Organic, Gourmet and Homemade Recipes and Treats – Best Dog Food Recommendations.

From young, healthy, and full of energy to old and grey in the blink of an eye: LADY’S AGING PROCESS – 1997 through 2010

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

Check out your dog’s comparative age here.

I can’t believe that I have had Lady by my side as a loyal companion since September 1997.

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

SENIOR DOGS need a special diet.

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.  

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. Old age and difficultly with mobility is not a reason to 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 have decided to switch her dog food to a more easily digestable senior food.

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 try to keep Lady interested and active in our daily lives still, just as always.

Just because senior dogs are less energetic and quieter, doesn’t mean they need less love and attention.

Lady is always by my side and I make sure to give her special attention and praise just for being there.

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.

Any unusual or new symptoms such as excessive thirst, weight loss, loss of appetite, confusion, disorentation, being withdrawn or elimination accidents should be checked by your vet.

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’m thankful every day for my companion and best friend, and hope other people will rescue animals and give them a forever home.