Caring For The Senior Dog

Senior Dog Care

It is a privilege to have an old dog.

We will never have enough time with the no matter how long we get. So it’s important that we do everything we can to help them continue to be healthy, mobile, and calm as they age.

Your work supporting a senior dog begins when they are puppies. But even if you have just adopted a senior there are things to keep in mind.

I always say “we can only care for the dog that stands before us today”. So we simply move forward from here toward better wellness.

How Old Is A Senior Dog

Would you believe that generally speaking, we consider large dogs to be senior at around 5 or 6 years of age? And small dogs at 8! I don’t want to accept that. If we feed our dogs well, for as many years as possible, avoid over-vaccinating, avoid toxic chemicals and instead use natural products, keep them active, and manage their weight — we have great hope of keeping them healthy.

Senior Dog Food

With a Fresh Food Diet (including Volhard) you will be able to maintain hydration, lower blood pressure, introduce Omega-3 fatty acids, and provide quality proteins, enzymes, antioxidants, and fresh, natural digestible nutrition. These diets also give you the option for variety!

While your dog is still eating well, begin offering a variety of protein sources, vegetables and fruits. You’ll want to keep him eating for years to come. Waiting until he feels bad or you have a crisis is NOT the time to figure out what he may like or tolerate.

I do not subscribe to the notion of “senior dog food”. What matters is feeding your dog, of any age healthy foods.

Read More About Senior Dog Nutrition

Senior Dogs Change In Eating

As your dog ages, dental issues may be present and you may find he has fewer teeth. This is especially true for small breeds or dogs that we have adopted from less-than-optimal conditions. This doesn’t mean they can’t eat great food! A fresh food, moisture-rich diet is easy to eat and easy on the digestive system.

You may find there are some foods he no longer tolerates well. It could be as simple as adding probiotics and digestive enzymes to ease that issue, or you may need to offer new protein choices.

Old bones, especially in the winter may crave warmer foods (following 5 Element Theory) and stews and vegetables that warm the body or even cooked food where raw was once their favorite.

Senior Dog Health Issues

Growing old is not a reason to die. Nor is it a reason to have health issues. I’ve told you many times, I’m on a mission for your dog to eat better, feel better, live longer and behave better. I mean it all! So let’s find a way.

Don’t accept the idea that he’s slowing down because he’s old, or his personality is changing or he’s finicky as age-related. These are clues we need to take different actions to help him feel better. (Hint, the same principles are true for you too)

I encourage you to have annual exams and monitor your blood work for trends. Do not look at only this year’s results for changes that are out of range. Monitor your dog’s blood work year over year and look for trends even within the ranges.

Let new “symptoms” be things you questions. Get to the vet and have your of evaluated for diabetes, thyroid issues, or Cushing's or Addison's disease, as well cognitive decline, arthritis, dental disease, and other ailments. It’s better to know and take action than not.

In most cases — adjustments to the food foundation, natural supplements, essential oils, homeopathy etc can make dramatic changes in your dog’s wellness. Yes, that’s right we focus on wellness, not sickness.

Ask me about coaching you in these areas to support your dog’s health naturally.

Proactive Health For Senior Dogs

#1: Proper Water Intake

Your senior dog's diet must start with proper water intake. Senior dogs are more likely to experience dehydration, which is why constant access to a fresh water source is imperative.

Symptoms of dehydration in dogs include loss of skin elasticity, loss of appetite, vomiting with or without diarrhea, reduced energy levels and lethargy, panting, sunken, dry-looking eyes, dry nose, dry, sticky gums, and thick saliva. In case of noticing any of these symptoms, increase your dog's water.

In a fresh food diet, you can simply at more water at feeding time. Bone broth also makes a great hydration option to add to their food.

#2: Protein

Some nutritionists point towards a correlation between old senior dogs and muscle loss. Is this a lack of activity or a lack of eating enough protein — or both? For dogs that may be losing muscle increase in high-quality protein amounts. However, protein levels must be analyzed simultaneously with nutrients, such as fat and carbohydrates, and exercise levels.

The exact opposite is true for senior dogs suffering from kidney disease. In their case, high protein foods do nothing but aggravate kidney disease as the kidneys gradually shut down. Your dog needs a diet that allows his gastrointestinal (GI) tract to break down the protein before reaching the kidneys so we tend to seek less protein and less phosphorus — but we need to keep the nutrient level high. I can help you customize your diet to do that!

Has your senior dog been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease? It's time to address his phosphorus intake. Foods such as sardines and beef are high in phosphorus and, therefore, should be replaced with low-phosphorus alternatives such as chicken, turkey, and eggs.

#3: Fiber

Senior dogs require assistance with their slowed digestion process, and fiber is the perfect nutrient to get the job done. As the digestive system gradually slows down, senior dogs face a higher risk of constipation. With additional fiber in his diet, your dog will have no trouble passing stools in a healthy manner. Foods like broccoli, pumpkin or bananas contain enough fiber to supplement your senior dog's needs. I

#4: Fat

For some, metabolism may dictate that we consider lower fat, lower carbohydrate diet as they become less active. Though for some, we may need to increase their fat as well to give them more calories without more volume of food ~ OR ~ for dogs with certain serious health conditions moving to a Keto-like or high fat diet may be the right move.

Fats play a critical role in your dog's aging process. We do not want to create a no-fat diet. Fats provide energy, assist in skin health and coat formation, transport fat-soluble vitamins, such as A, D, E, and K, support cells and the nervous system, and help regulate body temperature.

As your dog ages, we may want to increase fats such as Omegas, MCT, and other oils for nutritional supplements.

#5: Chondroitin and Glucosamine Supplements

Chondroitin and glucosamine supplementation is recommended for treating joint issues in senior dogs. The natural aging process impedes the canine body from creating chondroitin sulfate, one of the building blocks of cartilage in both humans and dogs. Chondroitin and glucosamine supplements help relieve the joint stiffness and discomfort associated with old age and stimulate cartilage growth. The benefits of these supplements are backed by research pointing out dogs with osteoarthritis in the hip and elbow who successfully responded to chondroitin and glucosamine supplementation.

I love to get these supplements in bone broth in addition to perhaps the bottled supplementation.

#6: Caloric Control

The right approach to proper caloric intake depends on your dog's activity levels: the more he exercises, the more calories he needs to sustain his energy levels. As a rule of thumb, senior dogs are fonder of the couch than the outdoors, so they need fewer calories in their food. Reducing your dog's caloric intake decreases his risk of obesity and other diseases, such as osteoarthritis, kidney disease, and cancer. Closely monitor your dog's activity levels and adjust his caloric intake accordingly.

#7: Get Rid of the Toxins

Look around your house and your yard and go toxin free. This includes shampoos, laundry soaps, plug-ins, fabric sprays, bug sprays and all those things that increase the burden on your dog’s body specifically the liver. Ask me about doing a liver cleanse diet annually.

Consider your vaccine schedule — and whether your dog really needs any of the so-called “optional” vaccines in their senior years. If you must let’s talk about the vaccine detox protocol.

#8: Keep Them Moving

A body in motion stays in motion, so get them out for a little movement every day. Don’t overcompensate for their age. It’s ok if they are slow.

Fresh air is good for the soul. If you need a stroller or a wagon — do it.

Let’s keep your dog eating healthy for many years to come. Contact me about a wellness review & consultation to help you customize food and supplements for your senior dog.

Stay tuned we’ll talk about essential oils & herbs that may also help your senior feel great!

See More on Herbs for Senior Dogs & Essential Oils for Senior Dogs

Consultations for Senior Dog Health Coaching North Myrtle Beach. Are you local to North Myrtle Beach or Wilmington NC— Ask me about Senior Dog Health Consultations. in your area! Not near me — no worries we do online consultations too!