Caring for Your Aging Dog: A Quality-of-Life Guide for Your Dog's Senior Years

by Janice Borzendowski

Today, veterinarians know more about small-animal geriatrics than ever before—making it possible for dogs to live longer, better lives. But science and technology alone aren’t enough: we have to do our part, too. And this thorough guide to the older dog teaches us how. It introduces the basics of caring for a senior pet; examines issues of genetics, environment, and nutrition; presents a “prevention primer” for forestalling disease and old-age conditions; and explains how to recognize vital signs of change, from cloudy eyes to achy joints. Most important, it offers comforting advice on what to do when your beloved pet does get sick, and how to deal with both the financial and emotional costs. Throughout, dog owners tell their inspiring personal stories.

Genres: Nonfiction, Dogs, Animals

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

My lab is 15 years old now (the book, in fact, came out the same year that she did!) and while that's what prompted me to pick this up when I saw it on the shelf, I wish I'd had it years ago. There were some very practical considerations and it helped me frame what she (and I) are going through at this moment in her life. It was a bit reiterative but I think that was on purpose, allowing you to skim the lists of old age maladies and not assume your dog has every one of these things. I also liked how additional resources were provided so that as new things came along, you knew where to start looking. I'd recommend this for folks wanting to educate themselves a bit more through these changes that happen as our dogs age.

[Jo Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wisp is no longer a kitten (by far!); older cats have "care requirements" that differ from kittens. Janice Borzendowski, has written a book that is (extremely!) informative. There are many books out there about kittens and cats . . I don't recall seeing a book sprecific to AGING cats - my daughter found this one on a library display table. The due date is looming so I ordered a (used) copy from Amazon, it should arrive in a few days.

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a first time dog owner, I found this guide very useful. i have two dogs ages 9.5 and 14. Both are aging pretty well, but one has been acting confused. This book will not replace a vet, yearly wellness exams or senior panels. It will help you evaluate your home and lifestyle to help you determine if there are changes that could be made to make your dog's life easier.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

includes loads of references in the text to reputable resources. a bit more scholarly than another book on the subject I read but still interesting for a lay person.

[Desiree Lynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read. Informative. Some of the references (websites and things) are outdated or can't be found anymore.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an excellent book I would recommend to all owners or potential ownders of old or aging cats, or even young cats to prepare for when they get old! It was very informative, shared stories of a few other cat-owners, and although I knew much of it already I still managed to learn something. I have a 12 year old hyperthyroid kitty but it is good to see what else to look out for. I think everyone who is getting a pet should educate themselves thoroughly before doing so and also ensure they have a budget set for their pet in case of emergency! This book also discusses financial hardships and planning for a cat. It also covers some important material on the quality of food and advice about the importance of teeth cleaning to health.

There were some very sad stories, though, so be prepared with some tissues for those!

[Kristen Northrup · Rating 4 out of 5]

ILL'd this because my 16-year old cat is getting increasingly creaky. (I figured she was something like 75 in cat years but it turns out to be more like 82!) Good lists of symptoms to look out for and changes to expect. Needed the guilt trip about the teeth. Targeted just right in terms of being for people who strongly value their cat's companionship but do not consider them furry children. Don't feel the need to buy it for a day-to-day reference yet. Have an idea of what to do next. (Schedule a check-up, of course.)

[Naomi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was good, giving me some insight to our dogs as they age. I do wish it focused a little more on the practical, not just medical procedures and medicines. I do guess more of those issues come up in the later years for dogs. I don't think that we will be going to the extremes that some of these people did to keep their pets alive. We love out pets a lot, but I don't to put them through too much to prolong their lives.

[Margie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartfelt and handy book to address various issues and perspectives of dealing with an aging dog. Stories of particular dogs flesh out the informative side. The last few chapters are difficult to read addressing the decision to euthanize a companion. Human as well as pet emotions are addressed. This is a somewhat older title so some resources mentioned may no longer be available, have moved, etc.

[Kim Sharp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good source for cat owners

[Zoann]

Trying to prepare for the inevitable....

1. "The oldest dog on record was 29. The average lifespan of all dog breeds is around 13.5 years."
2. To calculate human-equivalent years, you must account for the dog's age AND weight. My dog, at almost 14 years and 20 pounds is 72.
3. The majority of dogs are euthanized in the US. Better care is prolonging dog lives.