What is aging? What can we do to keep our dogs healthy and tail wagging happy as they age? Rather than looking at their aging as a decline in health, we can help our older dogs remain an active and vital part of their human pack family through proper nutrition, diet, exercise, general care, and giving them a job to do.
What we think of as aging is really a process that is going on inside the body of your dog over a period of time. Aging in technical terms is destruction and damage to DNA systems through oxidation. What we feed our dogs, especially if it is commercial based foods rather than home-cooked or raw feeding programs, toxins in the environment and home, over vaccinating, and so-called prevention medicines to control fleas, ticks, mites, heartworm, etc. are major contributors to the aging process and even aging acceleration process of our dogs. Our senior dogs do not have to be senile and decrepit IF we will but if not remove all the mitigating factors at least lessen their load on our dogs to help them age more gracefully.
As your dog ages he or she will need more care just like we need more care as we age. You will need to be more considerate of their possible limitations as well and make things more accessible for them. What does that mean? Before I explain some basics you can introduce into your home to help your senior dog be more comfortable and also to allow him or her to still be a contributing member to their human pack, let me first stress the need to understand that nutrition and feeding ARE the keys to quality and longevity in your dog's life.
That means feeding your dog what a dog is designed to eat which is meat and bones. In lieu of that or if you aren't comfortable with that, make certain that you are feeding a food that has little to no grains in it - preferably NO grains, especially as your dog ages because their digestive tracts are no longer as efficient as they once were. There are many foods on the market today that eliminate the grains. The one I typically suggest when people ask is Great Life 4 Pets (http://www.greatlife4pets.com ) Yes, it is expensive but you always get what you pay for.
If you do choose to feed this way there are things you can do to help your older dog digest the food better by adding in probiotics and enzymes. There are many on the market so be sure and do your homework as all supplements are not created equal and in my opinion, cheap is never better when it comes to supplements. I always use human grade quality for my dog. Also add in some Omega 3s (essential fatty acids) to help your senior dog with joint ailments, keep the coat healthy, and that spring in his or her step. Lastly don't give those grain-laden or artificial flavoring treats to your dog. There are plenty of good dehydrated meat treat and freeze-dried meat treats on the market today so you can forgo those junky treats in a box that will only contribute to the aging and decline of health in your senior dog.
Some simple things you can do to help your senior dog:
1.Get a doggie ramp to help your dog into and out of your vehicle. Jumping in and out can damage or injure those older dog joints and spine
2.Still take your dog for walks and on family outings so they feel they are still part of the family pack
3.Loose rugs or anything they can slip on in the home can be an accident waiting to happen so make sure to use rugs or mats with a slip-safe backing
The most important thing is to love your dog. Let your dog know how much you still love him or her. A dog wants to know he or she is needed and loved. They will decline much faster if left alone, unattended and forgotten. Even if your intentions are to allow the dog more peaceful, quiet time, a dog is happiest when they are integrated into the family as a valid and contributing member of the pack. They don't like being left out and all dogs enjoy having a duty or job to do -even senior dogs. Treat them with the love and respect they've earned after years of serving you and your family.
Kim Bloomer - I was born and raised in Albuquerque, NM. While I've lived in other places including Sweden, I am always drawn back to the beautiful ...
