Tips for aging dogs

[Deleted]

Any pet owners out there have any? I just found out our dog can't take rimadyl for her aches and pains. I'm bummed because she was way more flexible and mobile with it. She has a cushion in her crate but I was wondering if there is anything else I can do. The vet isn't particularly communicative, partially because our dog is in fabulous shape for one that's almost 13 years old. But she is losing muscle and having more trouble taking walks.

[alabamagal]

Best advice is to just do what you think is best to make them comfortable. We went through a lot with our most recent dog who lived 14 years (lab mix). She had some digestive disorder, probably some type of cancer according to the vet, but we did not pursue any treatment due to her age. She lost a lot of weight over the last 2-3 years until she was literally skin and bones. We stopped doing walks (she was mostly outside dog anyway). Near the end, when she was too sick to even get up and eat we decided it was time to put her to sleep. The decision was totally based on our observation of her. Doctor said it was time, and it was rare to have a lab mix live that long.

[mmhmm]

I have an old cat with arthritis. Pain is pain, no matter whether it's a dog, a cat, or a human experience. I got a heated mat for the old guy to sleep on. It's quite large and would accomodate a dog easily. It plugs into the wall socket, has a chew-proof cord, and doesn't overheat to preclude burn injury. The warmth seems to help him maintain some flexibility and mitigate the discomfort. I found it online, but I don't recall where. I imagine Googling for heated pet beds/pads/cushions would lead you to something like it that might help your dog be more comfortable. My old guy loves his.

[mmhmm]

*chuckle* My Siamese is 19 and doesn't leave his pad except to eat, or relieve himself. After a meal, he'll stop by wherever I am to grunt his thanks then go right back to his pad. The thing is really great, with a cover that's plush on one side and canvas on the other. It's completely washable and big enough that the old guy doesn't gripe too much when he has to share it with the Meezer from Hell.

For dogs, aspirin is a good pain reliever and anti-inflammatory. If this dog can't take Rimadyl, he might tolerate aspirin. Here's a link to an article with a chart for amounts to be given according to weight, but be sure to check with your vet before starting an aspirin regimen:

www.school-for-champions.com/animalhealth/aspirin.htm

[mmhmm]

Cool beans! I was able to find the mat I got for the old guy! Here's a link:

www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&gs_mss=heated+pet+m&cp=14&gs_id=1h&xhr=t&q=heated+pet+mat&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&biw=1280&bih=855&wrapid=tljp1339946483050026&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=17050483486875129108&sa=X&ei=-fXdT7bwMIyI8QTarJ27Cg&sqi=2&ved=0CN8BEPICMAM

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Glucosamine chondroitin has had some positive results in dogs. Aspirin also has anti-inflammatory action, so would probably help as well, but get an ok from the vet first.

Others have suggested a heated bed, and I concur. I know that when my hips were really bad, I started sleeping on a heating pad. Cold and damp seems to exacerbate symptoms, so keep the pet bed out of drafts as well.

[lynnerself]

Our 14 year old beagle can not take rimadyl because of his Cushing's disease. The vet has him on Tramadol. I don't think it is quite as affective tho. He is losing muscle in his hind quarters. But still loves his walks.
Are there no other meds that your vet can try?

[Deleted]

The vet talked about trying some actual pain medications as opposed to Rimadyl. We have to wait a few weeks for the liver panel to come back clean. Without speaking to the vet about it I'm kind of nervous about giving straight up pain meds - do you do it twice a day?

[Deleted]

The poodle is getting old now , and she might like the heating pad, too. She's getting stiff but still runs around to show us she's really a little pup. But then, she goes to sleep for a couple of hours, so not so much a puppy anymore. But damn, she's so cute for an eight or nine-year old pup.

We have a five-year-old cocker spaniel that we got when she was two. Naps? Family joke is that she spend most of her day horizontally. She's an old couple's dog (my husband is retired and takes a nap every afternoon on the reclining sofa) and adopted our personality. The vet said he has never seen such a laid-back cocker.

[Deleted]

Jun 17, 2012 16:43:03 GMT -5 @anne81 said:

The vet talked about trying some actual pain medications as opposed to Rimadyl. We have to wait a few weeks for the liver panel to come back clean. Without speaking to the vet about it I'm kind of nervous about giving straight up pain meds - do you do it twice a day?

While it becomes an ongoing cost and hassle (depending on how good your dog is about taking pills) - what's the big deal? Mine struggles with her back and joints from time to time, so I suspect we'll be going down this road at some point.

But she doesn't operate heavy machinery. While you risk them getting addicted, who cares? If it makes her feel better and be able to do happy puppy things, I'm all for it.


Someone mentioned aspirin earlier - my understanding is that there is some risk of ulcers or bleeding with long term use of aspirin in dogs. So you may have to weigh that against the age of the dog and how long they might be taking it. And if you get the orange flavored children's ones, maybe they will even eat it willingly.

[Works4me]

Tara is only 9 but has verry bad hips as do many German Shepherds. She is on Cosequin DS, Aspirin for inflamation and Trfamadal or pain control. She does great on her meds twice a day plus a pain pill in the middle. The only problem is I have to rotate what I put them in - salami, cream cheese, hot dogs, roast beef, turkey, chicken, ice cream - lol.

Yes she is spoiled but she's my baby - stayed friends with my former fiance who adopted her from German Shepherd Rescue when she was about a year old - she was my replacement when we broke up = lol. Then almost 2 years ago he was transferred for work and could not take her so I agreed to keep her for a few months. Now she has become my princess guardian - sleeps next to me on her special foam mattress which she loves (also great for her hips,) wakes me up when I put my pillow over my head, even sniffs, snuggles and whines when I have a lupus flare.

Never knew I could love an adult dog this much.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

All sorts of aids and items for aging and/or arthritic dogs:
www.drsfostersmith.com/dog-supplies/dog-arthritic-aids/ps/c/3307/20748

A friend of mine loves their infrared massager for her dog:
www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3307+20748+24324&pcatid=24324

[CarolinaKat]

Jun 17, 2012 9:52:06 GMT -5 @lonewolf said:

DD uses and feels that chondroitin and glucosamine helps her lab.

That did positive things for our little Pomeranian when he started to get creaky. Really helped him get hime bounce back. But he didn't have severe Arthritis, just a little bit in the back legs.

[Deleted]

But she doesn't operate heavy machinery. While you risk them getting addicted, who cares? If it makes her feel better and be able to do happy puppy things, I'm all for it.

True, lol!

Thanks for all the ideas. I want to make her as comfortable as possible.

[shanendoah]

We give our dogs glucosomine.
Aspirin does work for dogs- but make sure you buy the baby/low dose aspirin. And dose according to teh dog's weight- ie if your dog is under 40lbs, 1/2 a low dose aspirin a day. Over 40lbs, a whole one should be fine.
Definitely a heated bed or heating pad for their bed.
I also know someone who had a doggie water bed for their older dog, and it helped a lot with joint pain.

And finally- don't make them jump anywhere. If your dog sleeps on the bed with you, create some sort of steps they can walk up and down to get to and from the bed. Jumping is really hard on their joints.

You also might want to look into some puzzle games for your dog. Even if she can't take walks, she still needs mental exercise, and the food puzzle balls really help with that.

[Abby Normal]

Jun 17, 2012 10:23:11 GMT -5 @lonewolf said:

Jun 17, 2012 10:20:22 GMT -5 mmhmm said:

*chuckle* My Siamese is 19 and doesn't leave his pad except to eat, or relieve himself. After a meal, he'll stop by wherever I am to grunt his thanks then go right back to his pad. The thing is really great, with a cover that's plush on one side and canvas on the other. It's completely washable and big enough that the old guy doesn't gripe too much when he has to share it with the Meezer from Hell.

For dogs, aspirin is a good pain reliever and anti-inflammatory. If this dog can't take Rimadyl, he might tolerate aspirin. Here's a link to an article with a chart for amounts to be given according to weight, but be sure to check with your vet before starting an aspirin regimen:

www.school-for-champions.com/animalhealth/aspirin.htm

I wish I'd known about aspirin. I'd always read/assumed that aspirin was a no-no for animals.

Aspirin can be great short term. But it can cause stomach problems so it's not something you want to use long term. It's a blood thinner, so be sure they don't have any in their system if they have to have surgery.

glucosamine is good for the joints.

[shanendoah]

I understand that aspirin has long term effects, but when you're talking about a senior dog, sometimes it's okay to not focus on long term and just make each day as pain free as possible.
However, you do want to make sure your vet is aware of the aspirin regimin in case of the animal needing surgery.

[Abby Normal]

Jun 18, 2012 12:15:06 GMT -5 shanendoah said:

I understand that aspirin has long term effects, but when you're talking about a senior dog, sometimes it's okay to not focus on long term and just make each day as pain free as possible.
However, you do want to make sure your vet is aware of the aspirin regimin in case of the animal needing surgery.

Yes, but the dog was described as being in fabulous shape for 13. Which means that if the pain is managed, it might live a few more years, so it's something to take into consideration.

[shanendoah]

True, but even in pets, the damage caused by aspirin doesn't appear in 6 months, or even a year. DH had a dog that was on a vet recommended aspiring regimin (1/2 a low dose aspirin every day) that had no effects from it (or no effects that were worth pulling him off of the aspirin for) for 2-3 years. Dog lived to over 15 years old.

And while the dog might be in excellent shape, it is also losing muscle and having trouble taking walks. Given that, if this were my dog, I'd take the pain relief from the aspirin and not worry about long term effects.

[shanendoah]

I guess I would also say that if your vet isn't communicative with you, find a new vet. It doesn't matter if your dog is in good shape for his age. When you are in the vet appointment, the vet needs to be focused on you and your pet and her issues. A call to the vet should get a response in a reasonable time frame with an answer to your questions.
A vet who doesn't talk to you isn't any better than a pediatrician who won't talk to you.

[Abby Normal]

Jun 18, 2012 12:56:22 GMT -5 shanendoah said:

I guess I would also say that if your vet isn't communicative with you, find a new vet. It doesn't matter if your dog is in good shape for his age. When you are in the vet appointment, the vet needs to be focused on you and your pet and her issues. A call to the vet should get a response in a reasonable time frame with an answer to your questions.
A vet who doesn't talk to you isn't any better than a pediatrician who won't talk to you.

As for the aspirin, it would depend on the dosage needed for relief. There just isn't enough information provided to determine whether it's a good course of action. Call me an I dotter- but I just want the information out there so if Anne (or someone else) thinks it's ok for thier dog. It's amazing how many people will treat their dogs, based on what someone else said (not vet) and doing more harm than good.

[8 Bit WWBG]

What happened to you man? You used to come in and say really cool witty things and pepper them with "everybody loves the MuscleUp". Now you just pop in and out and get into fights with other posters.

Remember your post about clothes shopping? How that day, you were wearing the same shirt as in your drivers license picture taken 8+ years ago? THAT is the MuscleUp we all enjoyed hearing from.

[Deleted]

Jun 19, 2012 12:14:12 GMT -5 8 Bit WWBG said:

What happened to you man? You used to come in and say really cool witty things and pepper them with "everybody loves the MuscleUp". Now you just pop in and out and get into fights with other posters.

Remember your post about clothes shopping? How that day, you were wearing the same shirt as in your drivers license picture taken 8+ years ago? THAT is the MuscleUp we all enjoyed hearing from.

stop encouraging him!

[8 Bit WWBG]

What is your opinion on including weights as part of cardio? Do you think it helps tone faster and burn more calories?

[8 Bit WWBG]

I've been thinking about purchasing some "heavy hands" type weights and incorporating them into elliptical workouts or walks/jogs. I figure that is a good way to mix stuff up.

The last week and a half, I've started focusing on more free weights: mostly arms and some chest. I want to also work on core strength.

[8 Bit WWBG]

As I just finished my burger with roquefort and hand cut fries

[8 Bit WWBG]

Hahahahah, well I DID skip the milkshake, so I did good!

It was a 1/3lb burger, not a 1/2lb, and the portion of fries is at least reasonable. I'm satisfied, but not stuffed. I have a peach for later.

Dinner will be small to make up for it. Perhaps just some scrambled eggs and an english muffin with peanut butter.