Getting Old

My dad's parents visited this week, and both commented on how much older I looked than the last time they saw me. Popop said it broke his heart. Way to make a girl feel good. Yes, I have more gray hair. I'm thinner. I'm also sleeping more and have trouble hearing. But all of that is normal. All of the dogs in this house are considered "senior." I'm almost 11, Muggsy is almost 10 and Chubbs is almost 9.

We have already talked about the importance of yearly senior exams in this blog, but I can't stress that enough. Imagine being 70 and going to the doctor every seven years! Don't skip. But there are plenty of changes that we will be going through which are perfectly normal.

The most notable is slower metabolism. We don't have the energy we used to. In fact, Muggsy and Chubbs both have arthritis in their joints, which slows them even more. However, we still need exercise. The best way to exercise us is less exercise more frequently. And be consistent. We are no longer at the age where you can skip a couple of walks and then take us for a huge hike during the weekend. We can't handle that! But the less active we are, the more our muscle mass deteriorates, so keep us active!

We also struggle to adjust to temperature extremes. So when we're out walking, be on the lookout for signs of heat stroke. And add a blanket to our bed on cold evenings.

Our immunity decreases as we get older, just as with humans. However, this doesn't mean to give us extra vaccinations. In fact, our bodies might respond negatively to them at this age. Instead, get us a titer. If you've been giving us vaccinations our whole life, it's likely that we have the immunity. Ask your veterinarian if you are unsure what to do.

Senior dogs also have decrease function in heart, lungs, kidney, bladder and liver. This is normal, but be sure to have a senior blood panel run each year to make sure everything is working as it should. This makes it harder for us to eliminate toxins, so be careful what you feed us and what medicines you give. A lot of foods have preservatives, dyes and other gross stuff. We don't need that. Give us healthy food that contains only protein, vegetables and healthy grains. No corn or meat byproducts. We're too old for that junk food!

We also experience gastrointestinal slowdown, which makes teeth cleanings more important. However, no anesthesia, please. If your dog can't attend the anesthesia-free cleanings, brush the teeth at home every day or two. Or do what my mom does: Give us raw bones or an apple daily. Both clean the teeth. She never brushes, and the vet always compliments our beautiful teeth!

Guess what else: Dogs can even get Alzheimer's. So watch for changes in your dog's personality. If there is a sudden change, such as confusion, aggression or sudden phobias, consult your veterinarian. We don't like them, but they become our best friends as we get older!

We senior dogs rule, but we are a lot of work. Take care of us, and we'll love you longer. Love, Fenway