Thank you for waiting for my response. Your dog cannot see or hear. At the same time, smell is probably the main way we dogs navigate the world. So if your dog cannot listen or see, she can probably still smell, although probably not as well as before. (For example, when my parents open up a bag of peanuts or peal an orange, I come running. I don’t see the peanuts or oranges but I can smell them from wherever I am in our home.)

Some dogs will start to lose their sense of smell as they get older. But if you heat up foods, and heat up her food so that she can smell it better, she will enjoy her meals more and enjoy the wonderful aromas.

If it is warm where you live, maybe you can take her outside a little bit, because outside there is so much for us dogs to smell. Dogs are so happy in the world of other animals and plants. She can smell other animals and trees. Even if she cannot walk far, she can just sit with you in the garden and enjoy that a lot, or in a small enclosed area that allows her to smell the scents of other dogs and bunnies and squirrels. Be careful: If she is small, never leave her alone. If she is small, she can just sit on your lap in outside where she can safely enjoy the smells of her world.

Maybe you can also put somebody’s sock or glove or other small piece of clothing near her bed, so she has that smell near her, too.

Your dog’s sense of touch is also strong. She can still feel you nearby and she can feel when you pet her. Have you tried petting her paws? Dogs have a good sense of touch on their paws too and that is comforting. If she takes her paw away, like I do sometimes from my mom when she pets my legs and the bottoms of my paw pads, you know that that doesn’t feel good for her. Otherwise, it feels good for her. If she cannot see your hand, she can still smell it and feel its gentle resting on her head or back.

I hope I have given you a few suggestions. Let me know if these work!

Your pal,

Joey

Thank you for writing to me and telling me about your dog. I’m not sure what geriatric means, but maybe it has something to do with the fact that she is 17 years old.

I think this is an excellent question and shows what a wonderful friend to your dog you are, as you care about her and want to know what you can do to make her life more comfortable and happier. Surely she will not tell you, and that is how you all have to work hard to try to understand us dogs.

I will write more later….I have to go right now. I will add more later, for sure!

Thanks,

Your pal,

Joey