Watching a re-run of an old movie together with my mother
There’s a Video on the second page about how to care for your aging Labrador, make sure not to miss it
The other day my mother and I watched a re-run of the 2008 movie Marley and Me about how the Labrador Marley invaded and utterly dominated the home of the family that bought him as a puppy. If you look past the usual Hollywood dramatization I think it’s a fairly decent movie with some realistic Lab moments. So, if you haven’t seen Marley and me yet and like dog movies, you should give it a try sometime – On the Third Page you can watch the movie trailer.
But somewhere to the end of the movie when the years are becoming to count for Marley I remembered my own dogs reaching their senior years and how this took effect on our (the dog and us) lives and I remembered recently reading a great article written by Mara Bovsun for the American Kennel Club (there’s a link to the original article at the bottom of this page) that I would like to share here with you.
The article deals with and asks appreciation for the fact that sometimes some older dogs, just like some older people, occasionally lose the control over some of their bodily functions.
Watching this movie together with my mother on one of her better days made it even more special, three and a half years ago she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and since has been living with us so we can give her all the love and care she needs.
Here’s part of that great article:
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Old dogs.They are sweet, loving, soulful, and they bring you more in touch with what really matters. Reflected in their wise, weary eyes you see a lifetime of love and happy memories.
But face it, they can also be very messy, as messy as puppies. Like elderly humans, older dogs lose control of bodily functions. That means that you may have a lot of cleaning up to do.
Why, all of sudden, do elderly dogs start to have accidents in the house? The two main reasons are pretty much the same reasons why you see former Hollywood glamour queens on TV, hawking very strange-looking undergarments.
They forget. Some dogs get canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD), a condition much like Alzheimer’s disease in humans. One study estimates that more than 60 percent of dogs between the ages of 11 and 16 will have some signs of cognitive dysfunction. These signs include not recognizing people they love or forgetting what to do on walks. Owners of old dogs often report that the dog will do nothing during outside potty breaks, but will soil the rug as soon as he comes inside. A drug, Anipryl, used in humans for dementia, depression, and Parkinson’s, has been on the market since 1999 for treatment of “old dog syndrome.”
They simply can’t hold it. A number of physical issues related to aging can make it difficult for a dog to control elimination. Loss of hormones due to spaying or neutering is one factor. Other problems are neurological disorders and loss of muscle tone. Many people have had success with a drug called PPA or hormone therapy.
Originating Content: American Kennel Club
The Title was taken from the book: Of old people and the things that pass, written by Louis Couperus
Just like aging people our dog(s) will go through several changes during his lifetime here’s a interesting video by Dr. Jerry Flanders of VIP Animal on the topic of caring for an aging dog.
