On an average, Collies typically live 10 to 13, but many dogs go well beyond the age of 13 and I have heard of some Collies reaching 16 and beyond. Generally it is thought that the smaller the dog, the longer lived and the bigger the dog, the shorter lived. Just like with people, old age is a relative thing. Some dogs age gracefully, while others do not. Some dogs are old at 8-10, while others remain youthful and full of pep well into their 12th or 13th year. As with anything, it depends on the breed of dog, the genes, the kind of care and the amount of stress in the dog's life. Typically it is thought that a large breed of dog is considered a senior dog at anything above 6, but I have found in my personal experience with Collies, that senior aging doesn't really start until they begin approaching the age of 9 or 10. I have had lots of Collie that reached the age of 12 and beyond.
As with the human experience things can and will go wrong. The older dog's needs become quite different depending on how well they are aging and what particular health problems they may have developed. Unfortunately most of the problems that occur as a result of the aging process are irreversible. About all we can do is take care of our elderly dogs the best way possible, giving them the best medical care, lots of love and making sure they spend their golden years as comfortably as possible.
Puppies may demand extra care, attention and time, but you know the trials and tribulations will improve as they mature. However, with the older dog, past a certain point, everything is down hill and you know the situation is not going to get better! So you may need to alter your care program, in an attempt to make the senior Collie's life easier and more pleasant! You will find in the last couple of years of life, the senior citizen definitely needs additional care and many of their needs begin to change. Some typical signs of the aging process are decreased activity and appetite, longer hours sleeping, stiffness in the extremities, and dyer skin and coat. Their predicament can be tentative and fragile.
As the Collie ages and slows down, the diet may need to be altered, as well as reduced in quantity. Aging typically sees a reduction in appetite. You may discover overnight that your less-active Collie has suddenly become obese. Obesity is not doing the older dog any favors because it can add stress to already weakened bones and joints. Consequently you may need to reduce the amount of food or change the type of food entirely. Personally I have never had a healthy Collie lose its appetite due to age, but I have had quite a few become obese. As a rule Collies are easy keepers, so you do need to watch their weight! There are numerous excellent senior diets on the market. Some people though have found many of the senior diets not only lacking in palatability, but also too low in protein or fat. As a result, the older dog can either can get too thin or the coat becomes dry and brittle. Many people opt for leaving the dog on the same diet they have had for the entire life, as long as the dog is doing well. I have generally had the best luck leaving the dog on the same brand of food they have always eaten, but I give a smaller portion. I normally feed Eukanuba Adult Lamb & Rice, but I have on occasion had good luck with the Eukanuba Adult Reduced Fat. The Iam's company has an excellent web page on feeding and care of the older dog and Eukanuba has many wonderful products with the older dog in mind.
Also available are various vitamin supplements specially fortified with extra iron and calcium, with the senior in mind. Doctors are discovering the value of moderate exercise in older people. The same rules apply in dogs…..the necessity for moderation becomes a necessity. Older dogs still need exercise, but not as strenuously as previous years.
It's not unusual for some older dogs to become deaf or blind. Unfortunately other than treating the dogs with kindness and respect, nothing can be done in these two areas. Make sure the ears and eyes are kept clean and free of matter.
Of major concern are dental needs. It pays to keep the dogs teeth clean and watch out for any tooth or gum problems. Collies seem to be very prone to tartar collection as they age and you may find yourself having to keep up with the teeth more often than than in previous years. Other than scaling the teeth, I have used C.E.T. Enzymatic Dentifrice with good success. It comes with a tube of tooth paste and a finger brush that is very gentle on the dog's gums. Also, I do own several dental tools and have scaled the teeth myself, but it takes great patience and care so as not to damage the enamel on the teeth and the gums. If the teeth become too loaded with tartar, about the only solution is to have the teeth professionally cleaned. This does have certain risks since most Vets use anesthesia to put the dog out while cleaning. Not only does anesthesia assure proper cleaning but on the oft chance that a dog might need to have teeth pulled, they will already be under. With older dogs, most Vets want blood work and the dog on antibiotics prior to the teeth cleaning. Also available is anesthesia-free teeth cleaning. However, this is not for all dogs. Some dogs do not tolerate the lying down and scaling of the teeth while fully awake. Also, this method is not a viable alternative if teeth need to be pulled. The best alternative is to keep up with the cleaning of the teeth before they become a problem!
General health needs of the older dog may need altering. One of the typical problems that seems to hit many of the larger breeds, including older Collies, is arthritis. In my own personal experience the greatest health problem I have run into starting around the age of 11 or 12, in other wise healthy Collies, has been arthritis in the hips. I have had to put down more healthy collies for this reason than all the others combined. Sooner or later, your aging Collie will probably show these signs: stiffness, soreness or lameness. In years past a dog owner was pretty much limited to treatments of aspirin or various cortisones and steroid products. However, within the last few years there are several alternatives to these previously used drugs. They won't cure arthritis, but they may help alleviate some of the problems such as, pain, stiffness and swelling typically seen in the arthritic dog. Recently, one of the most highly touted drugs is Rimadyl®. Opinion is still out on this drug, as many people have had either great success with it, or others have experienced side effects. Here is a web site link to the Pfizer Company, makers of Rimadyl®. I have used this drug successfully on several dogs, whose lives were extended thanks to this drug. I have not had one single adverse reaction. If using Rimadyl, your Vet may want to do blood work every 6 months to check the liver function. There are also several other new drugs on the market, such as Duramaxx. However, after experimenting with several aged Collies, I have not found any other drug that has worked as well as Rimadyl. However, that said, I have heard of other people that have owned dogs of various other breeds, that have had problems with the drug, even resulting in death, but this has not been my experience.
Another popular supplement in the ongoing battle with Arthritis is a combination of products called: Chondroitin Sulfate & Glucosamine HCI. Usually these two supplements are combined with vitamin C. Many dog owners, as well as Veterinarians have had good luck with these joint care products. In fact, many of the better known dog foods are now adding this product to the food.
When the situation gets to the point where the dog becomes really uncomfortable, there are various buffered aspirin products on the market. One good one is Arthricare, made by Veterinary Products Laboratories. However, with any aspirin product, the owner needs to be aware of possible stomach irritation. As with anything, consult your Veterinarian before using any supplements or drugs. When things get to the point of no return when a dog is having great difficulty getting up, laying down or navigating, more extreme measures may be necessary. Some Veterinarians might suggest a minimal daily dosage of either prednisone or Phenylbutazone. These two drugs should never be used without first consulting a Veterinarian. Not only can they have dangerous side affects, but they can cause imminent death when combined either together or with other drugs. Basically any drug used on the older pet is just buying the dog a little more time and trying to improve the quality of life. But by the same token, you don't want to destroy the dog doing it.
There are orthopedic beds with lots of foam rubber, made especially with the aging pet in mind. Also, heated pads or bedding might help to make the aging pet more comfortable.
Many Vets recommend occasional health checks and blood work as a form of preventative medicine in the older dog. Blood work especially can give early warning to pending health problems. This is especially a good idea if your aging dog just doesn't seem right. Anemia can often be a problem in the aging dog, as well as lower Thyroid levels. It is good to keep on top of these health issues, before something gets out of control.
NEVER, EVER should the older dog be left outside to deal with the weather elements, whether it is heat or cold. Situations that a younger dog brushes off, can become a calamity for the oldster. Not only do they need to be protected from weather extremes, but they deserve it, after all the great rewards they have given to the owner!
The older dog may need to go outside to eliminate more often. The once fastidious oldster may find themselves in a position of not being able to “hold it” as they once were able. Thus, more frequent trips outside become necessary. A frequent Collie problem (and other breeds as well), is a condition found especially in the spayed bitch.....leakage of urine. This condition is a medical problem and has absolutely nothing to do with housebreaking. There are various products on the market, such as female hormones that can help with this condition. First though, infection needs to be ruled out. Consult with your Veterinarian about taking in a urine sample to check for an infection. If infection is ruled out, more that likely the problem is incontinence from being spayed and the resulting loss of hormones. There are several studies in the works regarding this problem. This problem may become even more common with the recent practice of early spay, thanks to the overpopulation problem of pet dogs.
I also have found it helpful to trim the aging Collie's coat, especially around the pants area on the back legs. Due stiffness, sometimes it's difficult for an older collie bitch to squat all the way down, when urinating. As a result, many end up peeing on their long coat in the back area. I give all my older Collies a puppy trim, where I trim all the long hair all the way around, front and back. Not only is this done for hygiene, but also as a Collie ages, they don't tolerate the stress of being groomed for long periods of time. I truly believe the act of grooming is hard on their already sore joints. So the puppy trim actually serves two purposes.
Personally I just cringe every time I hear of an older Collie being abandoned or given up for adoption or placed in rescue...my heart goes out to them. I just can't imagine such a thing and the cruelty of it all. Collies especially, more so than any other breed (thanks to their close ties to humans), deserve much better than this! After all the pleasure your dogs have given you over the years, they deserve the best care and treatment possible whether they be a retired show champion, brood bitch or just a valued pet. Whatever they may be, they deserve the extra time and care that comes with their aging years.
Most important of all, don't forget the love and attention that they crave and deserve! It becomes a rewarding experience for all involved!
