You need to keep your eye on them as they age and ensure they can reach to the water bowl without any issues. At a certain point last fall, my dog stopped being able to drink from the water bowl and lost his balance a few times. Once that happened, he got scared to drink from the bowl (at any level that I placed it), as he toppled over while he was drinking. So I started to balance him by putting an arm under his belly and holding the water bowl up to him. Takes a lot of work to figure out where they feel safe enough to drink once they've had a scary fall, and you have to keep at it and adapt as they lose mobility.
The other thing I learned this past weekend that I wanted to share before I forget is that I tried to put him on a home-cooked turkey and rice + supplements diet from a very good company based in NY that shipped the frozen food to me. As I lowered the amount of freeze-dried raw turkey patties and raised the amount of turkey/rice on this new diet, he suddenly got so weak he couldn't get himself off his bed. And that caused a lot of panic in him. I theorized that he wasn't getting adequate protein and had too many carbs in this new diet and immediately put him back on his freeze-dried raw patties with just a small amount of the turkey and rice mixed in. 12 hours later, he could get himself off his bed again.
I just wanted to throw this out there for anyone dealing with an aging woof.
I have read that dogs can easily live to 18 on a raw food diet, and I now suspect it is exactly the type of protein they need as they age. But you can't forget the water. Dogs will rapidly decline in a matter of days if they get dehydrated.
No vet has ever told me these important things about raw protein and watching the water bowl for adequate consumption, so I hope this information will help other dog owners."
Posted By Hollyhock (America ) on 07/30/2022
"Good information! Our dog is a rescue (we have no idea on her age) do you have any opinion on raw egg for the protein? We've noticed her hips are getting weak so its harder for her to get up. We usually give her occasional beef heart or liver when we can get it from the local grass fed beef farm. Thanks."Posted By Heather (Wellfleet MA ) on 11/12/2023
"Thank you so much for this reminder.
My vets give me very conflicting information re the protein ratio for my 12-year-old baby gurl! 18+ here we come xoxo"
Posted By Donna (Camp Verde AZ USA) on 04/04/2025
"Thank you so much for posting. Very encouraging as I am dealing with a 14+ year old Catahoula Blue Heeler mix. My best friend and loyal pup. I will definitely keep an eye on the water and protein; been concerned about his cough but will get 2nd opinion since the last vet prescribed Lasics for "heart condition" - I believe it's his throat or esophagus and refused the Lasics due to side affects.
Thanks again!
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