"Bible" for Owners of Aging Dogs--award winning vet care book!

[Amyshojai]

This updated, revised version of the award-winning book provides all the must-knows of caring for your mature canine. The aging process is defined, with great advice about how to manage dimming senses, and understand while making accommodations for your dog's physical changes and emotional needs.

Step-by-step home care advice (pilling, fluid therapy, massage and more), insurance options, and help explaining to children the end-of-life issues are offered. The most common "old dog" issues (arthritis to cancer, deafness to heart and kidney failure, incontinence and obesity to reversing doggy senility) cover details about diagnosis, drug/nutritional/natural treatment options, and specialists to help owners are provided.

Unique to the Kindle edition, though, is an incredible value-added in the form of click-able "hot links" to online sources of dog care products, information, and the experts who were interviewed for the book. Bow-wow! My dog edited this book and gives it five paws up!

Reviews:
"Groundbreaking....Far from just an awesome reference text....Shojai uses stirring stories to illustrate important points and writes with a well-seasoned mix of knowledge and love. I learned an incredible amount about caring for an aging pet in Shojai's groundbreaking book. This book is so complete, all you add is love!" --Dr. Marty Becker, best-selling author and Resident Veterinarian on Good Morning America and The Dr. Oz Show

"Need a quick reference? Complete Care for Your Aging Dog provides a practical, easy-to-read guide about health care for the aging dog. If you have an aging dog, this is a must-read book. It provides simple question-and-answer treatment of essentials of aging dogs." --Dr. Johnny D. Hoskins, DVM, PhD and internist for older dogs and cats

[Ann in Arlington]

Just as a matter of housekeeping, we put a copy of the "welcome letter" in each book thread.  It doesn't mean you've done anything wrong, just helps us know that you know the rules.  So here it is!

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Book Bazaar Moderators

[Amyshojai]

Thanks bunches! I've bookmarked the thread and noted the date on my calendar. And I think finally have the correct thumbnails/links in my signature (and pricing has been corrected!) so I'm wagging-happy.

Those reading this thread...pat yer pups for me.

woofs & wags,
amy

[ellenoc]

Definitely a book for me, Amy. I lost 3 dogs in a two-month period this spring ranging in age from 8.5 to 13 and osteosarcoma to just a worn out body. The two I have left are 7 and 9, and the 7-year-old is the dog of my heart (and the cover girl for my own dog book), so any help in making the next years good ones is right on target.

[Amyshojai]

Oh Ellen, I'm so very sorry for your loss.    They truly do "woof" their way into our hearts. The book is dedicated to my first heart-dog and his picture is in there. Bone cancer is such an awful devastating disease...but there are some amazing new cancer treatments available for some doggy candidates as well as quality-of-life techniques that keep 'em feeling good and happy. If you get the book, let me know what you think. I included "chicken-soup-like" stories of dogs who had benefited from different options.

I was just contacted by the local home hospice to help publicize a "pet loss workshop" they're doing for the community...and I wish folks with aging pets had that help even before the final decisions. It would surely help with the emotions we all face during such times.

Enjoy your dogs! The true blessing is...they don't KNOW they're old! They live every day with joy, and as long as they have their loved ones nearby, they're happy doggies!

best,
amy

[DLs Niece]

Ellen I too am very sorry for your loss. I know what it is like to lose a beloved furry friend. 

Amy, your book sounds very informative and I am certain it is incredibly helpful for those of us with aging pets. Destany (lab - sheppard cross) is 12 and we almost lost her last winter. We did lose Jake (11 year old cat) in March.  I dread this winter. I will give your book a look see.

[Amyshojai]

Thanks Daniel. Unfortunately, that's the deal we make when we bring special fur-kids into our lives...that most often we'll out-live them. But we can keep them happy and joyful as long as possible! I hope your special pets continue to fill your heart with love. I hope you'll consider reviewing the book(s), if you decide to get them.

best,
amy

[Amyshojai]

It's been a busy week, and plans in the works for bringing "aging dog" back to print as well as Kindle. Thanks to all who purchased the book--and I hope it's helped your special fur-kids.

I've also heard from some posters privately about aging pets that have left this world--how very sad. If you're a pet owner, you've likely faced this before and it's never easy. One whole chapter of the book discusses making this final, courageous and loving decision for your dog, discussing options with your family and especially children, and dealing with the sad times of loss.

Here's a link to an editorial I wrote, including a radio show with spiritual leaders, that addresses the question: Do Pets Go to Heaven?

http://pages.videojug.com/pages/1668-Heaven-and-Pets-Do-Pets-Go-to-Heaven-

I have no doubt about the answer...it won't be heaven without them!

woofs and wags,
amy

[cegrundler]

Here I am just lurking, looking to see how other authors annouce their books, while my now deaf 13 year old pit-mix gives me that off-pitch deaf dog bark that she wants to go out. We've been teaching her hand-signals over the last year and now my other two 'kids' have picked up on this canine sign language as well! I just purchased your book and look forward to reading it.

[Amyshojai]

LOL! I love pits...my next book (not kindle) on APBTs comes out the end of this month. Let me know how you like the aging dog book. There's a chapter and a "golden moments" story in there about a deaf dog with a hearing aid. It's funny...once she "hears" the snoring of the other dogs once again, she learns to take out the hearing aid when she wants undisturbed slumber, LOL!

They sure are special, and smart. Sign language works very well with dogs, since they use it with each other. 

woofs & wags,
amy

[Amyshojai]

I'm pleased that the kindle-ized "Aging Dog" book has struck a chord with owners once again. There's just something about these "golden agers" that warms your heart. And I know there are many pet lovers who have fallen on difficult times and need help...heck, it could be me next time! So I'm using this week's post to encourage any/all pet owners out there to seek out a "Good Sam" fund at a local vet, or donate food/etc to a local shelter or rescue...or start your own effort. I blogged a bit about it here:

http://www.redroom.com/blog/amy-d-shojai/kindle-izing-dog-news

Meanwhile, please pet your dogs for me--aging and otherwise. And know that "old age" is NOT a disease, and our canine friends can live happy, healthy years for a decade or longer. Ultimately, the choices we make for our beloved dogs (when made with love) cannot be wrong.

woofs and wags,
amy

p.s, Lots of free aging pet advice at this site, too: http://pages.videojug.com/sites/144-Pet-Peeves/page_collections/63-Old-Pets

[cegrundler]

Amy,

I'm enjoying your book very much and just posted a review stating as much. Despite being surrouned by multiple dogs my entire life, there is much I'm learning from your book. I wish I'd had it years ago and I'm glad I have it now. It's a wonderful reference and an enjoyable, well-written book. Thank you.

C.E. Grundler

[Amyshojai]

CE, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! I'm delighted that you're enjoying the book and it means a lot coming from a longtime and savvy owner of aging dogs. You made my day! 

woofs & wags,
amy

[Amyshojai]

I have a new book cover!    And also received a stellar 5-star review:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/cdp/member-reviews/A1OG63PBK2QILQ/ref=cm_cr_dp_auth_rev?ie=UTF8&sort_by=MostRecentReview

It's only been about three weeks since the Kindle-ization of the Aging Dog book and the response has been fantastic! Thank you so much to everyone for "adopting" this old-dog-book and breathing new life into the pup.

woofs & wags!
amy

[tamborine]

Hi Amy! I have the dtb of Your Aging Cat - wasn't aware it was available for kindle (and has been updated!). It's been a great resource to me as my cats have gotten older. My 3 dogs are still relatively young (4, 6 & 6), but the 2 greyhounds are starting to get up there, so I'll be picking up Your Aging Dog as well as the cat version on Friday (payday  !).

[Amyshojai]

Hi Amy! I have the dtb of Your Aging Cat - wasn't aware it was available for kindle (and has been updated!). It's been a great resource to me as my cats have gotten older. My 3 dogs are still relatively young (4, 6 & 6), but the 2 greyhounds are starting to get up there, so I'll be picking up Your Aging Dog as well as the cat version on Friday (payday  !).

I'm so glad you enjoyed "aging cat" and hope you'll like the updated Kindle version equally well! How nice to "virtually" meet you here. Greyhounds do tend to be on the upper side of "faster-agers" among dogs...so is my GSD. Please let me know what you think (write a quick review/note if you feel inclined!).

I'm in the process of preparing my 'cutting edge' book for kindle, too. I'm so pleased to have found this avenue for the books.

woofs & purrs,
amy

[Amyshojai]

Today I had a wonderful interview about the Aging Dog and Aging Cat books on the radio show "Sassy Seniors" (http://www.markiac.addr.com/PET_LIFE_RADIO/sassyseniors.html). It was lovely to *virtually* meet the host Kelly, since we're colleagues...I host the "Pet Peeves" radio show on the same venue.

One of my favorite parts of writing books is research, talking with the veterinary experts and others, and especially the pet people to hear their stories of successful doggy agers. Sometimes these are one-and-the-same. For instance, one of the veterinary ophthalmologists explained that his own dog suffered from PRA and lost his sight...a condition that has no treatment. But the dog, a hunting lab, still got to go hunting and enjoyed life! On top of that, the blind dog became best buddies with the younger dog...who then served as a "guide dog" for the older canine.

Gotta love it! There are about 40 of these "Golden Moments" stories in the book, in addition to the prescriptive information and advice.

May all your "old dogs" be a part of your life for many happy years to come!

woofs & wags,
amy

[Amyshojai]

Here's a link to the radio interview about COMPLETE CARE FOR YOUR AGING DOG (a bit of a mention for the "aging cat" too  ).

http://www.markiac.addr.com/PET_LIFE_RADIO/sassyseniorsep3.html

People always ask me, how old is "old" in a dog? And actually with dogs, size matters.    Really big dogs like Great Danes age more rapidly and would be considered "old" starting at about 5-7 years. German shepherds and similar sized dogs would be "old" at about 9-10. Toy breed dogs like Chihuahuas age more gracefully and many live into their late teens or even early twenties.

Don't tell the dogs *ssshhhh* but the Toy dogs age in a similar way to cats. 

woofs & wags,
amy

[Amyshojai]

I asked this in the "aging cat" book thread so equal time for the dogs--

What's the oldest dog you've ever known? My last GSD lived to be a little over 13 years old. One of my mom's shelties lived to be 17, and I've personally known a Chihuahua who lived to be 23, and when I worked as a vet tech a client brought in a Great Dane he swore  was 18 years old!

So please share--how old is your current canine buddy? Do you consider him/her "old" or not? What special age-related changes have you made for your dog's comfort?

Do tell!

woofs & wags,
amy

[Amyshojai]

How cool is this!? People have noticed the book and even said nice things about it.  My "google alerts" this week came up with this link to nice mentions/reviews of the "aging dog" book.

http://www.healthstance.com/complete-care-for-your-aging-dog/

THANK YOU to the HealthStance folks for having such good taste. 

[Amyshojai]

I was interviewed for an article about pet incontinence--which of course can be an issue in an aging dog. Here's the link to the article (stuff in there about cats, too!)

http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article%3FAID%3D/20101003/LIFE/10030309/-1/NEWSMAP&ct=ga&cad=:s7:f2:v0:d1:i0:lt:e0:p0:t1286139449:&cd=jUemvmefAbE&usg=AFQjCNG05faC3gZMFxmHrdlyPMdnNgGeNA

woofs & wags,
amy

[bobavey]

Hello, Amy.

[Amyshojai]

Hi Bob! Fancy meeting you here...   Hope your book is doing well. People seem to like my "aging dog" book pretty well--the aging cat one now has a print version, too.

Do you have an aging dog? Maybe by the time OWFI rolls around I'll have that in print version, too!

[Amyshojai]

I've been receiving some nice feedback from a blog I recently wrote--If you could trade places with your dog (or cat), would you?

http://www.redroom.com/blog/amy-d-shojai/a-day-in-the-lifeof-a-pet-writer

Please post your opinion either here, or at the blog. Love to get your take on the whole issue...I think I know what many of y'all will say. 

woofs & wags,
amy

[Amyshojai]

It's my weekly shout-out to all the dog lovers who have "mature" canines.    And I've a couple of treats for you! First, here's a link to my own doggy, Magic, and what he does to have fun and stay young...what do YOUR aging dogs love to do? Magic's favs include balls, frisbees and...oh, chasing the water hose: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMwCnVgXceY

You can find an excerpt from the Aging Dog book here, on "How Old is Old?" Enjoy!
http://www.scribd.com/doc/36851977/Aging-Dogs-how-Old-is-Old

Woofs & Wags,
amy