Pet’s final days time to offer extra helpings of TLC

My dog, a 14-year-old wirehaired fox terrier, Scooter, is probably in the last year of her life, according to my veterinarian father, Dr. Marty Becker.

With the heartbreaking truth that these are Scooter’s last days, I wonder: “What changes can I expect in both Scooter’s mental and physical health?” or “How can I make her most comfortable and happy during her last days?”

With these questions in mind, I contacted some of my father’s veterinary colleagues with special expertise in canine geriatrics and palliative care, and here’s what I found:

“Dogs, in a similar way to their human counterparts, also experience a weakening in daily functions that were once taken for granted,” said Dr. Steve Wheeler, diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine ( www.acvim.org) and internal medicine specialist at the Veterinary Referral Clinic of Colorado.

Senile deafness can result in rapid-onset hearing loss.

A dog’s coat may become dull or thin.

Arthritis is also a very common ailment of dogs, especially for medium and large breeds, but also in the smaller breeds.

Watching Scooter, I notice she has most of these conditions. But it is the pain of her arthritis that is no longer well controlled by medications, and the loss of nerve function to her rear legs, that seem to be causing her the most problems.

In fact, she can’t even make it up the stairs onto her once-favorite relaxation spot on the leather couch to watch Animal Planet with the rest of us.

“Dogs usually pack on the pounds as they get older, much like middle-aged humans,” says Dr. Robert DeNoro, a professor of medicine and the department head of small animal clinical sciences at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine.

Being overweight contributes to serious health problems for pets, such as diabetes and heart disease, and can aggravate arthritis. To compensate for a dog’s weight gain or other conditions of old age, ranging from kidney and liver failure to arthritis and cancer, there are special dog foods available from your veterinarian.

Yet on the opposite spectrum, dogs may lose weight as they can develop end-of-life diseases that affect their ability to absorb nutrients. A dog’s taste and smell are also modified by age, and foods that once smelled good may no longer have any appeal.

I’ve observed Scooter’s reduced interest in food, which she formerly relished with great excitement.

DeNoro says to coax your dog to eat by warming its food, to give it a better aroma, and by feeding foods with more odor, like tuna, to heighten the senses. Just like humans, older dogs also have a tendency to become dehydrated.

“Keep fresh water available at all times for your canine companion, and offer treats like chicken broth to ensure hydration,” DeNoro says.

“A common problem for spayed female dogs is incontinence, but the problem has also been witnessed in male dogs. There is a syndrome in older dogs called canine cognitive syndrome (like Alzheimer’s disease in humans) with one sign of this condition being where previously housebroken dogs show a loss of house training,” says Wheeler.

My dad advised the whole family about not punishing Scooter for inevitable accidents. This is part of the TLC and understanding that an old dog needs.

Often the aged pet is confused and can barely walk, and it can’t help what it does and where it does it.

“Personality and mental state can change with age,” Wheeler continued. “Usually changes consist of not being as active, sleeping more, and still being friendly and responsive.”

DeNoro adds that if there is a significant change in behavior where a normally nice dog becomes aggressive or a dog wanders aimlessly or develops an abnormal gait and may stumble, you should take your dog to a veterinarian.

No one else knows your pet like you do, so you bear the responsibility of knowing when Fluffy isn’t feeling his best, say all the experts.

“With the easy availability of blood work, diagnostic tests, and radiographs, the health concern of senior pets can be identified and treatment can be given,” says DeNoro, “With improved technology and knowledge there are many new medications and procedures available that can drastically lengthen and improve a dog’s life.”

With Scooter in her dimming twilight, I have made an effort to make the last days as good as possible for my beloved first pet. She has extra pillows to lounge on, she routinely gets delectable treats like deli turkey, and the whole family tries to give her a daily massage from the tip of her long fox terrier snout to the end of her carrotlike tail.

“I wish I had a magic formula to make a dog happy in its last days,” said DeNoro. “While we do have ‘miracle drugs,’ I’ve learned that for many pets there’s nothing better than a lot of TLC.

“Take the time to talk to your dog and enjoy the special time you have left with your companion.”

One of the most difficult questions for veterinarians is, “When will I know if it’s time for my dog to be put down?” There are no easy answers.

“Be close to your dog,” says DeNoro, “You know him better than anyone else. If it’s time, he’ll tell you.”

I don’t want Scooter’s last days to be full of pain and suffering, but instead I want the comfort of knowing that Scooter was fulfilled up to her last breath.

My worries about Scooter’s last year in my life were soothed when I read Fred Rogers’ book, “When a Pet Dies.”

“Happy times and sad times are part of everyone’s life,” Rogers writes. “When a pet dies, we can grow to know that the love we shared is still alive in us and always will be.”