Brown Bear Assisted Living.

It’s a true blessing to care for a Newfie that is in their senior years. I see many Newfies that leave us too early, way before they make it to their golden years and each time I hear of one that has passed it breaks my heart and makes me count my blessings even more.

No matter how much I count my blessings and treasure each day that I have with Sherman and Leroy, the fact is that at their age we have good and bad days.

Leroy is currently on the upswing which is awesome.

He’s losing patches of hair which I think may be a side effect of the medication or the fact that he didn’t blow his entire coat this spring and now he is. He still sometimes needs help getting back up but his walking is much better and the bounce in his step is back. He’s become a little more vocal. (if that’s even possible) In addition to barking, he’s also howling and whining when he’s in need of something like dinner.

Sherman had a little tougher week and for the first time ever he struggled coming up the stairs. He got almost all the way to the top but something happened when he had 2 stairs left to climb and he decided to stop and sit sideways on the stairs. When I went to help him he decided on his own that it was better if he just went back down so I steadied him and helped him down.

He’s moving slower, even slower than he was so I’ve increased his CBD oil and I ordered a new joint supplement to try him on. His eating has been fluctuating so I’ve started adding more fresh food like broccoli, green beans, blueberries and sardines. He’s loving it and over the last 3 days he has been eating consistently.

He’s due for his senior exam in October and I think, as long as he keeps eating steady, that he’ll be good until that time. If not we’ll head in sooner.

I try to keep a positive mind going but almost every day I’m reminded that they are continuing to age.

Friday afternoon my daughter and I were sitting outside next to Sherman and she looked at him and said, “Why do his eyes look kind of cloudy?”

I explained to her that he had lens sclerosis and it was just another reminder of the changes he’s going through. (Lenticular sclerosis or nuclear sclerosis is the medical term for a bluish transparent “haze” that develops in the lens of the eye in middle-aged to senior dogs. This is considered a normal change in the lens associated with aging, and is observed as a cloudiness or bluish discoloration on the pupil.)

Later that day I was adjusting the non-slip rugs downstairs and I went to double-check the ramp that we have on the side of the house to make sure it was ready to be used since Sherman isn’t doing well on the steps.

My husband had come home in the early evening and asked how my day was and I said that I spent most of the day securing the Brown Bear Assisted Living Homestead.

The adjustments we’ve made to the house over the last several years to make sure the boys are comfortable and have a good place to grow old are just what Newfie people do. We’re not an exception, we’re not special. It’s just what you do.

So, in case you’re wondering what Brown Bear Assisted Living entails, here’s a little breakdown.

Medication Management:

Even the fluffiest of senior Newfies need certain medications and/or supplements to stay healthy. Here at Brown Bear Assisted Living we make sure that each Newfie under roof gets the correct medication and the same time every day. We even make sure to stay up on the latest breakthroughs in dog medicine to make sure

Life Enrichment:

We know isolation and loneliness put older dogs at greater risk for health problems, such as depression, obesity and high blood pressure.  Brown Bear Assisted Living offers a variety of life enrichment activities designed to meet our seniors physical, emotional and spiritual needs that include and endless supply of belly rubs, butt scratches and massage. We also offer daily activities such as puzzle games, hide n’ seek and lovely strolls out to the garden.

Supportive Services:

What causes many older dogs to make a move to a senior living home of some kind is to the need for support with tasks like walking up stairs, wiping their mouths, transportation to the veterinarian, housekeeping, laundry and

Secure Environment: 

Brown Bear Assisted Living is designed with the security of an older adult in mind. From ramps, non-slip rugs and lifting harnesses to a staff that is on call 24/7 to help Brown Bear residents stay safe.

Well-Balanced Meals:

Good nutrition is also a focus ay our facility. Residents benefit from two well-balanced meals and nutritious snacks each day. A big plus for seniors who may be struggling to hunt down their meals in the backyard.

As with most assisted living homes, Brown Bear is filled with continuous love and support. We are on the clock 24/7 to make sure that the bears have all that they need to be comfortable in their senior years.

p.s. As of this weekend, both the bears are doing good. Sherman has resumed eating and with the increase in CBD oil his mobility has improved. We’re waiting on the new joint supplement to arrive. <3

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