My senior dog has many health issues. How can I make him comfortable?

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! Poor Tommy! How old is Tommy? He looks older. I worry about underlying conditions in older animals that develop demodex. Demodex is only "normal" in young puppies (Immature immune systems). Older dogs that develop demodex usually have an underlying condition that suppressed their immune system and allows the mites to grow. Things like Cushing's disease, cancer, low thyroid, etc. Since you are describing Tommy as weak I am worried about something else going on MORE than just his skin. There are no good home remedies for demodex. Tommy needs to be examined by a Vet to find out why he is weak and developed the mites in teh first place. You can try a follicular flushing shampoo, bathe twice weekly allowing the lather to sit on the skin for 10 mins http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=21564 Nexgard, Simparica and Bravecto are oral flea and tick medications that also kill demodex. You can see if your Vet will prescribe one of these for Tommy. I wish Tommy the best!

I am so sorry to hear that your pet has so many major issues that are debilitating and causing her to have a poor quality of life. I do think that if her condition cannot be improved with medications then it is someting you should discuss with your veterinarian. Humane euthansia, although it is probably not something you want to consider, should be considered if Sophie is not able to helped with medical management. However, there are pain medications that can be tried to see if they make a difference. You can discuss with your vet about trying Tramadol and/or Gabapentin to help with pain management. Probiotics can also be tried to help with her diarrhea, as well as a high fiber diet such as Royal Canin Gasrointestinal High Fiber (Rx). It sounds like she may have cancer involving her nervous system, which is why she can't maintain her mobitliy well. Poor girl. I hope that you can come to terms with her condition and maybe there is more you can try with her. Best wishes with Sophie. We are also available for a private consultation if you need to discuss more about Sophie's condition and futher care recommendations. Take care.

Oh no, I'm so sorry that Santeri is so sick! I work for a home euthanasia service, so I face this question all the time with my clients. I suggest making a list of five things Santeri loved to do. If he's not doing at least two of them, then his quality of life has decreased to a point where humane euthanasia should be considered. It's always a hard decision to make, but if he has a poor quality of life, letting him go peacefully would be a great kindness. If you'd like to discuss this further, I'd be happy to consult with you. Just click the "consult online" button under my answer. Otherwise, I hope my answer helps and I'm sorry you are facing this issue :-(

Oh no, your poor dog! It sounds like she is in really bad shape physically. I would have her seen by a vet first thing in the morning to see if there are any treatments possible for her symptoms. If there aren't, it would be time to discuss letting her go peacefully. I know that's not something you want to hear, but it may be best for her given her symptoms. I recommend making a list of five things she loved to do, and if she's no longer doing at least two of them, then her quality of life has declined to a point where humane euthanasia should be considered. I work for a home euthanasia service, so if you'd like to discuss this further with me, I'd be happy to consult with you. Just click the "consult online" button under my answer. Otherwise, I hope this helps and you should take her into the vet in the morning.

Hi. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. If at all possible I recommend a vet visit for Skeeter to do a little senior blood work. Many times this can tell us if there is something wrong that medications or diet change can help. And the vet can also prescribe medication for his arthritis. There is nothing over the counter that is safe for a little dog. Please avoid aspirin even if sold for dogs as many dogs develop severe gastric ulcers from aspirin. Glucosamine supplements such as Dasquin can help but if he is painful her may need something stronger. Sometimes older dogs can benefit from melatonin at night if they are disoriented but discuss the dosing with his veterinarian. I hope Skeeter is comfortable and happy for many more years.

I hate to hear Tyson is struggling. The best person to advise you on his quality of life is the veterinarian who is most familiar with Tyson. Also, I recommend to keep a calendar at home. At the end of each day, mark if Tyson had a good day, bad day or mediocre day. This helps you to track the over-all trend. Here is a link with some good questions to ask yourself daily about Tyson: https://www.petcoach.co/article/the-decision-of-euthanizing-your-pet/ You may also speak with your vet if other medications could also be beneficial for Tyson like Gabapentin, Tramadol and a general joint supplement. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Poor guy. That is a lot to consider. Here is a good treatment plan. Tumor on belly- I would recommend getting this removed surgically and then sending it off for analysis so that you know if it is benign or cancerous, and if any further treatment is recommended. Arthritis- you can attempt to manage this with over the counter Dasuquin. This product works very well for mild arthritis symptoms. But if his arthritis symptoms are moderate to severe, then he will respond better to prescription medications and/or arthritis injections (Adequan) through your vet. Swollen elbows- I would really have to visualize this in order to give you recommendations on care. If you are trying to describe calluses on the elbows, then getting Dixie soft bedding can help this. Calluses in general however are not harmful or painful to your pet, because they are the body's response to laying on hard surfaces. This is a way for the body to protect itself from cuts or abrasions developing on the skin. Wart-like lump in ear- Warts are quite common in older dogs. They are usually benign however and don't require treatment unless they start to bother your pet Dixie or if they ulcerate and/or bleed. If the wart does become a problem then surgically removal is how you would resolve this.