Senior dogs and my new puppy.

Welcome to Paws4training and Susan Oshie"s new blog!

There are 2 reasons I wanted to do this. First to provide new information about training and all things dog!

Second, I brought home a new puppy 3 weeks ago and I wanted to share my experience with her so my puppy client's can follow along. You can be assured I am having the same issues come up as all of you!

This first came about because I was feeling so sad about my Cocker Spaniel "Nellie" who turned 15 years old in June. The decline of her life has left me grieving for a healthy, happy, and one of the best behaved dogs I have ever had. I can barely write about it without crying. It is such a loss.

She cannot hear at all. For the past year she does not even stir when I come in the door. That alone is so hard to bear because she was always there at the door with a tail wagging and welcoming home. NO MATTER WHAT! We all know how wonderful that feels. She doesn't see well at all. When we go outside to potty if I walk too far away she stands and stares not quite knowing where she is. I have to walk up to her and touch her so she knows I am there. Then she can sniff her way back to the door. The worst part is loosing my companion to take with me where ever I go. Nellie crossed the country from The Florida Keys to Catalina Island and back to Seattle. She was always so well behaved I could take her just about anywhere. My last partner was a Captain for American Airlines. We could put her in a soft crate or bag and take her on the plane from Seattle to Florida without her making a peep and calmly staying under our feet. We would sometimes sneak her into Hotels that were exactly dog friendly and no one would know she was there. When I started dog training she was present at most classes to keep the other dogs or puppies in line!

Now she stays home. Her life has gotten pretty small. She sleeps a lot and does not interact with me much. She has always been perfectly potty trained and now she is having accidents in the house. We have to confine her to the kitchen at night just in case. I am giving her injectable Adequan for her joint pain and she seems to be out of pain and comfortable.

I really felt that I needed to have a puppy to help me get through this last part on her life. I could not get through the day without crying. I had a client in one of my puppy classes with the cutest little dog "Maggie" When she started puppy classes she was all of 3 lbs maybe. She was quite shy at first but with continued exposure she was starting to interact and play with the other puppies. I have had her for boarding several times and she was so easy to take care of. She is a Cavipoo. Cavalier Spaniel and min poodle.

Long story short I now have new puppy. She is a Cavipoo. Her name is "Eloise" I made the decision to bring her home even though I had major hip surgery 5 weeks ago. So I have a geriatric dog and a 10 week old puppy and I am on crutches. (Down to one now!) It has been a challenge to say the least. But I know it will be worth the effort. I have been going through the normal puppy challenges. Crate training, Leash walking, dealing with chewing and managing her around the cat "Allie" and "Nellie". So I want to chronicle this new little life I have taken responsibility for. I take it seriously, and want to give her the best, safest, healthiest, joyful life I can.

So as I share with you my day to day experience I welcome your questions, comments and support going through the last part of "Nellie's" life and the beginning of "Eloise's"!!!!!!

Stay tuned !

I have posted below some information about Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome. I have experienced most of these symptoms with "Nelllie" There are behavior changes in our dogs as this happens and if we are aware of them we can provide the best care for our valued friends.

COGNITIVE DYSFUNCTION SYNDROME IN SENIOR DOGS

Training is still important for our senior dogs

Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome

(Brain aging in the dog) causing Behavior changes in the senior dog

As dogs get older they can start to have changes in their behavior that we as dog owners may think are normal signs of aging. Some of these changes may present as disorientation, changes in interactions with family members and other pets, sleep-wake cycle alterations, house training loss, and activity level changes(both increase in repetitive activities or decreased overall activity).

If you can answer yes to any of the following questions talk to your Veterinarian. (Go to the "Susan Recommends Page " for a list of Veterinarians in the area.)

My dog is less responsive to interactions (games, petting, walks)

My dog sometimes forgets to go outside to urinate or defecate

My dog sleeps more than before and wakes up at night

My dog wanders aimlessly in the house and/or appears confused

Many dog owners don't bring up problems with their veterinarian because they think the pet is just getting older.

First it is important to rule out any other medical condition before a diagnosis can be made. Then it is time to take a good behavioral history.

Behavior Therapy

Behavior modification and management are important in working with older dogs. Most owners focus on the importance of puppy training, but as dogs get older we tend to be more forgiving. They are supposed to know the house rules. But the need for training and structure don't go away with our older pets. In fact training and enrichment can slow the progression of CDS.

Providing simple, direct cues let's them know what is expected and giving short enrichment exercises may help.

Pain management might be needed to keep older dogs life enriched. Feeding toys (Kong, Busy Buddies, Twist-n-treats) are good options. Taking walks instead of runs, and tug games instead of chase games are good options for senior dogs.

You may need to take your dog outside more frequently or start using a crate again, if originally crate trained. Keep feeding toys simple. When going outside, try not to overstimulate. Stay close to home rather than going to the park where there may be too many dogs.

If your dog can't walk use ramps. If they can't see or hear well , use odor cues like scented candles or aromatherapy products like lavender to help them find their way around.

Use rewards not punishment and be consistent. It doesn't help to yell at your dog. They can become depressed. Be calm and empathetic to avoid stressing your dog. Try increasing activity during the day to help them sleep better at night. It can also help to have them sleep in your room, so they don't feel overly anxious and they sleep better.

There are some drug therapies available to help treat chronic anxiety, ongoing agitation, or depression in older pets, as well as some new therapeutic supplements.

It is hard as a pet owner to come to terms with our dogs growing old. It is important to know that there may be some solutions for the symptoms your dog is experiencing.

References

Roundtable discussion: Sponsored by Virbac Animal Health