[Dailydrool] Old folks home

[Riche Churchill]

Ethel Basset is getting old. How old, we've no idea, as we guessed at 
her age when pulling her from local high-kill shelter. We thought maybe 
4, so now would be maybe 9... or 10, or 11, or? In any case, is showing 
beginning signs of senility. I know there's med for that, but she's not 
that far along -- although my little terrier would not agree. His wire 
crate is medium size, not really big enough for a Basset, and it's used 
only at feeding time, occasional naps or when small two-leggers visit. 
But now Ethel has decided it is hers whenever she's in the mood and she 
doesn't care in the slightest (or even notice) that a small dog is 
already inside. Pitiful yelps alert us to the fact that he has been 
squashed at the back of the crate. We have to hold Ethel's head (she 
gets snappy if a dog jostles her) so he can leap over her and get out.

Either her hearing is about gone or she has forgotten her name and she 
sleeps a lot more now, and prefers out-of-the-way spots or crates. The 
latter is odd because she never had a crate of her own or needed one.

Inasmuch as I have never had a dog develop Old Timer's Disease, despite 
having had many dogs in my lifetime and most have lived to age 14 and 
one to nearly 17, I'm interested in hearing from people who have had 
experience with this. Should I go ahead and start meds? Do they just 
"help" or do they slow down the deterioration and therefore I shouldn't 
wait?

Riche
www.Bassethoundmagazine.com