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#1
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Cognitive disorder
I am either second guessing the past here or preparing for the future
with my present dog. I just went through this with our border x who lived to 16.5 yrs old. She died in early March of this year. I have a 13.5 yr old wire-haired fox terrier who is mentally active and alert presently. He is experiencing deterioration in vision and hearing and has a fairly serious liver issue which we have done all that we can do for. With our border x we were also dealing with some fairly severe arthritis and joint issues. Keeping her involved and active called for some pretty creative thinking. My concern is that there were other things I could have done. I'm not beating myself up here over it. We did the best we knew how but I would like to know of how others have dealt with this - prepping for future issues with present and future dogs I suppose. It's obvious there isn't anything that needs immediate attention. I would appreciate it if you happen to have some advise to share and a few spare minutes to post. Karen |
#2
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Cognitive disorder
"~Karen~" wrote in message ... I am either second guessing the past here or preparing for the future with my present dog. I just went through this with our border x who lived to 16.5 yrs old. She died in early March of this year. I have a 13.5 yr old wire-haired fox terrier who is mentally active and alert presently. He is experiencing deterioration in vision and hearing and has a fairly serious liver issue which we have done all that we can do for. With our border x we were also dealing with some fairly severe arthritis and joint issues. Keeping her involved and active called for some pretty creative thinking. My concern is that there were other things I could have done. I'm not beating myself up here over it. We did the best we knew how but I would like to know of how others have dealt with this - prepping for future issues with present and future dogs I suppose. It's obvious there isn't anything that needs immediate attention. I would appreciate it if you happen to have some advise to share and a few spare minutes to post. Karen A friend just lost her terrier cross a couple of days ago, after 16.5 years. He spent a great deal of the last few years asleep. He wasn't ill, or in pain, he was just old. His hearing went, and his eyesight. One thing that that they learned having an "elder" dog was making sure he knew where they were. Sometimes my friend would leave to go to the bathroom, or the basement to do laundry, and the old man would wake up and not be able to find her. He became quite distressed over this, and they learned to either take him with them out of the room, or be certain he couldn't become lost in his own home i.e. leave him crated if he was going to be alone for more than few minutes. Once, not long ago, my friend was in basement and, to her horror, the dog came to the top of the stairs and fell down them. He was bruised, not broken, but it was very frightening for them. He was just looking for her, and couldn't see the steps anymore. So I suppose all I have for you, is make sure your dog knows you are there, don't change his routine, or his environment. My friend had to go away for a few days, and she kennelled the other two dogs, but the old man went to her sister's, with which he was familiar. Change is very distressing to our seniors, it seems. R.I.P. Morty Phyrie |
#3
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Cognitive disorder
On 6/6/2010 12:15 AM, Phyrie wrote:
"~Karen~" wrote in message ... I am either second guessing the past here or preparing for the future with my present dog. I just went through this with our border x who lived to 16.5 yrs old. She died in early March of this year. I have a 13.5 yr old wire-haired fox terrier who is mentally active and alert presently. He is experiencing deterioration in vision and hearing and has a fairly serious liver issue which we have done all that we can do for. With our border x we were also dealing with some fairly severe arthritis and joint issues. Keeping her involved and active called for some pretty creative thinking. My concern is that there were other things I could have done. I'm not beating myself up here over it. We did the best we knew how but I would like to know of how others have dealt with this - prepping for future issues with present and future dogs I suppose. It's obvious there isn't anything that needs immediate attention. I would appreciate it if you happen to have some advise to share and a few spare minutes to post. Karen A friend just lost her terrier cross a couple of days ago, after 16.5 years. He spent a great deal of the last few years asleep. He wasn't ill, or in pain, he was just old. His hearing went, and his eyesight. One thing that that they learned having an "elder" dog was making sure he knew where they were. Sometimes my friend would leave to go to the bathroom, or the basement to do laundry, and the old man would wake up and not be able to find her. He became quite distressed over this, and they learned to either take him with them out of the room, or be certain he couldn't become lost in his own home i.e. leave him crated if he was going to be alone for more than few minutes. Once, not long ago, my friend was in basement and, to her horror, the dog came to the top of the stairs and fell down them. He was bruised, not broken, but it was very frightening for them. He was just looking for her, and couldn't see the steps anymore. So I suppose all I have for you, is make sure your dog knows you are there, don't change his routine, or his environment. My friend had to go away for a few days, and she kennelled the other two dogs, but the old man went to her sister's, with which he was familiar. Change is very distressing to our seniors, it seems. R.I.P. Morty Phyrie Thank you Phyrie. I really hate the day you look down at your dog and realize that their eyes are beginning to "cloud". This dog has the greatest sense of humor and has made me laugh each and every day I've had him. His breeder works at my vet's office and when his liver suddenly shut down and I was rushing him in the front door (I had called and told them I was coming) she was already teary eyed as she got us into the back room. She had only bred two litters and he is the "last one standing". Until that day you wouldn't have thought he was a day over 6. Now he is acting like an old dog. Thank you again. Karen |
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