The Gentle Hound: A Health Journal for Senior Dogs
Three months of short weekly notes that show what is really changing in your older dog — and give your veterinarian a clearer picture over time.
A Health Care Journal for Senior Dogs • Veterinarian-Developed, Based on International Guidelines • Easy to Fill In • Helps Your Vet Catch Age-Related Illness Early
$24.99Price on Amazon.com. May change.
Ordered and shipped through Amazon. Also available in German.
Is this journal right for you?
- Your dog is a senior: from about 5–7 years for dogs over 40 kg (88 lb) to 10–12 years for dogs under 10 kg (22 lb).
- You have noticed small changes — slower on the stairs, sleeping longer, eating a little less — and are not sure what they mean.
- You want to arrive at the vet with notes, not only impressions.
- You are looking for a thoughtful gift for someone with an older dog.
See what’s inside
Veterinary knowledge on one page, structured documentation for everyday life on the other.
Contents · how the journal is structured
Cognitive changes · DISHAA
Weight & body condition · monthly and weekly entry
Appetite & hydration · weekly observation
What you track
- Weekly entries for mobility, appetite, sleep, mood, weight and more
- Pages for quality of life and cognitive change
- Vet-visit preparation and a medication overview
- Monthly reviews and space for your own notes
Why notes help your vet
The idea behind The Gentle Hound comes from clinical practice: every assessment starts with observation. What you notice at home is often missing at the appointment, simply because no one wrote it down. This journal keeps that record.
In older age, most things change slowly. A dog gets up later, eats a little less, hesitates at the stairs. On its own, each thing is easy to forget. Noted regularly, they show you what is actually changing.
The journal was created by a practicing veterinarian and follows recognized international guidelines (AAHA, WSAVA and the Villalobos quality-of-life framework). At the next appointment you bring more than impressions: you bring notes from the weeks before. That makes age-related changes easier to place in context early, and illness easier to catch sooner.
Three months is the start. When you finish, the 6-month Extension continues without a gap. The Gentle Hound — Extension →
Veterinary foundation
This Journal draws on established veterinary guidelines, clinical tools and selected scientific sources.
Care frameworks
Clinical tools
- HHHHHMM Quality-of-Life Scaleadapted from Dr Alice Villalobos
- Body & Muscle Condition ScoringBCS (1–9) and MCS, as used by WSAVA
- Bristol Stool Scalestandardised stool consistency reference
- DISHAA Cognitive Screeningcanine cognitive dysfunction
Selected evidence
- Salvin et al. (2010)Underdiagnosis of CCD · The Veterinary Journal
The guidelines, instruments and scientific sources named here were used as professional foundations for the development of this journal. Their inclusion does not imply official endorsement, authorization or collaboration with the organizations named.
Questions about this journal
How long does it last?
Three months of weekly entries. A six-month Extension continues from there.
What do I record?
Mobility, appetite, drinking, sleep, mood and weight each week, with pages for quality of life, cognitive change, medication and vet-visit preparation.
When is my dog a senior?
It depends on size. See the age chart in the FAQ.
Does it replace my vet?
No. It helps you observe and describe, so your vet has more to work with.
Design for everyday life
Designed for everyday life.
Beautiful enough to keep within reach. Structured enough to become part of your routine.
The Gentle Hound is the starter volume for senior dogs. Three months is enough to settle into a routine and see what regular notes bring. If you want to keep going, the six-month extension carries on from there. For cats, there is a companion volume, The Graceful Cat.
The approach behind it, the Veterinary Mindset, is set out in full in the book of the same name.
By T. Abend, veterinarian. A companion to veterinary care, not a replacement.
$24.99Price on Amazon.com. May change.
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