Edie MacKenzie

Edie MacKenzie is a published author, traveler, dog lover, and tortoise enthusiast. Passionate about what she does, her books provide peopel a firm grounding in the dog breed and their unique characteristics with a nice touch of humor.

Grooming And The Older Dog

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Proper and effective grooming contributes only indirectly to your older dog general health but becomes a more significant factor with increasing age.

As the natural skin oils come to be less effectively produced, the skin can become dry and scaly, causing itchiness and discomfort.

Matted or tangled hair-coats likewise cause scratching and, in addition, can hold dirt and debris on the skin from which bacteria can readily enter skin that is already abraded by the scratching and chewing. Bacterial dermatitis is not at all uncommon in an older dog.

The daily grooming patterns begun in earlier years should be continued throughout a dog’s lifetime.

It is my firm belief all dogs, with the possible exception of some show dogs and those with certain skin diseases, should be combed and brushed every day of their lives with a metal comb and a wire-bristle slicker type brush.

Combing should be done first, as its purpose is merely to remove tangles and separate the hairs so the slicker brush does not get caught in them.

This is followed by the brush which should be used in firmly applied, long, slow strokes.

The object of the brushing an older dog is to get the wires down to the skin, which is where the dirt is, to remove that dirt and the dry scales of dead skin.

Degenerative Joint Disease In An Aging Dog

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Noninfectious osteoarthritis is the commonest form of joint disease in the aging dog, a situation not too different from that in humans.

The disease is progressive and causes few, if any, noticeable symptoms in the early stages.

It is not uncommon for a veterinarian to discover the existence of degenerative joint disease or its predisposing causes during a routine checkup even if you don’t have an aging dog.

Primary arthritis develops from the normal wear and tear of a joint with time and age.

While seen occasionally in very old dogs, it is not the commonly observed arthritis that it is in people.

The bulk of aging dog arthritis cases are secondary to disorders which happened or started earlier in life.

The following are just a few of the many such disorders:

• Obesity in any breed but especially in the large and giant breeds.

• Mechanical trauma such as falls and jumping mishaps.

• Torn ligaments in any joint but especially the stifle joint in toy or miniature poodles.

• Chronic dislocating patella (slipped knee cap), most common in toy breeds.

• Osteochondritis dissecans, a disease of young dogs.

• Hip dysplasia.

So look for any of these in your aging dog.

Muscle Atrophy In The Older Dog

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The muscles of mos tolder dogs lose much of their strength and actually decrease in size with each advancing year.

This is a normal part of the aging process and is to be expected. However, there are two as yet poorly understood muscle disorders which at first may look like normal aging weakness.

In one the older dog develops weakness in the leg muscles during periods of exercise or other physical stress, may fall down briefly, seem to recover, get up for a short time only to fall down again.

This is often seen in polymyositis, a disease which causes inflammation of any or all muscles in the body.

Polymyositis occurs mostly in late middle age and early old age, the most common of its several possible causes appearing to be a defect in the dog’s immune mechanism.

Treatment with corticosteroids is quite successful despite the often alarming appearance of the older dog.

Occasionally the muscles of the esophagus are affected, making swallowing difficult, but even these respond.

Muscular dystrophy, the second disorder, occurs mainly in older dogs, bears some similarity to muscular dystrophy in people, and has a cause as yet unknown. Affected dogs develop a stiff gait as the muscles become progressively weaker and smaller in size.

There is nothing we know of which will stop the deterioration or cure the disease. Treatment is palliative, trying to keep the patient as comfortable as possible, and is based on your older dog individual symptoms.

The Sad Realization Of Your Dog’s Passing

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For most people, losing a dog is like losing a member of the family. It is very difficult to imagine life without the creature that has given us such-joy and love over the years. However, death is the inevitable end for all living beings. As a dog owner, you must be prepared to deal with the practical and emotional realities of losing your beloved pet, whether death is brought on by old age, accident, or sudden illness.

Since you are your dog’s primary caretaker, it may sometimes become your responsibility to answer the following question: Is my dog suffering from extreme and irreversible pain and suffering so much so that his life is devoid of pleasure? Make a rational assessment of your dog’s condition, taking into account the quality of his life over a period of time. Consult your veterinarian, asking her or him to tell you the prognosis for relief or recovery. If, after much informed consideration, you can answer yes to the above question, it may be necessary to euthanize your dog. While your veterinarian may advise you, this difficult decision is ultimately up to you.

Your pet will not suffer during the procedure, which consists of a single, painless injection. Some veterinarians will administer the lethal dose in your own home, where you and your loved ones can surround your dog in its beloved environment.

Think about whether or not you would like to be present when the injection is administered. You may wish to be there for the dog’s final moments, or it may be too difficult a task. If you plan to be present, try to bring someone along who can help you through this trying event. If you can’t bring yourself to be there, do not chide or accuse yourself of letting your dog down; it is very difficult to predict how one will respond to the death of a loved one. Concentrate on the warmth and sense of belonging you have given your dog throughout his life, and the gift of relief you are now bestowing upon your suffering pet.

Once your dog has died, you will have to decide what to do with his remains. Ask your veterinarian about cremation and burial. Most veterinarians can arrange to have dogs cremated. If you wish to retain your dog’s ashes, be sure to warn the crematorium ahead of time.

Burying your dog in a pet cemetery allows you to visit your dog’s final resting spot whenever you wish. Pet cemeteries offer plots, headstones, and monuments just as human cemeteries
do. Aside from your veterinarian, you may also want to consult with your local humane society for respected pet cemeteries in your area.

2 Ways To Give Liquid Medication To Your Senior Dog

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There are 2 effective methods for getting any form of liquid medication down your dogs throat, Make a pouch or pry the mouth open.


1. Making a pouch: Using one hand, pull out the corner of the dogs lower lip to make a little pouch. Keep his head slightly tilted back and pour the liquid into the mouth using your other hand.


In some instances, the medication does not go in right away. This occurs when the dogs teeth are clenched too tightly. When this happens, gently pry his mouth open using your fingers. If the dog tries to move away, position his rear end in a corner so he will not be able to back away from you. You can also get another person to help you hold the dog during the process.


Another way of doing this method is to sit on the floor or a bed with the dog between your legs. Position his rear end toward you with his head facing away. This way, you can keep him positioned more easily. As soon as you have the liquid medicine in, induce swallowing by carefully and gently holding the dogs mouth almost closed and lightly massage his throat. You can tell that he has swallowed the medication when his tongue emerges briefly from between the front teeth. You can also make him swallow the liquid by briefly and gently putting your thumb over his nostrils.


2. Prying the mouth open: Gently grasp the dogs upper jaw using one hand and insert your thumb and fingers in the gaps just behind the fangs. For a tiny dog, just one finger is necessary along with the thumb. Most dogs will then relax their mouths a little so that you can easily pour the liquid with a dropper or a spoon between his front teeth. Make sure that his head is tilted back so that the liquid does not run down his throat.


How to administer capsules and pills


When giving a dog solid medication such as capsules or vitamin pills, open his mouth by grasping around his upper jaw, just like what you would do for liquid medications. Hold the capsule or pill either between your thumb and the first finger or between the first and second fingers. Use the remaining fingers to press down the lower front teeth to pry the jaw open.


Once you have managed to open his mouth, put the medication into the throat and push it as far back as you can. Induce swallowing the same as you would when giving liquid medication. This method may seem awkward and difficult at first. But after a few tries, you will get more experienced and find it much easier and effortless.

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