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Well, just these last few months I’ve noticed my Lady girl really slowing down, and even right now as I write this I’m getting emotional, as I know the signs and symptoms of old age are quickly accelerating.

She started barking at nothing a few months ago, and at time seems confused. I try to reassure her and stay calm and keep her surroundings quiet when she gets like this. My younger Lab Lola, sometimes thinks this is play time and she gets quite excited and wants to play and jump around Lady.  Whatever upsets her and starts her unusual behaviour usually ends just a suddenly.

I’ve also noticed that our daily walks have slowly shortened. We used to go out every morning, for a nice long walk.

Lady and Lola still look forward to this, but Lady can’t keep up. One day about 2 months ago Lady just sat down and wouldn’t move. I had to coax her to get her home. It took a while, and I was starting to wonder what I would do if she just simply refused to walk. I certainly can’t pick her up and carry her.

 

So now I have adjusted our schedule to a short walk (10 minutes) in the morning and another one in the evening. Just because of old age and difficultly with mobility, you shouldn’t stop exercise altogether, but adjust to your senior’s ability. It will be ever changing, with better days and worse days, with walks accordingly.

I have slowed my walking pace down to Lady’s, and then Lola and I go back out for a brisker, longer adventure afterwards. I feel a little guilty leaving Lady staring forlornly out of the front window when I go back out to finish Lola’s daily walks, but I have to also take care of Lola’s needs also.

She hasn’t had any drastic personality changes or other sudden changes, and the vet’s last check up was good. I have decided to switch her dog food to a more easily digestable one, with more homemade organic dog food added to her daily regime again.

She has received homemade organic dog food for many years, sometimes alternating with one of the always excellent brands of organic dog food FOUND HERE.

Because of Lady’s allergy problem since she was little, I found giving her high quality, organic food has eliminated this problem.

There are many choices of grain free dog food that also reduce or eliminate allergies in dogs.

The unnecessary addition of corn and wheat as fillers in cheaper brands has been known to cause allergies in dogs.

Find a list of some of the excellent choices of recommended food for dogs with allergies HERE. Many of these specialy formulas will also be available in sub specialties, such and allergy formulas for seniors etc.

CLICK HERE FOR SENIOR DOG FOODS, that are recommended as high quality and an excellent choice for your older dog.

Switching to a senior dog food has the advantage of inluding glucosomine and other necessary supplements needed for senior to keep them mobile and boost their immune systems.

I also got Lady a nice heated bed, which she really enjoys. She has always preferred the cooler weather and still enjoys staying out in the snow, but now the warmth seems to soothe her. See Lady still enjoying the snow here.

I still am adamant that feeding all natural homemade organic dog food, or buying the best organic dog food that you can afford will make all the difference in the long term health of your pet, and help your pet into their golden years.

I try to keep Lady interested and active in our daily lives still, just as always. Just because she is older and less energetic doesn’t mean she needs less love and attention. She is always by my side and I make sure to give her attention and praise just for being there. She doesn’t have to perform tricks or do anything special other than be herself, and for this alone she is  shown adulation and hugs and “loving baby talk.”

Becoming informed about conditions common to older dogs, and therapies that are recommended for them will be helpful in easing into old age. 

Also, as always with any age dog, be alert and aware of any changes in health or personality, or any unusual or new symptoms such as excessive thirst, weight loss, loss of appetite, confusion, disorentation, being withdrawn or elimination accidents. See your vet quickly, as there are some good therapies and medications to help your older dog avoid these “senior moments.”

As with us, ageing kind of sucks if you don’t take care of your health, body and mind while younger. The transition is slow, but also looks like this.

From young, healthy, and full of energy to old and grey in the blink of an eye:

 

A friend of my husband’s found Lady and her brother (who he adopted and still has to this day) in deplorable conditions.  The people who had the puppies were going to let them die because they didn’t want the expense of feeding them.  These were the only two surviving puppies from a litter of many.

I can’t believe that I have had Lady by my side as a loyal companion since September 1997. As with any special memory date to reference back to, time sure flies.

Dog’s are our special blessing and we all can learn from them. I’ll obviously do whatever’s possible to make her golden years happy, healthy and comfortable, and wish this for all sweet pets out there. 

According to the age chart below Lady is now in her 80’s somewhere.  Yikes. 

I really didn’t notice the ageing until just this last few months and wow!  Now that I’ve checked her comparative age out on the chart I really feel for her.  I’m in my mid 50’s and already have a hard time with mobility first thing in the morning.

ALWAYS REMEMBER WE SPEAK FOR OUR DOGS AND CATS!

LADY’S AGING PROCESS – 2005 through 2010

DOG’S AGE CHART – A Dog’s Age in Human Years.

A Dog’s Age in Human Years
Age	Up to 20 lbs	21-50 lbs	51-90 lbs	Over 90 lbs
5	36	37	40	42
6	40	42	45	49
7	44	47	50	56
8	48	51	55	64
9	52	56	61	71
10	56	60	66	78
11	60	65	72	86
12	64	69	77	93
13	68	74	82	101
14	72	78	88	108
15	76	83	93	115
16	80	87	99	123
17	84	92	104	Red numbers = senior Blue numbers = geriatric
18	88	96	109
19	92	101	115
20	96	105	120
Chart developed by Dr. Fred L. Metzger, DVM, State College, PA. Courtesy of Pfizer Animal Health.