Is your dog silently suffering? Uncover the hidden dangers of aging and learn how to give them the comfort they deserve in their final days.
Dr. Mary Gardner, co-founder of Lap of Love, explains the critical distinctions between geriatric, palliative, and hospice care for dogs.
Key Topics:
• The difference between palliative care and hospice care.
• Recognizing when a dog has moved from senior to geriatric.
• How caregiver burden plays a role in a dog’s end-of-life care.
• Signs of aging versus illness in dogs.
• The importance of managing mobility issues in older dogs.
• Understanding pain and how to manage it in aging and sick dogs.
• The role of anxiety as a form of pain in dogs.
• Tools and resources for tracking your dog's quality of life, including Dr. Gardner's Pet Hospice Journal and Grey Muzzle app.
Resources Mentioned:
• Lap of Love: lapoflove.com
• Help 'Em Up Harness: helpemup.com
• Quality of Life Scales from Lap of Love: Search “Quality of Life Scale for Dogs” for various resources.
• Books by Dr. Mary Gardner:
o Never Long Enough - A book about cherishing your dog’s final days.
o Nine Lives Are Never Enough - Coming soon, focusing on cats.
• The Pet Hospice Journal and Grey Muzzle App - Track your dog’s symptoms, good and bad days, and mobility concerns to help monitor their quality of life.
• Dog Cancer Support Group: https://www.dogcancer.com/support
Actionable Insights:
• Say "I love you" every day: Dr. Gardner reminds listeners to be present with their dogs daily, especially during their final days.
• Monitor your dog’s quality of life: Use tools like the Pet Hospice Journal to track good and bad days, which helps with decision-making as your dog ages.
• Keep your dog moving: Adjust walking routines to maintain mobility, even for dogs with mobility issues.
• Don’t skip pain medications: If your dog is prescribed pain or anti-nausea meds, be proactive in giving them, even on "good" days, to avoid pain escalation.
Final Thought: Cherish every moment with your aging dog and seek veterinary care regularly, even later in life, to ensure they have the best quality of life possible.
Your Voice Matters!
If you have a question for our team, or if you want to share your own hopeful dog cancer story, we want to hear from you! Go to https://www.dogcancer.com/ask to submit your question or story, or call our Listener Line at +1 808-868-3200 to leave a question.
Related Videos:
The 26 signs a dog is near the end of life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LW0DJHJGZmc&t=9s
A heartfelt discussion of choosing euthanasia versus natural death: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUXM_jMgkdI
Dr. Dressler’s thoughts on the end of life and when we should help our dog’s pass: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jYoMulSRyQ
Related Links:
Our article about the signs a dog is dying: https://www.dogcancer.com/articles/hospice-and-end-of-life/signs-your-dog-is-dying/
Our article about hospice care: https://www.dogcancer.com/articles/hospice-and-end-of-life/hospice-for-dogs/
Chapters:
[00:00] - Introduction to End-of-Life Decisions
[00:30] - How to Recognize an Old Dog
[02:15] - What is Geriatric Care?
[04:00] - Aging vs. Disease in Dogs
[06:00] - Signs a Dog is Geriatric
[07:45] - The Caregiver Burden
[09:15] - Missed Veterinary Care in Geriatric Pets
[10:45] –Emotional and Financial Challenges of Geriatric Care
[12:30] - Quality of Life Spectrum in Cancer Care
[14:45] - Understanding Palliative Care in Dogs
[17:00] - The Emotional and Physical Budgets of Care
[20:00] - Mobility Issues in Senior Dogs
[23:45] - Pain Management for Older Dogs
[27:30] - Signs of Pain in Dogs
[30:45] - Anxiety as a Form of Pain
[33:00] - What is Palliative Care?
[35:45] - Pain Begets Pain
[38:30] - When to Transition to Hospice Care
[41:45] – Proactive Planning
[45:00] - Preparing for the Last Days
[48:15] - Pet Hospice Journal and Grey Muzzle App
[51:00] - Say “I Love You” Every Day
[52:30] - Outro and Resources
Get to know Dr. Mary Gardner: https://www.dogcancer.com/people/mary-gardner-dvm/
For more details, articles, podcast episodes, and quality education, go to the episode page: https://www.dogcancer.com/podcast/
