Advice about senior dog

[luzzy]

Hi,

I registered here a while back but I haven't been here in a while. I have a few questions.

My husband and I might be taking in a senior dog in a few weeks and I need some advice. This dog is technically my husband's but he has lived with my mother in law because of my husband moving out for college. Now, his mom is moving 4 hours away into an apartment right in the middle of a fairly large city.

My husband wants his dog to come and live with us because it would most likely be best for the dog. He is an 11 year old cockapoo. He acutally looks like a cocker spaniel with curly hair, but when they adopted him from the shelter they were told he was a cockapoo.

The dog loves my husband and he still seems to be in very good condition. We are moving to a very pet friendly neighborhood even though we do live in an apartment. The dog loves to be indoors, but he also loves to go on walks.

We've been wanting to have a dog, but kept saying no, because of still being in school and living in the apartment. He seems like the best option for us though. He has already proven himself, we know and love him, and my husband has been missing him tremendously. We are afraid of my mother in law being lonely without him, so I don't know if it will acutally happen. They have had him since he was less than one year old. He's been completely spoiled most of his life.

My real concerns are that this dog stinks! He smells worse than most dogs. His breath is awful. I know this isn't normal, so what could it be? He goes to the vet, and seems to be in excellent shape all except for the smell. What can we do about it?

He also sheds really bad, and he has curly black hair, but I think daily brushing would pretty much help that.

He's completely housebroken. I just need some advice on caring for an older dog. He still acts like a pup, but he is getting up there.

And, no one has to mention that it might be a problem that we are in college. We are pretty settled, and are home more than most people. We can also take him with us on vacations; he loves to travel.

[Cassiepeia]

What is he being fed? Food can be a factor in how bad the dog smells, you may want to change his food to a premium dog food (we have a great article in the health forum about choosing a commercial dog food).

Shedding, like you said, can be helped with regular daily grooming but if he's a big shedder he'll always be a big shedder and honestly I don't think there are many dog people around who will think that fur around the house is a problem. lol I regularly go out with white dog fur on my clothes compliments of my little long coated Chihuahua.

I understand why your husband wants his dog back, but why do you think it would be best for the dog? You say he's very much loved and has a lovely spoiled life with your in-laws.

Honestly I think the dog is better off with the people it's been living with it's whole life. It won't recognise your husband as it's "owner" or "pack leader" (what ever description you like to use) because it's been living with his parents for so long. All you'll be doing is ripping the dog away from it's happy, comfortable home. And the dog doesn't need that on top of the stress of moving. (JMO)

Remember this is a living creature not a possesion and try to get your husband to understand that unless there is some desperate need for the dog to come live with you, it's probably best if you leave things as they are.
If you want a dog, go to the shelter and save a life again. There are a lot of dogs needing homes and you've probably got the perfect place for one of them.

Oh and you did want advice on caring for an older dog...I have a 16yr old Chihuahua. He's wonderful and has his "puppyish" moments.
The most important thing is to watch what they eat, make sure they eat enough and eat the right things. Keep a good eye on them and if they exhibit ANY strange behaviour no matter how small, take them to the vet straight away.
They're generally slower and need to be given more time to do things like get up and down stairs and going on walks. Sometimes they have to be carried up and down stairs etc...because it can be hard for them to do that on their own.
As they get older they can develop dementia (as my dog has) and they can become incontinent. Accidents will happen and sometimes their toilet training can seem non existant. They also (even without dementia) sometimes can't hold their bladder as long as a younger dog so again this can lead to a few backwards steps as far as toilet training is concerned.

Other than that, they're pretty much the same as a younger dog. They can still be a lot of fun but don't expect too much from them.

Cass.

[poodlesmom]

There are pros & cons to bringing this dog into your home. You both know & love the dog and he will probably fit in quite well with your lifestyle. Being an older dog he is already trained and more agreeable to having some quiet time alone while you are at school. That being said, is he used to being home alone or is he used to being with your MIL 24/7? If he is used to being with someone all the time he might experience some separation anxiety. He will probably also have alot of adjustment to do being away from her as well as moving to a new home. The upside is he knows you & your husband which would help ease his transition.

Also, if your MIL is used to having his companionship it may be a hard adjustment for her. I live alone and I know I'd be lost without my dogs. On the other hand she may find she's not quite up to all that is involved in taking care of a dog and would enjoy being able to visit him without all the responsibility of him living with her.

As far as the shedding, you are right - daily brushing will help tremendously.

In regards to his bad breath - this could be caused by a variety of things. The 1st thing that comes to mind is a bad tooth or infection that the vet would need to take care of. The type of food or a particular treat he is eating could also be the cause of it. I'd suggest a vet check and specifically mention his bad breath and see what he recommends.

Over the years I have found caring for an older dog who is in good health isn't much of a problem at all. You will need to take your cues from him as to what is his appropriate exercise level. If they start having some pain in their joints there are many OTC remedies that can help relieve their discomfort.

Whatever decision you make he is a lucky furguy having so many people who love him.

[luzzy]

Thanks for the advice.

The reason it would be better for the dog is because we have a yard and live in a secluded, quiet neighborhood and she is moving to a small apartment in the middle of a large city without a yard. My mother in law is actually home less than we are. She is actually trying to get her master's degree and work, so she is very busy. She is moving to go to a large university and she will have difficult, time consuming classes.

The dog is acutally attached to my husband more than anyone. He's lived with my husband all of his life until my husband moved out for college. My husband spends a lot of time with him, and honestly this dog doesn't recognize anyone as his leader. He's a very intelligent dog. He is a really sweet dog, but he is very good at tricking people to get his way. My husband knows all of his little tricks and quirks better than anyone.

[calgal]

If you both are financially stable then taking an older dog in would not be a financial burden. Older dogs start having more visits to the Vet. and can get quite expensive. My advice would be to let this guy stay with the people he has come to know as "his" mom and dad. Tearing him away could lead to stress and health problems. If there is no way your inlaws can have him in their new apt. then just start bringing him to your house for a day at a time, then two, then three and so on over a period of a couple months.
As for the breath, well my 13 year old Chihuahua has that problem too. About 2 weeks after her teeth get cleaned, her breath is horrible again. I find I can stop this by brushing her teeth every night after her last meal of the day, then dip a Q-tip in Listerine or Crest mouth wash, and rubbing all over her gums. It almost stops that horrible stench.

[Cassiepeia]

Originally Posted by luzzy

Thanks for the advice.

The reason it would be better for the dog is because we have a yard and live in a secluded, quiet neighborhood and she is moving to a small apartment in the middle of a large city without a yard. My mother in law is actually home less than we are. She is actually trying to get her master's degree and work, so she is very busy. She is moving to go to a large university and she will have difficult, time consuming classes.

The dog is acutally attached to my husband more than anyone. He's lived with my husband all of his life until my husband moved out for college. My husband spends a lot of time with him, and honestly this dog doesn't recognize anyone as his leader. He's a very intelligent dog. He is a really sweet dog, but he is very good at tricking people to get his way. My husband knows all of his little tricks and quirks better than anyone.

In that case I think it's a wonderful idea that you take him on. Just be prepared, as others have said, for the financial burdon of an older dogs health problems and know that you may be steam cleaning your carpets a lot sometime in the future. Hehehe!

Cass.

[luzzy]

Well, it's official. We are getting the dog. His name is Jack, by the way. My husband talked to his mom tonight. She said it was something she was hoping would happen, but didn't want to ask us. We are moving to a new apartment this week, so after we get settled we are bringing him home.

So, now everyone is happy. We are probably going to bring Jack over a few times before he offficially moves in and give him a feel for the apartment and neighborhood. They've moved around a lot, so he adjusts well to new surroundings. He also doesn't mind being home alone for a few hours and we will be coming home between classes. He likes his own space, so I think he's going to like being with us.

We are going to find out what kind of food he's eating to see if maybe that's the cause of his horrific smell. He's been to the vet recently, but he does need to get groomed soon.

I'll probably be on here all the time with questions. We definitely want to care for him as best as we possibly can and spoil him in his "retirement" years.

[poodlesmom]

Great news! Sounds like it's going to be a "win win" situation for all of you, especially Jack!

That's a great plan you have bringing Jack over for some visits before his official move - it'll help his adjustment be easier I think.

Don't hesitate to post any questions! The members here are always more than willing to help out whenever they can.

Oh and another important thing you should know about this site: WE LOVE PICTURES!!!! (hint, hint )

[linnie]

i agree Poodlesmom, when we moved our older dog we took her around a few times to our new home and it does help.
Hope it works out well for you Luzzy, My older dog lived till 18 1/2

[LogieDogie]

Reguardiing the smell comming from your soon to be new dog...........I would also make sure that you regularly clean the dogs ears. From my experience working at a vets office I have seen alot of cockers with chronic ear infections and those can smell really bad! Also with Jack being a cockapoo he might need to get his ears plucked (depending on how much the poodle influenced his breeding).

As far as the dogs breath goes, aside from taking him to the vet to get his teeth cleaned there is not a ton you can to make it completely go away. Some regular matienence will help a little bit.

Good luck with your "new" dog! I'm sure that you will see your love returned ten fold.

[luzzy]

Hi everyone!

Jack just came to live with us yesterday and he's already fitting in wonderfully. He went to get washed and trimmed today and the girl who groomed him said he was so well behaved she can't wait for him to come back.

There is some sad news though. My mother in law has been suspecting for awhile that he was losing hearing. Her suspicions are true, he is deaf. It's hard to tell because he's such an independent dog that he used to just ignore people when they called him. He would only respond when he wanted to when being called. But, we've realized that he isn't just ignoring anymore.

We're going to take him to the vet soon and we are really going to watch his eyesight.

He's sleeps in our living room and we leave on the night light and television so he doesn't feel completely disconnected since he can't hear. He likes to be able to see us at all times and he's been spending a lot of time at our feet when we're on the computer.

He still plays like a puppy though. He really loves life. We are just going to do the best we can to spoil him and give him lots of love.

I'll post some pictures soon.