Older dog help and advice needed, how to help her ?

Question

I have a 12 year old Shihtzu who of course I love very much. Her physical health is still good, she will run some when we got with my other 2 younger ones to the park, but she is losing her sight and hearing, and when we are out in the yard, if she loses track of me she starts barking really loud, do they hear high or low sounds better at this stage, as I could wear bells or such and ring when she can't find me. Also, I think dementia is just starting. She is such a sweet, had 19 pups in 3 litters years ago. I want to be as good as I can to her. The 2 younger ones are 1 and 2 and she is feeling left out. I pay a lot of attention to her, but she "can't compete" if you know what I mean. Please give me anything that you know older dogs enjoy, foods, treats, pets, hugs, anything special, I love her so.

Answer 1

I've taught my dog to respond to specific touches, in anticipation of old age. For heel,(hearing loss) I run my finger from his shoulder to his head and he's right with me and the remote obedience signs, if he's at a distance.
You can also use her sense of smell, that keeps working no matter how old they get. For instance, a path sprayed with a lemon scent from the porch to where she wants to go potty will help her find her way back to the house. You, of course, have to respray it after a rainfall. In that light, you could use your favorite perfume and teach her that it means it's you by putting it on your wrist and letting her sniff at it. You might have to be a little strong with the scent at first, just until she gets the idea but don't we just do anything for love.

Answer 2

I do agree that she should be spayed: At this stage, puppies would not be good for her.

And yes, I do know what you mean. I helped take care of an ancient little terrier some time ago who suffered badly from arthritis and possibly cancer.

Bells are a very clever idea, and one I probably wouldn't have thought of. I'm not sure if the upper registers of a dog's hearing go first, or the lower ones. But it is well worth trying, especially if she learns to associate the sound with you.

Most of the older critters I have had like soft, fuzzy things to lay on. If you have an old shirt or robe that you don't especially want any more, you can make that into a pillow for her. The scent will comfort her, as well as the softness.

Is there any especial food or treat she likes? If so, keep a supply of that for her.

And love her all you can.

Answer 3

Our Jack Russell was 18, completely deaf and nearly blind for the last year or so. When we realised he was having problems we taught him some new signals, so before we touched him we'd put the flat of our hands against the side of his face, he then knew we were going to groom him or pick him up and would stand still.
I was sure he could hear very high pitched noises, I tried a few things like whistles, but he'd often have trouble figuring out which direction it came from. He could see movement more easily than hear sound sio we'd wave to get his attention (only works if they're facing you!) , and they can feel you walking across the floor as well.
Keep the hair trimmed over her eyes to give her the best chance of seeing you!
They like routine and more fuss, and by that age they've earned it. They need steps to get onto the sofa, and treats are ok as long as the portions are small because they get fat more easily.
Make sure you get plenty of good photos, you won't regret that after they're gone.

Answer 4

Giver her a special place in your life like maybe put her bed in your bedroom or next to your favorite chair. Let her ride in the front seat with you in the car. Dogs have a ranking order and these things will show her and the others she is still the queen. It would appear her senses are all dulling. If she can't smell you she won't hear you unless you use some sort of amplified device. She is experiencing severe emotional distress because she is being left alone (when she looses track). The best thing you can do for her is reconsile with yourself that she is nearing the end. At some point you will likely need to decide for her that the best thing is to put her down.

Answer 5

It's important to say that tinnitus is a symptom and not a disease. Some people will have tinnitus because their Cochlea is damaged. And in a few, it could be caused due to hearing loss. But of course, the most common cause of tinnitus is exposure to loud noises. The noise can be a sudden burst, or it could be a constant banging that hits the ear drum and travels inside.

A good guide you can read about tinnitus and some good natural remedies can be found here: http://tinnitus.toptips.org

Answer 6

Hi!
We also have an older female shih tzu. From what you've described, our Pebbles is also experiencing similiar problems. Since we also have a female and a male who are younger, we spend as much time with the three of them doing things that cater to them individually. The younger male loves playing with toys and chasing them endlessly. We take him aside and play with his favorites toys. The younger female is more the girly girl. She doesn't like toys as much but enjoys simple pampering such as ear massages and just being held while watching tv. The older girl stays off to herself at times because the younger ones being more active often run her down while they play. She loves simple things though. She has curvature of her spine and often enjoys having her back massaged or her fur gently brushed. She also loves eating ice, although the most she does is lick and gums it. We take her out for walks separately since she is slower and can't make it as far as the others. She loves the individual attention. We just learn to make necessary adjustments for her and try to figure out what the barks indicate. Since she is also losing her sight, she will bark to tell us if she needs to go out, or if she wants something. (usually it's a treat) She's a joy and a pleasure to have. Bless you for taking the time to continue loving an older dog. It brings them so much happiness. Good luck!

Answer 7

Our little Pomeranian lived to be 13 (she had congestive heart failure). She did pretty well until the last couple of years of her life, then she started to get senile, and all the things that go along with old age. We showered her with much love and attention, and fed her her favorite foods and treats. When she couldn't go for our long walks anymore, I started taking her for bike rides in a little bike basket on the front of the bike. She really looked forward to that! =) I don't really recommend that unless you're sure your dog won't get scared. I always used a safety harness and secured her in the basket for safety's sake. It sounds like you're doing a very good job with her. Just keep showing her a whole lot of attention and love.

Answer 8

I have three dogs 17, 16 and 15 years old and they younger two have to be kept on leads when out in the fields, they tend to go suddenly deaf when they get a smell of some thing.

Answer 9

My miniature Poodle lived to be 18.3 years old. I home fed her a low fat diet and added supplements. You can find a canine nutrition or home cooking group on Yahoo that will advise you on what's best for your dog. I ran all the food through a food processor to make it easier for my dog to digest and I fed her four small meals a day instead of loading her up with one or two big ones. I gave her glucosomine and chondroitin for her joints and she never got arthritis, was able to jump on and off the couch even as a senior. I gave her CO Q10 for her heart, milk thistle for a healthy liver, salmon oil for skin and joints and many more. There's a supplement called PS that's excellent for stopping doggie dementia fast. I can't remember the full name, sorry.

Answer 10

I have a llasa apso and she was never fit enough to have pups, as her years have progressed we take her to the beach or really wherever we go actually.When we are out you would have no idea of her age as she acts as all the other dogs she meets. Just keep treating her as an important part of your family for as long as poss,that is all she wants. Give her a hug from me(the biggest dog lover in the world)