Oldie Whippets

[Nicola]

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Fred's 13 now, and in reasonable health (I think) although suffers a little with his corn and slightly wobbly hind legs. He's also very nearly deaf and gets a little forgetful too.

Despite his reasonable health for his age, I do worry about him a bit.

Everything needs to be considered a little more carefully. For instance, I have to think whether he's up to certain walks or not. I worry if I take him, I worry if I don't. He needs to be kept stimulated with changes of scenery, but I daredn't over-tire him.

He also seems a lot more clingy. I left him at home the other day, and he forget that my OH was in the house, albeit in bed after his night shift. When I got home I was told he'd started howling when I left the house with Stan. If I'm not in the living room whilst I'm there he starts to bark.....although he will take himself off to sleep upstairs by himself if he wants to.

If I'm out with him I have to keep a close eye on him because the moment he lags behind, he loses sight of me and I have observed him looking round wildly for me on a number of occasions. He can't hear me calling him and he has occasionally run off in the opposite direction looking for me.

Apart from these things he really is the easiest boy, and still a pleasure to have around, although I do yearn for a younger, more playful hound again. I feel a bit sorry for Stan, as he doesn't play with him anymore and you can see Stan looking out for him too.

Not sure where I'm going with this thread, except to share my experience of my first 'oldie'. Anyone else got any experiences to share about their oldie whippets?

Here's a picture of Fred on a recent walk.....

 

[Janimal]

Oh Nicola thanks for sharing all this with us about Fred... :huggles: I can thoroughly understand how you feel about him at this

age.

(Unfortunately with my Chip who was 12 and a half...he didnt have the quality of life Fred now has and was starting to have seizures

quite often too....most unsettling to watch... :'( and before that Lady who was almost 17 years of age...and almost blind at the end, after having a stroke and

also became unsteady on her legs too.)

It is a very 'special' time in their lives and you will never forget these last years you share...somehow they are the ones that stick in your mind the most.

I can only advise to do exactly as you are doing...just being there for them...and making those latter years extra special for them too. :flowers: if that makes any sense. :blink:

Love that picture of him btw..he still looks really well.... :wub:

 

[jinnyfizz]

I have no experience of older whippets, but my old, dear departed GSD gradually became quieter and didn't wish to come out with the horse when I rode each day She chose to stay home and sit outside the gate waiting for me which I was happy for her to do as she knew how much exercise she needed or could cope with.

In my experience with all my dogs, cats and horses - they let you know when their time has come, and there is no doubt at that stage.

Fred has reached a remarkable age already and maybe a tad of senility is kicking in now, but he obviously still enjoys his life and is a credit to you as an owner. You have obviously been the most marvellous whippet servant over the years and, I have no doubt, will continue to be so :thumbsup:

Well done you and Fred xx

 

[cairo]

My first whippet Jake lived to the ripe old age of 16 and every day was special.....He was the most loving and amusing dog.

He could still tear around like a youngster right up until 15, when sadly old age started to take its toll.

He developed heart disease and we made the sad decision to have him pts........My father adored him and,he himself,passed away exactly a month later.

I like to think that they are strolling the countryside together.

 

[Hula]

I just lost two of my oldies in the last year and I still have 2 . One aged 13 and one aged 14 .

My two who died were more precious to me every day that passed .

Some days they would just be like old dogs , sleeping a lot and quite frail really .

Occasionally the would have flashes of energy and you could see what they were like when they were young.

At times like that they made me laugh .

When Hula was 15 sometimes she would chase crows which was really funny !

I did everything humanly possible to ensure they lived as long as they could .

The two oldies I have now are the same . Sometimes like old dogs and other times flashes of youth !

Dina has what we call her dementia hour between 4-5pm , barking for no reason !

I love all dogs but oldies are my special favourites. )

 

[Whippets Rule]

I have two oldies at the moment...My beautiful and precious boy Badger who is 13 and a half, he has lost some muscle mass on his front legs and a little on his hind too...he walks fine and can run after a cat ok but if we stand still his legs start to fold and he either stands with his legs bent or sits down.

He doesn't like me going out with the others and leaving him behind so I make sure he accompanies me on as many walks as possible and definitely the first walk so he is a bit tired if I leave him after that.

He had an hour in the woods today with three of the other dogs and he keeps pace fine....he can walk for a couple of hours ok but will sleep for the rest of the day.

He also will grab a toy and fling it about the house occasionally, even legging it upstairs and jumping on my bed but this is usually short lived as he feels his age a bit.

he has a corn on both front feet which I do dig out and put plasters on....he is a bit stiff and finds it harder to get up when he's been sleeping but he will have a wrestle with James too.Badger does have a heart murmur but is not yet on medication.

Badger is indescribably important to me and I have had him longer than any dog I have ever had...I tell him I love him every day before I leave for work just in case....he has recently been off his food quite a bit and as he is quite trim anyway, i am now feeding him all sorts of nice things to keep him eating...I have also started him on metacam and this has seemed to help so he must have a bit of pain probably from the stiffness in his legs.

Bryn my whippetX is about to turn 13 and he is physically absolutely fine apart from being deaf and very short sighted BUT he is developing dementia and this is causing a few problems although Rescue Remedy and Aspen seem to help calm him down...the vet feels that there is little we can do about Bryns mental state and we just keep him happy and mobile.

It's really hard having oldies...much nicer than pups but there is so much dread mixed in with the joy that I worry about them pretty much every day and must confess to fussing around them a lot more than I used to....elderly whippet are a joy and deserve my complete servitude.

Badger

Bryn

 

[Garry Comber]

I know exactly how you feel, my old boy Max will be 14 this week and I have to think if the walk on certain days will be too much for him depending on what I’m planning to do most of the time I leave it up to him if he wants to come or not. -_-

I’m forever trying to get him to eat, I’m sure I offer him food more times a day than my 18week pup. I find he eats better little and often, but I wonder if its because he’s forgot that he’s already eaten.

I know what you mean about the walks he lags behind and you have to make sure you don’t leave him behind, as his sight and hearing isn’t so good these days His back legs are a bit wobbly But he can still run when you don’t expect it, last summer he ran off after someone else I was charging after him calling and screaming to no avail in the end I shouted for the other people to grab his collar for me he was ok it was me puffing and wheezing. :sweating:

He acts as though he’s got alzymers and is always going into a room and standing and staring when he gets there completely forgetting why he went there. :unsure:

I think this is a lovely thread remembering the oldies here’s a recent picture of Max

 

[Nicola]

I know what you mean about the walks he lags behind and you have to make sure you don’t leave him behind, as his sight and hearing isn’t so good these days His back legs are a bit wobbly But he can still run when you don’t expect it, last summer he ran off after someone else I was charging after him calling and screaming to no avail in the end I shouted for the other people to grab his collar for me he was ok it was me puffing and wheezing. :sweating:

Thank you for your anecdotes and stories about your oldies. It's nice to share...........I can relate to a lot of the experiences above..especially the one about them running off to other people. That's happened two or three times now! They still make you smile though don't they?... :thumbsup: Thanks for your advice and encouragement too... :huggles:

 

[pippywhippet]

I lost dear old Painter, (Pippy) at 15 yrs, she was my 2nd whippet- sadly her mum Isis never made it to old age, she broke her back when she slipped jumping a dry stone wall and had to be PTS on her 10th birthday

Painter reverted to being a puppy in old age- her eyesight and hearing was failing, and she panicked if she couldnt see me. One horrible day on the beach she closely followed a woman with long dark hair- I suppose thinking it was me- only for the woman to turn round and kick at her :rant: :rant: :rant: She peed on the carpet frequently and needed feeding 4 small meals a day to keep weight on her. And once she wobbled on a bridge and fell into the stream, she lay on her back like a beetle till I rescued her

Most of all though, we loved what a gentle and loving little soul she was. o She cuddled the children when they were poorly )

Eventually she developed heart disease and we decided the kindest thing would be to have her put to sleep. RIP Pippy.

Fred looks like a lovely boy, the oldies are so very special. Hope you have many golden days together

 

[eve]

What a lovely idea for a topic!

Oldies can cause great sorrow but also bring so much joy.

Having had many rescue whippets over the years, I have had a lot of oldies. Some old and worn out before their time and others ageing gracefully. I am a pretty practical owner, I am not afraid to make the decision that the time has come when I feel it is right. I am happy as long as I can maintain quality of life.

Foxy will be 14 soon. She is sometimes frail and sometimes very perky. She has a play with Toddy (who seems to make allowances for her fragility ) ) when the mood takes her. Her vertebrae in her neck are crumbling but she seems to be doing really well on steriods and with a magnetic collar. Metacalm did not suit her at all. Some days she is waiting for her lead and a walk and other days, she plonks herself firmly in her bed and ignores me. I am happy for her to tell me what she wants and it seems to be working well. i never thought that she would see 2010 but she has picked up and seems to be enjoying life. She has never had a problem with food (definately her favourite time of day) She chased a squirrel a few weeks ago and ended up falling over and scraping her legs. It was funny to watch at the time and she certainly enjoyed herself but the consequences were several days bed rest and I am tending to keep her on a lead for most of our walks now.

It is funny but after 8 oldies (all whippets, greyhounds or lurchers), I have never regreted helping them to find peace at the end. If you know your dog, you know when it is time. Some can go on for ever, others fail quite fast. I found this very true with the cruelty cases Mouse and Rose who passed away at roughly 10 and 12 respectively ( I did not know their exact DOB)

I have been through most of the problems of old age, deafness, loss of vision, heart problems and incontinence. The last being the worst as it is so distressing for the dog.

Two of my old dogs suffered from dementia. That too can be hard work. I ended up keeping them on the lead most of the time which worked out well when we were out for a walk.

Taking on Toddy at 7 months and the incredible hard work that he has required over the last 8 months has led me to the decision that I will go back to older rescues in the future. We love him to bits but the rewards are not the same as those of taking in an older dog and sharing the last years together.

The joy and companionship of an older dog is somehow different. Relaxed, respectful, mature, but still fun. I used to wish I could have had my rescues when they were younger, but as I gain in experience, I realise that it is what we have together after they come to me that makes them special and the time that we share unique.

Foxy has taught me that frailty and old age can be managed and I am thankful every day that she is almost pain free and enjoys life.

 

[oakmoorehill]

My oldest is Jasper who is 10 later this month. He is still active and if someone tried to guess his age I doubt they would get it right. He is completely white apart from his black head which is going grey and a black circleon his bum so is not really showing his age.

Bandit on the other hand is 8. His black face is now completely white and to be honest I think he is going a bit senile. Some times he just looks at youwith a blank expresion as if he can't remember what he was doing. Of the 2 he is showing his age more than Jasper and I think it will be him who goes to the bridge first.

 

[whizznbeth]

I usually home the older Whips as they sometimes seem to get overlooked in Rescue but i love them, i lost 2 of my Oldies within 6 months of each other both aged 14,i now have 2 aged 9 who are both still very much young at heart and my Rotty is 6 i loved watching her try and catch them(she never does).i have had Whips since 1978 but never had any past 14 maybe i'll be lucky this time,

 

[whippetmad]

I can understand how you feel about when they are old,and you do worry about them. Willow is 12 next month and so far he is in good health,no stiffness,his eyesight is fine,eating well like a horse,so far he is good but you never know when that can change!!! My min Dachshund lived until he was 15,he suddenly went down hill,loss alot of weight,went blind and his back legs completely went my other ones are nine in October,eight in October.

 

[~Sarah~]

It's lovely hearing about Fred and the other 'oldies', although brought a lump to my throat. :'(

There is something so special about the older ones. :wub: :huggles: :wub:

 

[bertha]

Some of mine got senile, and a bit dicky on their legs. I just let them do their own thing. Toby suddenly didn't want to go on walks any more, his sister did the same thing but a bit later that he did. I have Poppy who is ten now and still hale and hearty, goes on walks, eats well, has lost a few teeth. Looking at her she does not look her age. My greyhound looks older that her and she is only 6, but being black has a white muzzle and eyebrows now!.

You know when life has become too much for them and it's time to let them go. It's the last thing you can do for them, let them go while they still have some dignity.

That's given me a lump in the throat remembering my oldies from the past.

 

[lorna anne]

Fred's 13 now, and in reasonable health (I think) although suffers a little with his corn and slightly wobbly hind legs. He's also very nearly deaf and gets a little forgetful too.
Despite his reasonable health for his age, I do worry about him a bit.

Everything needs to be considered a little more carefully. For instance, I have to think whether he's up to certain walks or not. I worry if I take him, I worry if I don't. He needs to be kept stimulated with changes of scenery, but I daredn't over-tire him.

He also seems a lot more clingy. I left him at home the other day, and he forget that my OH was in the house, albeit in bed after his night shift. When I got home I was told he'd started howling when I left the house with Stan. If I'm not in the living room whilst I'm there he starts to bark.....although he will take himself off to sleep upstairs by himself if he wants to.

If I'm out with him I have to keep a close eye on him because the moment he lags behind, he loses sight of me and I have observed him looking round wildly for me on a number of occasions. He can't hear me calling him and he has occasionally run off in the opposite direction looking for me.

Apart from these things he really is the easiest boy, and still a pleasure to have around, although I do yearn for a younger, more playful hound again. I feel a bit sorry for Stan, as he doesn't play with him anymore and you can see Stan looking out for him too.

Not sure where I'm going with this thread, except to share my experience of my first 'oldie'. Anyone else got any experiences to share about their oldie whippets?

Here's a picture of Fred on a recent walk.....

Of course I love my youngsters dearly, but it is my precious oldies that share so many memories with me. They are so dignified and stoic in their old age.

Our oldies definitely deserve a thread dedicated SOLELY to them. Please share your anecdotes and DON'T FORGET THE PICS. . . . We see SO MANY pics of cute pups and so few of oldtimers.

This is "Boots" -_- (13 years old) doing what he does best. And "Stella" (14 years old) smelling out her toys which are in places she can't reach )

 

[Janimal]

Fred's 13 now, and in reasonable health (I think) although suffers a little with his corn and slightly wobbly hind legs. He's also very nearly deaf and gets a little forgetful too.
Despite his reasonable health for his age, I do worry about him a bit.

Everything needs to be considered a little more carefully. For instance, I have to think whether he's up to certain walks or not. I worry if I take him, I worry if I don't. He needs to be kept stimulated with changes of scenery, but I daredn't over-tire him.

He also seems a lot more clingy. I left him at home the other day, and he forget that my OH was in the house, albeit in bed after his night shift. When I got home I was told he'd started howling when I left the house with Stan. If I'm not in the living room whilst I'm there he starts to bark.....although he will take himself off to sleep upstairs by himself if he wants to.

If I'm out with him I have to keep a close eye on him because the moment he lags behind, he loses sight of me and I have observed him looking round wildly for me on a number of occasions. He can't hear me calling him and he has occasionally run off in the opposite direction looking for me.

Apart from these things he really is the easiest boy, and still a pleasure to have around, although I do yearn for a younger, more playful hound again. I feel a bit sorry for Stan, as he doesn't play with him anymore and you can see Stan looking out for him too.

Not sure where I'm going with this thread, except to share my experience of my first 'oldie'. Anyone else got any experiences to share about their oldie whippets?

Here's a picture of Fred on a recent walk.....

Of course I love my youngsters dearly, but it is my precious oldies that share so many memories with me. They are so dignified and stoic in their old age.

Our oldies definitely deserve a thread dedicated SOLELY to them. Please share your anecdotes and DON'T FORGET THE PICS. . . . We see SO MANY pics of cute pups and so few of oldtimers.

This is "Boots" -_- (13 years old) doing what he does best. And "Stella" (14 years old) smelling out her toys which are in places she can't reach )

Aww those pictures of Boots are just lovely... :wub:

 

[pat cope]

Fred is lovely. Make the most of him. Time passes so quickly. xx