Feeding and Caring For Senior Dogs

by Finy (follow)

Dogs (165)      Pet Stories (22)      Senior Pets (2)     

My German Shorthair Pointer is now 13 years old, which makes him a senior citizen as the life expectancy for this breed is 12 to 14 years.


This in itself is quite a feat, given the mental problems I have had over the 13 years of having this delightful dog.

One day he could not get up and was obviously in pain. I went into a flat panic, thinking "this is it", and this time I have to do it myself -I do not have a partner who can take him for his final journey to the Vet.

I could not eat properly for days and walked around in a daze. Not a lot of people can relate to this as I have discovered that unless someone is devoted to animals, they do not really understand the effect euthanising a dog can have on it's owner.

He would no longer eat one of the most expensive biscuits on the market, which had been part of his diet for years. He hardly moved or got up. I considered having a walking frame made, similar to the picture below; however I thought he would still be in pain.


I made an appointment at the Vet and he has lost most of his muscle mass, and is incredibly thin.

He was prescribed an anti inflammatory and a pain killer, had another Carprofen injection (can help with arthritis), but alas, two days he was no better, so I prepared myself again.

By this time I had lost 2 kilos which is about what the dog has also lost!

After several days, he was improving -he moved a bit more, and was able to go for his daily walk whereas before he just went down about 3 houses and could not walk anymore.


While on our walk someone gave him a very cheap supermarket dog biscuit and he ate that and looked for more. So I realised perhaps, it was not his mouth that was sore, but that for some odd reason, he suddenly did not like the biscuits I was giving him.

I went to a pet store and got a trial sample of another biscuit and he ate those, so I promptly bought Artemis adult dog formula.

I now am very careful with him and do not over walk him in the mornings for fear he will be in pain.


I know he does not have a lot of time left though do not know how long the pills will keep him fairly healthy without pain, however I treasure each day I have with my friend.

HE DID, AFTER ALL, SAVE MY LIFE ONCE!

#Dogs
#Pet Stories
#Senior Pets

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