Treasured Golden Oldies We have come to know so many special Golden Oldies or
Mellow Yellows, as they are
sometimes called. The story of
Golden Oldie Bullet,
the special 15-year-old pictured here who alerted Mom to his new baby
brother's distress, was broadcast all over the country. Old dogs used to be a rarity. But, not now! That's due to
our increased awareness, better veterinary care, and improved diets. With
nearly 40% of our canine buddies considered geriatric, is it any wonder that
veterinarians and researchers are now focusing on geriatric nutrition,
dental care, and cancer?
Tufts University defines the senior dog this way:
"The point at which a dog qualifies as 'aged' varies. Veterinarians generally
consider small dogs to be senior citizens at about 12 years of age, while large dogs reach
the senior stage at 6 to 8 years of age. This roughly corresponds to the 55-plus category
in people."
Did you know that at . . . . 7
YEARS: Seven marks the beginning of the
geriatric period for medium sized dogs like Goldens—even
though your dog may still look, act, and feel great.
It is now time for your Golden's first geriatric profile. Start looking for changes in your Golden
as they tend to hide their illnesses from you until the problem is so
advanced that they can't hide it anymore. So, take your aging buddy to the veterinarian
every year. 8-10 YEARS: Now, in the early years of the geriatric
period, body coordination can become a common problem. There is also a risk for obesity because their energy requirements drop. So,
check for signs and use different
methods to decrease food intake. Make
sure your veterinarian gets a geriatric profile on your Golden. Have the following tested:
kidney function, liver function, blood sugar, hematocrit (ratio of red cells to whole
blood), and total protein. 10-11 YEARS: Older geriatric Goldens now begin to
show many of the diseases of aging, in no particular order. Much of this, though, depends
on the Golden's individual makeup and environment. Watch for signs for declining dental
health. This, of course, is preventable by
providing good dental care from day one. Also, watch for digestion problems, kidney and liver problems, heart
disease, diabetes, and cancer. Nutritional needs change for older dogs, research
showing the need for more protein to maintain lean body mass. 12+ YEARS: Now,
older Goldens often have more problems keeping weight on,
than they do with keeping it off. Losing weight, though,
could be a sign of many physical problems. Or it could be
due to a simple lack of interest in food that is too hard to
chew or no longer appealing because of a declining sense of
taste.
Bailey, with her pink cast laden broken foot,
loved rides
while recovering.
Ease your Golden into old age— the older your good buddy
becomes, the more s/he depends on their schedule. If there is a vision or hearing loss, don't
rearrange your furniture. Don't change your guy's eating or sleeping habits, and try not
to alter his or her daily routine. Any such disruption can be stressful. Also, groom your
buddy and periodically examine him or her for abnormal lumps. Your Goldens
also need to be touched and cuddled to reassure them that the dog-human bond is still
intact. Touch is extremely important in the lives of older canines, especially those who
can't hear or see as well.
Finally, let your guy know you're still there. Thank him or her
for a lifetime of love, loyalty, and companionship. Your Golden has devoted its very life
to loving you. The least you can do is keep him or her healthy, fit, and confident in your
affection.
Belle made it past her 17th birthday. Quite a story for a dog
that was abandoned at nearly 9. Around age 9 Belle was hit by a school
bus, losing her left front leg. Her owners abandoned her;
whereby Kris rescued her and taught her how to walk on three
legs. In this video she is recovering from pneumonia and cannot
walk. A vet contributed the wagon and a painter contributed the
exquisite artwork.
At nearly 17 years old, Belle was "eating
hamburgers, hot dogs, cornbread with fresh blueberries,
spaghetti, and grilled ham and cheese sandwiches".
These pictures were taken in 2001 at an AKC dog agility trial in
Cato NY. Belle was certified by TDI and Delta and labeled as an
"awesome Team". She gave much hope to hospitalized children who
had lost limbs. They witnessed Belle hopping carefree through
the halls and rooms and realized they were not alone.
sometimes called. The story of
7
YEARS: Seven marks the beginning of the
geriatric period for medium sized dogs like Goldens—even
though your dog may still look, act, and feel great.
It is now time for your Golden's first geriatric profile. Start looking for changes in your Golden
as they tend to hide their illnesses from you until the problem is so
advanced that they can't hide it anymore. So, take your aging buddy to the veterinarian
every year.
