Creating a "bucket list" for a senior dog?

[Ultralight]

Harlan is ten years old next month. I got him when he was 10 weeks.

He is a 40 lbs. Walker hound mix.

I figure, at best, he has two good years left.

He has the lumps on his body dogs get, and because of his unfortunate puppyhood his teeth are bad. He has had 5 extractions and needs two more soon.

A close friend's 12 year old pit mix died yesterday -- liver cancer.

So it really got me thinking that I should create a bucket list for Harlan.

Thoughts?

[razz]

A bucket list for a dog has me mystified. No idea what that entails so no help, sorry.

[Teacher Terry]

Noki’s was swimming everyday in the summer his last 2 years, walks and pup cups at diary queen. He also got steak. He lived to 13 and was 80 lbs. He also went on vacation.

[Simplemind]

TT can I be your dog??? :~)

[lmerullo]

I think it might be specific to each dog.

Maybe a beach day? Does he like water, or swimming?

Burgers or chicken nuggets from a drive through?I

Can he come to work with you and sleep under your desk a few times?

[Ultralight]

Harlan likes:
-Chewies
-Crunchies
-Zoomies
-Snuggles
-Snacks
-Hanging out with my sis and BIL

He dislikes:
-Cars
-Boats
-Water
-Other dogs

[razz]

Sounds like you have a list of his desires as they are simple and his choice. I would add some extra treat to his daily dog chow by including a 1/4 cup of tuna, or whatever else would be surprise.

[KayLR]

His bucket list should "simply" be more of your first list. Til the inevitable end.

[iris lilies]

His bucket list should "simply" be more of your first list. Til the inevitable end.
Agreed. uL you know what he likes, so give him more of same.

My 9.75 year old bulldog wont last to age 12, and he is old snd slowing down, so we are conscious of doing things he likes but no over-doing it. He likes car rides. He would probably like tooling around in an open air car with his mom, so Imam again looking at convertibles. Nothing is too good for our boy!

[Ultralight]

He likes car rides. He would probably like tooling around in an open air car with his mom, so Imam again looking at convertibles. Nothing is too good for our boy!

Whoa! :)

[Teacher Terry]

SM, towards the end he couldn’t jump on the couch so sometimes would get in his bed and sleep with him despite a bad back and neck. I would be half on the doggie bed and my husband would wake me up to go to bed.

[iris lilies]

T
SM, towards the end he couldn’t jump on the couch so sometimes would get in his bed and sleep with him despite a bad back and neck. I would be half on the doggie bed and my husband would wake me up to go to bed.
Awwwww.

I bought our current sofa, an ugly pillow back sofa, which is in conflict with my aesthetic taste. But I can sleep on it when our bulldog can no longer go upstairs to bed, hence the reason I bought it.

[Teacher Terry]

IL, that’s great. We are truly crazy dog people:))

[razz]

And I thought that I was indulgent, you both have me beat. :D

[pony mom]

Make every day great no matter the age. Before they get dementia and don't remember what they like, and just wander around and get stuck everywhere.

Make his last years healthy by looking into changing his diet, adding raw or fresh foods, cooking for him. Maybe you'll add a few extra years.

[Ultralight]

Make every day great no matter the age. Before they get dementia and don't remember what they like, and just wander around and get stuck everywhere.

Make his last years healthy by looking into changing his diet, adding raw or fresh foods, cooking for him. Maybe you'll add a few extra years.

If Harlan gets dementia I am euthanizing him.

I give him lots of healthy foods! He loves veggies. haha

[Teacher Terry]

We didn’t give our dogs people food until it was obvious they were dying. Two of mine had dementia and were fine except they needed something to sleep. However, just like people they go from happy with a little help sleeping to restless and that’s when we let them go. You can definitely tell the difference.

[iris lilies]

Bulldogs don’t seem to get dementia, they die too soon. I am thinking that our eldest Frenchie probably had some dementia because she spent a great part of her day yapping mindlessly. At the time it didn’t occur to me it might be brain impairment. She had a fair amount of hearing loss and vision loss but that was a minor thing because her world was so small.

[chrisgermany]

Hi, this piece came to my mind:
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2013/02/jon-katz-s-going-home-spend-one-last-perfect-day-with-your-dying-dog.html

[pony mom]

I almost lost my little dog yesterday. What we all thought was dementia is actually symptoms of a brain tumor (just like my previous dog, go figure). She seems fine, well, back to what's normal for her at the moment. An emergency, screaming, panicking dog visit to the vet revealed she's perfectly healthy except for something in her brain.

So I'm feeding her more food, since she loves to eat. Spending as much time as I can with her before I take ownership of my new pony (yeah, it's not even a month since my horse was euthanized but I'm miserable without one and the right one came along). Her time with me will be shared with the pony soon. Her fave things are eating and snuggling, so that's what we'll do until her time comes to an end.

Animals live in the moment so the only thing that matters to them is "now".

[Teacher Terry]

I am so sorry pony mom. It’s so hard but enjoy the time you have left.