Cold And Seniors

[XTRAWLD]

I'm wondering: as dogs age, are they more susceptible to cold? For the first year ever, Kasey came in the house shivering after a short walk after snowfall (even with a coat on). Since then, I've put a sweater on him after our walks till he has warmed up, and doubled up his coat when we go out, snood included (thanks to crochet magic of my mom). Is this common and expected? He'll be 9 in Feb.

[OwnedBySummer]

I found the answer to be yes. I haven't experienced old age with a grey yet but my previous non-greys, for sure they felt the cold more as they aged.

Edited December 30, 2011 by OwnedBySummer

[Guest june]

Jazzy never wanted to wear a coat no matter how cold it was and now not only does she wear a coat, but is glad for her PJ's at night. She just turned 9.

[GreyPoopon]

I think so.

 

Both Edie (12) and Jessie (13) are far worse this year, even though it really hasn't been very cold yet.

[TheFullHouse]

Mine don't get that cold. They even play in the snow without coats and they are 13, 11 1/2, 10 1/2, 6 1/2, and 2.

[krissn333]

I haven't noticed that with mine, but Carrie, who is 12, is a very wooly girl. The greyhound who gets the coldest is Ace-but she's been that way since she was 2. Pinky gets cold a bit easier this year, but I suspect that has more to do with her shaved hiney from her amputation surgery than anything else

[Remolacha]

Fletcher has gotten much more sensitive to heat as he has gotten older (10 in a couple of months), so I might say they get more sensitive to temperature extremes, since heat is more of issue here, but Molly will be 10 in May and she doesn't seem phased by heat or cold

[ChiliDog]

Well here in our Montreal winters Greta was always cold (we got her at 9, she passed at 11) , and Joe T. (going on 11) is doing more shivering than he used to. Buffy is not so bad (but I think I will have to get her a warmer coat this year) and Pepper ( who is experiencing his very first winter) walked ot the door this morning with a look on his face that said "what the.......???????????????"

[silverfish]

I think it depends - and that may partly be what their medical issues are.

 

Our first grey, Jim, spent the last couple of months or so of his life asking to go out every evening and stand in the cold in the dead of winter, panting. He had congestive heart failure and was on meds for that, and I have no idea if that was a factor or not, but he also grew extra fur that winter, in places he'd never had fur before!! Previous to that, he'd been a dog who needed a fleece jacket on cooler days, and a coat over that on bitter days.

 

Susan only lived to be ten years old and didn't care what the weather was doing.

 

But Renie (10) got very, very cold in the months before she died. So cold that inside the house, in pyjamas, her paws and ears would be icy. She had cancer and the specialist said that it was using up her resources so fast she wasn't able to keep herself warm.

 

Jack lived to 13.5 and never cared what the weather was doing. He was out in the snow (in the garden) without a coat the day he had his first embolism. I did used to put one on him for walks, but it was more that he tolerated it and wore it to humour me. He would stride out into a blizzard with his ears flying and an expression of bliss on his face.

 

The two we have now: Sid (7) feels the cold more than Ranger (9), although Sid is a tripod, which exposes a lot of belly. Ranger is super thin and will feel it on a really cold, windy day if he stands around, but apart from that, he's fine to go out into the garden naked.

[Guest BrianRke]

Fletcher has gotten much more sensitive to heat as he has gotten older (10 in a couple of months), so I might say they get more sensitive to temperature extremes, since heat is more of issue here, but Molly will be 10 in May and she doesn't seem phased by heat or cold

Same here, Daytona just turned 10 this week and he loves the cold. In the winter he is more active and loves to go outside. He does have a very thick coat for a greyhound. In the summer he goes outside and wants to come right back in, he really dislikes the heat. I keep the A/C in the house on 67 in the summer just for him.

 

Diamond and Frank dont seem to be affected by temperature at all.

[Guest KennelMom]

9 is still pretty young...I've never really noticed a change in temperature sensitivity in a 9 year old...usually once they get 12-13+ and they start to drop more muscle they may need a little something more in the winter months, but it depends on the dog. Haley was a hoss of a dog until the day she died at 14. She kept amazing muscle tone. Nothing seemed to bother her. Annie was a waif of a dog (but we didn't get her until she was 12 and had already lost a TON of muscle)...I used to keep a light sweater on her in winter.

[kudzu]

In general I think the answer is yes. But other factors can effect this as well. My dogs with higher metabolisms seem to be less sensitive to the cold & those were also the dogs who were in the best condition. So I've come to have the theory the the better condition & more exercise our dogs get the less likely they will be to feel the cold more as they age. Perhaps it has a lot to do with less muscle mass? My first senior Grey had arthritis when I adopted him at age 10 yo. Though he did not appear more susceptible to cold as he aged, his arthritis certainly made me less comfortable in colder weather. By the time he was 12 yo he was definitely more comfortable if we kept him warmer. Meaning that though he didn't seem more likely to become cold he was definitely more sensitive to chillier temps & appreciated coats & his night shirt.

 

At age 10 yo now Venus doesn't seem any more sensitive to cold yet but I have given her a comfy chair to sleep on during the day so she is up off the drafty floor.

[Guest Energy11]

Considering it hasn't been cold here this winter, ... no coats.

 

Even last year, though, when it was cold and snow , my seniors never wore coats. When we first moved here from Florida, they did wear them the first winter. I think, just like humans, they get used to the cold.

[XTRAWLD]

He certainly has always been skinny, he's never been a big eater and he's been on prednisone to control allergies since 2008. It certainly contributes to his lack of weight gain but for the most part his weight is steady at least. I know for a fact his paws can't take a long walk in the snow, but the same can be said for Ryder. Muttluks are our friend when it hits -10. The shivering certainly is a new thing, and I agree he is likely compromised by the prednisone regardless of if it is a low dose or not.

[Guest FordRacingRon]

My take would be,,,,as we age we get that way so why not a dog? Leia has become more heat sensitive now as she ages (little over 8 1/2). Used to be she was good to go up till about 80 (,,now she slows down if it is 75. She wlaks better int he cold but at night when the house gets under 60 she does like to be covered up or wear her lightweight jammies. I wrote a rememberance for Leia's friend Cantel who went to the bridge this week. At 121/2 Cantel almost always had a coat on,,she had a light one for daytime and a heavy one for outside. Almost always in her coats in the fall, winter and spring.

[GeorgeofNE]

9 is still pretty young...I've never really noticed a change in temperature sensitivity in a 9 year old...usually once they get 12-13+ and they start to drop more muscle they may need a little something more in the winter months, but it depends on the dog. Haley was a hoss of a dog until the day she died at 14. She kept amazing muscle tone. Nothing seemed to bother her. Annie was a waif of a dog (but we didn't get her until she was 12 and had already lost a TON of muscle)...I used to keep a light sweater on her in winter.

 

 

Thank you! When I read the topic title, and then saw the OP was talking about a nine year old, I was surprised! George, at 9, is not much different than George at 5, aside from the grey fur. Yes, his back legs can get wonky from his LS, but aside from that, nothing in our routine has been adjusted for his age. I guess, technically, 9 is a senior.

 

As to the issue of cold--I have never once thought George seemed cold.

 

I am certainly cold more often now that I am older...

[Guest betheab199]

Truly seems to depend on the hound, doesn't it?? We are in Michigan, and I don't use coats very often. Carol, at 12.5, is pretty furry and spends quite a bit of time outside so far this fall/winter. Not sure why. I have had someone mention dementia, and DH thinks she is dealing with arthritis, but she will stay out and I go and call her in.Truthfully, we have had such a mild fall I think she has just been enjoying it!

[Gryffenne]

Michigan here as well. Sammi turned 9 in December. She's always been a Diva, tho. Can't stand extreme humid heat in the summer, doesn't like the extreme cold in the winter. She loves her summertime's A/C & winter wardrobe

 

As for her feet, she loathes "boots" so I use toddler socks that my son has outgrown to cover her feet in the sub temps (you know, when it's so cold the snow squeaks?) Just toss em in the dirty laundry or in with the towels and grab another pair from her box.

 

Those socks are also great for foot injury covers as well, since she knows how to unwrap vet wrap, so a pair is also in the first aid kit as well.