slow down senior

I am going through the same thing with my little Ava. The vet says as long as she is eating and drinking, then she is fine. She shows no sign of pain. I worry about her so much. Love my daschund. Just love her and make her comfortable, that is all we can do.

Hi Kathy, I have 2 mini-doxies. I don’t have an answer, but this would be something easy to try. Here is the link, http://www.watercures.org/water-cures-pet-protocol.html

As humans get older we tend to get more and more dehydrated. Try putting bowls of water with the unrefined sea salt, such as Celtic Salt found in health food stores. This has lots of essential minerals. Your dog will drink as needed and might have more energy as a result. Sometimes simple solutions are what’s needed. It won’t hurt.

Lots of love to you and your doxies,

Linda Fisher
Amherst, MA

I have a 16 yr old dachshund beagal mix, she has slowed down over the last 9 months. I started giving her glucosamine supplements. It has helped a little bit. I think as long as her tail wags I know she’s still good. 🙂 Good luck with your sweet babies.

My two previous little Dachshunds lived until 15 and 17 years old. My 17 year old , Crissi, became deaf and blind in her last two years. Despite this she still enjoyed her food , ice cream and cuddles. We took great care of her and she seemed happy being with us. She suddenly had a stroke and she lived a few more weeks, no pain and she died in her sleep next to us in bed. I had been away but she seemed to wait for me to come home and died the next night. My other one, Rosie, died 2 months before her. Very unexpectedly,she became sick on the Saturday and I took her to the vet on the Monday and she had no kidney function. It was very quick. Losing two pets within 2 months of each other was terrible. As long as your baby is eating and drinking don’t worry. We all slow down as we age. Just keep an eye on her, she will let you know when it is time and you might have several years more with her. Her checkup is great so don’t worry, just enjoy her.
Best wishes,
Diana

We just lost our dachshund that was 15 a couple days ago and nothing seemed to be wrong up until the time she went. All I can say is just love and cherise the time you have with them now. She laid in the chair with me all day long and only wanted to get up to go outside and to get up to eat. When they get up there in age it seems like that is all they want to do is sleep and eat. Here is a picture of ours that we just lost.

How very lucky you are to be blessed with your little one all these years. As we age, human or animal, we all slow down. If the vet says she is healthy, give her your constant unconditional love as she has given you. Snuggle with her more. Hold her more. Watch her sleep. She is content and only needs you. I love my seven year old like my children. Take pictures. And, she is blessed to have been rescued by such a loving pet parent.

I have a 13 year old doxie, and he is healthy as can be. Why? Go to You Tube and watch Cassie the Protandim dog. Our three dogs are on this product. PM me if you’d like more information.

My mini dachsund/jack Russel lived to 18.5 she never slowed down – she had osteoarthritis at 9yrs – parallelized – I gave her a natural product with tumeric in it – also some bowen therapy – as needed. At 15 I had to run to keep up with her. There is a tumeric users group on facebook – https://www.facebook.com/groups/415313751866609/ good luck.

There is a product out there called protandim that works very well with animals that have slowed down do some reaserch on it I think it will help your Doxie feel better.

My Lili turned 15 on March 1. She has definitely slowed down but once in awhile she’ll surprise me and take off running, wanting to play. Most of the time, however, she sleeps A LOT and wakes up for meals. I think some dogs slow quicker than others, just like we humans.

Our little girl will be 15 in Nov., she too is a miniature. She does sleep a lot, only wants soft food now, loves her massaging baths & our 8 year old granddaughter. She will play for short periods of time, and always happy when we come thru the door. She has lost her hearing, but getting good at sign language, like motion to come & stop. Best wishes for your girl, I know I’ll be lost when mine is gone

I have one 13, one 12 and two 11 years old. I’ve noticed in the last year the oldest has episodes of tiring. He wants to sleep a lot and doesn’t eat a lot. I think it’s just a symptom of getting old. After a few days or a week he’s back up and running around acting all frisky like he was 3 again! I know at 57 I nap more than I did ten years ago! So if doc says he’s good, I’m just gonna let him be him.

I have two that are the same age and have been together for over ten years. I rescued both within a few months of each other. My female did the same thing. Went from normal to old overnight. I began to realize that if something happened to her my male would die of a broken heart and vice versa. I got a third rescue, a 6-year-old to give them another buddy and to kind of stir them out of their doldrums. It worked. They both play lots more, have bonded with the new girl, and my female is back to playing and having fun. Some of what your dog is feeling might just be she is so used to her routine. Try taking her to the park or to a Petco for a play day with other dogs in doggie daycare. She needs something to look forward to. Or if you have the room and the time get her a buddy, not a puppy, but maybe a rescue foster or adopt a rescue. Do you have a friend with a dog who could come over for a play day? I am having friends over with two that mine just love. Just some thoughts. I think we panic when they slow down because we realize they are getting older and won’t be around forever. Just love her and enjoy her.

My girl Charlotte is slowing down too. She’s 13, and the lone survivor of my original 3. The other two passed over the last 2 years, one in ’13 and one in ’14. Charlotte has waited all these years to be an ‘only dog,’ and is enjoying it to the max. She naps when she wants to and she takes it easy the rest of the time. She still likes to go outside and even chases an occasional rabbit, but only in a very casual way. She’s become a lady of leisure.

I’m there with my 13 year old, although she’s had pancreatitis at least twice. She’s in her old age, slowing down cataracts, etc. the vet says let her be, let her eat whatever amount of her I/d food she wants(she’s been losing serious weight!). So I enjoy each day with her and extra snuggles. For me I’ll know it’s time when she can’t drag out for food. Dreading that day, of course, but ultimately when there’s no quality of life for her it will be time. To me this is also akin to humans at the end with failure to thrive (since my Kate) is losing weight. Good luck to you!

Hi, Kathy. I have two senior doxies. Even though they both have heart issues the only thing that has ever slowed them down were their teeth. Angie would eat and drink, use the bath room with no problem. But when we’d go outside for our walk or play she would just sit there and watch everyone. Inside she only wanted to sleep. All the labwork was normal, exam was normal, pain nowhere. But when the vet checked her teeth she had gotten an infection and it was sapping her energy. They did a dental and sorry to say she lost all her teeth. It had destroyed the roots. But within two days of the surgery she was like a puppy again. So when Susie started to act the same way I knew just what it was. We started her on strong antibiotics did another dental and luckily she only lost one tooth. Now she is her playful self again. This was inspite of their annual dental. The vet said seniors can pick up these infections because their immune system is not as strong as it was when they were younger. Hope this helps.