Grateful Dogs Rescue Blog

Grateful Dogs Rescue is in need of small to medium size crates for dogs in the 10-20 pound range.  If you have any spare crates that would be suitable, please let Grateful Dogs Rescue know by calling 415 587 1121 or email info @ gratefuldogsrescue.org.  We have so many new foster homes these days that we need to keep an assortment of crates on hand for them.  Grateful Dogs Rescue also needs towels that can provide a little bit of padding while dogs are being transported to their new homes. 

 

Lisa, a volunteer with Grateful Dogs Rescue, who we wrote about a few days ago, posted this message on her fundraising page for Josh. "I recently volunteered to take care of an older dog named Josh after his family lost their home and were forced into a shelter. Rather than let him be euthanized in the animal shelter, I took him in until the family got back on their feet"

"Less than a week after I got him, he became extremely and mysteriously ill. After a very expensive exam at the vet, they are thinking that it is either pancreatitis or a blockage. I am collecting to help me with this first cost, because I know there will be more to follow."

Donate to Josh's care here. http://getwelljosh.chipin.com/joshs-vet-bill 

So much depends on age, past living conditions and owners. Much is the same as for puppies (see January 27th post) but the time from first bringing them home to the first access to the whole house is much shortened. You may find they have been trained, but lost it at a shelter, and just a quick refresher will do.

Again, when you first bring them home, do not let them in the house or enclosure until they have gone outdoors. It helps to have another dog pee in the yard before you bring the new one home. Take them for a walk if necessary, but wait for results. If you have a male marker you may just have to leash them to you for a whole day (sometimes more) and you have to keep an eye on them a give them a quick ah-ah, and a tug at the first sign of looking for a good place to use and quickly go outside. Reward for success and don’t respond to failure. Marking should not be allowed on a walk either after you are reasonably sure they have an empty bladder. It only leads to more marking and unhappy neighbors, and it is simply a habit.  If the adult dog is crate trained already it becomes pretty easy to establish a routine for potty time, but you have to stick with the timing. 

Start with an enclosed area (fence barrier) with newspaper covering the floor. It is best to have a small crate in the enclosure with blankets inside. Keep the crate door open for now. When the puppy is taken out of this area to play we keep newspaper on the floor nearby so a quick transfer to the paper can occur if the puppy starts to poop or pee. Lots of praise and a treat when they go on the paper anywhere.

Start schedule for taking outdoors if immunizations have reached this point. Always take out 10 to 20 minutes after meals to start a pattern. You may have to wait up to 30 minutes for success. When he/she starts to relieve himself use the word “go potty” or whatever you prefer.  Take them outside during the day between meals every hour or so and treat and praise (“good dog”, or whatever marker you choose) if you get lucky. At some point the puppy may pee or poop on the paper when  outside the enclosure – LOTS of praise. Once started on the paper start moving it closer to the door to the yard, but continue taking to the yard very often. As soon as possible move the paper outdoors and after a few days you can stop using the paper completely. Mistakes should be ignored but immediately cleaned up with an enzyme odor neutralizer.

At 2 to 3 months try to keep the crate closed for short periods during the day and carry to the yard as soon as you let them out of the crate. Gradually increase the time the crate is closed and start closing at night. This may entail some 2:00 AM time outside.  When house training in one part of the house is reliable, start showing him the rest of the house for short periods, but only on leash to stop pooping or peeing before they start. The goal is zero mistakes as each mistake results in a major setback.   

· in addition to taking out after meals, take pup out first thing in the morning, after every nap and last thing before bed.
· Do not begin to praise & treat the pup for going potty until dog is finished.  If you praise mid stream, you may interrupt him and inadvertently inhibit him.
· Handler needs to go outside with pup every time.  
· Do not bring pup indoors immediately after pottying.  The pup may learn this and delay pottying to be able to stay outside longer.  In addition to praising and treating for going potty outside, play with pup a few minutes outdoors as a reward.

After King was hit by a car – or, more accurately, a U-Haul truck – his owners could not afford treatment for him so he was surrendered to San Francisco Animal Care and Control.  When he was finally x-rayed it showed not only a hip fracture but also a bullet in his chest.  At some point someone had shot this sweet boy!

Since the fracture was right where the ball fits into the hip socket, it couldn’t heal correctly due to constant movement. Grateful Dogs Rescue's surgeon recommended a femoral head ostectomy (FHO) to allow the fracture to heal. The surgery went well and King is well on his way to recovery. 

 

King's vet bills to date are almost $1,650.  Grateful Dogs Rescue, and King, appreciate any donations toward his surgery.  Thank you for your help! Click here to contribute to King's care fund.

The Senior Dog Project shares this information on caring for senior dogs.

We asked a friend of ours recently if she would be willing to contribute a photo of her two dogs, who are 7 and 9 years old, to our Senior Dogs Project. She bristled a little and then said, "My dogs aren't senior! They don't act old. They run and jump and play just as they always have."

In the 1970's, dogs generally lived 7 or 8 years. Now, a dog might be looking at 10 to 15 years of life. (Source: American Veterinary Hospital Association)

Like people, dogs are individual in the way they age. Certain breeds, mixed breeds, and, in general, smaller dogs tend to live longer. A small dog of less than 20 pounds might not seem to show any signs of age until she is 12 or so. A 50-pound dog won't seem old until about 10. Larger dogs begin to show their age at 8 or 9.

With the right care, it's not uncommon for dogs to live to 14 or 15 these days. Using established guidelines to determine when your dog might qualify as a senior will help you to understand changes in behavior or to anticipate a change in health status. On the basis of your knowledge, you will be better able to identify and approach health problems at an early stage, when they may be more easily treated. Following is a table to give you an idea of the relationship between a dog's age and a human's. Note that the weight of the dog is related to his age in human years:


Tufts University published the following guidelines for defining a senior dog: "The point at which a dog qualifies as 'aged' varies. Veterinarians generally consider small dogs to be senior citizens at about 12 years of age, while large dogs reach the senior stage at 6 to 8 years of age. This roughly corresponds to the 55-plus category in people."

What are the signs of aging and what should you do about them? One of the first signs of aging is slowing down. It will take your dog longer to get up and get started from a lying position, longer to climb stairs (one at a time, rather than two). Some of these changes are natural, but it is important not to overlook changes that may be symptoms of a condition needing treatment.

Never assume that a change in behavior or habits is simply due to old age; it may be due to a treatable condition. An excellent example is that cited by Dr. Robin Downing, DVM, who reports: "Molly wasn't leaping on and off the beds anymore, and she didn't want to go for long walks. Her family was worried that this dog had just suddenly succumbed to old age, but when I did a geriatric workup on her, we discovered Molly had a thyroid condition and arthritic back pain. A maintenance prescription of thyroid replacement hormone, pain and anti-inflammatory medication for the osteo-arthritis in her back, and Molly was back in business. In fact, three years later, her owners tell me Molly is more active than she's been in years!" (Healthy Pet magazine, Spring/Summer 2000, p. 13.)

Diseases occur in older dogs that are not usually seen in young dogs, such as arthritis, diabetes, Cushing's disease, cancer, and kidney, heart, and liver diseases. Blood tests done by a veterinarian will screen for many of these diseases, which is the reason that your veterinarian will do such tests during an annual visit. However, you can also be instrumental in keeping your older dog healthy by:

    * keeping his weight down (through good nutrition and regular exercise)
    * keeping his teeth clean (next to obesity, periodontal disease is the one most commonly seen in the vet's office)
    * getting him to the vet for regular check-ups
    * being observant about symptoms that might indicate a health problem and getting prompt and appropriate veterinary attention (information below).

Also see The Senior Dog Project's  "The Ten Most Important Tips for Keeping Your Older Dog Healthy."

Other factors that influence your older dog's aging process and that may determine the age-related problems she may eventually have are:

Genetic Background -- Some breeds are known to have specific health problems. Golden Retrievers and large breeds, for example, are known to develop arthritis in back and hips as they age.

Nutrition -- Good nutrition will retard the aging process.

Illnesses & Disease -- A serious illness or disease can shorten a dog's life.

Control of Environmental Factors -- Keeping your dog and his environment clean and free of parasites will increase the chances of long life.


Recommendations for Veterinary Attention for an Aging Dog

Most vets recommend that you begin a geriatric screening for your dog at an appropriate age. This is related to your dog's size as follows:



In general, a geriatric screening of your dog will include:
(1) a thorough, hands-on physical exam;
(2) blood tests;
(3) possibly an electrocardiogram;
(4) specialized tests depending on your dog's health history.

Some vets advise semi-annual visits once your dog becomes a senior. An annual visit is an absolute minimum (remember, a year in your dog's life is akin to about five of your own years). In between visits to the vet and annual geriatric screenings, you can stay alert to behavioral changes and other signs of aging. Here are some things to watch for and action to take:

Sudden loss of weight can be extremely serious. Take your dog to the vet as soon as possible.

Serious loss of appetite -- to the point that your dog is eating almost nothing. See your vet right away.

Increase in appetite without increase in weight may mean diabetes. Get to the vet as soon as possible.

Diarrhea or vomiting, if it lasts more than a day can be a sign of many problems. Don't wait to see the vet.

Increased thirst, without a change in activity level, and increased urination are other signs of diabetes. Your dog should be tested as soon as possible.

Tiring more quickly than when younger is normal as a dog ages, but may also be a sign of disease affecting the heart or lungs. Be alert to your dog's becoming excessively out of breath after minimal exercise. Have your vet check for cardio-pulmonary problems as soon as possible, if you notice such symptoms. If the vet determines all is normal, you can continue an exercise program, but modify it in order not to overtax your dog.

Coughing and excessive panting may indicate heart disease. If these symptoms persist even after you've modified your dog's exercise program, visit the vet.

Difficulty in getting up from a lying position, or other problems with moving may indicate arthritis. Your vet will be able to advise you on ways you can relieve your dog's discomfort and lack of mobility.

Problems with vision and hearing are natural as a dog ages. Accommodate these changes as best you can -- by not changing the location of furniture, for example, or clapping instead of calling your dog's name when he no longer seems able to hear you.

Graying hair and drying skin are sure signs of aging. More attention to grooming and the introduction of massage will help the condition of the skin and coat.

Behavioral changes that you may see in your older dog include:

Separation anxiety....you may note that when you leave your older dog alone, she become destructive or barks or whines or loses control of elimination

Sensitivity to noise....thunderstorms that never bothered him before may now make your older dog tremble
Vocalizing....may be due to loss of hearing or to separation anxiety

Uncharacteristic aggression....may be due to painful joints, a drug reaction, or intolerance for new people and new circumstances; your older dog likes things to remain the same

Confusion, lack of attentiveness, disorientation....

Roaming in circles, barking at nothing, being withdrawn....

Elimination accidents....

If your dog is acting abnormally in any of the above ways, consult your vet right away.



Click to learn more about this older dogs and The Senior Dog Project.