Grey Matters

Delilah was left at a shelter by her family, suffering from health problems and deafness. However, at The Sanctuary for Senior Dogs in Ohio, a Grey Muzzle grantee, dogs like Delilah not only get love and care, but a chance to share their love through the Sanctuary's senior therapy dog program.

Carie Broecker tells us how a dog's dying guardian inspired her to co-found Peace of Mind Dog Rescue, and about their work on California's Central Coast finding loving homes for both senior dogs in shelters and dogs whose guardians can no longer care for them.

An estimated 54% of American pets are obese. Veterinarian Dr. Ernie Ward, a Grey Muzzle Advisory Board member, discusses the causes and dangers of this pet obesity epidemic, how pet owners may be inadvertently sabotaging their pets' health, and what we can do manage our dogs' weight as they age.

Old Dog Haven: Every Old Dog Has a Story to Tell is a collection of 36 stories of senior dogs who went from neglected and abandoned to valued family member through Old Dog Haven’s network of foster homes and adopters. Author Ardeth De Vries discusses her book and tells us more about Old Dog Haven's work.

Hospice is best summarized as the philosophy of preserving quality-of-life over extending length of life and hinges on the belief that patients in the last phases of life deserve this care to live as fully and comfortably as possible.  Animal Hospice recognizes dying as a normal process, whether or not resulting from disease, and sees the end of life as an opportunity for added deepening of the existing human-animal bond.  

At the Virginia Beach SPCA, a Grey Muzzle grantee, they are dedicated to offering senior dogs The Three Cs: Care, Comfort, and Compassion. This means making sure old dogs get the veterinary treatment they need, and providing special comforts and compassion, in order to make a difficult time a little easier.

With help from a grant from Grey Muzzle, Muttville's Seniors For Seniors Program supports the adoption of senior dogs by senior citizens. However, not everyone ready to share love with a senior dog is prepared to adopt. For this reason, Muttville launched Cuddle Club.

Canine geriatric vestibular disease can often be mistaken by owners for a seizure or stroke. Advisory Board Member Dr. Julie Buzby, DVM discusses this common senior dog ailment and explains why the prognosis is good for most dogs who suffer from it.

Diabetes is a disease that can affect dogs as well as humans. Writer Sharon Castellanos tells of her senior dog's surprise diabetes diagnosis, how they learned to manage it, and her discovery that diabetic dogs can still live a long and happy life—with life lessons along the way.