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02-13-2013, 01:30 PM | #1 |
Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: California
Posts: 21
| Tips for elderly yorkies I have an almost 17-year-old yorkie that has a lot of issues because of her age, so I thought I'd share some tips of things we've found that seem to help her. 1) Neutricks seems to really work for her - it's s supplement that our vet suggested that is supposed to help elderly dogs. You can order it from amazon.com for $34 for 60 chewable tablets. The dosage is 1/2 for dogs under 40 pounds, but since Fiona is just over 5 pounds, I figure 1/4 tablet is good. Here's what they say about it: Neutricks is backed by research that shows it helps keep brain cells alive longer. Just like people, dogs can experience serious age-related cognitive disorders similar to Alzheimer's disease or dementia. A dog that seems strangely distant, confused, or disoriented, may be suffering from Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS). 2) Common sense, but I feel her feet and if they are cold, I make sure she has her sweater on (which means she wears a sweater a lot). 3) Also common sense, but I monitor anything that I think might be causing her pain (I have eye drops for her if her eyes are bloodshot - she has cataracts) and we have Tramadol on hand if I think something else is causing pain. If she's in pain at all, her cognitive abilities go down. 4) I also give her Yucca extract for her arthritis. I can't say for sure it's helping but I plan to keep giving it to her since she seems to be in better spirits in general lately. She's very verbal since she's gotten older and I have to figure out what she wants or she'll continue to cry. It's not always pain, sometimes she's cold, or hot, or confused or even just wants attention. We're usually able to figure it out. I gave up a long time ago trying to figure out why she no longer thinks to go outside for her toilet activities. We just clean up after her. Decided not to go the diaper route because then, I might be having to give her a bath at 3am, I would rather just clean the floor. Hope this might help others who are facing the golden years with their yorkies. Fiona is still so precious and I'm so glad we've had this much time with her. |
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02-13-2013, 02:29 PM | #2 |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Toluca Lake, CA
Posts: 5,491
| Bless you and your sweet Fiona. I am sure she enjoys her golden years with you being such a loving guardian. I had not heard about Yucca extract for arthritis. Buster has it in his front wrists due to poor breeding. I will have to do some research. Best wishes.
__________________ CarolynBuster Brown "The happiest people don't have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything." |
02-13-2013, 03:44 PM | #3 |
♥ Love My Tibbe! ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: D/FW, Texas
Posts: 22,140
| Thank you for the post. It is good to have this for future reference. I would love to see a picture of your little elder when you get the chance.
__________________ Jeanie and Tibbe One must do the best one can. You may get some marks for a very imperfect answer: you will certainly get none for leaving the question alone. C. S. Lewis |
02-13-2013, 05:11 PM | #4 |
Donating YT 10K Club Member | I'd say with a 17 year old yorkie...you've done everything "right". God bless you both
__________________ Deb, Reese, Reggie, Frazier, Libby, Sidney, & Bodie Trace & Ramsey who watch over us www.biewersbythebay.com |
02-13-2013, 05:14 PM | #5 |
♥ Love My Tibbe! ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: D/FW, Texas
Posts: 22,140
| I'll bet you've lots of stories to tell about having a Yorkie this long. She she your only Yorkie - your first, etc.?
__________________ Jeanie and Tibbe One must do the best one can. You may get some marks for a very imperfect answer: you will certainly get none for leaving the question alone. C. S. Lewis |
02-14-2013, 11:13 AM | #6 | |
Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: California
Posts: 21
| Quote:
Not to be morbid, but I'll share his last day. He was really sick - the vet never did figure out what was wrong. I think it was his pancreas. He'd lost a lot of weight and I could tell he was nearing the end so I called the vet in the morning and was going to take him in to be put to sleep at 11am. At around 10am, I had him in the backyard of my dad's house on the grass, in the sunshine and on his favorite blanket when I was with him as he died. My dad had been by my side but when it came close to end, he knew it and told me. He couldn't bear to watch so he went inside the house. After Nickleby died, my dad took me out to a place he thought would be good for a burial. My dad was a cotton farmer and had land in West Texas. He took me to what was left of an old barn that he said he'd seen a family of owls in and he also thought the land had been Indian burial grounds because of the things he'd found there over the years. He dug the grave and I placed my Nickleby there. It was heartbreaking to lose Nickleby but my dad was so sweet and knew exactly how to be there for me. I'll never forget that because I've lost my dad now too. Every day with dogs and people you love is precious. I'll never forget that. | |
02-14-2013, 11:21 AM | #7 | |
Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: California
Posts: 21
| Quote:
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02-14-2013, 11:29 AM | #8 |
♥ Love My Tibbe! ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: D/FW, Texas
Posts: 22,140
| Now I remember her. I remember thinking she still looks like a puppy in the face. Such a sweetheart of a little girl!!!
__________________ Jeanie and Tibbe One must do the best one can. You may get some marks for a very imperfect answer: you will certainly get none for leaving the question alone. C. S. Lewis |
02-14-2013, 11:35 AM | #9 | |
♥ Love My Tibbe! ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: D/FW, Texas
Posts: 22,140
| Quote:
__________________ Jeanie and Tibbe One must do the best one can. You may get some marks for a very imperfect answer: you will certainly get none for leaving the question alone. C. S. Lewis | |
02-14-2013, 12:10 PM | #10 |
T. Bumpkins & Co. Donating YT Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: New England
Posts: 9,816
| agree!
__________________ Washable Doggie Pee Pads (Save 10% Enter YTSAVE10 at checkout) Cathy, Teddy, Winston and Baby Clyde...RIP angels Barney and Daisy |
02-14-2013, 03:17 PM | #11 | |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Toluca Lake, CA
Posts: 5,491
| Quote:
Best wishes to you and Fiona.
__________________ CarolynBuster Brown "The happiest people don't have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything." | |
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