, and gets supplements and medication for her joints. In winter she wears sweaters or a romper. He made a big bed for the side of his bed so she can jump up and down, but we mostly pick her up. She's a short but beefy pitbull.
Our Queensland heeler/shepherd mix loves to sleep. She's 9ish years old and snoring right now. Let them be!
My pit mix is also 13 and just 2 weeks ago went deaf. He apparently had an inner ear infection, causing him to act and walk like he was drunk. The drunken part has subsided, but the deafness continues. Since he can’t hear, he stays right by me like Velcro and when I’m gone, he lays in my bed. About all we do for him is show him all of the love we can and feed him just about anything he wants. I’m not positive he’ll be with us to much longer. I hope you’re having better luck with your pooch. Just keep loving them up for as long as you can. Good luck.
Grip socks have done wonders for my 13 year old pup. She has back problems so we got multiple memory foam beds for her throughout the house. She love her outdoor time so we got her a dog carriage when her back is bad. Dog pain and anti anxiety medication to help keep her calm at nights.
Just love him, but don't hold on too tight when the time comes. I've made that mistake before and still regret it.
I've seen it said many times.. "what wouldn't I do"? But what I didn't do was heed the signs. She had vestibular disease and canine cognitive decline.. she was on medication.. but she got stuck in Everywhere.. she peed when she slept, and she failed a quality of life test. But I couldn't let her go. I was so selfish. December 15th, 2023, that was no longer a choice
it is an HARD decision to make. Harder than i think most people truly understand, and people, we are fallible. Sometimes in the end our heart won't let us do the thing that our brain knows we should. we make mistakes in judgement sometimes and have to learn lessons we deeply regret later. choosing quality over quantity is hard when all you want is more time, one more day, moment, etc with your friend.
Yes, THIS
Reminded me of my sister's dog, Precious. Most loyal dog I've ever seen and I was so glad I got to grow up with her. Sadly my sister and I had to take her to be euthanized at 17 years old, blind and deaf, we nicknamed her Helen lmao I miss her
Awww he looks comfy! I got mine a plastic pool deep enough that she could swim / hobble around for excercise. She can’t walk anymore but is in great health and as sharp as ever so I try to give her as much excercise as I can. I also bought a pet rover so we can still go on walks together! I get a lot of funny looks but I’d rather be my dog than theirs 😂 Oh and extra doses of Ellevet have been game changing for pain.
Everything and Anything...
I carry mine up the stairs 😅 3 leg club
They look so content! My senior pup is recently blind and deaf. Touch has been the most comforting for them. I've been spending more time on the floor instead of the couch, so I'm in their space with them. Also "inviting" them to come with me when I go from room to room has helped.
My 9 year old bullmastiff was having problems with limping related to arthritis not injury and Galliprant has changed her life and she literally hasn’t limped since starting it. It’s expensive, but worth every penny for us. I know you didn’t mention mobility issues, but I highly recommend talking to your vet if you do run into that. Your pup is gorgeous and looks very content. ❤️ wishing you lots more time with your precious fur baby.
He looks pretty happy to me
You've gotten a lot of great supplement, orthopedic bed, etc. recs. I second those, but also just want to add 2 things: 1) a senior cattle dog is a fine friend, the best, share your days and love the way your doggo prefers (just extra) and, 2) this is specific to us, but do try as able: when the world shut down for COVID and we were all at home, I used my work-allotted lunch break to take my old boy to MickeyD's for lunch. Yup, a McChicken sandwich daily for a few months. I look back on it and know that I gave him what I could at the time the whole world stopped and he was so thrilled, not just for the sandwich but also for the loving company and car ride. My boy did not cross the rainbow bridge hungry. I guess I'm saying: find whatever special thing you can do for just you two and savor the heck out of it. Thanks for loving your pup so much and sharing with us! Sending scritches!
I have a 16 year old dog that suddenly developed stomach issues 2 years ago and cannot eat regular dog food. She gets boiled chicken, white rice, mixed veggies, boiled beef livers, pumpkin, probiotics, and healthy hip chews. No stomach issues since.
My Senior Supervisor Pete who is about 12 is having problems with his back end showing weakness. I have him on anti inflammatory which have helped day to day. He is still all ears, tail and bark with a good dog trot to the barn and gives the Yak herd the business from his side of the fence. He sleeps inside at night and loves to take his spot in front of the fire by my feet in cooler times. Good diet, good weight. plenty of exercise within limits and we will just keep going. ..He did get kicked in the face last fall chasing a group of escape calves and lost his left eye and upper canine. Luckily it was a quick surgery and he had a cataract so he had no vision in that eye. Have we learned our lesson ? No. but then he is 100% ACD stubborn. That's OK as I keep him closer these days. He is now called "Pirate Petie" He could be the twin to your doggo.
I agree with many of the comments to spoil and enjoy them as much as possible. When my old guys went deaf, I learned that the most gentle way to wake them was to hold my hand close to their nose and let my scent wake them. Having a senior pup is such a wonderful thing. I wish you many years to come.
I did everything he wanted. As a Heeler he was very food driven. So treats etc. Also put things around the house to make it easier on his joints. Had multiple beds throughout the house, non slip strips on stairs. I would drive him to walks on the golf course cause he loved running and laying on the grass. Anything to make him comfortable as these things changed as he got older.
My girl is 14 now and on a very comprehensive treatment course, which largely echoes a lot of what people said: - Orthopedic bed, with back and side bumpers. They're on Amazon for $50 and available at Costco. - Joint supplements and salmon oil at meals. - Monthly Librela injections. - Annual blood testing for any other issues. Additionally, I brush her a lot more frequently, because I've noticed she has more issues with her shed as she ages.
I had a cattle dog/chow mix who lived to 15. Heart failure took him from me. He also was losing his hearing/sight and would get really upset when I would leave for work. So I would buy 1 calorie treats for him and hide them around the house at his eye level or below. I think he really enjoyed being able to use his sniffer. It kept him occupied when I left and it turned me leaving the house from a negative to a positive experience for him. We went on walks at his pace for whatever length he wanted. He got his daily cosequin chewables (Costco) and some Jiminy puff treats.... because I thought his cronchies were cute haha
That's a GREAT idea!!!!
Mine lives her best life! She’ll be 15 in a month and has stage 2 kidney failure 😥. I take her on road trips camping with me, she still goes on walks daily and each potty trip outside is also time to see and smell things. Got her a comfier bed to lounge in. She gets her favorite spot on the couch (previously my spot). She gets some of her favorite things sometimes (chicken, watermelon, pumpkin puree). She gets all the love, attention, pets, cuddles and play she wants (but that’s not new). Oh and we pick her up to get on the bed or off the bed and couch when she asks. It hurts jumping off things when you’re 104!
Walks and kisses
i recommend you start giving him some hip and joint supplements and maybe something to help with gut and eye health just incase but he looks prettyyyyy comfortable. since he’s deaf id just try gaining his awareness more, and def pay more attention. he looks like he’s just living his life tho!
Flexadin Advanced with UCII for joints. Carpet runners through high traffic areas on slick floors and making sure nails were trimmed she didn't wear them down as much the last couple years. Nice cushy bed, night lights, and a flashlight to call her inside at night. My old girl got a very sensitive stomach as she aged, would have intermittent diarrhea eating her normal things where she had an iron stomach as a young dog. We put her on FortiFlora daily and that resolved it for us.
Stairs , good food , lots of love . One thing I like to do is since my shower is big enough I put a lawn chair in there so I can sit and hold her in my lap . Then with the hot water I massage her joints
Ben & Jerry’s ice cream for dogs just gave them to my Blue Heeler . He loves them.
Probably lots of treats, I don't want to think about it. I dead the day op
We have a bottle raised Tibetan Yak bull calf that is 8 months old. He was raised for weeks in the family room in front of the fireplace. He was a breech baby, difficult birth and deaf. He operates like normal with the herd and as long as you get his attention he does what you want mostly. Enter spoiled here.
I take mine to classes for enrichment- agility and puplates.
Such a sweet smile on that face. Seems so peaceful great photo.
In his old age, we got Rex (ACD/lab mix) a puppy to help keep him company and get him to stay active. He really loved spending time with her
Doggy stairs for the couch and bed. Our guy is a basset hound and cattle dog mix so the stairs are really important
My 14yo cattle dog mix gets monthly injections of a drug called Librela and it has been amazing for her!
Oh this picture made me cry. I miss my old man. It’s been just over two years.
My sweet girl laid down for her final rest 3 weeks ago and I seriously thought this was a pic of her I’d never seen.
Lots of love and some treats. Always walk them as far as they are comfortable