Dog hospice

Monday May 25th, 2009

Question:

When is hospice care a good idea?

Answer:

Hospice care is the extra help a dog needs to handle incontinence, limited mobility, or other disabilities that impede her quality of life. It allows a dog to enjoy the life that's left for her by eliminating as much suffering as possible.

Hospice is not about prolonging a painful life, but about doing what we can to facilitate comfort and happiness toward the end of life. Hospice is absolutely not appropriate when an animal is in uncontrollable pain.

You can now find a wide variety of new treatments and equipment that help to improve the quality of life for your dog. There are more effective pain medications for dogs with joint problems, wheel carts or halters for dogs who can't walk like they used to, and even belly bands for incontinent males and diapers for females with the problem. A good veterinarian will be happy to discuss the various options available to your dog.

Remember, the senior years may be the most rewarding experience you can share with your dog. There is a calmness to your relationship that wasn't possible when she was a pup. Some animals may not be able to get around as they used to, but the joy of seeing you is reflected in their eyes. And this time together will be precious to you even after you have said goodbye.

Sherri Franklin is the founder of Muttville, a San Francisco–based recue center focusing on senior and special needs dogs.

Tags Senior Dogs, When To Say Good Bye To Your Dog

DogTime newsletter

Related Content on DogTime.com

Raising a puppy: Biting and nipping
August 4th, 2009
Puppies bite-and thank goodness they do. Puppy biting is a normal, natural, and necessary puppy behavior. Puppy play-biting is the means by which dogs develop bite inhibition and a soft mouth. The...
Dog behavior solutions: Jumping up
August 4th, 2009
Jumping-up is primarily a problem of adolescent and adult dogs. Puppies jump-up, but owners rarely see it as a problem. In fact, many owners unintentionally encourage puppy jumping. For dogs that jump-up...
Tricia & Mattie
January 25th, 2008
Human: TriciaCanine: Matterhorn (Mattie)Location: San FranciscoTogether since: 2006Type: Catahoula mixFavorite rescue group: SPCA We were combing a long list of shelter websites and cruising the aisles...

This was the blog I authored before I was a bonafide member.

over 3 years ago by Anonymous

I agree this is a very special time for both you and your dog. I do my dog grooming now and it is special since she has always gone to a groomer. The last few times it had not worked out. Now I give her the baths and do the grooming. I need to find a book on hair cutting. She will not allow anyone to touch her face and/or ears. I don't know if this has anything to do with the fact that she is now blind and deaf. It is very hard for me to watch her bang into things on her way to the door or anyplace else that she wants to go. She still wants to remain independent. She wants to continually do things for herself. She will bark when she wants help with something and of course she then has me running to her. Of course she still has her allergies which makes it rough. She is scatching and sometimes she just gets frustrated with it all. I tell her what a good dog she is and she seems to like to hear the words although I know she cannot hear me. I think it picks her up when I say that to her. Anyway that is it for now. I never stay out too long. She is my little girl. Thank you for reading this.

over 3 years ago by Anonymous

Recent conversations on these topics

Bonnie
I lost my dear little lhasa apso Bonnie over 5 years ago and till I had a new puppy last July I was still crying once in a while so now that I have another one that is not as much gentle then Bonnie but we still love her very much but just to tell you that the pain goes away when you get another to love .Good work to you taking care of older dogs If I could I would do the same thing cause I love animals and yesterday I rescue a Blue Heron for certain death and I'm very proud of myself. Jasmine
Hermes Birkin
http://www.hermes-birkin-replica.org/ Hermes Birkin Replica
Bonnie
I lost my dear little lhasa apso Bonnie over 5 years ago and till I had a new puppy last July I was still crying once in a while so now that I have another one that is not as much gentle then Bonnie but we still love her very much but just to tell you that the pain goes away when you get another to love .Good work to you taking care of older dogs If I could I would do the same thing cause I love animals and yesterday I rescue a Blue Heron for certain death and I'm very proud of myself. Jasmine
Painful Memories
A month ago I lost the sweetest Swiss Mountain Dog named Friendly. The loss was extremely hard for me since I knew him for seventeen, almost eighteen years from when I was a baby up until my eighteenth birthday. i found out in November that my best friend was gone. I didn't cry that day but now the pain set in and all I seem to do is cry when I talk about him...