Senior Dog Care - Tips and Helpful Products

Red’s Story

Having an elderly dog is an honor. You get to experience unconditional love and laughter. They may not have the energy of a young dog - but they have their attitude. Their snores, snuggles, and particularities come out in full force. It’s a transformation so many overlook because of the worry aging brings - especially with our furry friends whose time is ever so limited.

I’m grateful for an old boy who currently has a fantastic quality of life. He has his health issues and needs extra attention, but he’s a lover boy who can walk, eat, potty, and play happily all unassisted and that’s something I will never take for granted.

Here’s a run-down on my old man and a brief history, followed by what we’ve learned from this experience:

Red is my boy. He is a 13-year-old German Shorthaired Pointer that I got when I was 12 - I’m now 26. He turned 13 on 6/6/24, born in 2011. He had more energy than we knew how to handle, but thankfully we lived on a large cattle farm in central Kentucky until he was 7 (I was 19). We now live in a small historic bungalow with a much smaller yard and lots of strangers in the neighborhood for Red to sniff. Before, Red was unsure of other pups, pets, and people. Now, he‘s a total extrovert.

Red was hit by a car when he was 8 years old, one that was going upwards of 55 mph. He drug himself onto our porch where my parents found him and took him to MedVet. He underwent several surgeries to repair the back half of his body (mainly his hips and pelvis). He made a near-full recovery. When he was 10, he developed Canine Papilloma Virus (HPV in dogs), which causes small masses of different shapes and sizes to appear all over his body. It is incurable, and he still has it today. He also developed lower back pain around that time and was saved by a few acupuncture sessions at his vet.

(photos of these conditions will be at the bottom, viewer discretion)

At 11, I noticed he was going to the wrong side of the door to be let out, having bouts of staring at the wall or “zoning out,” getting into the garbage in a nervous fit while I was at work, and having episodes of panting and pacing at night. His vet determined that Red was and is living with canine cognitive dysfunction, or dementia. He has also developed stage 2 kidney disease in his later life (likely from the diet he was on when living with my dad, who couldn’t resist his begging for treats). We set him up with a great vet here in town, and he’s been cruising ever since!

It was quite the learning curve, going from outdoor healthy young dog to indoor elderly dog with extra needs.

What’s Helped Us

I can only speak for myself and Red’s experiences with his specific diagnoses, but I know the frustration of looking for answers online and getting few.

PRODUCTS:

Care Tips

My biggest takeaway from caring for Red is patience. Taking deep breaths when I find messes, not getting frustrated when I hear his nails hit the floor in the middle of the night needing to go out. It is so vital to remember that they aren’t happy with the situation either. This is not a puppy playing with garbage and having too much energy. This is a senior, who doesn’t understand where you went or why they have to potty so much in the middle of the night because of their kidneys. You are both displeased, and it takes patience and understanding in times of frustration.

Another care tip is bathing. I never bathed Red this much, or really at all, until he reached about age 11. He is constantly licking his sore joints and feet. This is going to cause him to get greasy and have that “old dog” film coated on his hair. The kind that you can feel on your hands after you pet a dirty dog….icky. But they can’t help it! Licking his joints is how Red soothes not only his aches, but his nerves. Anti-inflammatories can help with joints (always consult your vet), but unfortunately, Red cannot have those due to his kidneys. So he licks, and I bathe.

It helps that he has the cutest shark towel from Target to romp around in afterward.

Food toppers have been a life-saver for Red’s teeth and tummy. The last time he was sedated for papilloma removal, he also had his teeth cleaned and a few extracted. Food toppers such as bone broth, Greenies topper, small wet dog food, or even water make a huge difference in preventing plaque buildup on his gums and making sure he can comfortably chew his food. Not only that, but as he is aging, Red is tiring of kibble. This gives a fun twist and ensures he’s eating all of his food and getting the proper nutrients to support his older body (we also love ZestyPaw 11-in-1 Vitamins or any multivitamin topper).


Lastly, gratitude and appreciation go a long way with senior pets. Its such a privilege to know them this long. Spending time with them, petting and playing with them do wonders for their health. Affection and attention are the best medicine. Never take their time with us for granted!

I hope this helps someone. These are products and tips I wish I had known of sooner. If this is helpful, please let me know! It would make my day. Following this article will be extra photos, including photos of his papilloma virus and back pain stance if you’re concerned your pet may have CPV or lower back / hip pain. View with discretion. 

Best,

Maddie

p.s., There is a photo of Red included where he has not been neutered. He is now fully neutered. No babies over here!

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