Question by lubablelissy: Any tips for taking care of an older dog?
My boyfriend and I purchased a female pomeranian from a lady off craigslist. She thought the dog was about two or three, but after taking her to the vet we found she was more around the age of ten. Knowing this we still don’t regret buying her. She is the best dog I could ever ask for and I wouldn’t trade her for the world. We’ve recently found out she has a mild heart murmur, arthritis in her back legs, and some throat problems. She still loves to run around and take long walks though.

I’d like to keep her around for as long as possible and will do anything in order to help her.

Any tips or suggestions would be great!

Best answer:

Answer by rjn529
As long as she is active and happy taking walks, do so. Give her as much exercise as she is comfortable with. Some dogs, like my poodle, was born with a heart murmur and lived to be 21.

Keep her warm to keep the arthritis under control. If she appears to be in pain, the vet may recommend something to help through that.

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Question by Cheryl: tips for traveling with elderly, ailing dog?
I’m about to take an 11 hour road trip with my 12+ year old female lab –I have to be gone two weeks for work, so I am taking her to my mom’s so she will be cared for, there is no one I can leave her with here or that I trust to take good care of her. I can’t/won’t kennel her for two+ weeks in her state. My baby girl is old and arthritic and just this morning started a bad limp in her front leg. I took her to the vet who found she has a temperature and gave her 2 shots plus antibiotics and said the limp could be from the temperature, that it can exacerbate arthritis. So, I postponed leaving until Wednesday, but can’t put it off any more than that. We have an appointment with a vet at my mom’s for Monday morning, so the dog can be checked, she will be on antibiotics until Saturday. he thinks an abscess on a tooth/gum caused this infection. I have traveled with her before, and she is very good in the car. I wondered if anyone had any suggestions for long distance traveling with a sick, older dog.
Thanks for the GREAT advice. She is on pain meds for her arthritis already. The vet says she can make the trip, but the advice of those with experience is always helpful. Please keep the tips coming!

Best answer:

Answer by dogger
Take old towels to clean up drool and accidents. Feed the dog lightly if at all before beginning the trip. Take some chow but feed lightly if at all during the trip. Even a 12 year old dog, can go without chow for a day. Stop every 2 hours or less to let your dog walk around a bit, unless the dog is comfortably sleeping.. You know how cramped you get riding for hours – it is good to stretch arthritic limbs a bit. Take water and a bowl. We take a quart or two of water and use several cheap disposable plastic sandwich containers instead of dog bowls. If we leave a disposable bowl at a rest area, we don’t need to go back and get it. And you can pack the kibble in the sandwich containers.

Ask the vet about pain killers for the trip – he may suggest simple plain aspirin.

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Question by Cause Baby You’re a Firework n_n: Tips please!! My dog is blind and death?
We dropped my dog off at a kennel for a week while we were on vacation, and she was already death and a little blind but like only 5% and now she seems like shes 90% blind. Shes an english setter who has a lot of problems. For example, she has fatty tumors (shes lost weight now from being diabetic) and she has to take incilin shots. She also has arthritis. And her hip bones are a little different. When shes in our home (we just brought her back today) it seems like she doesnt know where she is, and her head bangs against everything, and she falls, and trips. So we pretty much have to watch her whenever she walks. What should our family do? By the way, she’s 8 years old. So she isn’t even too old.

Best answer:

Answer by Dakota Dog
Sounds like a trip to the vet is in order.
and I hope you mean deaf..not death.

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Question by LoveMyLoaf: Tips for an older dog?
My dog turned 7 today and is healthy I know he is getting older, and many dogs start to have health problems that come with age. So, is there anything that I can start doing now to prevent any problems that he may have in the future? Such as arthritis, heart problems, or many other age related problems. He is a pug and beagle mix.

Thank you.

Best answer:

Answer by Jeff_Hardys_Girl
I would get your vets opinion on what the best things for your dog are. But my 10 year old rescue mutt is doing great on Omega-3 Fish Oil caplets and Rimadyl which is for arthritis. Supplements would also be a good idea, especially for joint strength. Your vet might also suggest a dog food that’s formulated for older dogs. Sorry I can’t be much more help because all dogs experience aging differently. I’m just letting you know what works for my beagle/basset rescue.

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Question by : My dog bit me… again! I need training tips, please!?
I posted last week about how my seven year old golden retriever took a chunk out of my hand while was trying to get a kleenex out of her mouth. Well, since then, we have all been very careful around her, but she has now bitten my mom and dad as well as snapped at my brother for no reason, other than he was carrying a bounce ball in his hand that she apparently wanted to chew up. My whole family is really tired of her nonsense, and while we DON’T want to euthanize her, training doesn’t seem to be having any effect whatsoever. My parents want to sell her on Craigslist (yes they will mention that she bites, as some people pointed out in the other post) and they know a couple of people through other sales ho would be fine with an old, biting dog. I’m really sick of her and I don’t want her hurting my family any more, but I DON’T want to sell her either. She has become a hazard in our household and my family is hesitant about inviting people over because we don’t know what she’ll do. We took her to the vet and she has no health problems whatsoever – no arthritis, no toothache – she is in prime health. So any reason as to WHy on EARTH she is doing this will be appreciated, as will any training tips. But please don’t go yelling at me for saying all this, I DON’T want to kill her and I DON’T want to sell her, but it’s becoming the only option.
Please. Give me something to go on.

Best answer:

Answer by cfelonius
You don’t need just tips, you need to enroll in an obedience class with a professional trainer ASAP.

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Question by confused student: dog getting old… tips to help him?
my dog is 14 years old , which is pretty old , of late he has become very uncomfortable , he dsnt like going out for walks and when he does his legs hurt (he has arthritis) , he poops in the garden (something he has Never done before) , also he starts whining when he is left alone , i work so its not possible for a person to stay in the house the whole time , how can i help him

Best answer:

Answer by Susan B
Take him to the vet for pain management.

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Question by attagirl: My dog seems stiff when she walks, does anyone have any tips?
She also seems to have a little trouble going from standing to lying down. It’s quite cold where we live, so this may be a factor. She still can run up and down the stairs, and jump on furniture. The vet thought she may be developing arthritis, (she’s 10) Does anyone use any natural, not harmful vitamins they can recommend?

I am just looking for ideas to ask my vet…

Best answer:

Answer by OMG.that.scene.hampster.XD
if your dog is old, he/she may have artheritus or joint stiffness, i suggest getting him checked out by a vet

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Question by xokerrbieox: Do any of you have tips for socializing an older dog?
My dog is about 12 years old and she was brought up with her mom and brother (who are both deceased) at my parent’s house. I now have her at my house because she has bad arthritis, but I can’t get her to get along with any other dog except my dog Nickie. I want to adopt another rescue Lab, but I am afraid it will stress her out because she has never been socialized with any other dogs other than the ones she grew up with. Help!

Best answer:

Answer by Erika
At the age of 12, she shouldn’t be expected to be trained – only expect to manage her behavior. Especially with the arthritis. If you are looking for a rescue dog – I would wait to get one until she has passed.

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Question by Time to change my name!: Any tips for caring for old dog with arthritis?
Our 14 year old collie cross is getting pretty stiff now, especially when the weather is cold like now. She REFUSES to lie on any type of bedding, I’ve tried everything, but she will literally lie next to it on the wood floor..

Anyone have any tips that will help her? Special food, anything? Our vet doesn’t want to medicate her at her age, I did ask.
Thanks everyone… pretty sad I got better information here than at the vet clinic!! I’ll get her going with your suggestions, she’s such a great old girl I hate to see her in pain.
Delilah, he never actually said the names of any med, just that at her age it would be tough on her stomach and we might be trading one problem for another…

She actually seeks out the coldest spots! Near the front door, etc. Old fool.. I’ll put a lot of these suggestions to her, thanks again to all from me and Bubbles.

Best answer:

Answer by Ro R
Switch her to foods like…
Canidae
Eagle Pack
Blue Buffalo
Chickens Soup…
Natural Balance
EVO

Vets only reccomend crappy foods like Iams, Pedigree, Nutro, and Science Diet because they’re paid to. Don’t get Science Diet unless it’s prescription.

Get your dog some multivitamins sold at pet shops.

Tip! Get some large, fresh, natural bones [cows, goats, etc, not chicken] and boil the bones for 10 min in water. Let it cool down, and dip some bread it. Feed the bread to your dog. The nutrients will seep out from the marrow of the bones and the calcium, etc, will be absorbed in the bread [unless your dog will drink this when it's fully cooled down]. It’s a tasty treat since it’ll taste like bone, and it’ll strenghten your dog’s joints.

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Question by Dulce: nine year old american bulldog with arthritis health tips, anyone?
my bf has an america bulldog, he is fighting his illness and takes medication but i see he is still wanting to fight, he falls over and can’t run anymore but his energy is still there..any suggestions as to how to help this beautiful dog?

Best answer:

Answer by CD
give it cod liver oil and try feeding it high vitamin foods

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