Senior Dogs Can Teach You Some New Tricks
I have always been an animal lover, but since I moved back to the CSRA to take care of my mom I’ve developed a bit of a… problem. I only had one dog when I moved here, a little Shih Tzu by the name of Harley Quinn. Little did I know she was just the beginning.
Stray Dogs
My mom’s place is in an area that frequently gets dogs dumped off and left on their own and both she and I are too soft-hearted to let them go hungry. I’ve managed to find homes for so many of these cast-off pups, but some of them have just not been adoptable for one reason or another and my crew has just gotten bigger and bigger over the years.
My rag-tag bunch of pups would likely not win any behavior contests, but they are sweet and loving to my mom and me and they’ve all come a long way in their own individual ways. We’ve had two older pups that have gone over the rainbow bridge in the last year, Jack who was a rat terrier/Jack Russell mix just passed away a few months ago in his sleep curled up next to my mom’s bed. He was 15 years old at least, to the best of our estimation. Scooter, a cocker spaniel, was 20 years old when she left us. But both of those old dogs taught me some new tricks.
Senior Dogs
Loving a senior dog is not always easy. They require extra care and attention but they can give so much back that you don’t expect. A few years ago a friend of mine posted on Facebook about a 13-year-old Shih Tzu that needed a home.
Her name was Buffy and her owner had passed away and the family didn’t want the little dog anymore. When I picked her up, she smelled horrible from a nasty skin infection. She had a cherry eye and she was blind, deaf, and could barely walk from having been kept in a crate most of her life. The stench coming off this little dog was overpowering and I quickly understood why the family was not interested in keeping her. So I rolled up my sleeves and set about to try and make her life a little easier.
The first 2 days after she came home Buffy simply slept, like she hadn’t had a good rest in a really long time. Then I started trying to find some solutions to some of her troubles. Daily oatmeal and medicated baths and medicated flushes for her eyes took a few months but eventually started having a real effect. The skin on her back started healing and the fur started growing back in.
Settling In
Daily joint supplements made it a little easier for her to get around. The awful smell started to dissipate and as she became more physically comfortable her little personality started to bloom. She couldn’t see me or hear me but she leaned into me with her little face. And she seemed to just bask in the attention and wanted all of it! Part of our morning routine was to let the dogs out. Afterward, everyone would come in and settle in the living room while I did a little work on my laptop. Buffy would find her way over to me and tippy-tap her little toes for me to pick her up. She didn’t care what else I was doing, she just wanted to be in my lap! It was up to me to figure out how to work around her!
Buffy and I worked out our own little form of communication. I came to live for her little tippy-taps and contented sighs. This little girl really wound her way around my heart and I so wish we’d had more time with her! But I am convinced that her last few months were happier than she’d had in a long time.
Spoil Your Pet With These 11 Pet Upgrades
Folding Indoor Outdoor House Bed Tent
This beautiful, modern aesthetic pet teepee is the ultimate upgrade. The tent is made from 100% cotton, the top side of the cushion is waterproof, and it’s made sustainably. Create a peaceful place for your pets under 15 lbs.
Nugget Pet Water Fountain
This 2.5-liter water fountain will keep your dog or cat supplied with fresh, filtered water all day long. Made of Food grade BPA free plastic and overflow protection this quiet and easy-to-clean Nugget Pet Water Fountain is an instant upgrade and easy way to spoil your pet.
Cat Window Perch
In the past, cats have only been offered the standard perch that only fits on a window, so we had to include this instant upgrade. Spoil your cat with this hammock seat that you can put in the window, on a cupboard or even on a chair. And it holds up to 40lbs for those chunky feline friends.
Furbo 360° Dog Camera w/Subscription
You may have seen Furbo on a previous pet list, but it really is a must have. Giving you peace of mind when your dog is home alone with a wide angle 360-degree lens, home security alerts, night vision, motion sensor, cloud recording, and advanced barking alerts. Plus, it’s fun for everyone with the remote treat dispensing option.
Airtag Dog Collar Holder
There’s truly no better way to keep track of your things than with an Apple Air Tag and with this slide-on dog collar holder, you’ll always know where your pet is.
OUAI Fur Bebe Pet Shampoo
Spoil your pet with this deliciously scented, gentle, vegan wash from OUAI, yes, the same brand you use. Good enough for celebrity pets; free of sulfates parabens and animal testing grab this high-end wash and get them squeaky clean.
Please note that items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time we published this list. Have an idea for a fun theme for a gift idea list you’d like us to create? Drop us a line at [email protected].
