Whilst the other 2 are youth on legs rushing around everywhere, Alfie is showing his age lately bless him. I try to anticipate what he'll need, and have it there before he needs it. He has a soft fleece by the gate where he lies down in the breeze, as he has the hard skin on his pressure points now. We have a water bowl in every room downstairs so he never has to walk far for a drink, and upstairs for overnight. We walk him seperately so it's at his own pace and he can turn around when ever he likes. He doesn't get groomed as often because he literally can't stand for long periods, so I just do the essential 'clumps' really. We've had old dogs before, but never one quite as large as Alfie. We had a briard that got to a good age, but Alfie weighed around 10 stone a couple of years ago, although he's thinner now. Don't get me wrong, he still dives for a toy to play every now and then, and adores Charlie climbing over him for a wash, his tails starts swishing and the highlight of his day is going balistic at the postie. Him and Harry have a tug o war now and again. But are there other things I can be doing do you think, just to make it an easy life for the old boy? Are there better beds out there or anything like that? Or are they not really worth it.
Re: Advice on Alfie - old age I've never cared for an older dog - so can't contribute to the question. But just wanted to say that he sounds like you are making him as comfy as possible - lucky old boy!
Re: Advice on Alfie - old age Bless him x Would one of those suspended canvas beds be any use? They might be easier on the old bones and a raised bed might be easier to get in and out of... I've not had an old dog yet either but it sounds like you take wonderful care of him and he still gets his fun when he can
Re: Advice on Alfie - old age Did actually get him an orthopedic (sp) mattress, but he prefers an old futon mattress he's had for years. He did have a new cot mattress from Ikea (cheaper & bigger than a dog bed) for a while downstairs, but as he can still just about manage to climb on the sofa, he must have thought 'who needs it!' But I don't know a lot about the raised ones. Even for outside, that might be good actually, thanks.
Re: Advice on Alfie - old age Ah TM.....alfie doesn't get much press coverage does he,nice he's having his turn.i think I like the sound of the facilities and considerations in your doggy retirement home ....! My friend has an old arthritic German shepherd boy and she has his bowls on a stool for him so he doesn't have to stoop for his water and food....don't know if that would help...
Re: Advice on Alfie - old age Well, I must be the expert here, having lost two very elderly dogs over the last couple of years. Bones was 14 when we had to let him go at New Year's, and Billy was almost 16 the Christmas before when I had to make the sad decision to say goodbye. I found that as they got older, what really helped them was having to use as few steps as possible, as their joints became stiff and sore. Never stopped them using the couch, of course :, but they did find it hard on the slippery floor getting off and on the couch, so we put a rug down in front for them... Billy particularly felt the cold, and used to be tucked up in a blanket at night! During the summer, they both loved being outside in the garden. Poor old Bill got very doddery at the end, and used to fall over every now and then, so I had to be very vigilant. Right near the end, he fell into the garden pond and wasnt strong enough to get out on his own... :'( Makes me want to cry, remembering it. I loved them both so very much, and probably particularly let Billy go too long before eventually realizing it was time to let him go. The main thing is, as their eyesight and hearing deteriorates, older dogs need a lot of reassurance, lots of love and physical affection - and a lot of patience. Their sense of smell doesnt go, so they love to go for sloooooow toddles, where they can sniff to their heart's delight... They dont seem to lose their sex drive either - I'll never forget Billy setting off determinedly after a bitch on heat when he was 15!!! : And quite often they cant digest food the same way either, so they need food specially manufactured for 'senior' dogs. And the vet bills mount up alarmingly with old dogs, of course. On the plus side - they dont run away, they dont pull on the lead, they dont chew, they don't fight, they are quiet (mostly) and dont need a lot of exercise. And my dogs were very, very loving right up to the end. Oh, this has made me sad. :'(
Re: Advice on Alfie - old age Karen it's made me sad too chris has been away this week and my sister has visitors so ive had more time this week,something made me start reading your Posts from during that terribly sad time and I was in tears.......but what came through was how loved they were and how much they brought to your life. Best wishes,and may that time be a long way off for all of us xxx
Re: Advice on Alfie - old age Karen - I'm sure it has made you sad remembering your lovely boys - but it sounds like two very lucky dogs loved to bits right to the end of their lovely lives with you. A dog can't have more really. (I recently had to have my front garden dug up due to a leaking sewer. The house is at the top of a flight of 20 steps - nightmare with shopping or carrying a heavy puppy! When the garden was put back I had a gentle sloping path put in zig zagging up. It didn't any more as the work was so extensive anyway.The builder asked me why I wanted it. I told him - so Charlie doesn't have to do the steps when he is old! Nothing like forward planning, I say...).
Re: Advice on Alfie - old age Great planning there, Julie! And thank you and Angela for your kind words! They were indeed lovely old boys... TM - I think it is a very good thing that you got Charlie now, while Alfie is still able to have a bit of fun with her, and not be too bothered by her. I do think it is a mistake to get a puppy with a very old dog (although it was unavoidable for us), and I would advise against it wherever possible. It's also nice that Charlie and Harry play a lot, so Alfie is free to join in or not, as he pleases... Another tip that occurs to me is to have his teeth checked regularly. Billy had a rotten tooth right at the very back of his mouth, and I missed it for months. Our original vet missed it too... but that's another story. Here's hoping Alfie has many happy years left to him yet!!
Re: Advice on Alfie - old age Karen, that's all fantastic advice thank you. Sorry it made you sad though. No matter what I'm doing, if I think of one of my boys I've lost, and I ache. I'd give everything I have to have them all back, for just a day. We've got runners down on all the floors (they're there from Paddy the briard being old!) and we've got a raised feeder for him too. I do think I'm going to start looking at ways of cutting out a few steps about the place. He currently manages them with a helping hand, but my dad's a builder so roping him in I reckon soon. He does have metacam ocassionally and it seems to ease his movement quite a bit. As you say Angela, the 2 younger ones hog the limelight a fair bit. Alfies an old plodder, bless him. Spends his day in the garden watching the world go by. I hear the neighbours saying morning to him as they go to work, and hello when they get home every day - then you hear his tail banging off the wheelie bin saying hello back! Here's a pic of the grand ole boy, taken a couple of days ago I think:
Re: Advice on Alfie - old age Sorry Karen, missed your last post there as I was wrestling with photobucket on another screen! It is lovely to see Charlie and Harry with him. Charlie is very respectful, and goes to him when there's an unfamiliar noise, or when she wants to sleep by him. He cleans her, and watches Charlie and Harry play together for a while, then stomps over and nicks the toy anyway! It's lovely to see. The other things we've done is change the car for dogs too - it used to be an old ford maverick but it was getting to difficult for the older ones to jump in and out of, so we've got a focus estate now instead.
Re: Advice on Alfie - old age Alfie looks so young not old, I don't want to think about it, too sad :'( :'( :'( Helen x
Re: Advice on Alfie - old age [quote author=tartanmouse link=topic=2403.msg23313#msg23313 date=1377786353] Here's a pic of the grand ole boy, taken a couple of days ago I think: [/quote] He looks full of a lot of life yet!
Re: Advice on Alfie - old age What a splendid looking chap he is! Very bright eyes and happy looking face. Lovely
Re: Advice on Alfie - old age He's a happy chap, that's for sure! He has a lovely smile. He's my life, he really is. He's such a gorgeous boy. x
Re: Advice on Alfie - old age Alfie is an extremely handsome gentleman I'd say that old dogs need to be kept warm at night (they can't regulate their body temp as well and get cold and stiff more easily), mats on hard floors so they don't slip, and a soft surface to lie on. It's also good to be careful with feeding bones, as they can't digest them as well (intestine is slower or something). When my Nicolae got to 13 the vet said no more bones. As you are doing, I think it's important to face up to the fact that they are getting old and have different needs. You can't expect too much of them and they need to go at their own pace. I was probably a little slow to accept that with my Nicolae, but I didn't want to think of him as old Your story of your lovely boys made me shed a tear or several, Karen :'( I miss my old black boy so much too.
Re: Advice on Alfie - old age [quote author=drjs@5 link=topic=2403.msg23367#msg23367 date=1377812404] Sounds lucky to have you TM [/quote] Definitely the other way round! He's gorgeous.
Re: Advice on Alfie - old age He is beautiful, and looks very happy! I gave my old boy glucosamine pills to help with the creaky joints and it really made a difference for him. I was never able to change his diet to a senior formula as he was on lamb and rice due to allergies and there was NO senior lamb and rice!! Stupid....
