#189 Like Fine Wine

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Growing older brings changes for all of us, and our canine companions are no exception. When those sweet gray faces reach their double digits, they deserve some thoughtful adjustments to keep their golden years comfortable and joyful.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:02):
Let's talk about our older dogs.
You know those sweet greenfaces that have been with us
through thick and thin.
So if your dog is hittingdouble digits 10 years or older
there are a few shifts that wecan make to help them stay
comfortable and happy in thisstage of life.

(00:23):
Help them stay comfortable andhappy in this stage of life.
Now, this topic is verypersonal for me because my dog,
Scooter, is pushing 14 years ofage, so you know if I tear up
while making this podcast, justignore it.
But first off, as our dogs getolder, we need to watch for
subtle changes.

(00:43):
Are they bumping into things?
Are they not responding whenyou call?
Do they struggle to get up froma nap?
It might not just be old age.
It could be vision loss,hearing loss or joint pain, and
these are things that we canhelp with once we notice them.

(01:06):
And walks still matter.
But the approach might change.
Instead of one long walk a day,maybe switch it to two to three
shorter ones throughout the dayand let them set the pace.
Maybe more sniffing and lesstrekking.

(01:30):
They'll still get enrichmentwithout overdoing it physically,
and mobility is a big deal.
If stairs are part of yourdaily routine, consider putting
rugs down or using stair treadsto give your dog a little more
traction.
And do you have slipperyhardwood floors?
Yoga mats, rugs or even foamrunners can help.

(01:51):
If jumping in and out of thecar used to be no problem but
now it's a struggle, think aboutadding a ramp or even a little
step stool.
Make it a little easier ontheir joints.
And speaking of joints, if yourdog used to love a game of fetch
and would play for hours, theystill might want to, but their

(02:16):
body may have other plans.
Maybe try lower impactactivities like food puzzles or
nose work games.
Keep their brain active even iftheir body's slowing down.
Of course, you can still playfetch.
Just reduce the distance youthrow the toy and limit the
length of the game.
And while we're at it, checktheir gear.

(02:38):
That collar or harness thatused to be fine might now be
stiff and heavy or hard to clip.
Consider switching to softermaterials and maybe a step-in
harness instead of one that goesover their head or vice versa.
And a couple of other things tothink about Bedding matters.

(02:59):
A thin little blanket might notbe enough anymore.
Maybe try an orthopedic bedwith memory foam or even heated
beds for those colder months andcooled beds for those warmer
months.
And the grooming routines mightneed adjusting as well.
Maybe they can't stand as long,so sit with them on the floor

(03:22):
or break sessions into smallerchunks.
So sit with them on the flooror break sessions into smaller
chunks.
And if you used to rely on yoursit cue?
Sometimes older joints don'tappreciate all that activity.
So I know with my dog Scooter.
I never ask him to sit anymore.
If I need him to slow down orstay in one place, I'll usually
just use my weight cue, allowinghim to stand the whole time.

(03:45):
And, most importantly, talk toyour vet.
It might be time to check inabout supplements for joints or
regular blood work to catchage-related issues early or
medication for pain if they seemstiff.
Aging dogs still have so muchto give and it's our job to meet

(04:07):
them where they are, not wherethey used to be.
So maybe we just slow down,soften up and support them,
because they've spent theirwhole lives supporting us.