[Betsy Iole]

Dogs tend to be fairly rambunctious for two to three years before they settle into a kind of calm, middle-age period...

Around the end of middle age—about 9 years for a medium-sized dog—you’ll need to start watching for various health problems that take place in the senior years: rotting teeth, arthritis, liver and kidney diseases, blindness, deafness and, eventually, a kind of cognitive dysfunction that’s the equivalent of a canine Alzheimer’s disease. Females may also experience urinary incontinence.

This is an interesting piece. It discusses cats, too. Hamsters are middle aged at twelve months!
Source

 

[Barbara Winters]

I wonder at what age bassets are considered "senior"? Is it around 7.5 like the large breed dogs or is it older than that? I always say that each day after 10 is a gift.

Roady is 11 1/2 and still acts very puppyish and will play for hours to the point of exhaustion if he's in the company of a friend. He started turning gray when he was about 4 but it was a little bit every year and not all over, just the face, head and ears.

He was diagnosed with arthritis in the hocks at age 7 and now has some arthritis in the spine but he's actually has pain less frequently than when he was first diagnosed. Only treatment has been acupuncture and pain meds or muscle relaxants during infrequent flare ups.

He can still catch a piece of kibble tossed in the air so his eye sight is great and so far no problem hearing me whisper the word "cookie"!

I don't know anything about cats as I never had one until a couple of years ago so thanks for the info on cats.

I love bassets at any age but the periods on each end of their life span are my favorites.

 

[Guest]

Molly is 7 1/2 and even with her recent spinal surgery I don't consider her a "senior". I think most Bassets are "old" when they're approaching 10. And I've never had one live to 13. How sad.....Belinda.

 

[Betsy Iole]

Bugs will be 14 in April, God willing. I think I was still running her in agility at 10. Hard to believe it's gone by so fast.

 

[shallhb]

I have had two females, in addition to the two have I have now...One lived to be almost 15, despite the fact that she had every disease in the book (heartworm, cancer twice, slipped disk),had been a rescue who was found so starved her coat had turned white at the age of two. I didn't know what I was doing, and I overfed her horribly, and she got no exercise. So much for risk factors. She was cruising right up to the last few days. My other female lived to be almost 13. My three fellas haven't done so well--we lost them at 9, 10 and 11 years of age. I miss them all...

 

[Guest]

my guy is almost 13 and going strong alot of issues, but he is still ok and happy and that's all that matters

 

[pinehawk]

Raider is going to be 11 in May and we still hunt with him,field trial to as long as he is able to.

 

[Guest]

Franny will be 6 in February and his sweet little face is really going gray quickly. It's funny but the side with the prosthetic eye (his right) is grayer than the left side. He isn't as wacky when he's around other dogs but occasionally, out of the blue, he'll start racing in "figure 8's" like a puppy again. I think the glaucoma is aging him a bit more rapidly or maybe it's just his appearance.....why can't they just live forever???

 

[winnieslo]

Winnie will be 8 next month...started turning white at 3, but despite his diabetes he can go for mile ( 5 mile walk is middle distance) and run with the big boys at the dog park. He certainly holds up better than his mom. Even my foster Daisy who is 10 will walk 3 miles and loves a game of fetch..yeap a basset that fetches

Judy

 

[lnrider]

Leroy will be 6 next month, he's started to grey on his face within the last year. He's become a little grumpier and a little more protective as of late, but we've had a change in our home too. My SIL and two nephews are staying with us for a while. Actually I'm pleasantly surprised at how well he's handled this change, he doesn't enjoy children at all!

 

[upPy]

(she says shes 5..but you know how girls lie about their age)

 

[Guest]

what a sweet girl

 

[Menzie]

BHRG considers any basset 8 years or older to be "seniors". We adopt out seniors at a reduced donation fee ($100, instead of $200 for younger dogs), to try to encourage their adoption. So many people are afraid to adopt seniors, but honestly, if I had my wish, I'd only have seniors in my house from now on. They are SO mellow, and sweet, and wonderful. They have so much love left to give.