Demands of a Senior Citizen
Thanks Lorraine |
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| it could be senility, my affie got senile at 14. no pain, just barking to go out and not really needing to, not sleeping, waking the household at all hours. my sheepie never appeared to be in any pain when he got like yours, i was always waiting for him to express pain, but it turned out he just couldn't control his feet one mornin, but he had cancer bad at that point and so it was time. |
| Lorraine, I have Pearl, 14, who also was initially diagnosed with Cushings. (we opted NOT to get the test ot confirm..she is also having problems with her spine, but she still jumps on the couch and into the car, so I guess she is doing good.) Pearl also barks more than she used to. We call it, the 'old lady bark'..it is a highpitched arfy bark and I have wondered why she is doing this too. I know she is not in pain...I think, she thinks she hears something and is just trying to be ALPHA of our pack. The bad thing is, the other dogs, ALWAYS chime in to help!!  And since I am taking care of my geriatric 'baby' too, I agree... Quote: Just want what is left of her time with us to be good time. We take each day as a special gift..and just love her!!!! Good Luck and keep us posted!!! Oh...and give Maggie a huge sheepie  from Pearl, a fellow senior!!!! |
| Wow, 15 is a nice old age. My first OES lived to be 14 and a half. He got to the point where he couldn't get up to eat and I would hand feed him. he would outside to pee and forget why he was there. He never barked or cried at night but he would look at me with old eyes as if to say, Mommy, I am ready"...It broke my heart but I had to put him down just before Christmas....But I knew in my head it was time. You know, our dogs look to us to care for them. They expect us to do waht it takes to keep them safe and happy. Please don't mis read what I am writing. I just pass on the advice that we are never ready to let our beloved babies go. But sometimes they are asking us to do so. Love her and keep her happy for the time she has left. Maybe its another few years. Maybe only a few months. Whatever it is, she will know she was loved and you will always miss her. You are in my thoughs... Diane |
| It's hard the other end of the spectrum with our golden oldies, 15 is such a wonderfull age. They do get more demanding as golden oldies, people say how much time consuming a puppy is but I say the elderly bracket is harder and we do for them what we can do to make them comfortable and happy in there golden years. Hoarsey bark is normal at that age, so is the backend getting weaker and the demands from them is more constant. I have taken two through to 14 + years of age and both I was up several times a night with weak back ends and them splaying out while trying to turn on there beds, they let me know with hoarsey barks so I could go to them and help them up and get comfortable. Sometimes too they DO suffer a bit of doggie dementia, confused not sure what is what, I had one that would get up and just stand facing the wall, very confused and I had to ask her or giude her outside to see if she needed to potty or try and work out what she wanted. It happens with humans so why not our darling oldies. And she would bark in her old girl bark just because for no reason, not pain related just the stage she was at in her life. I always say as long as there is quality of life, there eating well, not in pain, still happy in themselves then you do put up with how they are as senior citizens. Also as long as there is not leaks or poop incontinence as well then they are doing real well as golden oldies. Enjoy your precious baby and I am sure there is still a way to go with her, 15 is such a precious age, demanding but well worth it after all those years of love she has given you, you will know when it is time for her they certainly let you know, but in the meantime enjoy every day with your darling. |
Thanks all for your advice and support. The last few weeks have been hard and I think that we will be having to make that very hard decision soon.  |
| Firstly you sound as if you are doing a fantastic job with your girl. Our last sheepie left us at 6 years old, but the first sheepie/cross we had was about 12 when we helped her over the Bridge. Her back legs kept going and we had to help her out the garden, the hardest thing was she couldnt get up the stairs any more and she used to sleep in our room. She slept in the kitchen for a few weeks but used to cry to come with us and she was too incontinent to let sleep upstairs. That is why I have vowed never to let our sheepies sleep upstairs with us. As others have said you will know when the time is right. Please come here and talk to us we all know what you are going through and we can support you..xx |
| thanks for these posts.. my daytona is almost 16 and going through all of the same things.. right now my ex has her since she can no long get up steps or the ramp i built for her.. she is happier with her dad right now but still miss the heck out of her |
| Just to let you know that we had to assist our Maggie to go over the rainbow on 8/24 . There was no question in our mind that the time had come and it was a mercy. She was a little toughy her whole life up until the very end. Thank you all for your kind thoughts. |
| Oh...Lorraine, I am so sorry... |
| I'm so sorry Lorraine. Lisa and Frankie |
| I am very sorry for your loss Lorraine, big hugs to you and your family at this time. |
| I am so sorry.... |
| I'm so sorry and what a wonderfull long life for your baby, RIP special golden oldie maggie, and condolences to you and your family lorraine, so hard the loss after so many years and bless your maggie may she be running young and free over the bridge now. She leaves you with so many years of wonderfull memories that will flow strong forever and she will always be there in spirit watching over you all. |
| Precious Maggie living for 15 years is a testament to the love and care you provided. It hurts so much to loose a beloved companion. I'm so sorry for your loss. |
| So sorry to hear of your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family in this hard time. |
| I'm so sorry for your loss. Thank you for being so strong for her when she needed you most. |
| I'm so sorry for your loss, Lorraine! Your sheepie knew love to the day she left this earth. As many of you know, Annie turned 13 this past May. It seems with the age came a decrease in loss of hearing as well. She also has difficulty with on leg. Oddly enough, it's one knee and not her hips which are causing difficulty with getting up. This old girl is still spry and quick when she wants to be. We've also thought her hoarse higher pitched bark is much more frequent along with an increase in whining. I've found that she whines until we are all together in the same room or that she can come upstairs and sleep in the hallway just like she used to. I'm trying not to let the increase in her vocals cause too much stress in the house; however, it does stress our patience level. With Evan starting to walk, Fozzie and his allergies, and Annie getting older...we have all ends of the age spectrum in our house each with their own challenges (it's like having 3 kids)!. We're trying not to lose our cool. We provide Annie with rugs to assist in getting up as she doesn't seem to want our help. As soon as she's up, she's off just like before. Bouncing in circles and racing out the door to the yard. She even still tries to run and play with Foz when she's in the mood. I just remind myself and to Steve that's she's old and we need to treat her with need to provide her with as much assistance as we can so she feels safe and loved. This won't be forever |
| So sorry for your loss. |
| Thank you all for your kind thoughts. My six year old, Baily was quiet for about a week or so afterward. I'm not sure how much she understood. She certainly saw Maggie getting weaker and needing more and more help and I am sure she feels her absence. I have a few sheepie stuffed animals that were given to me by my kids over the years and Baily never paid them much attention. Today when I came home she had taken one out from behind a chair and was lying with it. Maybe she is looking for her old friend. Thanks again for all your kinds words and support. |
Lorraine wrote: Thank you all for your kind thoughts. My six year old, Baily was quiet for about a week or so afterward. I'm not sure how much she understood. She certainly saw Maggie getting weaker and needing more and more help and I am sure she feels her absence. I have a few sheepie stuffed animals that were given to me by my kids over the years and Baily never paid them much attention. Today when I came home she had taken one out from behind a chair and was lying with it. Maybe she is looking for her old friend. Thanks again for all your kinds words and support. Aww that story made me get all teary. Poor Baily, give her a special hug from me and one for you too. |
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