senior dogs Archives

Top 4 Tips For Avoiding Dementia In Your Senior Dog

As dogs age, their muzzles grow grey, their bodies slow down, and some are at risk of developing dementia. Also referred to as canine senility or Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD), dementia is a condition that can cause stress, anxiety, confusion, and puts a dog’s safety at risk. It’s heartbreaking to watch a senior dog suffer from the effects of dementia, but it’s a painful reality everyone who loves an aging dog needs to prepare for. The exact cause of dementia … Read more

The 12 Best Toys For Senior Dogs

While senior dogs don’t need as much exercise as puppies, it is still very important that they remain active. Regular play sessions get the blood flowing to the joints, which can alleviate pain and slow the progression of arthritis. Playing also helps prevent weight gain as the metabolism slows, and keeps your senior’s brain active, helping to stave off dementia! Besides, just because your pooch is aging, doesn’t mean he can’t still enjoy a good toy! Whether your old pal … Read more

5 Causes Of Canine Incontinence & How To Help Your Dog Manage It

Canine incontinence occurs when an otherwise housetrained dog is no longer able to control its bladder. It is most commonly seem in adult and senior spayed females, but can occur in dogs of any age, sex or breed. This difficult medical issue is heartbreaking to witness and stressful for everyone involved. In order to treat the problem and make your pup more comfortable, you first need to identify the cause. Note: urinary incontinence is not to be confused with frequent, … Read more

Could My Dog Be Suffering From Cushing’s Disease?

Did you know that most dogs that are eventually diagnosed with Cushing’s disease suffer from at least one symptom for 1-6 years before diagnosis? Many owners chalk up their dog’s symptoms to just “old age,” but their pet is actually suffering from the effects of their adrenal glands producing too much cortisol. While there is no cure for Cushing’s, there are treatments that can greatly increase your dog’s quality of life, and lack of treatment can eventually lead to your … Read more

Noticed Your Dog Slowing Down? These 5 Things Could Add 1-2 Years To Their Life

We all slow down as we age, and that includes our beloved pets. The most difficult part of having pets is that they don’t live nearly long enough. So of course, we want to do everything we can to improve and extend their quality of life, and hopefully we can squeeze in one or two more happy years with them. If your dog is already slowing down, it’s not too late to start implementing things that can help improve their … Read more

Senior Rescue Dogs Dress As “Harry Potter” Characters For Halloween

The pups at the Vintage Pet Rescue in Rhode Island live a good life. All enjoying their Golden Years, each of the senior residents were pulled from shelters and welcomed into the loving home of Kristen and Marc Peralta to enjoy their retirement. (You may remember Nougat and Clarence, two members of the pack who became best friends!) This Halloween, things are going to get festive for the Peralta pets. The dozen dogs who live there will be donning their “Dogwarts” … Read more

Senior Dog “Shuts Down” In Shelter Until A New Pal Changes Everything

Clarence, a senior Pug, was lucky to find himself at the Vintage Pet Rescue in Rhode Island. Founded by couple Kristen and Marc Peralta, they pull older pets from shelters and give them a permanent home to spent their golden years in love and safety. “Senior dogs are a perfect fit for our lifestyle,” Kristen told iHeartDogs. “They don’t need long walks or hikes and they are perfectly happy sleeping on your lap for most of the day. We think … Read more

5 Reasons Playtime Is Vital For Your Dog’s Health, No Matter Their Age

Letting your dog indulge in a long game of fetch or a romp through the park may seem like it’s all fun and games, but doggy playtime is about a lot more than that. No matter what kind of play your pup likes to participate in, encouraging playtime will have a big impact on your canine friend’s overall health and well-being. Dogs of all ages benefit from daily play sessions. From puppies still learning to control their limbs to senior … Read more

5 Things Your Senior Dog Needs More Of

As your dog ages, their needs change. They’re still your four-legged best friend, but a general slowing down is inevitable. You can help them through their golden years by keeping them happy and healthy for as long as possible. You’ve gone through the puppy stages and trained an adult dog, and now it’s time to give your senior pup the necessary nutrients, attention, and care. Here are a few things your senior dog needs more of now that he’s getting … Read more

Bonded Senior Sisters Want To Live Out Their “Golden” Years Together

Staff members at the Atlanta Humane Society recently discovered a pair of unexpected visitors in their play yard. Sophia and Rose had clearly been dumped over the fence. They were abandoned, but safe and unharmed. AHS had them checked out by a veterinarian and placed them in separate kennels to undergo medical treatment. Rose is a sprightly chocolate Chihuahua of about 8-years-old. She’s an old gal, but healthy and happy as can be. Poor Sophia, on the other hand, is … Read more

Older Shelter Dogs Get Their Chance To Shine At ‘Senior Prom’

Take a stroll through an average adoption event and you’ll coo over cute puppies and enjoy the energized entertainment of countless young dogs. They’re all looking for homes, but there’s one doggie demographic missing from the bunch. Senior dogs six years and up are often overlooked in crowded shelters where younger, more playful pups take center stage. Older dogs typically wait longer to be adopted and spend their golden years in kennels—and that’s if they aren’t euthanized first. Shelters all … Read more

Animal Rescuers Turn Their House Into A Retirement Home For Senior Dogs

Sher and Joe Polvinale devoted more than 30 years of their lives to rescuing unwanted dogs and cats – many of them seniors. In 2006 they established House With A Heart Senior Pet Sanctuary out of their own 4 bedroom home in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Joe passed away in 2008, but with the help of her large group of volunteers, Sher continues to provide sanctuary to about 30 senior dogs at a time, making sure their final days are filled with love. … Read more

Ask A Groomer: How Should Grooming Change As My Dog Ages?

As our dogs age, they can develop many health issues that can impact the grooming process. What changes should you consider making for older dogs to have the best grooming experience? 1. Shorter grooming appointments. Arthritis is a common problem in older dogs. Whether it’s standing for the duration of the grooming or lying in an uncomfortable kennel for several hours, long grooming appointments can be painful for our older friends. Ask the groomer if your dog would benefit from … Read more

Founder Of Senior Dog Rescue Is Honored As A CNN Hero Of The Year

Since 2007, CNN has honored heroes and humanitarians making extraordinary changes within their communities. Although she was not this year’s winner, Sheri Franklin, founder of the senior dog rescue group Muttville, was honored in the Top 10 for her efforts to make the world a better place for older dogs. #CNNHeroes HAPPENING NOW!! Muttville founder Sherri Franklin is in New York with all the Top 10 CNN Heroes! “It’s an… Posted by Muttville Senior Dog Rescue on Saturday, December 10, 2016 … Read more

Couple Orders A 14ft Custom Bed To Accommodate Their 8 Dogs

Sleeping with dogs can be…interesting. Usually they wake comfy and refreshed, while you feel exhausted and sore. Chris and Mariesa Hughes understand this all too well – they currently share their bed with eight dogs! The brood of rescue pups consists of three Pit Bull mixes, two Greyhounds, a Wire-Haired Terrier, a Bull Terrier, and a Chihuahua. Compounding the problem further is the fact that Chris Hughes is a 6-foot tall power-lifter. Needless to say, the family needed more sleeping space … Read more

Pup Sleepovers Give Dogs A Break From Shelter Life & Help Them Get Adopted

Shelter dogs face a dilemma when it comes to finding the perfect adoptive family. Shelters can be noisy, hectic places, and sometimes it’s hard for adopters to see a pup’s true potential amidst the chaos. Taking this into account, the staff at LifeLine Animal Project in Atlanta came up with an idea to help some of their longtime residents get noticed – doggy sleepover parties! Their Dog For A Day program – which allows folks to get to know adoptable … Read more

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