HELP FOR DOGS WHO REACH A CERTAIN AGE
Care for furry friends changes once they enter geriatric stage
A couple of years ago, Hammy started needing help getting into our SUV. Then last year, with little fanfare, he stopped sleeping in bed with me. Most recently, he’s gotten fussy about his food — blasphemy for a beagle. These changes happened slowly, so when I stepped back recently to think about Hammy’s life stage, at age 13, I was surprised to realize my little hound has not only earned senior status but may be “geriatric,” which veterinarian Mary Gardner describes as a more fragile phase for our animal companions.
Gardner, co-founder of Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice, a nationwide network of veterinarians who provide in-home geriatric services, estimates from data on U.S. dog populations that 44 percent of our pups are senior or geriatric. She says many vet schools don’t address the special needs of these wobbly, skinny, sleepy, gray-muzzled, sweet canines — which include modifications at home. Gardner regularly visits
residences where a dog has been struggling to get around and get comfortable — problems often easy to fix.
None of us likes admitting age-related limitations. But whether you and your pooch of a certain age live in an apartment building with slick floors or a
townhouse with a treacherous staircase, there are many ways to make our older dogs’ lives — and ours — better and safer.
Add traction
“Mobility is the No. 1 issue we deal with,” Gardner says. “I see these hardwood floors, and
dogs can’t get up and around, can’t get to their sunny spot.” Arthritis, obesity, disc issues, chronic inflammation and loss of muscle mass can all be culprits. Adding traction will give your pup confidence, cut down on splayed legs and prevent