Aging in Bassets

Kirska · 01-20-2012, 02:29 PM

The shelter estimated Lila's age to be 8 but when we took her to our vet for the first time today she kept referring to her as a "young adult" and I finally asked her confused how old she thought she was.

She said that based on her coat, nails, ears, teeth, and eyes she thought she was only around 4 years old.

She said with bassets their coat tends to get a different feel to it as they age, their nails get more brittle, and eyes start to get cloudy. Since she did not notice any signs of any of this she thinks the shelter was most likely incorrect and guessed her too old. Her teeth are in very good shape, only a little tartar.

What do you experienced basset owners think about this?

Her face is gray, as you can see, but she thought a lot of that could be white markings.

Not that I am complaining, her behavior is calm, so it makes no difference to us either way. She can hang around as long as she wants.

paisleysmom · 01-20-2012, 02:47 PM

No matter whether she is four or eight she is beautiful ... what a wonderful photo!!! She has a pretty youthful look and the most "smiling" eyes!!!

Boomer's Mom · 01-20-2012, 05:59 PM

^^^What Paisley said. ;-)

bethrn · 01-20-2012, 08:25 PM

Such a beautiful lady and photo. I am always amazed by some of the pictures posted. Seems lately the only ones I've gotten of Daisy are of her asleep. The rest are just a blur of her moving!

jaleely · 01-21-2012, 03:30 AM

i'd heard you could tell by the ears...if the white goes down to the ears it might be age. hope she's young as well as young at heart though!

BassetBasti · 01-21-2012, 12:47 PM

Others say that their eyes can show that they are old. The weary the eyes look, the older the dog is.

Soundtrack · 01-21-2012, 12:49 PM

If your vet were using those criteria and looking at Rosie, she would also probably guess her to be in the 4-6 range - and she's 10! Rosie also has less gray than Lila. Just to say that it can be really hard to properly estimate a basset's age. I've had them go grey pretty young, and I've had them pass from old age with hardly any grey. Coat is an indication of overall health, so a dog that is starting to wear down in other areas will generally show it in the coat, but then Rainbow went to the bridge and the vet commented on how healthy her coat was.

This was Rosie in October:

Lightning&Stomps · 01-21-2012, 05:53 PM

Yes, Lightning started graying very early (like around 5 or 6), whereas Stomps didn't start graying until he was pretty old. It's especially hard to guess age with rescues, because you rarely know what level of care they got when they were younger. Just be glad she's so healthy. And I think I said this before, but she looks so much like my sweet Stomps (who sadly is ATB ), it's uncanny.

TheWallaceClan · 01-21-2012, 10:13 PM

Some bassets can go prematurely gray. One in particular I worked with had gray fur in certain spots on his face by the age of three. He's nine years old now and fully gray on his face. I'll see if I can find a picture of him, he's absolutely stunning!

As long as your baby is safe, happy, and healthy, that's all you can really ask for.

Think of this as a blessing that she'll get to be in her forever home much much longer. <3

houndmomma · 01-21-2012, 11:23 PM

Young or old – she is a beautiful girl that’s for sure. If you were to see Lucy’s eyes today – they have started the clouding process and she’s 12 ½ - but… If you were to go to my Album (which I need to update) and look at the photo of Flash on the grass – she was 10 in that photo her eyes were as clear as could be and remained that way until the day I lost her at 11 ½ years.

It’s hard to tell sometime isn’t it?

Jen~

01-20-2012, 02:29 PM	#1 (permalink)
Kirska Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 932	Aging in Bassets The shelter estimated Lila's age to be 8 but when we took her to our vet for the first time today she kept referring to her as a "young adult" and I finally asked her confused how old she thought she was. She said that based on her coat, nails, ears, teeth, and eyes she thought she was only around 4 years old. She said with bassets their coat tends to get a different feel to it as they age, their nails get more brittle, and eyes start to get cloudy. Since she did not notice any signs of any of this she thinks the shelter was most likely incorrect and guessed her too old. Her teeth are in very good shape, only a little tartar. What do you experienced basset owners think about this? Her face is gray, as you can see, but she thought a lot of that could be white markings. Not that I am complaining, her behavior is calm, so it makes no difference to us either way. She can hang around as long as she wants. __________________ Mom to Anabelle and Lila, rescued ladies and Harley, Corgi/Beagle/Basset/?? mutt "Saving just one dog won't change the world, but it surely will change the world for that one dog." - Richard C. Call

01-20-2012, 05:59 PM	#3 (permalink)
Boomer's Mom Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Nebraska Posts: 1,733	^^^What Paisley said. ;-) __________________ Boomer: Born 4/18/2010 Biscuit: Rescued 1/26/12, approx. 2 yo Chez Basset: Come for the kibble, stay for the belly rubs.

01-21-2012, 03:30 AM	#5 (permalink)
jaleely Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Ventura, CA Posts: 942	i'd heard you could tell by the ears...if the white goes down to the ears it might be age. hope she's young as well as young at heart though! __________________ Baby Bowsah's Bwog

01-21-2012, 12:47 PM	#6 (permalink)
BassetBasti Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 18	Others say that their eyes can show that they are old. The weary the eyes look, the older the dog is. __________________ Natalie, mom of the most beautiful Basset Hound Basti

01-21-2012, 12:49 PM	#7 (permalink)
Soundtrack Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,577	If your vet were using those criteria and looking at Rosie, she would also probably guess her to be in the 4-6 range - and she's 10! Rosie also has less gray than Lila. Just to say that it can be really hard to properly estimate a basset's age. I've had them go grey pretty young, and I've had them pass from old age with hardly any grey. Coat is an indication of overall health, so a dog that is starting to wear down in other areas will generally show it in the coat, but then Rainbow went to the bridge and the vet commented on how healthy her coat was. This was Rosie in October: __________________ Rosie-Ch Soundtrack Cracklin' Rose CGN AGN RA Am RN TT Melody-Ch Soundtrack Unchained Melody TT Sailor-Ch Soundtrack Expedition Sailor RN TT Chili-Ch Soundtrack Spice Up Your Life Curry-Ch Soundtrack Canadian Brass Pepper-Ch Pennieslogon Living La Vida Loca CGN Vina-Ch Soundtrack Grand Illusion Leila-Ch Soundtrack Almost Paradise Deela-Ch Soundtrack Wink Of An Eye Hermione - Soundtrack Spellbound Eowyn - Soundtrack Rain Dance Last edited by Soundtrack; 01-21-2012 at 12:58 PM.

01-20-2012, 02:47 PM	#2 (permalink)
paisleysmom Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Sudbury, Ontario Posts: 507	No matter whether she is four or eight she is beautiful ... what a wonderful photo!!! She has a pretty youthful look and the most "smiling" eyes!!!

01-20-2012, 08:25 PM	#4 (permalink)
bethrn Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Ohio Posts: 136	Such a beautiful lady and photo. I am always amazed by some of the pictures posted. Seems lately the only ones I've gotten of Daisy are of her asleep. The rest are just a blur of her moving!

01-21-2012, 05:53 PM	#8 (permalink)
Lightning&Stomps Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Versailles, Ky. Posts: 1,200	Yes, Lightning started graying very early (like around 5 or 6), whereas Stomps didn't start graying until he was pretty old. It's especially hard to guess age with rescues, because you rarely know what level of care they got when they were younger. Just be glad she's so healthy. And I think I said this before, but she looks so much like my sweet Stomps (who sadly is ATB ), it's uncanny.

01-21-2012, 10:13 PM	#9 (permalink)
TheWallaceClan Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Detroit, MI Posts: 19	Some bassets can go prematurely gray. One in particular I worked with had gray fur in certain spots on his face by the age of three. He's nine years old now and fully gray on his face. I'll see if I can find a picture of him, he's absolutely stunning! As long as your baby is safe, happy, and healthy, that's all you can really ask for. Think of this as a blessing that she'll get to be in her forever home much much longer. <3 __________________ If you love something, pee on it! Murphy - 3 years old Droopy - 7 years old

01-21-2012, 11:23 PM	#10 (permalink)
houndmomma Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Chicago Posts: 503	Young or old – she is a beautiful girl that’s for sure. If you were to see Lucy’s eyes today – they have started the clouding process and she’s 12 ½ - but… If you were to go to my Album (which I need to update) and look at the photo of Flash on the grass – she was 10 in that photo her eyes were as clear as could be and remained that way until the day I lost her at 11 ½ years. It’s hard to tell sometime isn’t it? Jen~ __________________ Momma to Lucy age 12 ~ Basset Hound Momma to Rickie age 5 ~ Shi-Poo (don’t tell him though – he thinks he’s a hound dog) Momma to Mabel age -1 ~ Basset Hound Momma to Flash – RIP 2000 ~ 2011 – Gone in body but with me in spirit ~ You will live on forever in my heart baby ~ Je t'aime

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