Golden Oldies - hints, tips and advice

CorvusCorax said:
Would also like to add good nail husbandry - my middle dog who passed away aged 11 six months ago had very flat front feet and long nails (he came to me in 2018) and I am convinced his more frequent bursts of mechanical lameness compared to my older dog were caused by mitigating/rocking back to avoid discomfort from long nails touching the ground. He was also carrying an historic shoulder injury which occurred before I got him.
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I’m so sorry CC, I didn’t realise you lost Obi. Belated hugs to you.
 
Thank you.

Conversely I don't know how I have kept this one alive so long. He's just shot past me so I grabbed his collar. I also managed to stand on his tail so he roared and I let go. He then decided to bypass the back door, took off from the top step and landed face first on the grass. He unfolded himself and galloped around to the front garden with me in hot pursuit and he's currently striding out four or five meters in front of me and would be further but I've stopped the flexi. And I walk fast

My nerves are wrecked.
 
Urine test is clear, other things mentioned were potential tumour, prostate or arthritis but I'm not inclined to get an ultrasound at this time.
He's still able to hold it for a long time.
I have started doing the female's feet outside on the back step to see if that was a factor.
He did start whining on Sunday night/early hours of Monday but I was so exhausted I fell back over to sleep again and in the morning he was fine, no accidents or stiffness even after the spectacular splat in the back garden, which I believe is down to being supercharged by Meloxicam 🤣

For those that do know him, they will understand why I am considering that he might be trolling me to get a nice run around the garden at 2am....
 
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Update for anyone interested in the infernal bogbrush, I waited him out for another night or two and he stopped wheedling. Will keep him on the expensive food and the supplement/painkillers for now anyhow.

Another factor is that his spawn has now gone into a very seasony season, her run looks like a butcher's shop and she's flagging FOR ME, so the little weirdo is on Moody Bitch. He's not making any moves to get to her, as at his age, I think he's probably forgotten what sex is, but the smell would certainly be enough to unsettle him at night.
 
The best feedback I ever had was when my 13 year old Great Dane was put down. The vet said he would ordinarily have been astonished to see a dane his age, but that having known him his whole life, it made sense. I kept him lean and fit his whole life. He never carried excess weight, and although he didn’t do too much, he was exercised and kept fit and mobile. We did a lot of swimming to keep him active without pressure on his joints etc, and my goodness it paid off.
 
CorvusCorax said:
Has anyone got any tips for meds or any other support for potential CCD? Over the past two nights I've been awoken in the early hours by an almost 14-year-old dog who isn't desperate to pee and can hold it in for protracted periods during the day so wonder if he is sundowning.
He had a UTI in March and another suspected one early October and was prescribed antibiotics but this isn't presenting like one. Very hale and hearty in other respects.
I've left a pee sample at the vet and have bought some Nutramind in the meantime.
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I realise you seem to have found the reason for the behaviour, but just in case anyone else is interested, the following have been suggested to me:

Canine Neurologist
Amytriptiline
Xanax
Canergy
Vivitonin
Melatonin tablets

depending on how the CCD is presenting e.g. Xanax can be used for night crying, amytriptiline for anxiety/panic.

(info obtained from vet, as sadly my mal x seems to be going that way)
 
I haven't much experience of older dogs. None have had problems as such and the last one BC was PTS at 10 with cancer of the jaw so didn't have to worry too much about old age.

My question is in the same way as I have a supply of bute for the horses is it normal/acceptable etc etc to have a bottle of loxicam for a dog (or cat) just in case it's needed? Or is there another product.

The bute isn't for a specific horse. I just ask when the vet is her have you any bute you can spare, I'm running out. They pass comments sometimes try a couple of bute etc assuming I have some.

is it the same with dogs?
 
paddy555 said:
I haven't much experience of older dogs. None have had problems as such and the last one BC was PTS at 10 with cancer of the jaw so didn't have to worry too much about old age.

My question is in the same way as I have a supply of bute for the horses is it normal/acceptable etc etc to have a bottle of loxicam for a dog (or cat) just in case it's needed? Or is there another product.

The bute isn't for a specific horse. I just ask when the vet is her have you any bute you can spare, I'm running out. They pass comments sometimes try a couple of bute etc assuming I have some.

is it the same with dogs?
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We have a bottle of Loxicom in the kitchen. It comes in very useful sometimes.
 
paddy555 said:
I haven't much experience of older dogs. None have had problems as such and the last one BC was PTS at 10 with cancer of the jaw so didn't have to worry too much about old age.

My question is in the same way as I have a supply of bute for the horses is it normal/acceptable etc etc to have a bottle of loxicam for a dog (or cat) just in case it's needed? Or is there another product.

The bute isn't for a specific horse. I just ask when the vet is her have you any bute you can spare, I'm running out. They pass comments sometimes try a couple of bute etc assuming I have some.

is it the same with dogs?
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Yes I always have anti-inflammatory/painkillers in a cupboard.
And antihistamines. And a few other bits. I keep a first aid kit in the van too.

I was going to say 'better looking at it, than for it' but of course, where I'm concerned, I have bugger all in the house for myself 🤣🤣🤣
 
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