Helping Your 'Good Old Dog' Navigate Aging from NPR Podcast Fresh Air

As dogs age, taking care of them becomes more difficult. Owners of aging dogs often struggle with their pets' dementia and incontinence — as well as navigating through the maze of end-of-life care decisions. Veterinary behaviorist Nicholas Dodman is the head of the Animal Behavior department at Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine and has worked with aging dogs for decades. He says that old age isn't a disease, but a stage of life for pets and owners to navigate. Dodman recently collaborated with other vets from Tufts University as well as writer Lawrence Linder on a reference guide for owners of older dogs, called Good Old Dog: Expert Advice for Keeping Your Aging Dog Healthy, Happy and Comfortable.

Download the podcast here. Check the Fresh Air webpage out, on this particular episode and show, here. See also: The Well-Adjusted Dog: Dr. Dodman's Seven Steps to Lifelong Health and Happiness for Your BestFriend, Dogs Behaving Badly: An A-Z Guide to Understanding and Curing Behavorial Problems in Dogs, The Cat Who Cried for Help: Attitudes, Emotions, and the Psychology of Cats