| The Golden Years |
| MN Therapy Animals |
When a pet shares a working role with their human companion, such as participating in an animal-
assisted therapy team, the bond that develops can become a deep and trusting partnership. So when
pets begin to show signs of advancing age, and one needs to consider retiring the partnership, it can be
a difficult and emotional time.
• How will you recognize that it is time to retire your partner?
• Is there an optimal time to retire a pet?
• Will there be physical cues that an animal is nearing retirement?
Some animals are rigorous into their teens, while others seem to be seniors much younger. Energy levels
and overall health are unique to each animal. Some animals simply lose interest in visiting, while others
need to be retired for their own physical safety. The following information has been assembled to assist
pet-partner teams to assess when the time is right to consider formally retiring a therapy pet.
assisted therapy team, the bond that develops can become a deep and trusting partnership. So when
pets begin to show signs of advancing age, and one needs to consider retiring the partnership, it can be
a difficult and emotional time.
• How will you recognize that it is time to retire your partner?
• Is there an optimal time to retire a pet?
• Will there be physical cues that an animal is nearing retirement?
Some animals are rigorous into their teens, while others seem to be seniors much younger. Energy levels
and overall health are unique to each animal. Some animals simply lose interest in visiting, while others
need to be retired for their own physical safety. The following information has been assembled to assist
pet-partner teams to assess when the time is right to consider formally retiring a therapy pet.
| Retiring Your Partner |
|
Editor's Comment: Kudo's to MTA contributor (Cheri Swenson) for addressing this important topic. It's a topic that has
become more apparent with a good number of teams approaching their senior years. Finding resources, informational
material on the aging of our partners became a challenging task. Cheri's two main resources turned out to be author, Susan
McCullough and Delta Society members.
At the end of page, Cheri has listed links for additional information. If you are aware of a good resource site, please contact
so we may add. Thank you.
become more apparent with a good number of teams approaching their senior years. Finding resources, informational
material on the aging of our partners became a challenging task. Cheri's two main resources turned out to be author, Susan
McCullough and Delta Society members.
At the end of page, Cheri has listed links for additional information. If you are aware of a good resource site, please contact
so we may add. Thank you.
Has your pet slowed down?
Older dogs don’t move as fast as they did when they were younger. Senior dogs likely take more time going
up and down the stairs, getting up from a nap and lying down.
Has the pet gotten gray?
Gray hair, especially around the face and muzzle can be a sign of seniorhood and so is a thinner, drier coat.
Does your pen have accidents?
Some aging dogs, especially older spayed females, may become incontinent of urine. Accidents in a
formerly well-trained dog may be an old-age bladder or may be developing a condition called canine
cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS).
Does your pet get tired more quickly?
One of the signs that your dog is probably approaching seniorhood is decreased activity tolerance. An
example is a dog that would fetch all day and now voluntarily stop after just a few retrieves.
Is the pet getting lumpy?
Many dogs develop soft, spongy lumps on their bodies as they age.
Does your pet seem to ignore you when you call?
Many dogs lose some of their hearing as they age.
Does the dog seem to get lost in its own back yard?
This may be caused by decreased vision or the development of CDS.
Does the dog seem to get more easily upset than before?
Loud noises such as storms and fireworks, that were not bothersome in the past, now cause whining or
trembling. Do new situation seem to elicit more apprehension than previously?
If you answer yes to most of these questions it is likely that your beloved pet is entering the golden years of
doggy seniorhood.
** PLEASE NOTE: Many of these signs may also be symptoms of illness so if they
develop abruptly please have your pet evaluated by a veterinarian.
This information was adapted from the work of Susan McCullough, author of the book
Senior Dogs for Dummies (2004). A book that is a must read for owners of aging dogs.
Rachel Wright, Delta Societies Pet Partners Program Support Coordinator was posed the
question about when a therapy pet should consider being retired and she replied,
“Delta does not have a specific written protocol/guideline, per say [regarding when an animal should be
retired]. However, there are a number of matters to take into account, and making this decision varies
greatly depending on both the handler and the animal’s circumstances. Retirement of a Pet Partner animal
can happen at any time - with a young animal or an older animal. Knowing your animal extremely well and
reading slight changes in behavior and mood - both while visiting and not visiting is key.”
Deciding when to retire your Pet Partner is a difficult and personal decision. Some pet guardians find that
they are too emotionally involved to make the evaluation without some outside advice. If you are visiting with
other Pet Partners teams, you may wish to ask another handler what they are observing in your pet and if
they have noticed that a pet is showing signs of aging and decreased interaction by the pet. Your
veterinarian is another objective source to help you evaluate your pet’s health and aging.
question about when a therapy pet should consider being retired and she replied,
“Delta does not have a specific written protocol/guideline, per say [regarding when an animal should be
retired]. However, there are a number of matters to take into account, and making this decision varies
greatly depending on both the handler and the animal’s circumstances. Retirement of a Pet Partner animal
can happen at any time - with a young animal or an older animal. Knowing your animal extremely well and
reading slight changes in behavior and mood - both while visiting and not visiting is key.”
Deciding when to retire your Pet Partner is a difficult and personal decision. Some pet guardians find that
they are too emotionally involved to make the evaluation without some outside advice. If you are visiting with
other Pet Partners teams, you may wish to ask another handler what they are observing in your pet and if
they have noticed that a pet is showing signs of aging and decreased interaction by the pet. Your
veterinarian is another objective source to help you evaluate your pet’s health and aging.
| Just as with humans, a pet deserves to have time to relax and enjoy their retirement and senior years |
| Additional Link/Resource |
The Senior Dog Project http://www.srdogs.com/
Lynn Malayter, Chair of Delta Societies Team Evaluator
Committee shared some of the following tips regarding the
topic of retiring a therapy pet:
• Does the pet show signs of shutting down during visits such as
lying down, turning its back;
• or closing the eyes to pretend it is not in the therapy session
• Is there a lack of enthusiasm for visiting? The key would be to
have the handler look at the reaction of the animal when doing
other activities---is it still crazy about agility, playing catch,
going for a walk, playing games with the family and then
displays a lack of interest when it is time to visit?
• Is the critter still effective in connecting with people during
therapy sessions?
• Does the animal exhibit clusters of displacement or stress
signals to let us know they've tired of AAA/AAT?
erection, inappropriate urination/defecation, sweating pads of feet,
hiding behind handler, and needing to repeat commands multiple
times,
Displacement signals, used by dogs to calm themselves, may
include trying to leave, sniffing, turning away from eye contact,
yawning, dilated pupils, excessive blinking, licking lips or licking in
general, scratching, restlessness, pacing, increased activity, panting
and salivating, distraction, agitation, whining or excessive vocalizing
Committee shared some of the following tips regarding the
topic of retiring a therapy pet:
• Does the pet show signs of shutting down during visits such as
lying down, turning its back;
• or closing the eyes to pretend it is not in the therapy session
• Is there a lack of enthusiasm for visiting? The key would be to
have the handler look at the reaction of the animal when doing
other activities---is it still crazy about agility, playing catch,
going for a walk, playing games with the family and then
displays a lack of interest when it is time to visit?
• Is the critter still effective in connecting with people during
therapy sessions?
• Does the animal exhibit clusters of displacement or stress
signals to let us know they've tired of AAA/AAT?
erection, inappropriate urination/defecation, sweating pads of feet,
hiding behind handler, and needing to repeat commands multiple
times,
Displacement signals, used by dogs to calm themselves, may
include trying to leave, sniffing, turning away from eye contact,
yawning, dilated pupils, excessive blinking, licking lips or licking in
general, scratching, restlessness, pacing, increased activity, panting
and salivating, distraction, agitation, whining or excessive vocalizing