Calling All Dogs Over 8 Years Old
 

I know there aren't many of us, but I thought it might be good to get a
thread going with info that might help each other. After we see a vet and
how it works out etc. Our managers are leaving and we're having a luncheon
for them at 1 pm so I have to get down to help so I'll answer my questions
tonight.

NAME
AGE
HOW LONG HAVE YOU OWNED
M/F
HEALTH PROBLEMS AND WHAT YOU HAVE FOUND TO HELP
DO YOU GIVE VITAMIN
(and add anything else you think might be helpful)

I have two older male Shelties. Marley is 13 and Dempsey is 10.

Marley was always mellow, but he's really slowed down the last couple of years. He doesn't like the yunguns playing near him, so he has what we call 'the Marley no play zone'. If they get too close he grouses at them. Kisses are okay with him, but no rough play, and they respect that.

He limps when its cold or damp outside, but a buffered asprin fixes that. He also needs dental work, but the vet says hes too old. She refers to him as one of her geriatric patients. :(

Dempsey has always been hyper and has only slowed down a little. He has arthritis, and even though he limps he still runs around. He just won't do stairs any more and has to be carried up them. He's been taking Rimadyl every day since last spring. ($70 a month! :eek: ) It seems to make him more comfortable and less cranky.

All my dogs eat Canidae with Derma Coat food supplement. The only 'vitamin' is the Yogurt Drops they get as a treat.

Overall I guess they're in pretty good health. I just dread the day when they aren't any more. Thats why I can't fathom reading that book about Marley that everyone is raving about. :(

NAME: Muffie
AGE: 10-1/2 yrs old
HOW LONG HAVE YOU OWNED: 10 yrs
M/F: Female
HEALTH PROBLEMS AND WHAT YOU HAVE FOUND TO HELP: No problems
DO YOU GIVE VITAMIN: Yes, we give Pet tabs

She's eating Canidae All Stages but I'm going to start giving her some samples of Canidae Senior to switch her to in case she starts to get arthritis.

She's a good ole' girl and has really perked up since getting Missy, 14 wks now. She's mothering Missy and they play, growl, snarl, snip, bark, lots of fun to watch!

Name:Sydney
Age: 9 years, 9 months today. (1/17)
Length of time I have been owned by her: 9 years and 8 months
Sex: Female
Health Problems: None

Still plays like a puppy, but sleeps much sounder these days during naps. Eats a rotation diet of Nature's Variety Prairie: dry, canned, and frozen medallions.

Name: Gabby
Age: Will be 9 on the 12th of February
How long I've owned her (or she's owned me!): Got her when she was 8 weeks old
Health Problems: None
Vitamins: Yes, Pet Tabs

She is my "pretty girl" and "Miss Piggy". I was a little skeptical when I got her, or should I say "reserved" in my feelings towards her as the pain of having lost my Katie the year before was still fresh in my mind. Katie was fine one minute and the next, she developed a cough, took her to the vet, and she went into respiratory failure and died by that afternoon....she was only 8 1/2 years old. When Gabby reached (and passed) the 8 1/2 year mark, we celebrated:) I'm really looking forward to several more years with her, God willing:)

I'm Back !!
 

So glad to hear there are a few of us and lots of good info already

Crystal
will be 12 in June 2006
female
she eats dry Solid Gold Holistic and the Kidney Cleansing Diet
She has been pretty healthy but August is not a good month for her. August
2002 she had a growth removed from her upper gum that loosened lots of
teeth....it was benign but she lost quite a few teeth because of it. It's
harder to eat dry food because of it but she still can it her mini carrots :) August of 2003 she had another growth removed and that was benign and
now I have watched another and it hasn't grown but I it check with her bath.
She loves her walks and could walk forever. A while back she seemed
to limp alittle and I've been watching and decided to get her a heating
pad and only turn it on low about 9pm so now my dog who always slept
on my bed, is there all night. I but it in her bed and I put a pillow slip on it. I think it must be helping pain if she is
starting to have some. I don't give her any vitamins because I feel she gets
such good food but I may. I guess I'm lucky , most people think she's a pup
the way she runs around here.

Oh, I remember your story and felt so badly for you. When you think of how short
the large dogs lives are, I guess we have a better chance but it sure is not long
enough. Sherry Lynn seems to be doing well with the large dog!!

Joan, I would love to see pictures!
 

Sorry for butting in, but Joan honey this an excellent thread!! I wish there had been one like this before my two old ones passed away.

I would love to see pictures of the older dogs too, if you guys (and Joan)don't mind! I think pictures tell a lot about the overall health of a dog.

You know, I understand your reservations when you first got Gabby. When I got Sydney, I had just lost my darling Yorkie, Tiffany, the year before (she was in renal failure at the tender age of 13 years and two months)....my heart was shattered. During Sydney's 1st vet visit, I remember standing in the exam room, holding her, thinking, "Oh my God, what am I doing here? Can I go through this again?"

My Tiffany was diagnosed with a heart condition just before her 9th birthday, and my vet at the time, didn't expect her to see her 9th birthday, much less her 13th. So, when my Sydney hit 9 last year, and was (and is) very healthy, I, too, breathed a sigh of relief. She is more active than my 7 year old Yorkie, Kia.

And, like everyone else, I dread the later years.

You are so right, that is a wonderful idea!! I'll post some of Crystal here.
Thanks so much Jaspersmom

Crystalsmom. My dog's name happens to be Wrigley Field. Thought your picture was cute and had to mention it.

NAME: Sabrina
AGE 10 years old
HOW LONG HAVE YOU OWNED: since she was 6 weeks old
M/F Female - 4.5 to 5 pounds (depends on appetite that week).
HEALTH PROBLEMS AND WHAT YOU HAVE FOUND TO HELP: The usual picky eater stuff (this year found Natural Balance and she eats it!), diarhea (yogurt and vet), bad teeth (Oxyfresh in her water, tooth brushing) she lost 4 teeth, Uterine infection - had her spayed last year, constipation after eat cat food/poo - vet did a fleet enema for $50.00 (I could have done THAT). Anal gland impaction - vet. Chicken allergy - turned her skin on her tummy red and crusty looking. She can have Turkey, but chicken she has a bad reaction to. I give her benedryl when some kindly idiot slips her some (grandbabies usually). Patella problem. Vet - rimadyl (he said her little bones were so tiny he didn't think surgery is an option).

DO YOU GIVE VITAMIN - I give a vitamin that's in something like Nutrical - vita-cal I think. It's both the sugary stuff and vitamins.

I do NOT give her people food. Just haven't ever, and she doesn't beg for anything people have even at big family dinners unless it's fried chicken - which she's allergic to.

Oh, I forgot - she 2 little skin growths removed - one was precancerous. Was going to have that done and decided to go ahead with the spaying since she would be under anyway... Good thing I did.

Oh my goodness!! You're living in Indiana and I, Ohio so I assume you were raised in
Chicago too or maybe just love the "Cubs" like so many others.

So far we have 7 little senior citizen yorkies.