Lilo, nine years old, looking SO regal on a Venture walk!
Our oldest dog Lilo is nine years old. Curtis got her as a wee little puppy and they bonded instantly. When I’ve asked him about how Lilo got so sassy, he’s simply said, “she came to me that way!”
Little sassy Lilo with white spots on her nose!
They were inseparable when she was little. He has incredible pictures of her snuggling into his boxers while he went to the bathroom because she just couldn’t stand to be away from him. They were and are close.
Lilo couldn’t stand to be away from Curtis so they did EVERYTHING together!
When we met, he told me he’d bought his new home in Winston-Salem just for Lilo. I have always been perfectly clear on the pecking order in our home. Our shared love of Lilo and my respect for how important she is in Curtis’ life made it into my vows and he the inside of my engagement ring is inscribed with our inside joke, “You’re my favorite…person.” Because Lilo is his favorite.
It’s not easy to watch our pets age. When I met Lilo she was six and a half years old and still acted very much like a puppy. Curtis loved taking us both to his family’s home where they had plenty of land for Lilo to demonstrate just how fast she can chase any ball he was willing to throw. Her speed was impressive and I’ve never seen her quite as in the zone as when all of her attention is on Curtis and a ball. As she’s aged, we’ve been deliberate about learning how to care for her needs. We adopted Cowfred in March of 2020 after the pandemic hit and we were both home most of the time. We were told he was a year and a half but, with the amount of grey hairs in his snoot, we’re unsure about that now.
Know the Signs of Aging
If you’re like us with Cowfred, you may have to do some guessing about how old your dog is. For those of us who adopted rescues, it can be especially hard to pinpoint their age. We have a rough estimate for Lilo’s birthday (Halloween!) but no clue at all for Cowfred’s.
Here’s some typical signs of aging that are common in dogs:
Gray hair around the muzzle, eyes, and ears
A decrease in energy and stamina
Joint pain or stiffness, especially after exercise or walks
Difficulty getting up from a lying or sitting position
Changes in appetite or weight loss
Increased frequency of urination or accidents in the house
Decreased hearing or vision
Changes in behavior or temperament - This doesn’t always have to be bad! Lilo has gotten WAY snugglier as she’s aged!
Regular vet visits can help as your dog’s Vet should have a baseline for them and help point out signs of aging that may not be apparent to you. We had no clue Lilo had arthritis in her back until we took her in for a check up last year about something totally unrelated. I’m thankful that she’s worked with the same Vet throughout her life and that they knew what to look for.
Vet’s in Winston-Salem and Clemmons that our Clients recommend:
Ard-Vista Animal Hospital Stratford Rd - open 6 days per week
Animal Hospital of Lewisville - Lowes Food Dr in Lewisville - Vet & Boarding services!
Oakes Animal Hospital -Vinegar Hill Rd - Offering dietary and behavior consults
Comfy Accommodations for their Environment
We knew just enough to be dangerous where the arthritis diagnosis was concerned. I grew up with a Corgi named Baxter and learned quickly about the need to restrict his access to stairs to try to extend the longevity of his hip joint health. Lilo loves going up and down the stairs to our garage to greet us when we get home. As her arthritis has progressed, we have noticed that she does this less and less. Instead, she sends Cowfred down the stairs (like the little minion he is) to watch for us! If that were not the case, we’d probably need to consider a gate at the top of the stairs. We have also gotten her a ramp recently to prevent her from jumping up and down off our bed.
You Can teach
an old dog
new tricks
Training Lilo on how to use the ramp was a THING. She was VERY unsure of it at first. Click here to see the bed ramp we went with because it was rated for up to 120lbs which would work for both Lilo (45lbs) and Cowfred (90lbs - chonk has lost 10lbs thanks to regular trail hikes!!)
We had to teach her to use the ramp by luring her up it with treats while using the word, “ramp!” We practiced going up and down several times and even then, it took several days before she was willing to do it without treats! Don’t be discouraged if that happens! Within two nights she was following the command, “ramp” whenever it was time for her to snuggle in for the night! She’s one smart pup!
Other accommodations that could help your dog as they age:
Elevating their food and water bowls so they don’t have to bend down as far!
An orthopedic dog bed that’s extra supportive of their joints
Ensuring their common areas are non-slip so they struggle less on hardwood or linoleum floors
Adjusting their Diet
As dogs age, their nutritional needs change. Senior dogs require a diet that is lower in calories, but higher in protein and fiber. This is because older dogs tend to be less active and may have a slower metabolism than younger dogs.
It's also important to consider the quality of the protein in a senior dog's diet. Look for dog food that contains high-quality and easily discernable animal-based proteins, such as chicken, fish, or lamb.
We’ve vetted our dog food brands pretty heavily over the years. We look for whole ingredients with heavy emphasis on whole animal products in the first couple of ingredients. From there, we have gone the route of ensuring there are plenty of other ingredients that support their overall health! To save you some time, I’ll tell you we are currently feeding them the Acana brand!
You can also follow accounts like @caninehealthnut for a better understanding of your dog’s nutritional needs. Here’s a great article Nikki wrote about the nuanced nutritional needs of your aging dog! I found it incredibly insightful and informative!
Supplement for Joint Health
Ideally, our dogs are getting the bulk of their nutritional needs met by their food. Just like people, sometimes our dogs need some additional supplementation to make up for any gaps. In particular, they may need more antioxidants to support their immune system, and more glucosamine and chondroitin to support joint health.
Glucosamine and chondroitin are two substances naturally found in a dog's body. They are important components of cartilage, which is the connective tissue that cushions the joints. As dogs age, their bodies may produce less glucosamine and chondroitin, which can lead to joint pain and stiffness. Supplementing with these substances can help maintain joint health and improve mobility by supporting the repair and maintenance of cartilage in the joints.
Sierra at Howlin’ at the Moon in downtown Winston carries Four Leaf Rover’s Hip & Joint product which contains four simple ingredients that are natural sources of both glucosamine and chondroitin. Bonus points for their inclusion of curcumin (think tumeric!) which has natural anti-inflammatory properties! You can pick it up for yourself or order it online!
Available at Howlin’ at the Moon, the green lipped mussels are sure to be a treat!
How Venture Can Support your Aging Dog’s Exercise Needs
Lilo and Cowfred at the dog park - peep Cowfred’s silly face!
Lilo really doesn’t know her limits. When we take her on trail hikes or dog parks, she will go as hard and fast as we let her! I LOVE that she still has that spirit AND we have to really moderate how much we let her push. This might be news to some of you, but Curtis and I started as clients at Venture before he ever worked within the business and before we became the Owners this year! Our same team of Walkers who take care of your dogs take care of our dogs! We really keep the attitude that the quality of care starts and ends with us. So our team sees us and our dogs weekly and that means we needed to update Lilo’s profile in Time to Pet to make sure Walkers know she needs to take it easy. She still goes for walks and trail hikes - her profile just made it clear that our Walkers need to let her set the pace!
When it comes to getting your senior dog the exercise they need, we can take that same approach! We can keep walks shorter if you’re especially concerned about a joint pain or arthritis flare up. We can also do longer walks at a slower pace, take plenty of water breaks, and enjoy pets in the shade!
Regardless of where your dog falls on the age spectrum - Venture is here to give you and your pup the extra support wherever you need it.
Whether you’re a current Venture client or not, we are ALL about supporting each other along the pet-parent journey. Do you have other tips for caring for your aging pets? Leave us a comment below or send us an email at hello@venturedogwalking.com.
Written by Holly Henry
As a Winston-Salem native, Holly grew up with a Corgi named Baxter before advancing to adult dog-mom mode when she met Curtis! They are now happily married and pet parents to Lilo and Cowfred who love hogging the bed and going on trail hikes. Curtis and Holly became the new Owners of Venture in 2023!