My girl is getting old

[graciegrace]

Enjoy every minute with your babies and make sure they enjoy too. My husbands boxer passed away this year and he was 13 1/2 yrs old. We now how a 1yr old boxer and we enjoy her to the fullest.

 

[Luvnmyboxer]

I am already dreading the days when Titan gets old and he's only 2. But he is my life and it will take everything for me to not stay by his side 24/7. He is MY first dog that is all mine and he is my world. I pamper him like the king I think he is, even if everybody else thinks i'm crazy. Hugs to all the beautiful boxer babies out there who are hanging in there and dealing with the pain to spend another day with their families.

Boone- I have always wanted a Saint Bernard since I was a little kid, one day when I get a big enough house and plenty of room I want a house full of boxers and Saints! Sounds like a messy house though--better hire a maid to clean all that slobber up.

 

[Poohsmom]

I often sit and watch Pooh while she's sleeping and wonder how the time has slipped away from us,too. It still seems like yesterday that we brought her home. It seems that I see more and more silver each day in her beautiful face.It is traveling down her legs and back now.
My old girl is 8 years young and we are seeing the effects of old age creeping up on her,too. She's getting arthritis in her back legs,walks with a limp now and then,her leg gets stiff on her when she's sleeping.But she can still tear it up with the rest of the bunch!
I pray that we will have many more years with our lovely girl.She is my first Boxer and the light of mine and her daddy's life. We try and make the most of every day with her ,she goes on extra trips with me to the store,except now I think we may have to start using the car,she's having trouble getting up in the truck these days.
I hope that the day we say goodbye never comes,but we know it must. We came too close to losing her once,so we make the most of each and every day!!

Sue and the kids,Pooh,Bownser,Dozer & Cissy
Buddy & Dusty,romping at the bridge

 

[ladyluck_t]

Thanks guys! :D ya'll are amazing. With all the crap I deal with in rescue, (i am the owner surrender coordinator :mad: ) it sometimes just pops up on me that my girl is getting older. I knew there are times that I take her for granted and focus my attention on the foster babies that come through. I keep telling myself, When this one is adopted I'll spend more time with Katie. But it sometimes doesnt happen. She is my rock, my first dog and very first Boxer. I have made loads of mistakes with her but she has tolerated all of them and in return has taught me so much, especially about tolerance. Now that she is in pain and getting old, I am seeing that tolerance run a little thin. :( And I just have to remember that she gave me loads of it when training, I can do no less for her. Now that she is on the pain meds, she is driving me nuts! She is much more playful and actually keeps up with the 3mo' old puppy. :rolleyes:
I knew when she was diagnosed with Hip dysplasia at 6mo's that this time was coming, I just cant believe it went by so very fast. I too remember when she was a puppy, or an adolecent. I remember our first christmas and her first birthday. It is hard to believe that she is 5 now. Time sure does fly.
Thanks for the thoughts! I knew ya'll would understand best.

 

[KonaKoffe]

You might be able to keep her off the heavy pain killers for awhile longer. Start doing some research on dietary supplements (cheaper at the healthfood store than those same things for pets). Glucosomine, condrotine (sp??), fish oils, vitamin E etc. What works for humans will help your baby too. Mild excercise, massages, moist heat therapy to keep the joint moving etc.

 

[ladyluck_t]

You might be able to keep her off the heavy pain killers for awhile longer. Start doing some research on dietary supplements (cheaper at the healthfood store than those same things for pets). Glucosomine, condrotine (sp??), fish oils, vitamin E etc. What works for humans will help your baby too. Mild excercise, massages, moist heat therapy to keep the joint moving etc.

That was my vet's thoughts too. I have her on Chicken Soup, the glucosomine/chondrotin suppliments, and i will have to check into the vit E and fish oils. I believe the chicken soup has the recommended amts.
She gets lots of mild exercise, i will have to try the moist heat therapy though. If she can sit still long enough. Now that she is on the asprin, she is going full tilt again! Thanks for the tips!

 

[Austin's Mom]

My Austin will soon be 8 and it breaks my heart to know he's getting older, although he doesn't act it. Sometimes I just sit and stare trying to make a mental image of every part of his body because I know someday he won't be here and I don't want to forget a thing about him.

 

[Boone's. Fmly]

Boone- I have always wanted a Saint Bernard since I was a little kid, one day when I get a big enough house and plenty of room I want a house full of boxers and Saints! Sounds like a messy house though--better hire a maid to clean all that slobber up.

Gosh reading this post brought it all back. I sit here with tears running down my face. He was my Gentle Giant and I still look for him.
They are wonderful pets and they are more intimidating than my boxers.
One thing to remember though is that since they are so large they don't have a long life span....8 years is pretty much their max.

Sorry ladyluck_t I didn't mean to sabatoge your post. :D

 

[KonaKoffe]

That was my vet's thoughts too. I have her on Chicken Soup, the glucosomine/chondrotin suppliments, and i will have to check into the vit E and fish oils. I believe the chicken soup has the recommended amts.
She gets lots of mild exercise, i will have to try the moist heat therapy though. If she can sit still long enough. Now that she is on the asprin, she is going full tilt again! Thanks for the tips!

I would suggest looking into giving extra glucos/chon supple. beyond what is in the dog food. That is a gimmick in my opinion designed to sell dog food. More of a maintenance amount rather than a higher dose to treat a diagnosed problem. Once you get her on the supplements for a few months you may be able to just give pain killers on an as needed basis rather than regular basis. Look in to Vitamin C (Ester - C) too and supplements that have anti-inflammatory benefits.

 

[KonaKoffe]

More information

Here's some info I found.

http://www.arthritissupport.com/library/showarticle.cfm/ID/343/e/1/T/Arthritis

I also did a search on hip dysplasia in dogs and Vitamin C and some good articles came up on the benefits.