Older dog advice

[SMC]

We recently adopted an older dog (12 years old) from overseas because my family there could no longer care for him. He's a Pembroke Welsh corgi. I have a few areas where I could use some advice:

1. Mobility: When he gets up, it takes a little while for his hind legs to work and he sometimes drags it. I think it is painful for him because he yelps when I lift his hind legs. I have to carry him up and down stairs. Does anyone have advice on how to improve mobility? Any supplements? Should I look into those wheelchairs? Acupuncture?
2. Incontinence: He drinks a lot of water and doesn't seem to be able to hold it for more than a few hours. I haven't tried to limit his access to water but I'm wondering if I should try? He won't let me lift up his leg to put a doggie diaper on him. Basically he will pee anywhere, and I've had to cover my entire basement with a tarp to protect the floors.
3. Water intake: He drinks like 3-4 cups of water a day which is like 3x my other dog drinks. I'm worried he has some underlying health issue.
4. Weight: He's a corgi, but he's over 30 lbs. I've switched him to senior food. Any recommendations for senior treats?

I'm taking him to the vet on Thursday to get an assessment as well. This is the first time I've had an old dog, and I'd appreciate any advice on how to make him comfortable. If you've faced any of the issues that I'm facing or have any senior dog advice, I'm all ears. Thanks!

 

[PintoBean]

We recently adopted an older dog (12 years old) from overseas because my family there could no longer care for him. He's a Pembroke Welsh corgi. I have a few areas where I could use some advice:

1. Mobility: When he gets up, it takes a little while for his hind legs to work and he sometimes drags it. I think it is painful for him because he yelps when I lift his hind legs. I have to carry him up and down stairs. Does anyone have advice on how to improve mobility? Any supplements? Should I look into those wheelchairs? Acupuncture?
2. Incontinence: He drinks a lot of water and doesn't seem to be able to hold it for more than a few hours. I haven't tried to limit his access to water but I'm wondering if I should try? He won't let me lift up his leg to put a doggie diaper on him. Basically he will pee anywhere, and I've had to cover my entire basement with a tarp to protect the floors.
3. Water intake: He drinks like 3-4 cups of water a day which is like 3x my other dog drinks. I'm worried he has some underlying health issue.
4. Weight: He's a corgi, but he's over 30 lbs. I've switched him to senior food. Any recommendations for senior treats?

I'm taking him to the vet on Thursday to get an assessment as well. This is the first time I've had an old dog, and I'd appreciate any advice on how to make him comfortable. If you've faced any of the issues that I'm facing or have any senior dog advice, I'm all ears. Thanks!

If it is just incontinence due to age, there is medicine that will help. Life changing for our family.

Perhaps swimming as an exercise will be good for maintaining a healthy weight and easier on the joints. I'm not sure how he will take to water and we wouldn't want to scare him.

 

[YadaYadaYada]

Congrats on your new addition! We had a Corgi years ago and he was the sweetest thing. So, two things come to mind about the water intake, one is diabetes especially with him being overweight. The other is a rarer form of diabetes called diabetes insipidus, it is unlikely because it is so rare but we adopted a dog that had this condition and he was given up because he couldn't hold his bladder. He had to be on medication twice a day and after that he never had an accident.

I'm not a vet, those are just the two things that came to mind, good on you for getting him seen quickly, that way they can address the issue and hopefully get a solution working.

I'm sure nobody would complain if you wanted to post a picture.

 

[SMC]

This is Charlie when I picked him up from the airport.


This is him in his new bed.

Thanks for the advice on the medication! I also suspect diabetes, which is the main reason why I am taking him to the vet.

I haven't even thought about how to exercise with him given his limited mobility. Swimming is a great idea, but we don't have access to a pool and the nearby lake is really cold. I'll see if the vet recommends one of those wheelchairs that you strap on - then we can go on longer walks. Right now, he pretty much refuses to walk and I have to carry him outside to potty (if he hasn't already peed next to his bed).

 

[Arcadian]

Bless you for taking this puppy in! Do get an assessment and explain to the vet what you said here about drinking so much. You can try a belly band. Works great for boy dogs
Just google belly band for dogs.

The hind leg issue does happen with older animals, but tend to happen a lot with Corgies. Could be spine. Have the vet check it out.

If your dog is overweight, you will need to cut back on food. Thats something most dogs hate. Add some filler to the bowl, like canned salt free green beans. Canned is fine as long as its salt free. If the dog will eat carrots, you can try whole carrots as a treat (some like them, some don't). That helps them feel full but not add a lot of additional calories. I do give my dog additional vitamins but she's also a dog that eats raw (mostly). have a baseline done before randomly giving vitamins or going raw (even partial) That includes giving the dog fish oil which is quite good for most dogs who aren't sensitive (my dogs gets it but I did a baseline physical first) I went raw against my one time vets wishes and didn't give a damn. Make sure you have a vet that will work with you!!

Old dogs can learn new tricks! My suggestion is a basic obedience class. It will help you bond and, he'll know whats expected of him.

IMO treats are reserved for rewards...mostly. The first year I had my dog, no random treats. Only for rewards. That made treats extra special. I also can't really recommend dog treats without knowing condition of the dogs mouth. As for what I do, I will either make big batches of dog cookies for her or use Blue Dog Bakery brand cookies. (some of them don't taste half bad...) She dosen't do bones (too boring) nor rawhide (won't risk it frankly) I did try bully sticks but um... yeah the gas was bad enough to hurt somebody...

Its also worth having the dogs teeth cleaned. See what the vet thinks about your dog handling a deep cleaning (they can do all sorts of stuff clumped together while the dog is knocked out) I get my dogs teeth cleaned every year in addition to brushing her teeth. She's a greyhound so uses a different type of anesthesia than most dogs...which of course means its more expensive

Good luck! and please post pics!!

 

[SMC]

Arcadian, I think his teeth are mostly fine but he doesn't seem interested in bully sticks. He does like Greenies (I give him the weight management kind) once a day. The veggie filler is an excellent idea. I've been feeding him small portions of kibble mixed with canned food and it disappears in less than 2 minutes so I know he's still really hungry.

Also, thanks for the advice on the belly band! TBH, the peeing is causing me a lot of stress. I feel like I have to run and take him out the minute I get out of bed. And if more than a few hours have passed, I'm worried that he needs to go again. And I'm always on the lookout for puddles. And it's tiring carrying a 35 lb dog around!

 

[minousbijoux]

I'm sure the vet will check for this as well, but a more benign cause for drinking lots of water might be an underlying thyroid condition as well. So impressed for you to be taking in a dog like that, especially one from overseas. He looks like a great guy and you are clearly a wonderful dog family!

 

[CJ2008]

Hi SMC - no words of advice as I have cats and not dogs but just wanted to stop in and say thank you for taking this baby in. He's adorable and it's so nice to see him safe and comfortable.

Thank you.

 

[MJ_Mac]

SMC - You are a wonderful person for adopting an older dog. Not a lot of people would be willing to step up to the challenges, regardless whether it was a family member's dog or not.

I'm glad you have an appointment booked with your veterinarian. The first thing your veterinarian will probably do is check for a urinary tract infection. If you can collect a relatively clean sample before you go that would speed things up. If Charlie goes on a clean spot next to his bed use a sterile syringe to collect and immediately put it in the fridge. It's not ideal but it's better than nothing. Now, I don't want to alarm you but his incontinence could be a sign of early kidney disease. Our dog developed it as she got older. The first sign was she was urinating more than normal. It got to the point where it was water in and water out. Is Charlie's urine quite dilute? We would accidentally step in puddles because they were so clear we didn't even see them. You'll probably need to get a blood test run just so you know where you are at with his health.

I highly recommend acupuncture and physiotherapy. We've used it for three out of our four dogs. Two times was for back problems. It really helps. I'll ask my friend (animal physiotherapist and acupuncturist) for some tips for you. If he get the all clear on his health (blood test) I would ask about a short course of Metacam to see if he helps with his pain. Another option is cartrophen injections.

I don't know much about dog wheelchairs but if you want to get him outside for fresh air and walk with you for bonding purposes and not exercise, I recommend a doggie stroller. I have one which I used for our older dog. She loved every minute of it. She would sit and put her head up to the wind and close her eyes and just take in all the smells of the outdoors. I'm actually dropping a few tears thinking about this. It was a precious bonding experience for us when she could no longer walk on the leash.

Keep us posted. Good luck with Charlie. He's a doll!

 

[SMC]

Poodles4me, yes, it's completely clear! That's why I have a lot of trouble seeing it on the tarp. It's not concentrated and as stinky as my other dog's pee. I've googled and have seen kidney disease as a possible cause as well. Collecting it before my vet appointment is a really good idea, so I will try that tonight or tomorrow as well.

I thought it would be horrible if my family was forced to put him to sleep because I didn't take him. I certainly wouldn't want someone putting me down in my golden years!

 

[MJ_Mac]

They will probably do blood work on Charlie. That will determine if it's diabetes, kidney disease or something else. Try to collect the sample not too far in advance. If the sample is too old it will develop bacteria. If your appointment is at 10:00 am on Thursday do a collection probably no earlier than 6:00 (to be on the safe side). A day old sample will just be thrown out so no point collecting.

Try to think positive at this point - I know you are worried. You are giving Charlie a second chance at life. Regardless of how long he has, you are giving him a home for those last chapters and he will be with a family who loves him. Hugs to you!

 

[SMC]

Thank you so much for the helpful advice, Poodles4me! Charlie is a very sweet old man, but TBH, taking care of him is also a burden and causing me some anxiety. Right now, I'm dreading going home from work because I don't know what mess I'm going to find. I'm hoping that the vet will be able to fix some problems so I can relax.

My dog walker gave me the referral for a pet acupuncturist so I might try to book an appointment after I talk to the vet.

 

[rainwood]

My Lab benefited greatly from acupuncture and Chinese herbs. I thought she would be a terrible candidate for acupuncture because she didn't like strangers touching her, especially her legs, but she started looking forward to it and would lie down in the position as soon as the vet came (she did house calls for bigger dogs so they wouldn't have to navigate steep stairs to her office). It made the last year and a half of her life much, much better.

 

[foxinsox]

Good on you for taking on an older dog! Everyone else has already said what I was going to re food and vet tests but I did want to add that you may want to put a covered hot water bottle into his bed or get a heating pad if he's stiff and sore - the warmth will help ease his discomfort after he's been sitting or lying still for a while.

 

[Calliecake]

As far as collecting his urine, the vet had me slip a plastic lid (I had saved a few from tubs of margarine) under him while he urinates. I then put the urine in a ziplock bag and dropped it off at the vets office. It made it very easy to get a clean sample.

He is such a cutie. I'm hoping the vet has good news and can come up with some solutions to what Charlie is dealing with. You are a very kind and caring person SMC. I don't know how anyone could resist Charlie's sweet face.

 

[MJ_Mac]

SMC - my friend the physiotherapist suggested you keep Charlie's back as straight as possible when you lift him and carry him down the stairs. I know that's probably not so easy to do with a corgi as they have such long bodies. She also told me it's preferable to collect no more than 2 hours beforehand (her son is a vet). That is a great suggestion by Calliecake. If the vets really need a sterile sample never fear, they have a way of collection although a bit invasive. It would be much easier if we could just hand them the cup and ask for a specimen .

Charlie has such an adorable face. He does look like a sweet old man. And he looks very content and adaptable. You're doing all the right things for him and most important, giving him a loving home to live out his remaining years.

I know what you mean about the dread of not knowing what to expect when you get home from work. Hopefully the vet will give you some answers to what the cause is which will make the solution forthcoming. I do want to add a cautionary note, please don't withhold water. If it is a kidney issue he could end up suffering from dehydration. I'm sure between belly bands and keeping him contained in one area of the house it will be better. It's early days still.

 

[ecf8503]

I'm a vet.

Make sure they check for Cushing's disease as well - bloodwork would show changes if that's the case. Other things include urinary tract infections (although that wouldn't explain the excessive drinking, but is very common secondary to other ailments), diabetes, and kidney disease. A thyroid check is always a good idea for any older dog.

Thank you so much for adopting an older dog! Here's hoping you get some answers. Please let us know what the testing shows.

 

[MJ_Mac]

I'm a vet.

Make sure they check for Cushing's disease as well - bloodwork would show changes if that's the case. Other things include urinary tract infections (although that wouldn't explain the excessive drinking, but is very common secondary to other ailments), diabetes, and kidney disease. A thyroid check is always a good idea for any older dog.

Thank you so much for adopting an older dog! Here's hoping you get some answers. Please let us know what the testing shows.

ecf8503 - Veterinarians are my favourite people !

 

[DAF]

Excessive drinking can be a sign of Diabetes.

 

[SMC]

Fox, thanks for the hot water bottle idea! I think he would definitely appreciate this.

Callie, the lid idea is genius and will try that before his appointment tomorrow. He pees so much that I'm sure that I'll have plenty of opportunities to get a sample.

Poodles, thanks for the advice! We are keeping him in the basement because he can't climb stairs. We've covered the entire floor with tarp as well. It's still pretty hard to see the puddles though, and I suspect that some of them have dried by the time I get home. The good thing is the tarp is easily changeable.

Ecf, thanks for the advice! I will ask my vet to check for Cushing's as well. TBH, I am very worried about the costs for his treatment. We don't have pet insurance for Charlie and at this point, I'm not sure it will be worth it as it doesn't cover pre-existing conditions. I guess I will cross that bridge when I get to it.

Will be back with updates once I have some. Thanks again, everyone!

 

[TooPatient]

Good on you for taking on an older dog! Everyone else has already said what I was going to re food and vet tests but I did want to add that you may want to put a covered hot water bottle into his bed or get a heating pad if he's stiff and sore - the warmth will help ease his discomfort after he's been sitting or lying still for a while.

No heating pads!!!

Dogs get burned and die this way.

 

[foxinsox]

No heating pads!!!

Dogs get burned and die this way.

how?? I was thinking of a pet-specific low temperature one under his bed - we've used one like this for years with never any issues for our cats. I would certainly never advocate one directly against the skin but that's just common sense surely?!
I use the clay-based one I got for myself tucked under my elderly cat's bed at the moment as we're going into winter and she's not doing well.
Usual caveats about making sure it's not going to electrocute, strangle or set fire to them either.

 

[kgizo]

Congrats on saving this special boy!

As others have said a blood test should give some indications about the frequent urination. If it is a UTI and you need to catch urine multiple times I get cheap ladles at the dollar store and use those to catch urine and then throw them out. Or, ask your vet for a large syringe to suck it up if he goes on a hard surface.

Put him on a good senior food. Check out: Dogfoodadvisor.com for recommendations. If it is kidney disease ask your vet about protein content. This is all very confusing as it varies a lot.

As for treats my dogs love Charlee Bears. All natural and only 3 calories each so easy to track calories for your dog.

Proin is an inexpensive med that can help with som incontinence. My dog had great success with it.

Do you have a dog door? Can you put one in?

As for the pain. Could be arthritis. Ask about pain meds but be sure to understand side effects. Many can cause kidney problems long term.

Get orthopedic pet beds.

Ask about cosequin.

Cold laser therapy is quick, painless and noninvasive. Worked miracles for my dog who could barely walk. I truly mean miracles, went from barely mobile to dancing after treatments. If your vet doesn't offer research vets who do. Sadly, some vets don't like to refer to others bc they don't want to lose a client even if the other vet is the only one in town with the equipment.

I have not done stem cell treatments but know others who have had good results.

 

[SMC]

kgizo, thanks for the advice about the food. I will definitely check with my vet about it. Will also ask for pain meds and cold laser therapy. I don't know about stem cell treatments, but it might be something I'll explore if the other options are ineffective.

TBH, my main concern with all these treatments is cost. I purchased insurance for my own dog, but it's not worth it to buy it for Charlie right now as it doesn't cover preexisting conditions. They need ACA for pets! I'm really worried about how much all this stuff (if he does have diabetes or kidney disease) is going to cost me. We aren't wealthy, and we won't go into debt even if we do end up spending some money, but it will hurt us.

Charlie is going to the vet this afternoon. I am looking forward to it and nervous at the same time.

 

[lyra]

About the heating pad issue. Our guys have a pet specific one in their bed because our oldest has some issues. You can barely even tell it's warm. They have had it for about 2 years. I'm not sure if it would help in your dog's case, but they are available if the vet suggests it.

Hope all goes well at the vet today.

 

[MJ_Mac]

Good luck today SMC. Hoping for positive news.

 

[foxinsox]

Fingers crossed for Charlie's visit to give you good clear (and not really expensive!) answers about where he's at with his health

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

Hope all is well today with Charlie and the Vet (and you SMC!!)

cheers--Sharon

 

[Calliecake]

SMC, Thinking of you and Charlie. I'm so hoping you get good news from the vet today.

 

[SMC]

Thanks for the well wishes everyone! We did bloodwork, urinalysis, and x-rays today to the tune of $800. The vet will call us with results tomorrow! She said that his clumsiness in his rear is likely arthritis or some degenerative spinal disease (which Corgis are prone to). Hopefully the bloodwork will help her diagnose the water/peeing issue. I'll post results when I get them!