Getting a little grey ...

charvie · 05-26-2011, 08:29 PM

I was just wondering at what age are bassets considered to be "getting old"?

Beldin is starting to get pretty grey already on his face. Particularly around his muzzle and under his eyes. Also he seems to be sleeping more and at times quite cranky and can have some pretty drastic "mood swings" - which is kind of odd for him.

Medical reasons for his changes in behaviour have been ruled out. He's fine physically. The vet suggested "Maybe he's just getting old."

I mean I guess I didn't really think of that, it doesn't seem like it's really been that long ...

Esther · 05-26-2011, 08:40 PM

dont know about mood swings but lulu started getting gray on her muzzle around 4.

Mikey T · 05-27-2011, 10:58 AM

at 2 years

at 3 year

at 5 years

at 7

Just as in humans we often use greying as a sign of agining but many people along with dogs start greyung when they are still very young. while it is age releated it is very poor as a diagnostic tool trying to determine age.

charvie · 05-27-2011, 11:14 AM

Thanks, Mikey

I guess it was just the grey in combination with the crankiness was making me wonder a bit ... mostly I'm just happy he's still healthy so no cause for concern there ...

Mikey T · 05-27-2011, 11:38 AM

Quote:

crankiness...

More in the morning, when he just gets up etc. If so he may have son arthritis causing pain. dog are very stoic and often can be in quite a bit of pain befor they show signs.

Has a thyroid panel been done?

Some dog do become cranky with age but IMHO it is more healtk related than a natural sign of aging. I have a few that became less craking as they got older.

Art there other behavioral changes you may want to investigate CDS

Quote:

If you notice changes in your older dog's habits or behavior, be sure to talk with your veterinarian. Above all, resist the urge to tell yourself that your dog is “just getting old.” With your help, your veterinarian can determine if the changes in your dog are associated with canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome.
If your dog is over the age of 8, please take a few minutes to complete a Senior Dog CDS Checklist that you can print and take to your veterinarian.

charvie · 05-27-2011, 11:51 AM

Oh, thank you, Mikey T

I know he had a battery of tests done re his thyroid and stuff back when Mocha got sick and we were trying to rule out if he had the same thing she did etc ... recently though he's mostly just had his regular check ups and misc appointments when I'm concerned about something or for ear cleanings and what-not.

Not really so much in the morning as far as crankiness goes. There doesn't really seem to be any pattern to it. Well, I guess that's not quite right either ... he's definately less patient with stuff going on around him if he's trying to nap ... and he is getting more possessive of things he considers "his".

I've tried to make sure his bedding is out of the way of "high traffic" areas around where we live, but when he chooses to nap in the middle of the living room it's harder to avoid him. Also the animals have their own feed bowls and stuff. Trying to limit "cranky-causing" issues.

Mikey T · 05-27-2011, 12:04 PM

Quote:

he's definately less patient with stuff going on around him if he's trying to nap ... and he is getting more possessive of things he considers "his".

Resource guarding. Unless you work actively to change the behavior it tends to become self rewarding and gets worse over time.

Esther · 05-27-2011, 01:14 PM

regarding the diagnostic tool for aging... when austin was sick they listed him at 8y/o bc it was five yrs after the adoption--the rescue had said he was 2-3. come to find out he was 13-14... a real shock! the vet has written multiple papers on the subject. he uses an eye test. he said that, over time, a dog's eye develops layers--think about it like peeling an onion, just in reverse. layers thicken over time and he is able to use pinpoint light refraction to test. if the dot does certain things while being shone through the eye they use that somehow to measure age. He worked with purina and did a blind study of over 500 dogs (whose real ages were known) and was statistically accurate with a +/- 1 year accuracy. Pretty impressive.

There's your somewhat useless tidbit for the day.

mhvonalmen8908 · 05-27-2011, 04:42 PM

That's a really neat tidbit Esther! Very interesting. I've never had a really old dog before. But my parents have a 15 year old mutt at home and she didn't start greying until she was about 10 years old. She's still the most loving and sweetest dog you'll ever meet. Doesn't matter who it is.

charvie · 05-27-2011, 06:07 PM

I know how old Beldin is ... was just wondering if there was an age where bassets would start being considered as "getting old" ... I think I read their life expectancy was roughly 10ish to 14 years?

And oh dear... thanks again Mikey ... didn't think of it as that way - sorta puts a bit of a new perspective on that ... going to have to re-establish "alpha" I'm thinking?

05-26-2011, 08:29 PM	#1 (permalink)
charvie Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 662	Getting a little grey ... I was just wondering at what age are bassets considered to be "getting old"? Beldin is starting to get pretty grey already on his face. Particularly around his muzzle and under his eyes. Also he seems to be sleeping more and at times quite cranky and can have some pretty drastic "mood swings" - which is kind of odd for him. Medical reasons for his changes in behaviour have been ruled out. He's fine physically. The vet suggested "Maybe he's just getting old." I mean I guess I didn't really think of that, it doesn't seem like it's really been that long ... __________________ Food-Slave to: -- Sir '*Beldin' Feldigast the First, and -- Prince 'Farmer*' Camden

05-27-2011, 11:14 AM	#4 (permalink)
charvie Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 662	Thanks, Mikey I guess it was just the grey in combination with the crankiness was making me wonder a bit ... mostly I'm just happy he's still healthy so no cause for concern there ... __________________ Food-Slave to: -- Sir '*Beldin' Feldigast the First, and -- Prince 'Farmer*' Camden

05-27-2011, 11:51 AM	#6 (permalink)
charvie Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 662	Oh, thank you, Mikey T I know he had a battery of tests done re his thyroid and stuff back when Mocha got sick and we were trying to rule out if he had the same thing she did etc ... recently though he's mostly just had his regular check ups and misc appointments when I'm concerned about something or for ear cleanings and what-not. Not really so much in the morning as far as crankiness goes. There doesn't really seem to be any pattern to it. Well, I guess that's not quite right either ... he's definately less patient with stuff going on around him if he's trying to nap ... and he is getting more possessive of things he considers "his". I've tried to make sure his bedding is out of the way of "high traffic" areas around where we live, but when he chooses to nap in the middle of the living room it's harder to avoid him. Also the animals have their own feed bowls and stuff. Trying to limit "cranky-causing" issues. __________________ Food-Slave to: -- Sir '*Beldin' Feldigast the First, and -- Prince 'Farmer*' Camden

05-27-2011, 04:42 PM	#9 (permalink)
mhvonalmen8908 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Sumter, SC Posts: 671	That's a really neat tidbit Esther! Very interesting. I've never had a really old dog before. But my parents have a 15 year old mutt at home and she didn't start greying until she was about 10 years old. She's still the most loving and sweetest dog you'll ever meet. Doesn't matter who it is. __________________ Megan & Chris -Mom & Dad to Doppler (2 year old Basset/Redbone/Golden mix) and Virga (1 year old Basset)

05-27-2011, 06:07 PM	#10 (permalink)
charvie Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 662	I know how old Beldin is ... was just wondering if there was an age where bassets would start being considered as "getting old" ... I think I read their life expectancy was roughly 10ish to 14 years? And oh dear... thanks again Mikey ... didn't think of it as that way - sorta puts a bit of a new perspective on that ... going to have to re-establish "alpha" I'm thinking? __________________ Food-Slave to: -- Sir '*Beldin' Feldigast the First, and -- Prince 'Farmer*' Camden

05-26-2011, 08:40 PM	#2 (permalink)
Esther Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 1,038	dont know about mood swings but lulu started getting gray on her muzzle around 4.

05-27-2011, 10:58 AM	#3 (permalink)
Mikey T Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: West Warrwick, RI Posts: 7,729	at 2 years at 3 year at 5 years at 7 Just as in humans we often use greying as a sign of agining but many people along with dogs start greyung when they are still very young. while it is age releated it is very poor as a diagnostic tool trying to determine age.

05-27-2011, 01:14 PM	#8 (permalink)
Esther Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 1,038	regarding the diagnostic tool for aging... when austin was sick they listed him at 8y/o bc it was five yrs after the adoption--the rescue had said he was 2-3. come to find out he was 13-14... a real shock! the vet has written multiple papers on the subject. he uses an eye test. he said that, over time, a dog's eye develops layers--think about it like peeling an onion, just in reverse. layers thicken over time and he is able to use pinpoint light refraction to test. if the dot does certain things while being shone through the eye they use that somehow to measure age. He worked with purina and did a blind study of over 500 dogs (whose real ages were known) and was statistically accurate with a +/- 1 year accuracy. Pretty impressive. There's your somewhat useless tidbit for the day.

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