Petfinder.com forums :: View topic - Adopting a Senior Pet!! 11/14

Join us this week 11/14 - 11/20 and help celebrate Adopt-A-Senior-Pet Month!! This week we are welcoming back Erika Mathews from the Grey Muzzle Foundation!

Erika Mathews, Vice President of Development for St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center began her fundraising career at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). For eight years she worked in all aspects of development, including direct mail, major gifts, planned giving, and she spent a year in the volunteer department. Erika then went on to become the Development Director of St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center in Madison, NJ. Here she managed the fundraising program for seven years, which included major donors, planned giving, foundation and corporate gifts as well as events and publicity. Erika also spent three years as the development director for the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine, NJ and is currently on the Board of Directors for the Grey Muzzle Organization.

Erika is most grateful for the friends she has made along the way, especially Zoë, a 15-year-old shepherd/chow mix from Queens, three audacious cats and Chance, 30-year-old retired school horse.

Welcome Erika!

Posted Mon Nov 14, 2011 9:50 am:

Hi Erika, thanks for joining us this week and helping us celebrate Adopt-A-Senior-Pet month! I’d like to kick off the forum by asking what are some of the benefits of adopting a senior pet?

Erika's Answer:

Here are the top 10 reasons to adopt a senior pet!

1. What you see is what you get! In older pets, personalities are established, you know what size they are and what kind of grooming is needed.

2. Good at giving love. Seniors are most grateful for a second chance, and it shows!

3. They won't eat your house! Teething and chewing are not an issue.

4. Most older dogs are already housetrained, and if not - they learn quickly

5. Focused - Old dogs CAN learn new tricks - and quickly because they can pay attention

6. They know what "no" means

7. Settle in easy - bringing a senior pet home is usually an easy transition.

8. Instant companions - they bond quickly and are ready to go along on your favorite adventures

9. Time for yourself - older pets are less demanding of your time and attention - especially great for working families

10. A good night's sleep! Mature pets don't need night time feedings, comforting or bathroom breaks

Senior pets are seasoned lovers. Visit your local shelter today!

Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 5:30 pm Post subject:

Hello and thanks for being back! One of the concerns I hear from potential adopters at our shelter is they are worried that older pets won't bond as well to their family. I know that's not true and that they make such wonderful family members! Do you have any suggestions that I can share with those interested in adopting on how they can bond with an older pet?

Erika's Answer:

You had me at the Grey Muzzle"

When visitors go through your shelter, once they get "the look" from a dog that has lived a wonderful life and unfortunately found herself at a shelter, it is usually an instant connection. Luckily older dogs seem to know that they are getting that second chance, and show how grateful they are by giving themselves over completely to their new families. However, all dogs can be timid in the first few weeks in a new home. Ask your adopters to be patient, and to give their new pet time to settle in and acclimate to their new environment. Routine is extremely important, and daily walks are a great way to bond with your new senior dog - and the exercise is great for everyone - even if it is just a short walk around the block.

Old dogs CAN learn new tricks! Training can be a really fun bonding experience, but often basic training is redundant for our experienced dogs. If adopters have access to dog training - Noseworks is a fun dog sport that welcomes senior and handicapped dogs. Dogs are taught to find treats and items by scent hidden in a room, but it is not too physically taxing for our senior friends. Another alternative is to teach your new dog fun tricks. Check your local library for books on dog tricks, and pick the ones that are not too physically demanding. You will bond, laugh, and be the stars of your neighborhood.

For more information on the first days with your new senior dog, log on to www.greymuzzle.or/resources and check out the last chapter on "Caring for your senior dog" manual.

Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:44 pm Post subject:

My 12 year old dog has been losing his sight Sad

The last couple months it seems that his regular sleep routine has been off, he’s restless at night and seemly sleepy during the day. I checked with my vet and he didn’t find any medical cause, have you heard of this? or is there something I can do to help him feel more comfortable at night?

Erika's Answer:

Hi,

Usually dogs adjust pretty well to loosing their sight. Depending on the breed, they can get by just fine on scent. (See www.greymuzzle.org/resources for an article on living with blind dogs. You can also visit the Blind Dog Rescue www.blinddogrescue.com for great tips and information).

One thing you can try is to take your dog for a walk before bedtime. If you take him on a routine walk every night, he should adjust to walk and do just fine even with his loss of sight. This exercise before bed may help him sleep during the night.

Another common senior dog ailment can be cushings disease. This can make dogs urinate more often, and cause restlessness at night. If you have ruled this out, you can ask your vet if you can try natural supplements like Melatonin at night to help your dog sleep. You can get this at your local drug store. If that doesn't work your vet can recommend a prescription drug like Clomicalm to get him resting through the night. Medications like Clomcalm can take a few weeks to work, so be patient.

Good luck and sweet dreams (to both of you!)

Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2011 2:09 pm Post subject:

We have two dogs Penny, 11 years old, and Toby, 2 years old. Penny is active, Toby makes sure of that. My concern is I know nothing about old age, and how to deal with, what to look for, in the serious signs. What can I do to make aging the most comfortable for us all, can you recommend a resource?

Erika's Answer:

It is so wonderful that Penny has friend to keep her young. Staying active is key in keeping her healthy and strong. Just be sure that as Penny ages that Toby respects her space and quits when Penny has had enough.

The things to watch for as Penny gets older is arthritis. Supplements like glucosamine are great to give her now - there are brands like Cosequin that are made especially for dogs, or you can get glucosamine from your local drug store. Check with your vet on the dosage. You will also want to do a geriatric blood screening at least once a year to check all of her organ functions. Kidney disease, diabetes and thyroid issues are common in dogs as they age. Blood screenings can diagnose these issues which are usually very easy to treat if you catch them early.

The Grey Muzzle Organization has a Caring for Your Senior Dog guide on the Resources section of their website, www.greymuzzle.org. There is also a book available in their shop "Senior Dogs for Dummies" or you can check it out of your local library. That can give you some great information on general care for senior dogs.

Keep playing Penny - it is the key to staying young

Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2011 1:30 am Post subject:

According to my vet, my senior cat has been exhibiting signs of hearing loss. This will sound completely contradictory but she seems to also be becoming much more sensitive to strange sounds. She was never a skiddish or timid cat but it now seems like she is startled by sounds that would have never used to bother her. Any thoughts?

Thank you for the great work you do.

Erika's Answer:

Dear Valentine,

Since your cat is experiencing hearing loss - she is processing the world around her in a much different way. She may hear only certain frequencies and this change can be scary at first. However, animals usually adapt very well to hearing and sight loss. They are adept at relying on their other senses to adjust to a new way of life. This can take some time.

In the meantime, be sure to give your cat a safety zone, complete with a litter box, food and water nearby. A quiet retreat can comfort her as she goes through these changes. This is especially important if you have guests over (particularly during the holidays).

Also, keep in touch with your vet about this issue and consider having a geriatric blood screening done to rule out any other issues she may be facing as she ages.

Most of all, be patient, calm and reassuring to her during this change. Your support will mean more to her than anything.

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