Ben's Getting Old

[TerriW]

No, really. Over the past year or so he has been really slowing down on me. He is almost 8 now, a very big heavy boy, and he acts more like my other Newfs did when they were about 10 than he does an 8 year old dog.

He runs out of steam quickly; doesn't play much; sleeps all the time; is eager for his walk but if we even go 3/4 mile he is stiff and sore for a couple days. I've resorted to only walking him in the woods the last few days, and he has not been asking for his second walk. Luckily there is much of interest back there, and the river, and the swimming has been good.

Vet checkup was normal.

I'm not concerned something's wrong with him so much as I am sad he is acting like a very senior Newf. He's never played much, nor run, nor been very lively; has never played with me (no tug of war or chasing); has never really enjoyed anything but sitting with family and going on walks.

Today he chased deer in the woods, moved along quickly enough, but then that was about it for him. He came in, ate, and has been snoozing all evening.

He's my third Newf and just seems like he is getting old sooner than the others. I know some reports say their life-span is 8 - 10 years (ish), and I wonder how much longer the ol' fellow will be with me?

Kinda feeling blue about it. He's my last Newf, too.

 

[blaue_augen]

Aging is a hard thing to watch. Perhaps he really is part bear and he is just hibernating ... and once spring hits he'll have more energy! Sending you both hugs!

 

[Leonard and his bud Snuffles]

and I wonder how much longer the ol' fellow will be with me?

Kinda feeling blue about it. He's my last Newf, too.

Gosh don't let it get you too down. Maybe he is just conserving energy. Snuffles is about 3 weeks shy of 9. He doesn't come upstairs anymore. We had snow the other day. We played fetch with his Kong Wubba. He was pretty energetic then, but seemed wiped out the rest of the day. Come July it will be time for his rabies shot. Do I get the 3 year like I have been doing or start on the 1 year???? I feel if I do 1 year, I am planning on him not making 12. I do tend to tear up now and then thinking time is getting short for my first ever dog.

 

[Angela]

I know the feeling, I have a household of older dogs plus PFH.
Why is this your last Newf Terri?

 

[chumleysma]

I agree. It just makes you sad, but luckily we don't dwell on it.

 

[hawk]

Odin Jara and Chyna have reached the senior time of their lives too. Interestingly it shows much more with Odin Jara. He too gets excited for walks, prancing around like he did when he was young but afterwards he is usually stiff (kind of like me) and tired. He is now 9yo and no longer has the muscular 125 pound muscular body that he did in his prime (neither do I).

Chyna (our female Berner) behaves just as she did when we adopted her. She is now 10...

I think in some ways they are just like we humans. We, of course, realize that we're aging. Yep we may not be active in the same way that we once were and we may feel a little sore and stiff after strenuous activity like washing dishes or thinking or sitting but we are still everything we once were and actually more than we once were. Our relationships are stronger and deeper and our ability to demonstrate Love, Compassion...is now well practiced. I think the same goes for our Pups too. So we will continue to Love each other and allow the sad moments to be part of a whole memory of Joy and excitement, frustration and pride, accomplishment and fatigue, floogers and snacks What a wonderful, amazing life together we have with our Pups.

 

[Ginny]

Try getting some weight off of him. My 8 yr. old, Holly, was far too thin IMO, I put some weight on her and I noticed a huge negative change in her activity level. Now, I'm trying to get the weight back OFF her - far harder than putting it on, but worth it.

 

[DAWNMERIE]

I agree with Ginny, when Zeke's weight was up there I thought he was slowing down and questioned it BIG time. We dieted and got him down to 165 and what a difference it made. Currently, I think he's back up again probably over 175, so once the weather gives me a break, it will be work, work, work (just like Wesley says it in princess bride)

 

[Whybu1]

Gosh don't let it get you too down. Maybe he is just conserving energy. Snuffles is about 3 weeks shy of 9. He doesn't come upstairs anymore. We had snow the other day. We played fetch with his Kong Wubba. He was pretty energetic then, but seemed wiped out the rest of the day. Come July it will be time for his rabies shot. Do I get the 3 year like I have been doing or start on the 1 year???? I feel if I do 1 year, I am planning on him not making 12. I do tend to tear up now and then thinking time is getting short for my first ever dog.

Just wondering if in IL there is a differance between 1 and 3 year rabies vaccine. Everywhere I have been I have been told they are the exact same meds but the first time it is given it is a 1 year to make sure they get a booster.

 

[Leonard and his bud Snuffles]

Just wondering if in IL there is a differance between 1 and 3 year rabies vaccine. Everywhere I have been I have been told they are the exact same meds but the first time it is given it is a 1 year to make sure they get a booster.

I have too heard they are the same. I always wondered if it is slightly cheaper times 3 of the 1 year dose. The one thing here, is you can get the city/county registration right at most local vets. It is $10 for one year and $30 for 3 year for a altered pet. No savings there, but since goverenments keep wanting to make more $$$ on fees etc, I suspect someday they will try to make a big jump. Seems to me they really went after those with intact pets not all that long ago with a steep increase like $35 to $50 a year

 

[2newfs4now]

After Max had pneumonia in January 2012, he was never the same. We knew he wasn't going to be with us another year (he did make it to ten years old). I stopped walks because he could only make it maybe six blocks and his rear would give out on him. He tried to play with Charlie and Koda but, you could tell it was too much. We let Max determine how active he was.
It's so heartbreaking to watch them age and know you are going to lose them. I cried buckets before either of them passed just thinking about the possibility of losing them

 

[AngusMcDubhsMom]

I've been feeling the same way about Gracie today and getting tearful about it. She will be 10 next month. I think for starters i may take her to the vet and get her weighed, just to see if she has put on some pounds. She too is eager to go for walks, but they seem to wipe her out and she snoozes so much during the day now. It's so hard to imagine her not being with me forever and I start to cry again.

 

[TerriW]

Thanks, everyone. I was feeling kind of down about it last night. I forget how much empathy there is here on this site, and how so many people can understand. Last night he had trouble getting up. He had laid on the bare tile (pushing the rug away) and couldn't lift his hind end. It took my son and me and a couple rugs to get him to his feet.

Just reminds me of the last few months with my other two.

I've changed his diet to mostly fish and bread. I think he has lost weight but haven't gotten him weighed since I started that. Mostly he is stiff, achy, and tires more quickly (like me!). He can limp/ache for 3 days after a too-long walk....and I never know what's too long, so I have been shortening them and going on softer surfaces (the woods).

He is my last Newfie because I have fibromyalgia along with arthritis in my joints and can no longer handle an uber-strong dog like him. Those puppy years are rough and they need solid, regular exercise, and I have days where I have trouble walking. Also, my kids are 22 and 24 and ready to move out, and I don't want my dogs to be home alone while I work all day. Right now our work shifts are different.

I can, however, consider fostering at some point. Maybe seniors, so we can sit and rest together.

 

[Angela]

Is he on any meds for his stiffness? Have you tried Microlactin? This is what elderly Gracie takes and she is doing really well at the moment

Arthur groans a bit so his Mum has sent him from England some GlycoFlex to try.

The others are on Glucosamine.

 

[TerriW]

Yes, Glucosamine. Interestingly, the groans ceased when I changed to the fish/bread diet, but the stiffness remains. As does the overall tiredness.

 

[DAWNMERIE]

Hey Terri....Mary K mentioned a product not to long ago, might be worth a shot.

http://www.newf.net/Forums/showthread.php?t=106287

 

[lmfoltyn]

It is just the saddest thing to watch our beloved older guys decline...My Dexter sleeps most of the day except when it is time to eat...He still loves his food...he has started peeing himself when sleeping which is not a fun thing for him or me...he has a very hard time getting up or down and we do have to help him sometimes. He still has that light in his eyes though and loves to be with us and loves the time he gets to take his special walks...it just lifts his spirit to be asked, Want to go for a walk? Of course that walk consists of a walk from the front door to the edge of our driveway and back but he just loves to be asked. I cry just thinking of loosing him...I can't imagine not having by Dexter here!

 

[Ginny]

Adequan injections may help. If your vet will write a script, you can get it far cheaper online and do your own injections. There's a loading period of twice weekly for several weeks, followed by monthly injections.

 

[wrknnwf]

It is just the saddest thing to watch our beloved older guys decline...My Dexter sleeps most of the day except when it is time to eat...He still loves his food...he has started peeing himself when sleeping which is not a fun thing for him or me...he has a very hard time getting up or down and we do have to help him sometimes. He still has that light in his eyes though and loves to be with us and loves the time he gets to take his special walks...it just lifts his spirit to be asked, Want to go for a walk? Of course that walk consists of a walk from the front door to the edge of our driveway and back but he just loves to be asked. I cry just thinking of loosing him...I can't imagine not having by Dexter here!

Oh my gosh! I could have written those exact words, when it comes to my Hugo. It is sad a lot of the time, but when Hugo wants something, he gets all fired up and silly which makes me feel better. He even stole my newly bought milkshake w/whipped cream and the cherry, last week. I never got a sip. But he was so pleased with himself that all I could do was smile.

 

[blstarke]

Hugs, Ben, I love you.