I hate this part

[SarahHound]

when our dogs get old Todd has aged so much in the past few months. He will be 12 in July, and while I know its not really old, the average age for a grey tends to be around that. I've had to cut down his walks, and take him alone, because he just can't keep up with the girls.

I hate it, because I know its not going to ever get any better, it only gets worse from here. There's nothing physically wrong with him at all, and his hearing and eyesight are still perfect, he's just very slow and stiff now.

I know you don't see a lot of Todd, purely because the other two are so in your face, but in his day, that was him! No real point to this thread, just feeling a little down about it. I've never ever thought of him dying, he's been around so long, its just like he's part of the furniture really.

Anyway, in his younger days, when he was quite the stud...and FAST too!

Todd running by Niseag, on Flickr

Todd by Niseag, on Flickr

4-7 by Niseag, on Flickr

Todd by Niseag, on Flickr

Todd & Maddy racing over the moors by Niseag, on Flickr

DSC_0084_00 by Niseag, on Flickr

Todd running towards me by Niseag, on Flickr

 

[SalemWitchChild]

Just enjoy the moments you do have. We all have to die sometime. But I'm willing to bet you don't sit around and worry about your own death. He doesn't either!

Just make him as comfortable and well loved as you possibly can. That's all any of us can do.

 

[Zoom]

Enjoy his golden years (and start feeding him essiac tea!)

 

[smkie]

Bless his grizzled face. SLower walks on soft ground, massages for old bones, and sunshine to dream of days when he ran like the wind. How I love a senior, he is a most handsome gentleman too! Give him some love from Smkie and her senior lass here. Life is short, each day is precious.

 

[Barb04]

Cherish all the time you have together. Loving and being good to each other is all we can do for our furry ones. I also start to think sometimes about how old they are and need to stop.

 

[Tortilla]

It's so hard, I totally know what you're going through. Sally turns 13 next week (the average age of a Collie is 12) and it's really rough watching her slow down. She can't go upstairs anymore and can't go for as many walks. I've had her pretty much my entire life (got her when I was eight) so I've completely grown up with her.

 

[~Dixie's_Mom~]

((((hug)))) strangely enough I've never had a dog die of old age, but I have had dogs die, and it's so hard. Just know that Todd is living the best possible life with someone who truly loves him. And enjoy the time you have together.

 

[smkie]

Most labs don't live past 14 but mary was still strong two years later. YOu just never know. Lay in the sun together, stop and smell the roses. Slowing down is not necessarily a bad thing especially when it stretches out into golden years.

 

[olliethemutt]

I love Todd <3 Cherish the moments you have with him and be thankful he is happy in his older age.

 

[Red.Apricot]

One of the dogs I grew up with is 13 now, and he's slowed down dramatically in the last few months. It's hard, but I think you just have to enjoy the time you have with them.

 

[*blackrose]

I know exactly how you feel. Rose has aged so much these past few months, it is almost hard to believe. She's thirteen, will be fourteen in October. Her hips are starting to get stiff now, her hearing is going, and her eye site is also going. I have to holler at her like I'm yelling just to get her to hear me from ten feet away and if I leave her immediate vision she looses track of me. I told her she's not allowed to get old. Blackie passed shortly after he turned 14, and I'm hoping Rose does not decide to follow suit. At least she has been healthy, with her only problems being age.

My one fear is that she's going to pass when I'm not around, especially since I'll be moving out this summer. If she starts getting bad, I'll probably just come back home for a bit and stay awhile. She is the only pet still around from my childhood (well, and Dameon, who is also deteriorating ), and I'm really going to miss her when she's gone.

Bah. Pets need to live forever.

 

[smkie]

IF your dog slows down dramatically at one time, it's a vet check. So many things get blamed on old age that could be early detection of major problems that might be prevented.

I wish I would have known that with Bronki. The day he let Mary go get the toys should have been a red flag. He was only 7 but he had a chest full of cancer.

 

[Toller_08]

I love Todd. He's always been one of my favourite online dogs. It is so hard to watch them slow and age. I've tragically lost a few of my dogs very young, and never did get to watch them get older and age, but I did experience the process with two of my dogs and it is so tough. :-(

 

[Moth]

It is hard for me too when my furkids age... but I do love old dogs they are sooo precious. Patton my cocker was a real grumpy old man. He was my old teddy bear...

It made me sad only to remember what he was like when he was a young dog all full of himself.

Everyone is right...you need to treasure every one of these moments they are something special in their own way.

<3 Todd

 

[SarahHound]

IF your dog slows down dramatically at one time, it's a vet check. So many things get blamed on old age that could be early detection of major problems that might be prevented.

I wish I would have known that with Bronki. The day he let Mary go get the toys should have been a red flag. He was only 7 but he had a chest full of cancer.

Oh yes, I made sure he had a vet check last month, that was my first thing done. I convinced myself he had cancer, even though there was no actual signs. He's all fit and healthy, just stiff!

He does take glucosamine tablets, and cod liver oil, so hopefully they are helping him out.

 

[crazedACD]

I love Todd, I hope he's around for many more years! He's definitely one of my favorite forum puppies . Just spend time with him while you can. If he gets to the point where he is really stiff, and his quality of life is deteriorating, perhaps you could get him on an NSAID for a while to keep him mobile. They can be hard on the organs though so if you consider that I would wait as long as you can.

I know what you mean though, this year I have had to actively stop myself from thinking about some of my dogs getting older.

 

[HayleyMarie]

(((HUGGIES)))

I know how you feel, although my dog is not getting old. But she has a bad heart defect that might not allow her to live to her first birthday. Its pretty much a waiting game and nothing is for sure, but Im not looking forward to the day her heart might start giving out and we have to make that hard decision to let her go

 

[smkie]

Necci is old...and she is the most puppy acting dog in the house. It is really unbelievable. I know I only have a year or two with her. I know she has arthritis in her back, and her feet and her hip is wonky. SHe can't walk to fast. BUt she has three squeekies in her chair that I call her puppies and she is happy as a pig in mud. If I remove one she gets all pretend upset and mouths them until i put it back in line. It is truly a joy to see someone who has suffered for so long, be so dang happy. Celebrate old age don't dread it. They are SO wise, they are SO tuned into everything you do, they know you better than you do and they are not in a hurry about anything.. Maybe the play times are shorter, and you have to think up new games that don't require so much muscle tendon and bone, but it's all good fun.' One more day' ya know, Necci and I have LOADS of things to explore this summer. I can't wait. Things she has never seen or done. Shoot even the morning walk which I know is not easy for her is delightful. She is first to the door and can't hardly hold still while we leash up.

One of the nicest memories I ahve of Mary was when we were on our last few days in the woods and we just sat and listened to all the birds until we both dozed off in the leaves in the sun. You can't do that with a puppy, or a young dog. That peace I don't know how to put in words but I can still feel it and it brings me comfort..her tail thumping when we woke up. What is the old country song, Old Dogs CHildren and Watermelon Wine. I think that it says it right. I am just delighted to have a grizzled face in teh house again. Maybe our time will be short, but we have the now and for me that's almost a miracle.

 

[SarahHound]

I love Todd, I hope he's around for many more years! He's definitely one of my favorite forum puppies . Just spend time with him while you can. If he gets to the point where he is really stiff, and his quality of life is deteriorating, perhaps you could get him on an NSAID for a while to keep him mobile. They can be hard on the organs though so if you consider that I would wait as long as you can.

I know what you mean though, this year I have had to actively stop myself from thinking about some of my dogs getting older.

What's NSAID? Forgive my stupid

 

[crazedACD]

What's NSAID? Forgive my stupid

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory drug...like Rimadyl or Duramaxx. Like I said I don't really like them, but if I was nearing the point where mobility is becoming a serious issue, I would probably go with that. It's not something I would consider if the dog could possibly live a year or more in their current condition.
http://www.glucosamine-arthritis.org/arthritis-pets/NSAIDS-rimadyl-pets.html