No More Homeless Pets Forum
March 1, 2004

Senior Animals

Deborah Workman

Deborah Workman of The Sanctuary for Senior Dogs and Judah Battista, manager of Cat World at Best Friends Animal Society, will share their experiences and offer their advice on health care, sheltering issues, and finding good homes for older pets.

Introduction from Deborah Workman:

Older dogs have learned most of life's lessons and are ready to enjoy their golden years. With lives far from over, old dogs can be valuable family and community members. Not surprisingly, they make excellent therapy dogs and companions to older people. This is the message that The Sanctuary for Senior Dogs works to get across to shelters, humane societies, and individuals looking for a companion dog.

There are, however, issues that need to be addressed when caring for and adopting a senior dog. Handling a senior dog population presents unique challenges for rescues and shelters, and raises some serious questions as well. What kind of medical history, for example, can you provide on an old dog who comes into the shelter as a stray? How far should you go to diagnose and treat health issues in an older dog? What can the adopter of an older dog expect? What are the behavioral problems common to older dogs? Are senior dogs good companions for young children? How can shelters best handle the special needs of older dogs and give them a chance at a new life?

Over the last three years, our sanctuary has struggled with these and other questions. We have saved the lives of 160 old dogs (generally 7+ years old) since January of 2001, when the sanctuary incorporated in Ohio. We are proud of our adoption rate: approximately 70% of our dogs have gone on to new homes. Only three dogs have been returned. A few dogs went to other rescues or shelters, and the rest have remained in our foster homes for life. Our work is detailed on our website, www.sanctuaryforseniordogs.org.

The only thing I enjoy more than talking about senior dogs is sharing an old-dog hug-fest, so I am looking forward to answering your questions this week on working with and living with senior dogs. Old dogs make great friends!

Introduction from Judah Battista:

Any of us who are involved with the rescue of cats will at some point come across an older cat. Whether a senior cat is surrendered by its owner or found as a stray, there are certain things to think about in their care that may not be as big a concern for younger cats. Health, shelter or foster home stress, and just plain age all spring to mind as "issues." With a bit of TLC and knowledge, we can all help provide the best for these cats.

I'm happy to answer your questions this week about caring for senior cats.

Questions

Advantages of adopting an older animal
Promoting senior cat and dog adoptions
Treating older animals with medical needs
When shelters won't even accept older animals
Getting a companion for an older pet
Seniors for seniors adoption programs
Tips to reduce stress for older animals in shelters
Health symptoms volunteers and staff can look for in older animals
Flea and tick products for older pets
Senior animals and thyroid conditions
More on how rescue remedy works
Putting safeguards in place when adopting to senior citizens
Dealing with the emotion of adopting and losing a senior animal
Treating kidney failure

Advantages of adopting an older animal

Promoting senior cat and dog adoptions

Question from Mary:

How do you get the word out to promote the adoption of older dogs and cats? We find that most people want the cute puppies and kittens and constantly overlook the older animals at our shelter. We have a very difficult time getting them adopted.

Response from Judah:

In your facility try to make prospective adopters spend time with the cats and dogs before seeing any puppies or kittens. Put up posters that promote older pets. If you have a web site showcase some of them. If you produce a newsletter do the same. If you don't have a website there are websites that cater to every special need you can think of that will allow postings. Contact local media outlets and showcase your older pets based on how special they are.

Marketing seems like an unfortunate term for what you have to do but it is exactly what you have to do. We have found that the best way to promote the older dogs or cats is to focus on their uniqueness and aspects of their life stories that will pull at the heartstrings. Point out the benefits of a calmer pet that will require less training, and emphasize how much the adopter is special for considering an older pet. Most people will feel that they have helped an individual with a special life story that they become a part of.

In order to help cinch the deal we often ask people to take the dogs for walks and to spend time with the cats to help with grooming. This special time spent will often help adopters make a connection that they might not think to make on their own. If the cats and dogs don't have a special story to help them then point out special aspects of their personalities, something that will give an adopter a point of connection.

Response from Deborah:

The Sanctuary promotes the adoption of senior dogs first by educating the community about the value of senior dogs and the advantages of adopting them.

One of the best ways to promote senior dogs is to engage the media whenever possible. Television, radio, and newspaper coverage help to make people aware of the plight of senior dogs and of the benefits of adopting them.

Just before the holidays, we took in Sweet Pea, a 10-year-old miniature Poodle picked up as a starving stray by the City of Cleveland Kennel, our local animal control. The Kennel has a TV spot every Sunday that they graciously share with us when we take in dogs from them. The reaction to Sweet Pea's television appearance was overwhelming. In one day, we had ninety phone calls from people wanting to adopt her. In three days, the number of calls topped one hundred twenty-five. Sweet Pea found a wonderful home, and the Sanctuary's work with old dogs gained many new supporters.

Recognizing the potential of senior dogs to contribute to the community, The Sanctuary for Senior Dogs started "Companions," a program with the goal of partnering senior dogs with senior people to the benefit of both parties. One aspect of this program places older dogs with calm dispositions as residents in assisted-living facilities. Miracle, an 11-year-old Yellow Lab; Dixie, a 9-year-old Border Collie; Seamus, an 8-year-old Yellow Lab; and Hans, a 100-pound, 11-year-old Shepherd mix have all moved into area facilities. The lives of the residents and the lives of the dogs are richer for the placements. Other area facilities are beginning to request live-in senior dogs as well.

Another aspect of the program emphasizes matching senior dogs with senior people. The health and emotional benefits an animal affords are well-documented and extend far beyond simple companionship, including lowered blood pressure, faster recovery from illness, and a renewed interest in life and relationships.

We are planning to expand this program to include follow up on adoptions by senior people and help with dog walks, transportation to vet visits, and other aspects of care for their adopted dogs.

A third aspect of "Companions" directly involves the public by offering classes twice a year to local senior dogs to train them as certified therapy dogs through Therapy Dogs International. The Sanctuary also keeps a resident therapy dog named Gretchen, a 9-year-old Border Collie mix, who entertains the residents of the facilities she visits by rolling on her back and sticking her legs in the air, just waiting for that belly rub. Her enthusiasm is contagious; almost no one can resist smiling when she enters a room. Gretchen promotes the cause of senior dogs wherever she goes.

Promoting the adoption of senior dogs is challenging, but it can be best done by publicizing the senior dogs in your rescue or shelter and by getting them out in the public eye whether that is through media coverage, adoption events, newspaper ads, or word of mouth.

Comment from Matti:

I wanted to say that we specialize in older cats and quite often have older dogs come through our facility. Just today, we adopted out a 7 yr old cat who had been with us for 1 1/2 yrs and also a 6 yr old cat...in the same day! A couple of months ago, we adopted out a pair of 10-yr old cats who had grown up together and can now live out their lives together.

The older/senior dogs who have gone through our facility all have awesome homes with people who were in love with them before even actually meeting the animal...and most have been heartworm positive. We treat them and do not allow them to leave our care until they have completed treatment and we are certain they will be OK.

Spaying or neutering of an older animal has never been an issue...so far, our guys have all sailed through it with no residual problems. We recently had a 10-yr old purebred Himalayan neutered...this guy had been used for breeding and was surrendered by the breeder. She was unable to find anyone to neuter him because of his age...our primary vet agreed to perform the procedure, and Fillmore is doing great.

The older companion animals give so much and expect so little...they know you've rescued them and they respond to a loving touch, soft voice and kind eyes just as we humans do. We market them and we find them new forever homes...and they are welcome to stay with us until we are able to find that special someone.

So please, don't turn your back on older cats or dogs...they're not as cute as puppies or kittens, but the joy of the experience with the unconditional and undying love is worth whatever sacrifice one has to make. The only reason to euthanize an older animal...or any animal...is if the quality of life is in question.

Thanks for letting me put in my 2 cents worth... I'm a believer in the older guys!!!

Treating older animals with medical needs

Question from multiple members:

What do you with older animals that come into your program that have medical issues in terms of treatment and also adopting out with known medical problems? Do you find families willing to take on these challenges?

For instance, there is an older dog that was chained in a back yard and then abandoned by his family. Medically he's not real bad money wise, but he can't undergo being neutered because of his cancer and heart. We don't release out any animals that are not neutered. There is a cat that came in that has joint pain - arthritis. Since cats cannot tolerate aspirin and such, what can I give for relief? Does glucosamine really help?

Response from Judah:

Cats and dogs that come into our program that have medical issues are treated. The first thing that is done is getting a diagnosis from our Vet. If for instance a heart condition exists, we would treat and get that under control and then consider surgery. If a dog or cat is so debilitated that surgery is not an option and never will be, then we would suggest assessing its overall quality of life.

There are many conditions that will make surgery a greater risk than might be ideal, however that risk must be assessed in the context of the work you are doing. If you can place a dog or cat where it will not matter that it has not been fixed, then great. That is not the case for most of us.

We have found that there are some limited pain control drugs available to cats. The first is a very low dose of aspirin that needs to be dosed by a vet. The other is buprenex and also needs to be dosed by a vet. There are many cases where in both dogs and cats glucosamine and other supplements have improved quality of life.

We have been able to place many of our cats and dogs that have medical needs. It is more difficult and requires patience. The dogs and cats we have placed are pets that touched someone, and they knew from the very beginning what the concerns were and the expected long-term prognosis. It is dangerous to think that only those of us in rescue would want to or are able to take on these challenges.

Response from Deborah:

This is a really good series of questions. A number of older dogs that enter our program do have special medical needs. We try to deal with each dog on an individual basis, but we have some general guidelines that I will share with you first.

Each senior dog that enters our program is tested for heartworm and given a geriatric blood screen, just a basic blood panel that highlights any problems in the major organs. That way we get a good idea of the general health of each dog. About a fourth of our senior dogs do not require any further treatment except, perhaps, for spaying or neutering. The rest have various types of medical problems, ranging from mild to serious.

We try to treat each medical condition as it arises. Many of our dogs need to have their teeth cleaned; this is particularly important because bad teeth can become infected causing damage to the heart and kidneys. Several dogs have tested positive for heartworm; even though these dogs were older, each of them came through the treatment fine and went on to live out their lives. We have removed tumors; treated vision problems, including removing eyes from dogs with untreatable conditions; treated Cushing's Disease, inflammatory bowel, cancer, starvation, kidney disease, congestive heart failure, hypothyroidism, and a host of other ailments.

If a dog comes into our program with a condition that we believe will stand in the way of a successful adoption, we keep that dog with us for life. Our philosophy is to provide medical care to guarantee comfort and quality of life. We euthanize to end suffering when there is no reasonable treatment for a terminal disease.

We have found a number of families who were willing to adopt dogs with various health issues, some of them serious. Over two years ago, we brought in an older Beagle who was promptly named Sugar because of her incredible love of doughnuts. Discarded on the streets of Cleveland, Sugar had a large mammary tumor that had ruptured. The pathologist's report revealed a moderately aggressive form of cancer. Our vet thought Sugar had a few months left to her, if that. We believed that Sugar would spend her remaining time with us, but when a woman in Northern Kentucky applied to adopt her, Sugar's luck began to change.

Having lost a Beagle to cancer several months earlier, she felt the need to offer Sugar a comfortable home of her own for whatever time she had left. Sugar surprised everyone and lived for about 18 months in her new home. The cancer did return, but only after she had enjoyed her new home and her new life.

A few months after Sugar found her new home, a miniature American Eskimo dog named Ernie was removed from our adoptable list when he developed kidney disease that appeared to be very serious. I had forgotten to take Ernie off of Petfinder.com, however, and that is where a woman from Columbus saw him. She took him home and began natural and conventional therapies for his kidneys. Almost two years later, Ernie is a beautiful, healthy dog, still happily living in his new home.

These two examples are dramatic and, perhaps, not typical of most people looking to adopt a dog. But they do demonstrate that it is possible for an older dog with a serious medical condition to find a loving home. The most important advice I can give anyone trying to find a home for a dog with special medical needs is to be completely honest about the dog's age, health, and temperament. Tell your older special needs dog's story; the more you can get the word out about your dog, the better his chances of being adopted into a wonderful family. There are people out there with big hearts who will open their homes to special needs dogs.

You mentioned that you do not adopt out an animal that is too ill to be spayed or neutered, and I am glad to hear that. Most old dogs (even very old dogs) can be successfully spayed or neutered, but in your example you mentioned a dog with cancer and heart problems. In such a case, we would not spay or neuter the dog if the surgery is likely to prove fatal. But we do place that dog in a permanent foster home. The dog remains a Sanctuary dog, but he or she can enjoy a loving home for life. Sometimes the foster home is already one of our approved fosters, but sometimes the foster home is someone who had originally wanted to adopt the dog. In that case, we visit the home and approve the family as a permanent foster. Because the dog is still our foster, we can oversee the medical care, choose the vet, and monitor the dog's health. I also know of traditional shelters that use foster homes to allow dogs to live out their lives when spay/neuter is not possible.

Finally, the question about cats and joint pain can probably be best answered by a vet or by someone with more experience with cats than I have. When our Sanctuary dogs show evidence of joint pain, we have then evaluated by our vet first; then we start them on glucosamine/chondroitin, MSM, and vitamin C if they can tolerate it. In serious cases, we use prescription drugs, such as Rimadyl, Etogesic, or Metacam, as recommended by our vet. But these drugs can have adverse side effects, so we use them sparingly, reserving them for use when other methods have failed or are no longer effective. I don't think any of these drugs have been approved for use in cats. I have a 19-year-old cat of my own who has some joint pain at times. When it is particularly bad, my vet gives her a mild steroid injection. We only do this infrequently because of the possible side effects of steroid use.

The most important consideration when treating a medical condition in an older dog or cat is to have a complete work up done by a veterinarian who is well versed in geriatric animal issues and believes in the worth of geriatric animals. Unfortunately, not all vets support care of old animals with medical needs.

When shelters won't even accept older animals

Question from Sally:

My local shelter won't even accept animals over 6 years old. They turn away owner surrenders or tell the owner they will euthanize them if they wish. If we don't have good groups like yours that take them or specialize in older animals, what can we do to save the older animals in our community?

Response from Deborah:

The sad truth is that there are more dogs looking for homes than there are people looking for dogs. That is true of young dogs as well as older dogs. In time that situation will change as more and more people work to accomplish the goals of "No More Homeless Pets." But for now, we need to do what we can to give as many old dogs in our sheltering system as possible a chance.

We founded the Sanctuary because of just the situation you describe. All across America, older dogs are being turned in to or picked up by various shelters, animal control agencies, and humane societies. Even with the presence of organizations like ours, a large number of old dogs still do not find their way out of the system and to safety. The Sanctuary alone turns down anywhere from 5-15 requests for assistance each day. Most of these requests are from people wanting to surrender their dogs, but some of them are from the shelters and humane societies that we work closely with. Add to that the huge number of old dogs publicized on the various Internet e-mail lists and those that are quietly disposed of without seeking an alternative; the numbers are staggering.

In the midst of this bleak picture, however, there are a number of constructive actions that concerned people like you can take:

1. Visit your local agencies and become familiar with the number and types of old dogs that come through the doors. Track adoption statistics from shelters that do put older dogs up for adoption; try to track the numbers of old dogs euthanized in shelters that do not off them up for adoption. This is sad work, but it will help you help the older dogs in the long run.

2. Write a press release to your local media and describe the situation. Emphasize the value of old dogs, what good companions they make, etc.

3. Offer to help in placement of older dogs at area shelters. Sometimes it is just a matter of gently educating people. You could put pictures of the older dogs on PetFinder or a similar web site. Or you could make fliers to put up in pet stores or vet clinics, anywhere that animal lovers gather. Some shelters will give old dogs a little extra time if they know someone is working to save them.

4. Call local retirement communities, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities. Increasingly, such facilities are looking for a resident dog. In fact, some nationwide chains of assisted living facilities require at least one resident companion animal in each facility; an older shelter dog is often the perfect candidate.

5. Try to get the support of influential people in your community. They can get media coverage or like-minded people to help you.

6. Join some of the Internet e-mail lists dedicated to old dogs. There are a number of them, and sometimes posting the older dogs available in your shelter will help them get out. Search yahoogroups.com for lists that help in senior dogs placement.

7. Try to get a local shelter to select an older dog as the shelter mascot. That alone will bring publicity to the plight of older dogs.

8. Perhaps you can serve as a liaison between shelters. Would a shelter with a high adoption rate, low euthanasia statistics, and lots of foot traffic consider trading two young, easily adoptable dogs for one older dog?

I know of one young woman in a neighboring town who takes up a collection among her coworkers, friends, and family whenever she has the opportunity (she asks for cash in lieu of birthday and holiday presents, too). When she has enough money collected, she will go to her local animal control facility and select a senior dog who is out of other options. She has vet work done on the dog and then places him up for adoption. When that dog has been successfully placed, she begins saving for the next lucky, old dog.

Nothing that you do is too small or too insignificant to help. The more people you can get to join you, the better. Soon you may have your own senior dog rescue group. But if you can save just one old dog, you have meant the world to that dog.

Response from Judah:

Many shelters are faced with the fact that they have a short amount of time to find a home for the animals that come to them. They have seen from their experience that they will have more difficulty placing an older animal and will then have less space for dogs or cats they might feel they can place. This is a depressing "reality" for many areas.

While we are able to take in older cats we are only able to take in some of the cats we are asked to. This is one of the limitations of a No-kill set up; space is limited. One thing that is interesting in what your shelter is doing is that they are making the reality of the situation the responsibility of the owner. Shelters are not responsible for making it easier for people to give up a pet, and the brutal truth is that many that are surrendered are euthanized regardless of age.

If you want to help the only thing I can say is help. Speak with the shelter about their needs and the reasons behind their policies. Make the community you live in aware of the problems and needs of "their" shelter. You could start by setting up foster homes for some of the older pets. Get them adopted and rescue new ones. It is no help to the animals if you are only upset with the shelter without presenting an option. Your shelter may be able to give you more ideas of what would help then I can.

I know that here in Utah the groups that have started as "friends of the shelter" type programs get farther trying to change the communities they live in then those groups that have started because they are mad at the shelters shortcomings. No one likes to euthanize healthy animals. It happens to be the reality of the current world we live in. It is also what we are all trying to change. The only way this will work is if we are willing to work together and make a point of educating anyone who is interested.

Getting a companion for an older pet

Question from Leslie:

I've often heard that getting a younger animal as a companion to an older pet is a good idea, because it gives the older pet new energy and renewed life and can be good for the younger animal too. Have you found this to be true? Have you ever tried marketing that idea to potential adopters?

Response from Deborah:

I, too, have often heard this claim, but, in truth, it depends on the animals involved. In my own home, I always have a mix of young and old dogs. What I have found is that some old dogs appreciate the company of a younger, more energetic dog. But others do not and make it clear that they would rather not be bothered.

We have not used this claim as a marketing tool because we are placing older dogs rather than younger ones, and it would not seem to work in our situation. We do, however, evaluate any resident animals before placing an older dog in the home to make sure that the animals appear to be well matched.

Our therapy dog Gretchen, a 9-year-old, mostly Border Collie, has never enjoyed rough play, but she did enjoy herding one of my young dogs through the backyard until her health began to fail. Now she makes it clear that they are to leave her alone. Failure to comply on the young dogs' part earns each of them a quick nip to the nose.

A number of our older dogs have an incredible amount of energy themselves and would do well in a high-energy home. One of my own current fosters, a 9-year-old Lab mix, plays from morning until night with my 18-month-old. They are still playing long after the 3-year-old has retired to his couch for a long afternoon nap.

Adding a second dog is very much an individual decision, and we try to make those decisions on a case-by-case basis. To me, energy level is much more important than age. If an older dog is languishing and enjoys the company a younger dog provides, it would seem to be a good idea. Sometimes, however, introducing a second senior dog into the home, instead of a younger dog, provides the resident dog with just the right amount of canine companionship. The Sanctuary has made many happy matches between senior dogs. They are generally content with each other, and they have fewer issues to work out. But then maybe I am just a little biased!

Response from Judah:

In many cases this is true but only the owner will actually know if their cat or dog would do well with a companion. I can speak more to the cat issue on this in that my own older cat does not want a companion at all-she has made that very clear. This does not mean that she would not adjust but she would not be happier. That is my own cat. Many other cats may be in need of companionship so putting the thought in peoples' heads is a good place to start. It is my feeling that this and any other idea that encourages people to adopt is a good idea but it does not make it "true".

The thing to keep in mind with adoptions is that any idea that makes a person think about adoption is a good one. Always be putting the idea in peoples' heads if not for their sake then the sake of their companion's happiness. The fine line to avoid is pushing guilt. While it might motivate in the moment it is not the foundation for a good home. I have adopted a companion for my younger dog (who was to be a companion to my older dog). I did this because it makes me happy to see them play with and enjoy each other. This did not happen with my older dog Sophie in that she didn't want to play.

I know with our dog adoptions we always push the companion angle and also with cats. It is easier to introduce two new cats to a home at once. This prevents one from having its territory invaded. We also see less behavior problems from insecurity when there is more then one dog.

Seniors for seniors adoption programs

Question from Crystal:

There have been "seniors for seniors" type adoption programs in several communities, where senior citizens can adopt senior pets for very low to no fees and often additional services such as low-cost vet visits are included.

What is the best way to go about implementing and managing such a program? My biggest concern is that older animals often develop special needs (frequent trips to the vet, daily pilling) which may be hard for an older person to manage - it's hard for someone with shaky hands and an unsteady grip to pill a reluctant cat, for instance. And, if the organization helps defray costs for fixed-income seniors (sometimes to the point of completely paying medical bills) that can get very expensive.

What is the best way to handle "senior pets for senior people" type adoptions? Should the organization help pay for medical costs, and have a network of volunteers to help transport owners to the vet, and perhaps help with pilling, insulin shots and so forth? What about screening of adopters to make sure that they can handle special needs or have a relative, friend or neighbor lined up to assist?

Response from Deborah:

This is an excellent series of questions, ones that we have been struggling with from our earliest days to the present. I know of many organizations that have a "senior animals for senior people" program that reduces or waives adoption fees for qualifying seniors. For some senior people that is an incentive to adopt an older dog, but your questions get right to the heart of the possible shortcomings of such an approach.

Since we work with senior dogs who have often been through much turmoil and upheaval in their lives to get to us, we want to make sure that they have homes for life whenever possible. One difficulty in our work is to remember that our primary purpose is to advocate for senior dogs. Often people want us to function as a human social services agency as well, but wearing both hats equally is not always possible. That being said, we firmly believe that the two worlds can and should intersect wherever possible.

Let me tell you first what we do now to advance the cause of senior dogs for senior people. Then I'll explain what we are planning in the future.

Most of our "senior dogs for senior people" adoptions to this point have been either younger senior people who are completely self-sufficient or people more advanced in age with a family, church, or neighborhood support system to help with daily chores and to step up in case of an emergency. In fact, children or grandchildren of a potential senior adopter often initiate the adoption procedure. In all adoptions by senior people, we interview the family or friends as well as the potential adopter. We want to know that the adopter and the dog will both be safe in a time of need.

But the problem behind this philosophy is that a senior person who lives alone without a social support system may be deprived of the companionship and comfort an older dog (or cat) can provide. The difficulty for us has always been balancing the need to guarantee the dog's future with the need to offer animal companionship and all of its attendant benefits to the senior human population as well.

At present, we do reduce or waive adoption fees for senior adopters who have limited resources, but we also ask about the adopter's financial ability to provide for the dog's basic needs. We will not knowingly place a senior dog in the home of someone who cannot afford basic vet care. But obviously a senior dog can incur unexpected medical costs due to accident or catastrophic illness, but that is true of a younger dog as well. Currently, we have no safety net in place to provide help in this situation.

Our future plans include ways to improve our service to senior people and to place more senior dogs in their homes. We have formed a special "senior dogs for senior people" committee as part of our "Companions" program to address some of the very questions you have asked. Part of the work of this committee will be to establish a network of volunteers throughout Greater Cleveland to follow up regularly on senior adoptions and to offer help with dog walking and transportation to pet stores and vet offices. In addition, we are considering fundraising or grant writing for a special restricted fund that would provide assistance with unexpected major vet bills for senior dogs adopted from the Sanctuary by senior people.

We hope that this program will reduce the worry many senior people have about affording treatment their senior dog might need to have an acceptable quality of life in the event of major illness. We are also discussing the possibility of a discount for medical care for senior dogs adopted by senior people with our own vet clinic and others in the area. These programs are in the early stages; they will require effort and dedication from our volunteers to make them work, but we believe in the power of old dogs and in the "love connection" between older dogs and older people.

Response from Judah:

We do not have a formal seniors for seniors program. What we do is adopt to senior citizens. This is a huge segment of the population. What we do is find out from each prospective home what their limitations are and find out if they have ways of overcoming them on their own. If not we see what we can do to help.

Recently we adopted a dog to an eighty-five year old lady. She has friends and neighbors that are willing to help her out (one even came to help her pick out a dog). They help with any transport needs she has and we provide the vet care for the dog at our clinic. I know that not every shelter or rescue has a clinic so this doesn't work for everyone. In other circumstances we have interviewed the extended family of an adopter to see what part they can play in the long term care of an adopted cat or dog. This works because many people appreciate how much dogs and cats add to our quality of life and longevity.

In reality the things that we ask seniors to consider are all things that any home should consider. They are the "what ifs" in life. There comes a time when each of us will probably not be able to fully care for a dog or cat on our own. In the most extreme of these cases we have had foster dogs that spend the day with "shut ins". This improves their lives and helps the dogs with the stress of being between homes.

This on an individual basis approach is what works for us. Some programs would require a lot of involvement from staff and volunteers and others don't. There is no reason to say that a rescue should be responsible for all the costs associated with the placement of a cat or dog in a home. What I think can be hoped for though is an open mind and imaginative ways of relating to individual circumstances, to find ways to make things work as opposed to why they can't.
You have asked what is the best way to go about implementing a program. I would say start small and see what works for your group. I can't say what the financial and or staff/volunteer limitations of your group are. I am a do what you can kind of person.

Tips to reduce stress for older animals in shelters

Question from a member:

Do you have any tips to offer for reducing stress for older pets when they come into the shelter environment?

Response from Judah:

Most older cats and dogs seem to suffer from the stress of a shelter environment more so than younger animals. We have found that there are many things that can be done to help relieve these stresses. The first is to find out all you can from the home that is giving up the pet. Try to find out their names, and nicknames that they are familiar with. We will also often find out what food they have been eating to ease the transition to the diet we feed.

We will often use Rescue Remedy (a Bach flower essence) or a similar stress relieving flower essence. In our admission rooms we have Feliway (pheromone) plug-ins for the cats. We have found that our dogs adjust more quickly to change then the cats. After a new cat or dog has finished it's isolation period we provide group housing. To ease the transition for the cats we make sure they are individually fed until they are seen to be eating from communal dishes. Our dogs are always individually fed.

Middle age and older cats have the hardest time adjusting to being in a shelter environment for any length of time. This puts them at a greater risk for hepatic lipidosis. Hepatic lipidosis is a liver disease brought on by fasting and rapid weight loss. It is preventable and requires a lot of time and care to pull a cat through. Prevention is making sure they resume eating and continue to eat after the first couple of days.

In all cases what eases the stresses the most is the time and attention that staff and volunteers are able to spend providing one on one attention.

Response from Deborah:

The Sanctuary does not have a shelter; all of our dogs are in foster homes. So we do not face the issue of shelter stress in older dogs once they enter our program. But we do visit shelters frequently to evaluate senior dogs in their programs, so we have an idea of what seems to help the older dogs.

If at all possible, try to find a quiet place for an older dog or cat entering a shelter. Many times they have just left the only home they have ever known, and the noise of a shelter can be quite intimidating. It also helps to put a warm blanket down for the older animal (especially the older dog who is likely to have some arthritis or stiffness) to curl up in and stay warm. A hot water bottle also helps to keep the chilly air at bay.

It also helps if volunteers or staff members can spend some quiet time with the older animals. This interaction can be very soothing to a stressed dog or cat newly arrived at the shelter.

Older dogs also need to be taken out for frequent, short walks. I have seen old dogs refuse to soil their kennel in facilities that do not walk dogs. I took an old dog out of such a kennel once, and his urine was so strong and so copious that I could hardly believe it. The staff said his kennel had been completely clean for three days.

Our local animal control tries to relieve the stress that older dogs face in the shelter in a number of ways. They raised money (through a friends of the kennel group) for several large, comfy runs in the garage away from the constant barking in the kennel. They put older dogs or dogs with special needs in the large, quiet runs with an igloo dog house and a floor covered with thick, fresh straw. The dogs housed there are much more relaxed than the dogs housed in general population. A number of shelters that I am familiar with allow older dogs or dogs being evaluated for foster homes to stay in the office with the staff. Just being around people seems to work magic on some of the old dogs.

Obviously getting the old dog out of the traditional shelter environment quickly is the ultimate goal. If the shelter policy permits, sending an old dog home overnight with a volunteer or staff member is a wonderful way to break up the old dog's stay at the shelter.

The Sanctuary took a little blind Pekingese from an area kennel before his mandatory hold time was up. Since he was older as well as blind, he found the kennel environment particularly terrifying. He remained frozen all day long, too frightened to even move. In order to allow his caregivers to claim him if they came looking, the staff posted a picture of him on his empty kennel door. But he got to leave the shelter and get into a foster home right away. After just two days in his foster home, he was playing with a scented ball and enjoying himself immensely; his stress was just a distant memory.

Although the Sanctuary is not a shelter environment, we have found that older dogs entering a new foster home are often stressed and depressed at first. We sometimes use a product called Rescue Remedy; it is a flower essence that can be mixed in the animal's water. It is said to have a calming effect. Some say it does not work, but I have seen some very stressed animals seem to relax after ingesting Rescue Remedy. In any case, it does no harm to the animals who take it.

Comment from Celeste:

The makers of Feliway now have a Dog Appeasing Pheromone (DAP) product on the market, as well: http://www.feliway.com/html/comfortzone-with-dap.php3

Health symptoms volunteers and staff can look for in older animals

Question from Cheryl:

What are some of the most common heath issues for senior dogs and cats? Specifically, what are some simple symptoms - obvious things that a shelter volunteer/staffers could be on the look out for?

Response from Judah:

The most common issues that we see in our senior cats are kidney, thyroid, and dental disease. There are several things to watch for in cats that will help a vet in pursuing a diagnosis. These are food and water consumption. How much or how little, especially water. How much are they urinating (kidney/thyroid/diabetes)? Do they have loose stools for more then a day or two (kidney/thyroid/parasites/bacterial infection)? Is their third eyelid visible all the time? This can indicate fever, parasites or dehydration. It is good to learn how to take a cats temperature, it should be 101.4 +/- one degree (the same basic range applies to dogs 101 +/-). Do they show discomfort when they eat (dental)? Do they get really excited about food and then not eat much (dental)? Do they have low body weight and little interest in food (kidney)?

In dogs the most common problems we see in the seniors are arthritis, thyroid, heart and kidney disease. Much of the above applies to dogs with the addition of are they stiff when they get up or after exercise (arthritis)? Do they seem to be exercise intolerant (arthritis/heart/thyroid)? Do they cough in the morning or when they start to be active (heart)? Are they fat without eating that much (thyroid)? Is their coat excessively dry (thyroid)? While these are not the only illnesses that show these symptoms they are easy to see and warrant further review by your vet.

It is worth noting that not all animals will really show their symptoms so no one should feel bad for not having seen something sooner. Only blood work and a veterinary exam will tell you exactly what the underlying problem is.

Response from Deborah:

Depending on the age of the dog, there are a number of common health problems that volunteers and staff can be aware of. Older dogs may suffer from any number of common ailments, much like older people. Arthritis is common in older dogs, especially large breeds. Some older dogs develop kidney or liver disease, cancer, heart disease, and a host of other ailments. A blood panel can identify many health problems an old dog might suffer from. Often these problems can be successfully managed by inexpensive medication or special diet. We have had dogs with seemingly serious health problems go on to live for years with simple management strategies.

I asked my vet what signs and symptoms shelter volunteers and staff could be alert to in their older dog population. He suggested that volunteers and staff bring any of the following observations to the attention of a veterinarian as soon as possible:

- poor appetite/refusal to eat (may be depression or stress or a symptom of more serious illness)
- swollen abdomen/loss of muscle mass (may be heart disease or other serious problem)
- unusual odor, consistency, volume, or presence of blood in urine or stool (may indicate infection, parasites, or other problem)
- cataracts (double cataracts may be simple aging or may indicate diabetes)
- excessive hunger, thirst, or urination (may indicate diabetes, Cushing's, or other serious condition)
- hair loss/thinning hair (can indicate Cushing's or hypothyroidism)
- thin/poor appetite (may indicate kidney or liver disease)
- limp or abnormal gait (may indicate arthritis or untreated thyroid disease)

Asking staff and volunteers to keep a log of each dog's health and to list any unusual symptoms may result in early diagnosis of a health problem that could save the life of an old dog.

Flea and tick products for older pets

Question from Susan:

I used one brand of a flea and tick application you apply to the animal once a month for quite awhile on my 10-year-old female cat. Then she had allergic reactions. I switched brands to one that is less effective with ticks.

I live in tick country where many animals have died of the bobcat tick disease. I am wondering what else I can do besides using the topspot application monthly on my Sylvie. I've heard the stuff may cause kidney problems. What is worse, the medication or the things that come with uncontrolled fleas, ticks, ear mites, etc? Are there special considerations for older animals?

Response from Judah:

This is a really tricky issue. The flea and tick medications that are gotten through your veterinarian are tested to be safe through all life stages. According to the tech support of two of the manufacturers that I called there are no indications of kidney or liver damage or risk. The reason that it is a tricky issue is if your cat or dog gets ill and you have been using one of these medications it is hard not to wonder if it played a role.

Your individual pet's allergic reaction may be an individual concern as opposed to a species or age related concern. This is sort of the same as some people having poor aspirin tolerance and others being fine. The second thing to remember is that it is a chemical that is being applied. While they are not broken down in the kidney or liver it does not mean that the body might not have a reaction. This would be like you or I having a reaction to our deodorant or shampoo. It could be very uncomfortable and serious if you are very sensitive.

In speaking with our vets over the years I feel that the parasites that these products offer protection against and the diseases that some of them carry are a greater concern than the potential for an adverse reaction. I would talk with your vet and see if there is a different product or combination of products that might be better tolerated and more effective for your cat.

Response from Deborah:

If you are worried about the long-term effects your flea/tick treatment may have on your cat, I would discuss it with your veterinarian. Perhaps you could explore some natural therapies that are useful in repelling fleas and ticks for cats. I don't want to make any specific recommendations, but you could contact a holistic vet in your area and ask about products that are both safe and effective. You might also consult a book by CJ Puotinen called The Encyclopedia of Natural Pet Care. A number of safe alternatives are presented there.

Some people use Avon's Skin-So-Soft diluted with water and sprayed on their animal as a flea and tick repellent. I have never tried this because I cannot stand the smell of the product, but I know many people who believe it to be effective.

Does your cat spend a lot of time outside? If so, perhaps you could keep her inside more. You could build her a cat tree that she can jump and play on, and place it in front of a big window so that she can watch all the comings and goings of the birds and other critters. My cats love to perch high atop their cat trees and keep an eye on the neighborhood. If she is safely indoors, you won't have to worry as much about fleas and ticks.

We do not routinely treat our senior dogs with flea and tick chemicals unless we actually see the parasites. When we do, we use Frontline, which is recommended by our vet. But I am not sure what bobcat tick disease is or how deadly it is, so I would not necessarily recommend that you suspend treatment. Your best bet is to keep your cat inside and talk to your vet about the appropriate treatment.

Senior animals and thyroid conditions

Question from Christine:

I was wondering if I'm handling my senior cat all right. Princess is 15 and was hyperthyroid until she received treatment this year. It's under control, and she is gaining her weight back. We give her the attention she wants and canned food on request. Now that she's getting better, she is finicky again about flavors. Is there any advice you can recommend as far as what to feed her? I've been feeding her canned Friskies. She also has lost some hearing, so we use hand signals, etc. Many times she forgets her food is in her dish, and I have to put her back in position, and stroke her again, and pile it in the center of the dish. Then she'll start eating again.

Response from Deborah:

Senior dogs are generally diagnosed as hypothyroid rather than hyperthyroid, a more typical cat diagnosis. Hypothyroid dogs are generally overweight (many have a characteristic roll of fat just above the base of their tails); have significant hair thinning or hair loss, especially around the tail; can have a "yeasty" odor to their skin along with skin thickening and ear infections; and suffer from joint problems if left untreated for long periods of time.

Ted, an old Shepherd mix, weighed 93 pounds when he first came to us with long untreated hypothyroidism. His tail was bald; he had skin and ear infections, and his eyes were bulging out. After just three months on the proper dose of medication, he shed 35 pounds; his fur grew back; his eyes returned to normal, and his infections cleared up. But Ted also had very swollen, tender joints.

Apparently the long-term hypothyroid condition had left him with severe arthritis. This never did clear up; it improved somewhat, but Ted was plagued with stiffness and pain that had to be controlled through increasingly stronger anti-inflammatory drugs. After a couple of years, the arthritis drugs caused irreparable damage to his liver. It is important to diagnose any thyroid abnormality as quickly as possible to give the animal the best chance of long term recovery.
Even after diagnosis and treatment, thyroid levels should be checked every three to six months to make sure that the dosage is still the correct one.

McFadden, one of my own cats, is hyperthyroid. Like your Princess, McFadden had lost a tremendous amount of weight; she also had significant hair loss on her tail. In fact, all of my friends called her "skinny tail" because she was so thin and hairless.

Once she was diagnosed and started on medication, she improved quickly, but subsequent blood tests revealed that her dosage was far too strong, and we reduced it and continued to monitor her blood levels until we found the right dosage. She still has her thyroid levels checked every three-six months just to make sure. As long as she takes her medication (I sometimes find a pill under a chair or a table), her appetite is excellent, but even a day or two of skipping her pills will cause weight loss and decreased appetite.

In June, McFadden will celebrate her 20th birthday, so she has developed some other health problems that are not related to her thyroid. If Princess is losing interest in her food and becoming finicky, you might want to have your vet check her over thoroughly to make sure that her dosage is still correct and that she has not developed other health issues that need attention.

Maybe switching food would improve her appetite. If it is available in your area, try a variety of high-end foods like Wellness or NutroMax Cat. Sometimes just the difference in flavor will improve a finicky cat's appetite.

You also want to make sure Princess' teeth are not causing her pain. Sally, my 14-year-old cat, recently had most of her teeth removed because of infection. The first symptom I saw was her loss of interest in food. And if you knew Sally, you would know what an unusual event that was.

Princess may also be experiencing a little senility. If that is the case, stroking her and reminding her to eat are very good therapies. Good luck with Princess; it sounds as if you are giving her excellent care and lots of love.

Response from Judah:

In our experience we have treated several cats with the radioactive iodine treatment. What we have seen is that their appetite will appear to fall off a bit. In our cases this has been falling back to a more normal level. We have not worried as long as their weight has been stable. I assume because you did not mention it that her follow up blood tests have not revealed any kidney issues.

I am also wondering if she is on medication as treatment or she received the more permanent treatment that I mentioned. Many cats don't tolerate the Tapazole for very long and will lose their appetites or seem otherwise under the weather.

You also mention that she is finicky again. If this was the behavior that she used to manifest then I would be happy because she is feeling like herself again. The recommendations that I make to any one dealing with an older cat that needs special care is first do what makes them happy. If she likes Friskies then feed Friskies. If she wants a tuna treat, great. The fact is that at this age trying to go healthy on her is not really going to add time to her life and if it is not what she is used to it may even cause stress.

Requiring a bit of coaxing for eating is normal for many animals as they get older. This is even true for people and can just be due to age rather than a specific illness. It sounds as if you are being very attentive and definitely doing right by her.

More on how rescue remedy works

Question from Kelly:

In a recent post using Rescue Remedy was mentioned for stress reduction in animals. I am interested in learning more about this. What dosage has been used? How long can it safely be used to help an animal? At the shelter where I volunteer we get feral cats sometimes. Being in a shelter is a very stressful situation for them. Would Rescue Remedy be helpful for them as well?

Response from Deborah:

When using Rescue Remedy, the standard dosage seems to be four drops either in water or directly on the tongue. We do not use Rescue Remedy daily in our senior dogs, but we do use it during periods of high stress. During one period of extreme stress in my household, I took Rescue Remedy right along with the cats and dogs that share my home. We all seemed to benefit from it. From what I have read about Bach flower essences, they can be safely used by all types of animals and humans. You might want to visit the Bach Flower web site at www.bachflower.com for more information.

I know of many people who use Rescue Remedy for feral cats as well. Several years ago, I helped a friend who trapped, altered, and released (or found homes for where possible) large numbers of feral cats. In fact, I kept one of them, a beautiful dark Calico named Camille. On the advice of my friend, I used a product called Feral Cat Comforter made by the Anaflora Company www.anaflora.com.

My little Camille was among the most feral of all of the cats we handled, but with patience, lots of Feral Cat Comforter, and hands full of sardines (stinky, but effective), she came around within a few months. That was five years ago. To this day when I vacuum the area of the house that the cats occupy, Camille goes into hiding, so I put Feral Cat Comforter or Rescue Remedy in the water bowl the night before I am planning to clean, and she hides only while I am running the vacuum rather than for hours or days.

I recommend the use of any natural product that will not risk harm to the animal. Since you know your animals better than anyone else, you can then evaluate the effectiveness of that product on your animal.

Response from Judah:

With the cats at Best Friends we have used flower essences in several situations. We have used Rescue Remedy for stressed or injured dogs and cats when they arrive. We just add one or two drops to their water. We have also used flower essences that have been made for us by Anaflora. We used these when we were relocating our colonies to alleviate stress and help with adjustment. Flower essences are very safe and can be used on sick animals without fear of complications with other treatments.

If you are going to introduce them at your shelter it is worth talking to the medical staff at your shelter and providing literature that will address concerns they may have. You should be able to get information off the Internet or from the store that you get your flower essences from. It may be met with a little skepticism at first but be patient. You may even want to find out if there is a holistic vet in your area who can vouch for its safety.

Flower essences are benign and can be used for as long as it seems helpful. We have seen them help feral cats deal with stress and help very shy cats come out of their shells.

Comment from Nancy:

I am blessed to have a very knowledgeable and compassionate holistic veterinarian who works well with the traditional vets here. She has cautioned me that if you use Rescue Remedy (or any flower essence) for extended periods it can lose effectiveness. But she has advised me to use it for pre-surgery animals, new rescues, foster children, at the end of a life (even the humans get some then), for trauma - the list goes on and on. I was thankful for the suggestion for vacuum cleaner phobia as I have a skittish cat who will also disappear for hours after I vacuum. For cats who don't want to be handled I put some in the water dish. When I need a more immediate response I put it directly in the animal's mouth. I have used it for dogs, cats, horses (and burros), bunnies and birds - and humans too.

Comment from Kelly:

I just wanted to comment that Rescue Remedy, like all Bach Flower Remedies, is preserved in brandy. Ideally, before giving it to an animal, you would want to boil off the alcohol. You can do this by putting a small amount into a spoon, and then dropping a few drops of boiling water onto it. You cannot do this with a large amount and then store it. You can only do this with the small amount that you will be using right away.

If you are diluting four drops into a bowl of water for a 135-pound dog, this is less of a concern, but if you are administering four drops directly onto the tongue of a 2-pound kitten, you might want to take the extra step - obviously making sure that it is cooled off prior to administration! There are books describing the use of Bach Flower Remedies specifically for animals; my favorite is Bach Flower Remedies for Animals by Stefan Ball & Judy Howard. It can be purchased at www.bachcentre.com.

Putting safeguards in place when adopting to senior citizens

Question from Terri:

I have given thought to starting such a program (Senior to Senior) after getting a call from our local Social Services asking for advice when they encountered a senior person still living at home but able to do less and less care taking of their pet.

I thought of the different scenarios that you have already covered regarding senior's and pets but the thing I still wonder about is this: Once you pair a senior to a senior and then the person dies first, then the animal goes back into the program to be paired again. Then let's say that new person dies before the animal... now the animal has been displaced at least 3 times lets say and a few years have gone by.

Now the likelihood of the animal surviving another year or two is slim, just the laws of nature, or perhaps the animal is starting with age related illnesses. Where does all of this leave the animal? Is that fair to the animal to rehome them every few years? And then, what becomes of the animal when the worst case scenario happens and the latest owner dies, and now the pet no longer is healthy enough to be placed?

Ideally, one would hope this would not happen and that all would work out with the timing end of it, but until I can find a solution for the worst case scenario I am hesitant to embark upon something that would at some point put me and the animal in a tough position.

Response from Judah:

This is a perfect example of why I said we manage things on an individual basis. There are always worst case scenarios even ones we won't think of. The things to consider I think are whether or not you use them as reasons not to help any animals. I am sure we can all think of situations that would break our hearts or the hearts of pets we have helped.

Where does this leave the animal? Is it fair to rehome them every few years? What are the options we are talking about? No, constant rehoming is not ideal for any animal, but are they better off dead? If you think someone that is interested in an adoption is not up to the task and solutions to the problems presented can't be found then don't adopt to that specific person.

I would also remind everyone that seniors are not the only people that will adopt older pets. What we are really looking at are ways of addressing the fact that they are more difficult to place and if we can't house them in the long term what are our options. Seniors for seniors is one of them.

Response from Deborah:

The problems you mention are serious concerns in any senior-dog-to-senior-person adoption program. We do not undertake these adoptions lightly, and we do not recommend that groups or individuals start such a program without acceptable solutions to the problems you have described. But I must add that we have not encountered many of these difficulties; we do, however, have policies in place to deal with the possibilities.

All Sanctuary adoptions require the dog to be returned to us if they can no longer be cared for; this policy is especially useful for senior-dogs-for-senior-people adoptions. If another family member has already been approved to take over care of the dog, we still require that person to notify us so that we can keep current records. We make sure that all parties involved know this up front.

First, we try to make sure there is a family member who knows the dog well and who would be willing to take the dog into her own home for the rest of the dog's life. The dog is still in the company of familiar people and the transition is far less stressful for him.

One of our first senior person adoptions involved a little 10-year-old Shih Tzu with vision problems. An older woman with a serious heart condition applied to adopt him. Her daughter came with her to the interview, and at one point the potential adopter began to cry softly. Her daughter immediately went to her side and quietly answered the question the adopter had not even voiced: "Of course, Mom, I'll care for him if you cannot." We realize that this situation is the ideal and not predictably reflected in reality.

To protect the dog in the event the adopter can no longer provide adequate care, we ask all of our fosters to be willing to take a dog back if the adoption does not work for any reason at any time. We recently had a little dog returned because the adopter became ill and could no longer keep up with his care.

Charlie, a blind, aging Shih Tzu mix, went straight back to the foster home he had known previously, and he settled in with no difficulty. If a dog must be returned, familiar surroundings help the transition immensely, especially for older dogs, dogs with health problems, and dogs with vision or hearing impairments.

I realize that this is not always possible, but if you are serious about a senior-dogs-for-senior-people program, I think you need to have some kind of a safety net in place to help the dog adjust if he has to be moved. The real tragedy is the senior dog who finds a home with a senior person (or any one, for that matter) and then is returned to a shelter when the adoption no longer works.

Undertaking a senior-dogs-for-senior-people program can be a very rewarding venture for the people and for the dogs fortunate enough to be part of it. But our philosophy at the Sanctuary is that we are a dog advocacy agency first and foremost, so we consider the safety and happiness of our dogs as the primary consideration. Even so, one of the most valuable lessons I have learned in the last few years of working with rescued senior dogs is that we owe it to the dogs to give them a chance at a better life.

There are no guarantees, and sometimes our dogs go through experiences that I wish, in hindsight, I could have better protected them from. Sometimes, however, protecting them completely also means depriving them of the opportunity for a better life. It is a fine line to walk, but we owe it to the dogs in our care to do the bet job we can. And it sounds as if that is exactly what you are trying to do. Best of luck in developing your program.

Dealing with the emotion of adopting and losing a senior animal

Question from a member:

Do you find that you have people specifically looking to adopt senior animals as a conscious choice, or do they come to your sanctuary and fall in love with a particular animal who happens to be older? I also wonder if you need to counsel adopters more when adopting out a senior animal to prepare them for the fact that the dog or cat may not live as long, and how adopters deal with that? I would think it would be a very emotional process to bond with an older animal and then perhaps lose that animal in a short period.

Response from Judah:

We have some people who will come specifically looking for an older pet. It happens more frequently that people will fall for a particular cat or dog and they happen to be older. I don't know if counsel is the right word. I would say that most people who adopt an older cat or dog have had pets before and know what is involved emotionally. What we do is make sure they are aware of any other special needs that may exist.

For many people it is not nearly as difficult to deal with a loss due to old age, as it is one due to accident or sudden disease. We have found that many people who adopt an older pet also feel proud to be able to provide love and care and are not so worried about their own emotional distress. In fact they want to know what special things they can do.

Response from Deborah:

In the early days of the Sanctuary, we looked hard and long for adopters for our senior dogs. But now that word of our program has spread, an ever-increasing number of people seek us out to adopt an older dog.

Most people understand at the beginning of the application process that an older dog has a shorter life expectancy and perhaps greater medical and emotional needs than a younger dog, and they are prepared to accept that. The rewards of saving an older dog are greater than the pain of losing him. Most of the people who seek us out know that and they are grateful for the opportunity to open their homes and their hearts to an older dog in need.

Let me give you an example: Paul and Carolyn came to us to adopt Mitchell, a 10+-year-old Golden mix with a moderate amount of arthritis; they had seen Mitch on our web site. They wanted him so that they could enjoy the companionship of a dog but not stress their older and special needs cats. When they came, they also met Jeffie, an 11+-year-old Maltese mix with his jaw wired together from years of untreated, raging bone infection. They fell in love with Mitch and Jeffie and took them both home. Mitchell shared their home for just about a year. When his kidneys failed him, they called me to meet them at the vet's office to share his final moments.

A week later, they called and asked what senior dog we had without good prospects for adoption.
They took home Sabrina, a 12+-year-old Eskimo/Shepherd mix with only one eye. That was nine-months ago. Sabrina just crossed the Bridge last week from cancer of the spleen. Jeffie, however, is still going strong, enjoying his new career as an avid ballplayer.

Adopting an older dog is not for everyone. Some of our adopters come to us looking for an older dog in good health about 7 or 8 years old. Others come looking for a much older dog in dire need.

You are correct in assuming that it is a very emotional process to bond with an older dog with limited time and perhaps ongoing health issues. But it is also a very powerful process, rich with rewards that are unimaginable until you share that special bond with an older dog. Our adopters know that these dogs were flat out of options when they came to the Sanctuary. Our adopters share our strong conviction that they each deserve a chance that the last part of each of their lives should be the best it can be. To give this gift to an older dog is the greatest reward of all, but it does not compare to the gifts the old dogs give you every day that they share with you.

Treating kidney failure

Question from a member:

Have either of you had any success in treating older pets experiencing the beginning stages of kidney failure? We are faced with a 10 year old dog at our shelter who appears to be having kidney problems, and we are looking for steps we can take to prolong his life, but only if it is a good quality of life for him. We would appreciate any input.

Response from Judah:

Kidney disease is very worth treating. We currently have several dogs and many more cats that are being treated and are doing well. The first thing to do is check their blood and urine to be certain that kidney disease is the problem. Once a diagnosis is made the vet will usually prescribe a special diet and possibly subcutaneous fluids.

One dog that we have, named Francesca, has been on fluid therapy 400cc three days a week for over a year. She has a great quality of life and aside from her diet change and her fluid treatments there is nothing else that needs to be done for her. That said, not all dogs or cats respond the same and the blood work is not a good indicator of who will respond and who won't.

Kidney disease is even more common in older cats. We have had great success with maintaining a good quality of life with fluid therapy and diet. In some of the cats it also seems to become necessary to add an antacid (ask your vet which is the best to use and at what dose) and recent studies have shown that Norvasc (a blood pressure medication) can be beneficial.

In all medical cases like this you will need to have your vet involved in prescribing each aspect of care. Make sure you give them feedback because the things I have mentioned are not the only things you can do and your course should be custom fit to your dog or cat. In the final analysis we go for quality of life over quantity. So if they will not take to a diet change we don't push it and if they won't tolerate fluids we feel the stress out weighs the benefit.

Response from Deborah:

Since you don't mention specific symptoms or what tests have been done, my first question is whether you are certain it is kidney failure. If you haven't done a complete urinalysis and a blood panel, that would be my best suggestion for a starting point. Depending on the severity of the problem, you can expect varying results. Sometimes what appears to be kidney failure may be a simple bladder infection, or it may be something more serious. If his symptoms include excessive thirst and urination, you also need to rule out other problems, such as diabetes and even certain types of brain tumors. A complete examination by a vet skilled in senior dog health would be my first recommendation if you haven't already done that.

We have had a number of dogs with kidney problems in our program. My basic understanding is that cats, overall, can compensate for kidney problems better and for longer periods of time than dogs can. But, that being said, we have had dogs do very well in managing their kidney disease. Unfortunately, we have also had dogs fail very quickly when kidney disease was diagnosed.

The first dog at the Sanctuary to experience kidney failure was Samantha; she was diagnosed late in August of 2000, and she was gone by mid September of the same year. We treated her problems aggressively with IV therapy and special diet, but nothing seemed to help.

So when the next dog was diagnosed with kidney failure, we thought his time was limited as well. He did not accept the IV drip, so we used fluid therapy injected just under the skin of his neck every day; he improved dramatically. We were able to cut the fluid therapy down to once a week and finally discontinue it altogether.

He eventually was diagnosed with an operable form of Cushing's disease. It is two years later, and he came through the surgery with flying colors and is healthy and happy. He has been adopted, and his family keeps a close eye on his kidney function through frequent blood panels.

We have had other dogs respond well to fluid therapy. An average person with just a few minutes of instruction can give fluids under the skin at home or at the shelter. Toodles, an ancient Poodle boy, came to the Sanctuary at 16 years old. Shortly thereafter, he, too, was diagnosed with kidney disease. He responded to fluid therapy, and his therapy was also discontinued after several months. He lived to almost 19 with no additional fluid therapy for the last year of his life.

Probably the best advice I can give you is to test the blood and the urine and try out fluid therapy and diet. You will know within a month or so if your dog is going to respond. A dog with end stage renal failure experiences a rapid deterioration in quality of life. There is no mistaking the signs when kidney disease has already been diagnosed: refusal to eat, panting, copious drinking and urination, muscle wasting, weight loss, and sometimes bleeding from the mucous membranes.

I admire you for wanting to give this older dog a chance at a high quality life; perhaps advertising his plight will bring a sympathetic adopter to your shelter to foster or adopt him and help with his care.

Senior Animals

Introduction from Deborah Workman:

Introduction from Judah Battista:

Questions

Advantages of adopting an older animal

Question from a member:

Response from Judah:

Response from Deborah:

Comment from Linda:

Promoting senior cat and dog adoptions

Question from Mary:

Response from Judah:

Response from Deborah:

Comment from Matti:

Treating older animals with medical needs

Question from multiple members:

Response from Judah:

Response from Deborah:

When shelters won't even accept older animals

Question from Sally:

Response from Deborah:

Response from Judah:

Getting a companion for an older pet

Question from Leslie:

Response from Deborah:

Response from Judah:

Seniors for seniors adoption programs

Question from Crystal:

Response from Deborah:

Response from Judah:

Tips to reduce stress for older animals in shelters

Question from a member:

Response from Judah:

Response from Deborah:

Comment from Celeste:

Health symptoms volunteers and staff can look for in older animals

Question from Cheryl:

Response from Judah:

Response from Deborah:

Flea and tick products for older pets

Question from Susan:

Response from Judah:

Response from Deborah:

Senior animals and thyroid conditions

Question from Christine:

Response from Deborah:

Response from Judah:

More on how rescue remedy works

Question from Kelly:

Response from Deborah:

Response from Judah:

Comment from Nancy:

Comment from Kelly:

Putting safeguards in place when adopting to senior citizens

Question from Terri:

Response from Judah:

Response from Deborah:

Dealing with the emotion of adopting and losing a senior animal

Question from a member:

Response from Judah:

Response from Deborah:

Treating kidney failure

Question from a member:

Response from Judah:

Response from Deborah: