A Dog’s Senior Years

by Donna Hill, B.Sc. (Zool) B.Ed.
ServiceDogTrainingInstitute.online

Living with a senior dog is a journey filled with love, challenges, and profound moments, much like caring for an elderly parent or relative. As our canine companions age, they require special attention and care, which can significantly impact our daily lives and routines.

Over the years we have lived with many senior dogs. Currently our oldest is Lucy, a 16.5 year old Border Collie/Vizsla mix. All her life she has been a physically fit dog and excellent at mental challenges. You may have seen her in my two YouTube channels. While she still has a glossy soft coat and healthy appearance with hardly any grey, she has some cognitive issues and undiagnosed neurological degeneration that affects her mobility. Here are the key things we have learned in the last few years with her. 

 

Senior dogs typically move at a slower pace, requiring patience and understanding from their human companions. With Lucy, this started about 2 years ago. Everything from eating to walking and even just getting outside can take longer than before. Cleaning up after potty accidents, while expected, can be unpredictable and requires a compassionate approach.

For those fortunate enough to work from home, accommodating a senior dog’s needs becomes easier, as this lifestyle may allow for interruptions and planning for travel to vet visits. However, this new rhythm can affect your quality of life and those around you, as it demands more time and energy, especially if you have a younger dog at home that also needs your focus. Taking turns with a family member or delegating specific responsibilities can help with the inevitable frustration that will occur if one person tries to take in on themselves. 

Health and Wellness Challenges

The medical system doesn’t always have all the answers, especially when it comes to chronic diseases in senior dogs. Dealing with undiagnosed pain or conditions can be stressful for both you and your furry friend. Diagnostic tests can be expensive and not reveal anything useful. It’s important to remember research can help, but knowing keywords of what to search for will help make your job easier. At some point, even with insurance, financial considerations may affect health and quality of life decisions.

Maintaining your senior dog’s health often involves the following:

• Exercising their mind and body to keep them going. Use it or lose applies here. As trainers, we have access to so many senior-friendly activities that don’t require jumping or may be adapt to any ability level! 
• Focusing on nutrition, as food becomes an even more important foundation for maintaining health. Less processed is often more digestible.
• Researching supplements rather than just conventional medications may give you options (melatonin can help with irregular sleep patterns or Vitamin B12 is essential for neurological growth and repair for example.) Deficiencies may be the result of gastrointestinal damage when the dog was younger and the outward signs are starting to show as the dog ages.
• Adapting to changes in sleeping and activity patterns, which can affect your daytime life such as feeding and exercise schedules
• Checking footpads and keeping nails short
• Brushing teeth. Bacterial build up can lead to heart issues, infections and may play a role in dementia
• Making sure dog is able to keep their genitals clean. Dogs with arthritis may not be flexible enough to reach
• Daily body checks for sensitive spots by passing your fingers lightly over your dog’s entire body and watching for reactions. Massage and stretching can help with this and maintain the bond between you. 
• Regular vet visits, which today require advanced planning more than the “Good ol’ days” when you could drop in at a day’s notice. We drove a distance to a vet that specializes in physiotherapy and she identified a significant issue that our regular vet didn’t consider.  We spent an hour with her rather than the shorter general vet visits. 

Creating a Comfortable Environment

As your dog ages, living arrangements may need to change. Being adaptable is key. Consider:

Setting up your home to prevent accidents and accommodate behaviour changes due to physical health and cognitive changes

Arranging barriers, sleeping areas, and access points much like you would for a young puppy. Protecting your senior from stairs, and falls off furniture using bed side rails for example. 

Using thick blankets or heating pads to keep your senior dog warm. A foam mattress underneath can help too but if they are too thick it may hinder your dog from moving around easily on her bed.

Adjusting the height of sleeping areas and proximity to you. Older dogs may tend to isolate so staying close helps you to keep an eye on them. We enclose Lucy between the bed and wall with a laundry basket. That way if she is restless for any reason, we are aware of it.

Laying rubber-backed washable carpets on slippery floors for traction and easy cleaning. 

 

Emotional Bond and Quality of Life

The relationship with your senior dog may change, becoming either more distant or more needy. It’s important to keep them close and manage frustration with patience. Giving them extra privileges as they age will give her more enjoyment and you special memories of your dog as she ages. Weighing your dog’s quality of life against the long-term impact on other family members and pets is a delicate balance.

Recording daily details can be helpful in identifying health patterns and documenting information for yourself and to share with your vet. This can include potty habits, eating schedules, sleeping, play, exercise and general observed behaviour changes. Also list the medications and their doses and any changes to them. I  use a basic spreadsheet on our computer and put it on my desktop for easy access.  Glancing back in time will reveal which changes and how much has occurred for your dog. Things she once enjoyed she may no longer be doing. 

Sometimes, your dog will surprise you with what she can still do! Lucy can still jump over low jumps and logs when she wants to. Every now and then she does her impression of a bucking bronco that can be energizing to watch, as long as she is in a location where she doesn’t hurt herself! Those experiences can help keep things positive and give you good memories.

See the sidebar for some activities I use with Lucy to keep her active, engaged, and maintaining our bond. The number of repetitions and intensity your dog can do will depend on their individual health conditions, so always tailor activities to their current abilities. Choose a few exercises each day and rotate through them for variety. Ideally, you can aim for two sessions a day with different activities, but adjust based on your schedule and energy levels. Use food as a lure when necessary or incorporate a marker to guide their movements.

Learning and Growing Together

Living with a senior dog is a time of learning and discovery. The internet can be a valuable resource, but knowing what questions to ask is crucial and how to search. Delve into recent research. Don’t accept “That’s just part of the process of aging.” In many cases there are small things you can change to keep your dog comfortable and happy. This experience can teach all family members about compassion, patience, and the cycle of life.

Remember, “use it or lose it” applies to both mind and body for senior dogs. Keeping them mentally and physically active, within their capabilities, can help maintain their quality of life.

In conclusion, caring for a senior dog can be a rewarding experience if you have support, do your research, can develop patience and can adapt and offer your dog love. While it may present challenges, the bond formed during these golden years is truly special, offering both you and your canine companion a chance to grow and cherish each moment together. 

 

Suggested Activities

These are great for keeping your dog mentally stimulated and physically fit. Always monitor their comfort and stop if they show signs of discomfort. Trainers should consult a canine physiotherapist to ensure they are teaching them correctly.

Click here for Donna Hill’s YouTube playlist for senior dogs.

Click here to watch a three-minute instructional video where a young Lucy demonstrates “22 Rear End Awareness Exercises for Dogs in Agility, Freestyle, Rally Obedience etc.” FYI: watch for an updated video coming soon featuring Lucy 11 years later. 

Side of Chest Rubs: Position your dog between your legs and use both hands to gently rub their chest wall, moving up and down or side to side.
Rear Leg Stretches: Stretch your dog’s rear legs carefully to promote flexibility.
Gentle Lumbar Massage: Massage the lower back area to help relieve tension.
Cavalettis or Ladder Rungs: Have your dog step slowly over ladder rungs or cavaletti poles, placing one foot in each rung.
Front Foot Pivot: Encourage your dog to pivot on their front feet in both directions.
Stepping Over Small Logs: Guide your dog to step over small logs for balance and coordination.
Rearing Up: Have your dog rear up to grab an object or reach an elevated nose target.
Rocking Back End Side to Side: Gently rock your dog’s back end from side to side for mobility.
Stand-to-Down: Practice moving from a standing position to lying down and back to stand.
Stand-to-Sit: Work on transitioning from standing to sitting to standing.
Hip Circle Stretch: Help your dog perform circular stretches with their hips by luring them with a treat to their hip. Hold for a few seconds if possible. Repeat on both sides.
Backing Up: Teach your dog to back up either between your legs or in front of you.
Backing Up on Elevated Surfaces: Guide your dog to back up onto a low platform, step, or over a cavaletti pole.
Navigating Rough Terrain: Take short hikes where your dog can navigate uneven terrain for added challenge.
Regular short car rides: These can help a dog to maintain muscles for balance for the side to side and forward and back motion. Make sure your dog has secure footing that won’t slide though. Putting your dog in the front foot area with a passenger can help to stabilize a weaker dog