Signs Your Dog is Old

This may sound depressing but its something all dog owners are scared to see. But everyone should be aware of when your dog is changing because of their age. In Marley and Me author John Grogan tells the sad truth about his dog Marley. "Marley's eye sight had grown fuzzy...dozen feet from him without him noticing."(240) the first sign is either going deaf or blind, either they cant hear your name or cant see you when you get home from the day. Another sign is joints in the body begin to get weak and makes it hard to jump, sit down, or walk. "I found myself lowing him up the stairs, lifting his rear end up as he hopped with his front paws." (Grogan 241)

I know this sounds horrible but I have seen many of these signs in my own dog, Cassie. She has passed the age of 15 and in dog years that's 105, but she is still going strong. Many people think she is a lot younger than she truly is. Being fully deaf and mostly blind she still goes hunting with my dad, we still play fetch, and go on short walks around the parks. All of this is capable with her strong sense of smell.

   

Cassie also has to be helped into the car because her joints are a little rusted up. to save what she has left in her legs its a lot easier that we help her jump into the car just in case she doesn't jump high enough or it becomes a larger problem than just a joint injury. It is also evident when she sits down, taking her time bending at the knees and slowly adjusting herself into a seating position. Then if its around nap time she will slowly pull herself foreword and lye on the ground.

   

Does your pet show any signs of growing older?

Citation: Grogan, John. Marley and Me. New York: HarperCollins, 2005. Print.