Grey Muzzles

I wrote this last year for a magazine that went A-Wall. EEK! I thought I would share anyways…

She was just a small girl of six years, weighing about 20 pounds,
undernourished, and scared-feeling like she would be the one passed by.
With only one eye and grey on her muzzle, she would sit in her corner
losing hope. But hope is something she got back on her walk out of the
shelter and into a most loving home. Loni donegan would be her name and
now five years later at age eleven she still has the spirit and spunk of a
young pup. However, being the elder in the pack she offers wisdom and
discipline to her younger siblings and unconditional love and loyalty to
her guardian. Now entering into her senior years, Loni is changing in
small ways, she is a survivor of cancer and she can’t romp around quite as
reckless as she used to as her back is a bit more fragile. But Loni is
getting all the top quality food and care which will help her age
gracefully. Just like Loni Donegan, adopting and living with an older
dog can be one of the most wonderful experiences and beneficial for both
you and the dog. With advances in medicine, nutrition, and equipment to
help the aging or disabled, dogs are living much longer these days.
People are more aware that better care, exercise and vet visits will
extend the lifetime of their most cherished friends.

Adopting An Older Dog

I have had the opportunity to raise dogs from babies to seniors, as well
as adopting seniors from the shelters. Loving all dogs, I am drawn to
grey muzzles, especially older rescues. All that happens in their lives,
they just seem to be so grateful for whatever they are offered. The grey
on their faces and their soulful eyes, it is more like having a best
friend than a frantic two year old pup, which I have both. Many older
dogs are dumped at the shelter for the most moronic reasons such as just
plainly being too old and to be replaced with a puppy or their guardians
pass and the family does not want responsibility for the animal. The list
could go on, sadly. The shelter is traumatic enough on animals, but
harder on older animals, their old bones laying on the hard concrete and
not having the proper nutrition or vet care. There are many benefits for
adopting an older dog; simply what you see is what you get. They aren’t
playing games, no manipulations; they are honest in their intentions and
actions. They want a place to call home where they can live out their
last good years in a secure, loving place. Usually they are house
trained, which is much easier than puppy training, especially with all the
chewing of the shoes. Older dogs have no interest in destroying your sofa
or socks. Their attention lies in being your buddy, watching television
with you or keeping your feet warm on a soft pillow. You have an instant
best friend, someone who doesn’t need to go on five mile hikes but will do
with walks around the neighborhood smelling the flowers and laying in the
grass.

Living with an Older Dog

As with any animal, the most important role for assisting in graceful
aging is frequent vet visits for senior or geriatric screening. This
visit depending on your vet will consist of hands on exam, blood panels
and other possible tests depending on your pet and his/her history.
Becoming more aware of any small changes, such as lumps, weight, daily
activity, behavioral changes, this will help you and your vet give the
best care to you old friend. Another way to keep in check is to make a
notebook of changes, because sometimes the changes are small and go
unnoticed or thought unimportant, however, noting these changes could be
beneficial in preventing something larger. Loni Donegon is an example of
this. She is given massages daily to feel for any lumps or bumps, as dogs
get older they are prone to these new skin additions or fatty lumps. The
smallest bump was found on her chest, knowing this was not normal, she was
taken into the vet and this bump was diagnosed as cancer. The vet could
not believe how early this was caught and was impressed at how attentive
her guardian was. Luckily, since this was found early, the cancer could be
removed and Loni Donegon is doing well. Being attentive to even the
smallest changes can be life saving.

Exercise and nutrition are also essential roles in keeping your dog in
good health.
Many older dogs become obese in their old age, even though your dog is
aging that does not mean exercise should be avoided. Exercise is a
prominent role in keeping your dog’s mind and body alert. Depending on
what your dog is comfortable, a short 20-minute walk could be enough or
something longer. I have two eight year olds with bad hips that can only
go for short walks, however, I have two more eight year olds that could go
for a five mile hike. Either way, daily exercise is a must.
Nutrition is also as important as exercise. Nowadays, dogs are eating
better which has contributed to longer lives, providing better nutrients
in premium dog foods, also giving fresh organic meats and vegetables.
Supplements to help with different ailments such as arthritis,
incontinence and anxiety are available to aid with western or holistic
medicine.

Most importantly, is that you are the person that knows your dog best. To
see the changes and needs that will accustom your old friend into his best
last years. These days an older life does not have to end because of sight
that is ending or back legs giving way. With advancements in medicine,
technology and training there are ways to assist an older pet in adapting
to these changes such as hind end wheel chairs, or paw booties that have a
non-skid bottom, also ramps and stairs for reaching high places and even
carts so they can still trolley around the neighborhood after surgery.
There is never a need to give up on an older pet when there is so much
support for these aging conditions.

A most inspiring story is one of Clara, loved by my friend Jf. He wrote
this story on what it is like living with an older, three legged boxer.
This to inspire not to give up on your grey muzzle through the aging and
hard times, but letting them in their last years impart wisdom and grace
which will never be forgotten.

Radical Changes for Older Dogs: Reaching Out On a Limb

Clara came in to my life in 1992 at about one and a half years old. A
Boxer mix, a beauty and -upon reflection- she actually chose me to travel
along with her on her (our) journey.
I will encapsulate her in between years by telling you that she was adored
by everyone that crossed her path. A character replete with the comedic
timing of a seasoned professional. She had a ‘dance-move- when sharing her
excitement that was called “look at your butt” in which she would
turn-skip side to side -almost bending in half- while moving gleefully
forward. Her soulful eyes, her very vocal communications, her gas, her
loyal servitude was seen and admired by many, but with no one did is
resonate deeper or more personally than with me.
In the year 2000 when rumor was being bandied that the end of the world
ala Y2K was descending, there was an iota of truth in that for me.
Having just lost my mother -and closest friend- another devastation has
traveled to my town: Clara was sick.
She began withdrawing a bit. She was an only dog but she had her feline
companion, Frank, with whom she shared many a good time, bed and even her
food. At this time she removed herself from her buddy and to an extent,
me. As soon as it was clear that this was not something digestive that was
to pass and upon my noting that she was spending a good deal of time
licking her right paw – to the doctor we went. She had a tumor that in a
matter of weeks grew to the size of a golf ball. The doctor decided to
remove the tumor and felt confident that he could catch the cancer. The
consolidated version went something like this:
tumor removed-recovery-three months later a more stubborn tumor returns in
the same area, larger.-removal of tumor-recovery-another two months and
more bad news.
Clara was brilliant during all of this. Ripe with maternal energy since
she came to me, she almost seemed to selflessly watching me to make
certain I was alright with what she was going through.
Was my best friend going to die? Did I make the wrong decision? What can
be done? Does the doctor really want to take her whole leg off?
The next week was a sleepless one. Clara would sit in front of the
fireplace at night licking the leg that I now knew had to come off. How to
let her know what she was in for? How to prepare her? I figured there was
but one way…to tell her.
All during the week I could be found on the floor with my beloved dog. I
would hold her sick leg in both of my hands and telling her what was going
to happen. She never pulled away, never acted confounded…simply watched
me. During the conversation I would make her stand and I would lift her
right leg with my hand and kept it bent close to her chest…. and I would
ask her to walk.
It was a hobble at first that worked its way into a new and acceptable
gait. When surgery day arrived, she was better prepared for what was to
come than I was.
When I saw her take her first three-legged step toward me…the look she
gave me was “take me home.” Once home the next two weeks were about
adjustment and relearning. On the third week, out of nowhere, she bolted
and started running. She continued to run for the next six years…and
never looked back. No ego, no complaints only a wish to get on with the
business of living. Clara became a celebrity of sorts; she began a new
chapter in her tenth year and earned a new handle: “Three Quarter Clara.”
People wanted to touch her, kids wanted to talk about her…and her needs
never changed: love me, feed me, walk with me as friend.
In 2006, well past fifteen years old, after it became clear that my old
girl was sick once more but that medicine could increase her stay no
longer. She had been incontinent for about a year which her doctor treated
with Phenylpropanolamine and an alteration of diet. But this was
different. I rushed her to her doctor who confirmed what I already knew.
After days of painful realization and as much celebration as we could
mutually muster- we took our last ride together as man and his best
friend.
As I carried her into the room she would leave me in, I thanked her. For
teaching me far more than most humans I encountered. For knowing my
beloved parents whom both had passed and for bringing them joy. (So much
so that my own father’s dying wish was to travel to L.A. to see Clara.)
And for carrying me -as I now carried her- when my own life left me hurt.
As she drifted to sleep, her eyes never left me…and with my last
whispered “thank you,” she was free.
As a full-fledged rescue now, my daily memories of Clara inform what I
advocate. There are so many mid life, twilight year, and special need
dogs that need the nurturing from compassionate and evolved humans.
Society has proved itself cruel toward the elderly or less desirable.
Shockingly, people dispose of that which they do not want anymore and
replace it with a younger version. It is as if people do not want to face
their own mortality, so they rid themselves of the reminders. Just
because one would consider adopting or rescuing a four or five year old,
even eight or ten year old dog or cat -even ones with a missing limb-
(who is missing it?…they are not) does not necessitate that they will
spend all their time at the vets. Weekly (if not more often) head-to-toe
examination is essential to discover and regulate any changes.
Supplements and holistic herbs are now commonplace for our canine and
feline additions. Animals are living longer as we realize that their
nutrition -not unlike our own- influences both quality and quantity. Your
vet can examine your new potential family member and make
recommendations. You yourself can do some of the research on line. Trust
that -aside from your own children- one of the greatest rushes of
compassion one can feel, is that for their senior pet. A friend with
history…a love that is loyal.