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[Tanya]

the "long" 5am walks since june were .37ish miles (.6k). and those are too long. he is soon only going to be able
to go around a block
my friend mentionned the humidity has been up even if temps seem moderate. bleh. the vet said don't expect improvement in sept (other than i don't have to be up at 5am and can do more frequent short walks.

this is why i don't see him making 14. that isn't a goal for me. i can't see us doing this for 10mts. i do not want him drag on.while i know it'll be the hardesr thing ever - I do not want drag out the pain-low quality life (not that we are there....yet).

poor Dakota. so hard to see them uncomfortable. and yes i've felt that/those twinges often.i

[outrag]

the "long" 5am walks since june were .37ish miles (.6k). and those are too long. he is soon only going to be able
to go around a block
my friend mentionned the humidity has been up even if temps seem moderate. bleh. the vet said don't expect improvement in sept (other than i don't have to be up at 5am and can do more frequent short walks.

this is why i don't see him making 14. that isn't a goal for me. i can't see us doing this for 10mts. i do not want him drag on.while i know it'll be the hardesr thing ever - I do not want drag out the pain-low quality life (not that we are there....yet).

poor Dakota. so hard to see them uncomfortable. and yes i've felt that/those twinges often.i

So as a reference, my Yukon was 9 going on 10 when his back end degenerated and he had C spine issues. That was 9 months ago. He is stabilized at this point and happy. I don't walk him at all because of his condition. Small little walks in the yard, etc. He's still full of life but cannot walk for a big hike at his young age because of his back end. This dog was the most athletic dog I have owned and I feel he got struck down early for the activity level.

Sometimes we have to just go with the situation. I expect Yukon to hang in there for quite a while, but I'm not happy he can't go for walks anymore, especially with the young Griffin. I am happy he's still around though.

[Berna]

What are the temperatures where you are? We are currently having a heat wave, even younger dogs are sluggish.

[Annette47]

First of all, I’ve found that humidity affects my dog’s breathing (panting) much more than the actual temperature, so that may be some of what you are seeing.

Secondly, Scully wasn’t able to go on walks longer than around the block for over a year before we lost her, but she enjoyed meandering the yard, short (to the corner and back) outings, plus we were able during the warmer months to take her swimming, although I had to wade in with her, as the swimming part was fine, but walking up out of the water too many times was too much for her. That way, I stood right where she could touch and she mostly swam with only coming in and out of the water the one time. Point is, that she was happy and enjoyed those outings immensely, even if they were no longer the 2 hour hikes she did as a young dog.

As they get older, I’ve found we need to stop looking at them in comparison to what they were, but to really, truly look at them as they are now. Do they seem happy and content most of the time? Do they still enjoy cuddles and treats? How about just laying outside watching “smell-o-vision” on a nice day? A small amount of arthritis pain is part of the aging process for both dogs, and humans so I never expected them to be as completely comfortable with all activities as they were as young dogs. As long as they didn’t seem to be in pain the majority of the time, if they had trouble with something like stairs, we just tried to create a routine that minimized how many times they had to go up/down and helped them as necessary.

[Tanya]

Thanks guys. Good to be able to vent with people who have been there/are there and understand.

I know not to compare, and if he's happy to go back inside to call it a win. But we'd JUST found our new normal with that shortened morning walk bleh.

YES it has been humid. the actual temps are not terrible for the most part at low-mid 20's (though are going up) but it's been muggy and humidex mid-day of 29-31C (80-90F). I am having issues with him panting indoors (if it's within an hour of being outside and he is doing something - not just sitting there). I assumed as temps were the same as the last month it would be ok. I guessed wrong. I live in a city pretty gross for humidity, guess we really did luck out for June. morning temps are about 17 (63F) (no humidity per say logged on the weather sites) But we already have a humidex of 29C (84F) which is hot for us. so it must be in the air even if it isn't registering.

Looking at the overnight lows for the next 14 days and looks like walks would have been reduced regardless.

I guess the issue is I have a zero panting policy which may be a bit exaggerated and making me stress out too much. I am just petrified of him going into respiratory distress.

Looks like i'm moving onto plan D (or are we at C) The one I thought we'd have to implement sooner actually.

He did get around the block last night and then all the way up two flights for bed. So there is that. I am having to be super careful about stairs as he is easier to get panty now.

8 weeks! at least hopefully then even if we are not walking much, we'll be able to open the windows and feel the cool air (well mostly - September isn't without it's warm days but overall things will be better). Rocky likes to putter on the green spaces so I do a short putter, in to cool down, then back out for another putter. and he is moving around quite a bit indoors.

[MontananDakota]

First of all, I’ve found that humidity affects my dog’s breathing (panting) much more than the actual temperature, so that may be some of what you are seeing.

Secondly, Scully wasn’t able to go on walks longer than around the block for over a year before we lost her, but she enjoyed meandering the yard, short (to the corner and back) outings, plus we were able during the warmer months to take her swimming, although I had to wade in with her, as the swimming part was fine, but walking up out of the water too many times was too much for her. That way, I stood right where she could touch and she mostly swam with only coming in and out of the water the one time. Point is, that she was happy and enjoyed those outings immensely, even if they were no longer the 2 hour hikes she did as a young dog.

As they get older, I’ve found we need to stop looking at them in comparison to what they were, but to really, truly look at them as they are now. Do they seem happy and content most of the time? Do they still enjoy cuddles and treats? How about just laying outside watching “smell-o-vision” on a nice day? A small amount of arthritis pain is part of the aging process for both dogs, and humans so I never expected them to be as completely comfortable with all activities as they were as young dogs. As long as they didn’t seem to be in pain the majority of the time, if they had trouble with something like stairs, we just tried to create a routine that minimized how many times they had to go up/down and helped them as necessary.

Annette47--you are always the voice of reason. Such great advice here. I plan to keep this in mind for my own dogs.

Tanya-hugs.

[Blackboy98]

Annettte47 your wisdom and calm nature, your take one step at a time and adapt to the problem is enlightening to me. You MUST be part dog as you are so connected to your dogs. Absolutely amazing and I say that with all humility.

You obviously see the bigger picture and I am so happy for you!!

[Snowshoe]

Do what you can for Rocky. IS there a short walk to a cool puddle? I know with Jet a trip in the car to the shortest walk noticeably brightened her day. I tried very hard not to be sad for her because she would sense it and react. It's the most important acting job you will ever do. With people I think it's often better to acknowledge that times are bad and sad but dogs, cats, they don't know those things. We need to try not to tell them, I think.

[Tanya]

Do what you can for Rocky. IS there a short walk to a cool puddle? I know with Jet a trip in the car to the shortest walk noticeably brightened her day. I tried very hard not to be sad for her because she would sense it and react. It's the most important acting job you will ever do. With people I think it's often better to acknowledge that times are bad and sad but dogs, cats, they don't know those things. We need to try not to tell them, I think.

Rocky seems content, he really does. I worry he is bored :P
No puddles. Though we've had so much rain the grass is nearly a puddle :P

I don't have a car and worry at this point about bringing him anywhere. There may be water access I could drive to at 6am just need to...be awake enough to drive and check it out ahead of time. Rocky was never a water loving dog. he generally treats any water like a big water bowl We have a kiddy pool in the yard, he doesn't go in it. I should probably dump it and get a water bowl for outside!

I am lucky Rocky doesn't take on too much of my mood. I mean I am sure he does but not as much as say Penny or other dogs.

TOday in my facebook memories was a photo of Penny cuddling. During her recovery, when I got home from work I would try to get the pups outside uqickly to do their business. But Penny didn't want to hurry. She wanted me to stop, sit down and cuddle with her. So I did, we had a new routine where I'd come in and sit on the ground with them for a few minutes before going outside. This is a good thing for me to remember. I need to slow down and see what Rocky wants first. (and obviously see if that is someting we can do!).

Morning routine needs to be mixed up again, he is getting panty (excitement-a bit from the walk or more easy to pant from excitement because of the walk). He gets soooo exited for him kibble and kong. But I worry about bloat and stuff (and this is all before I have to head to work). so I'll play around with the routine. Stuff like do I leave him downstairs, do I shower before/after the walk blah blah blah.

I realize that fall won't bring a new "improved" Rocky but I do hope he won't pant as easily with the lower heat/cooler house.

[Sue-Ram]

Morning routine needs to be mixed up again, he is getting panty (excitement-a bit from the walk or more easy to pant from excitement because of the walk). He gets soooo exited for him kibble and kong. But I worry about bloat and stuff (and this is all before I have to head to work). so I'll play around with the routine. Stuff like do I leave him downstairs, do I shower before/after the walk blah blah blah.

Ram is also now doing the excitement pant. In the morning he's fine but when I get home from work he goes outside to pee and then starts to pant waiting for me to feed him and the cats. While he's eating I go upstairs and get changed and I can hear him tap dancing and panting downstairs. I don't dilly and I don't dally but by the time I come back down he's panting so much that we're only outside long enough for him to poop.

At the beginning of June I took him for an assessment at PT and he had lost some muscle in his back end when they did his measurements compared to when we were there after his surgery. We've been going every Saturday since then for the underwater treadmill and his surgery leg doesn't buckle anymore while he's walking. With all the rain we had in June and now with humidity he hasn't been swimming much. I would like to find some way to be able to control the excitement panting.