In this week's issue, here's what we are sniffing out

• Offer little moments of joy. Bring toys, fresh air, affection, and food choices to your senior dog, adapting activities to their comfort and mobility.

• Let your dog lead. Watch their body language, respect their preferences, and remember that “no” today doesn’t mean “no” forever.

• Notice changing patterns. Track persistent changes in appetite or interest and share them with your vet, especially if your dog starts turning down everything.

In my years of living with and working with senior dogs, I've learned that sometimes dogs just stop asking for things the way they used to when younger. They don’t necessarily lose interest in everything, some dogs just don’t seem to think about that old squeaky lamb they loved so much all their lives. Many old dogs eventually stop dropping a ball or squeaky toy at your feet, nudging their leash by the front door, and some even look with disinterest at the can of food you just opened for them. Learning to offer choices adds spark to their eyes and quality to their days. You may even find a view back to your dog's younger, puppyish antics.

Choices for enrichment and enrichment

Bring things to a dog who’s not interested in seeking out play or exercise. Or mix up the scene to get your dog interested in time outside, whether it’s moving or sniffing the air.

Here are a few ideas:

• Set a new or favorite toy down next to him if he’s awake and looking alert. Wiggle the toy, move it forward, back, side to side, and squeak it. It may seem obvious to some, but getting a dog to grab onto that ball or toy make take a little more work than it used to. Some old dogs will mouth or paw at it, some will start playing with you, and some will look at it and go back to sleep. There are no wrong answers!

• Bring a puzzle toy or a snuffle mat to where he’s lying. Snuffle mats can be enjoyed from a lying down or sitting position and a puzzle toy might get him up and moving around.

• Sit outside at a park, or in your front or back yard with your dog. If you can’t get him to the park and he doesn’t want to go outside, open a window or door at home so the fresh air comes to him. Ten minutes of the smells and sounds do wonders for his brain. If he snuffles the air and looks around, he’s enjoying himself - he may get sleepy quickly but naps in the park are the best. If he becomes stressed and looks for escape or starts shivering, allow him to go inside or take him home instead of trying to push him out of his comfort zone.

• If your old dog loves walks, but can’t make it as far as he used to, try a stroller or simply a wagon. You can outfit a basic old wagon with padding such as old pillows, comforters or sleeping bags to make sure his joints are well padded over bumps. Carefully test to see if he’ll stay inside and is comfortable, and then you can go explore your neighborhood or a new one.

Choices for affection

Some older dogs aren't as quick to look for affection as they were in younger years, but many still welcome it when offered. Sit near your dog's bed to pet him while you read, scroll, or watch TV. Or bring a pillow down to the floor and sit with him there. Some old dogs need all the pets. If he stays with you, sighs, leans in, or snuggles closer, that's his way of saying yes.

Sometimes a dog chooses to lie down away from the family because he can't jump onto the furniture anymore, not because he wants to be away from you. Ramps or stairs work great for some dogs. Or simply help him onto the couch or bed, making absolutely sure he can't step or jump off the edge and hurt himself, and then let him decide where he wants to settle down.

Other dogs want to be near you but left alone. Our little 18 year old chihuahua Radar loved being on the couch. He couldn't jump up himself, so we bought him a ramp, which he started using immediately. He would sleep happily on his little pillow right next to us. But if we started trying to pet him or move him closer, he would move away repeatedly. He was telling us he wanted to be near us, but left alone. If your dog shifts farther from you or moves away, let him rest there instead of forcing him to lie near you and be petted.

And some old dogs really don't want to be snuggled in with the family at all. They don't like the touch, they get hot, or they're afraid of being bumped by people moving around them or by the other dogs. Some have a limit for how much touch they can handle before they want to be left alone, and a dog who wasn't affectionate or snuggly when younger likely may not be as an old man, either. Offering still matters for these dogs because some dogs do change!

Choices for meals

One of the most trying challenges in caring for an old dog is the picky eater. I've found that picky dogs (those who don’t have health problems causing appetite change) will still choose their food sometimes when offered a choice (or four). Hold one can at a time in front of him - the ones with pop tops usually give off enough smell for him to get a tiny whiff of what's inside. If he's rotating through a few kibbles or other foods because nothing holds his interest the way it used to, bring them out and let him sniff each one. Then read his answer: A head turned away, sometimes with a lick of the lips, or moving away means no. A longer, deeper, dedicated sniff, a nose boop, or a step closer to the bag or can usually means yes. If the tell is so subtle you aren't sure, nudge the bag or can back an inch and see whether he follows it.

Letting him say no

A no is acceptable, too. Older dogs have good and bad days. But remember that if he says no today, it doesn’t mean no forever. The dog who has zero interest in a walk at seven in the morning will often take a short one later in the day, once his joints have warmed up and he's been up and moving for a while. The can he turned his nose up at on Tuesday may get a hopeful sniff on Thursday. Older dogs go through phases, and sometimes, after doing, playing with, or eating something a few times, they need variety to keep them engaged.

When no could mean something more

If you offer something that your dog always said yes to, and now he says no every single time, make a note of it - what he takes, what he turns down, and what time of day it happens. Those notes tell you more than you'd expect, and it's exactly the kind of thing your vet wants to see. If he’s having other symptoms at the same time, this list of behavioral and preference changes could help the doctor solve the medical mystery.

If he's turning down everything, pets, toys, time in the fresh air, and every can and bag you set in front of him, that itself warrants a vet visit. Bring the notes with you. A dog who has stopped saying yes to anything is telling you something. Your vet can help you figure out whether it's pain, a medication that needs adjusting, or something else that has a fix.

Offering your old dog choices is such an easy thing to do, and watching him make them is one of the really fun parts of his older years with you. 💕

🐶 Sniffing Out Senior Dog News 📰

• Caring for a sick old dog wears people down early, and some hospitals now have someone for that. A veterinary social worker and an oncologist told dvm360 that caregiver burden in pet parents starts near the beginning of a chronic illness, long before end-of-life decisions, and that a small but growing number of practices employ a social worker whose whole job is the person rather than the pet. If you are worn out, it has a name and it is a real thing. Q&A: Caregiver burden can begin early in pet illness, dvm360

• The biggest thing keeping people from adopting is not knowing a pet's past. A survey of more than 26,000 adults across 14 countries found many people are open to adopting but hold back because of what they don't know about an animal's health and behavior history. A senior dog is the easiest answer to that worry I know of. With an old dog, what you see is what you get. Uncertainty about pets' health and behavior history holds back would-be adopters, dvm360

• Doing things together with your old dog was linked to milder signs of cognitive decline. Researchers surveyed the owners of 858 senior dogs, average age just under 11, and found that dogs who regularly did activities with their owners showed less of the confusion and behavior change that come with age-related decline. It's a survey, so it can't say which came first, but it fits what this issue is about. Hard-working or hardly working dogs stay young longer?, Frontiers in Veterinary Science

Senior Dog Meme of the Week

About the Author

Angela Dinsmoor is the Founder of Grey Whiskers and a passionate advocate for senior dogs and the people who love them. With years of hands-on grooming experience and a deep commitment to compassionate, age-appropriate care, Angela created Grey Whiskers to raise the standard for senior dog grooming through education, certification, and community. Her mission is simple: help senior dogs live more comfortably. To join the free Grey Whiskers Community for professionals and owners, click here.