Old dog.

[Astrobelt]

My friend wants to re-home a dog who is 16 years of age. He has been at the dogs home for three years, would a change of environment (my friend lives on her own, no kids or anything) be detrimental to the dogs health?

Thanx

[FP]

What a lovely thing for your friend to do.  All the dog will need is lots of love and a cosy, warm home with food to suit an old timer.  I can't think that it will be detrimental to the dogs health but quite the opposite.  Much better than ending his life in a dog's home.  From experience, your friend will gain as much as she/he gives.

I have taken on several rescued dogs over the years with no problems.  Your friend might find that initially the dog might have a few accidents (wee in the house) until he feels confident (especially as he has been in a dogs home for three years, but this should not last for more than a few days.

Good luck and best wishes to your friend.

[Astrobelt]

Hi FP, thanx for your reply.

 

I also meant to say she was a bit worried about the cost of possible vets bills (what with him being so old surely he will be ill more) she feels a bit bad thinking like that but wouldn't want him to suffer if he was in pain.

[kick3m0n]

what a lovely thing for your friend to do. it touches my heart to hear of such an act of kindness.

 Re the vet bills, she's right to be aware of the issue.  You could try all the various companies that offer pet insurance these days.  Although they generally only insure dogs under a certain age, you may find one which will give you a quote on a 16 year old.   Might be worth a try, as the premiums, alo tho steep, may be cheaper in the long run than meds for an ageing dog.

Wish them both well from me....may they have many happy times together.

[FP]

My dogs have all lived to a ripe old age without too many medical problems at all!  If the dog is a mixed breed his problems will probably be fewer.

In my opinion pure bred dogs have more medical problems, such as cancer,  at a much earlier age than 16 and require more treatment.

A dog at 16 is more likely to plod on until he reaches the end of his life and dies from old age related problems. 

However, your friend is right to be cautious - too many people take on animals without thinking it through and then give up the animals when any problems occur.

[ursula62]

What a lovely thing to do - I am sure she will gain as much as the dog from doing this.

As far as vets bills are concerned, if he needs treatment and she genuinely cannot afford to pay then the PDSA will help her with costs, provided she takes him to a PDSA vet (they are in yellow pages).

[Elfin]

If the dogs home is an RSPCA shelter, they may run an assisted adoption scheme for older animals. I rehomed an older cat a few years ago under this scheme, which meant that they would contribute to future vet's bills. I never took them up on it as I was happy to sort him out myself, but it might be worth her checking to see if they run such a scheme.

[Octavius]

I subject myself to the wraith of those above, but I am an animal lover, and especially of dogs.

You can't criticise people for not wanting to take an older animal from a pet sanctuary, a caring person will devote a lot of time and emotion into a pet which will have a limited life span.  (Yes I know there are those who adopt kittens/puppies and then give them back when they are bigger etc etc)  If your friend is able to cope with losing this dog - potentially within months - and shower it with the affection it truly deserves, then maybe it is a good idea.  I have owned and lost lots of pets and I am not sure I could do it personally.

We had a wondeful dog for 15 years, and for the last year of it's life it could hardly walk anywhere and in the last couple of months it ended up weeing and pooing anywhere it could reach.  I won't say that what your friend is contemplating is a good idea or a bad idea, I just hope that they have it in them to make the right decision for the dog and for them.

Good luck    

[Oor Wullie]

The only reason we went for a puppy is because it broke our hearts when our last two dogs died of old age related illnesses. We didn't want to get to love an old dog and go through all that pain again in around two or three years.

Good luck to your friend. They have my admiration, and you can always approach the PDSA for help with vets fee's if need be.

Will