Dear Tiffani,

I have had my dog for 12 years now, and I have noticed changes in him through the years but lately they are more noteworthy. Oscar is moving more slowly, seems disoriented occasionally, and doesn’t seem to hear sometimes; especially if he is doing something he shouldn’t – is this selective hearing? He is starting to wander off during our walks too. Is there anything I can do to help him?

Signed, Feeling his Pain

Dear Feeling,

If you have a sense that Oscar is in physical pain; please visit your veterinarian straight away to determine what the source of pain is, as well as determining a baseline of his general facilities and things to watch for.  

I know that seeing a pet age can be difficult to watch, but there are steps you can take to help them age as gracefully as possible. As medical and health technology advances, our pets are living longer, healthier lives. Older pets are more prone to developing health issues and it is essential to stay in close contact with your veterinarian now more than ever. I always stress the importance of annual vet check-ups and as your pet ages, subtle changes we may not recognize can be identified by your vet. Older pets may require visits more often than once a year. Animals age more quickly than humans. For instance, a dog who is 8 in people years (and weighs about 50 pounds) is really 55 in dog years. The following year, the same dog will turn 9 in people years and 62 in dog years and will have physically aged the equivalent of 7 years. 

There are ways to make Oscar more comfortable as his aging accelerates. The symptoms you describe are common, and as far as his ‘selective hearing’ goes; it’s not a bad time to let him get away with a few things in his golden years as long as he is not in physical danger. I recommend leash walks to prevent wandering, as awkward as that may be for you both if it’s new. 

Some of the following ideas may improve Oscar’s comfort level, but realize they don’t help every dog and a level of decline is inevitable. Once your vet has established an overall physical health baseline, it will be easier to track changes. Heart disease, cancers, liver and kidney disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis, dental diseases, behavior changes and nutrition are all potential issues and concerns among older pets. Early care and detection are both less costly and more effective than treating a full-blown problem. Your veterinarian may suggest procedures such as bloodwork, x-rays, or other diagnostic tests. It will also be helpful to give the vet as much information about your pet as possible. Discuss type of dog food and current medications or vitamin supplements your dog takes,  normal activity level, how he acts after strenuous activity, changes in behavior, increases or deceases in food or water intake, and changes in bathroom behavior or output. In addition to conventional treatments, you may want to consider alternative healing such as acupuncture, homeopathy, and hydrotherapy.

Home care recommendations include running your hands over your pet’s body every other month or so to catch any new lumps or bumps. Don’t check too frequently; changes are usually subtle and easier to detect over longer intervals. Brushing dogs’ teeth and giving them teeth cleaning chew toys (and taking toys away as they deteriorate) can help prevent Periodontal Disease. Give baths only as needed; older animals are more susceptible to chills. Keep pets’ ears clean and trim their nails regularly. Cover slippery floors with non-skid rugs and use routes with shallow steps or provide ramps. There are now great rear-end slings, carts, and wagons available for animals who can no longer walk safely on their own.

It’s important that Oscar stay active but you may need to modify or change his activity level. Shorten sessions, and in extremely cold or hot weather, decrease or skip it. Engage him in new games and activities to keep his mind alert. You can massage your dog and help him stretch before and after activity. Hmm, sounds like a great plan for all of us!

More than ever, it’s important to provide protection from the elements now. Older animals should live indoors, but if they must stay outside; provide a warm and dry shelter and check it for leaks often. Giving senior pets more comfortable, softer bedding may ease their aches and pains.

Older pets’ metabolism slows and muscle mass decreases so ask your veterinarian about changing or reducing their food intake. There are many different foods available that help with digestion, liver problems, and other conditions common with aging dogs. I also recommend providing access to water in more than one area for the elder pet. 

You’ll have to take Oscar’s loss of vision and hearing as inevitable. But, his sense of smell is much stronger than sight and aging dogs compensate quite well. Do take care when changing his environment, such as moving furniture around. You may also retrain Oscar with hand signals in response to loss of hearing. The old adage is utterly wrong; you CAN teach an old dog new tricks!

I wish the best for you and Oscar in living his years out comfortably. 

Thank you for caring and wanting to help him, Tiffani

Tiffani Zimmerman is the Behavior Specialist at the Stafford Animal Shelter. Email questions to her at behavioradvice@imt.net or call 406/222-1312.