Pet Chat: News For Your Pet

Older Dogs and Aging

As our dogs age, we always want to do the best we can to prolong our best friend’s life for as long as we can, and make sure we’ve done all we can to give them the best quality of life in their declining years.

As the owner of an elderly dog, and someone who is asked to recommend products occasionally, I’ve been keen to search out and try many of the things on the market. Of course, you should always seek out the advice of your vet and take into account the characteristics of your dog which only you will know and understand, but here are a few items that you may want to consider to help out your old friend.

Just like in humans as we age, the older dog’s digestive system will be slowing down. This means that hard-to-digest foods are a struggle, and much needed nutrients may not be as efficient in helping renew cells and regenerate your dog as they used to be.

High protein foods take a lot of breaking down into useable form, and produce a lot more waste products that need processing through liver and kidneys – and while a high protein diet is just what a young active dog needs to provide energy, the older dog is better served by an easily digestible diet with a higher carbohydrate content. This means picking your dog food products carefully and looking for high energy feeds that are low in protein. The most easily digested protein for the older dog is found in milk and eggs.

An excellent source of protein for elderly dogs is Goat’s Milk. The reason being that the fat and protein molecules are very much smaller than cow’s milk, and more easily digested. Some companies produce a formula especailly for dogs, containing added nutrients including condroitin, glucosamine and green tea extract. These all help the immune system, slow down aging and generally improve wellbeing. Dogs tell me it is very tasty too!

Finally, a daily cod liver oil capsule is often a good way to boost essential oils in the diet and support aging joints.

Of course the most important thing for your elderly dog is a loving home, compassion for their aches and pains and respect. Only the loving owner can provide a comforting touch and reassuring word for their life-time companion.

Create a refuge from thunder and fireworks.
Did your summer start with a bang? Thunderstorms are common this time of year and fireworks are booming across the country now, too. So much loud noise can leave your pets feeling a little anxious. Even rain on the roof or bright flashes of lightning can put a sensitive dog or cat on edge. A good way to help calm your pets' nerves is to stay calm yourself. Getting angry or frustrated can feed your pets' anxiety. Also try providing a safe place for your pets to seek refuge. Many pets find a feeling of protection under a bed or behind a chair. Read more about protecting your dog or cat from the sounds of the season.

Don't let your dog suffer in silence
Does your dog hesitate to go upstairs or tire easily on a walk? These are just two potential signs of a painful arthritis problem. Many people don't recognize signs of arthritis in their dogs. Don't make this mistake and allow your dog to suffer.

We have many natural products that are excellent for treating arthritis!

The Truth About Pet Food

Although you may think all pet food manufacturers have your pet’s best interests in mind, this is not always the case as many pet parents are learning from the continued rise in pet food recalls. Current pet food regulations allow manufacturers to use ingredients that you would never knowingly give to your pet. In fact, you may be shocked to learn what some brands of pet food really contain. For example: the use of by-products (feet, bones and intestines, etc.), chemical preservatives (BHA and BHT) and grains that are often difficult to digest (corn, wheat, gluten and soy), which are often used as a protein source instead of meat. Always try and buy All Natural Pet Foods (but still read the labels). Also, you can't go wrong with Organic. You can buy good wholesome pet food now that may cost a little bit more, or you can spend the money you thought you were saving by buying cheap food, in medical bills later for your pet.

How Many Pets Are Poisoned By Lawn Pesticides

Dogs and cats may be more vulnerable to pesticide poisoning than their human companions. After all, they nose around close to the ground, where lawn and garden pesticides may linger, and they lick themselves clean afterward. Beyond that, many pets are dosed with flea and tick repellents and powders.

All of which means that dogs, cats and other pets may be at risk of chemical poisoning and other health problems that come from exposure to pesticides. While veterinarians have been aware of the issue, a new American Veterinary Medical Association Website makes reporting cases — and hopefully, identifying the most risky chemicals and uses — much easier, according to Beyond Pesticides, a group that advocates for eliminating the use of pesticides.

The National Pesticide Information Center developed the AVMA Website, with help from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Pesticide Program.

Here's how the Beyond Pesticides blog describes the risk from pesticides to pets, and resources available to pet owners:

Numerous studies have documented the risk of pesticides to pets over the years. A 1991 National Cancer Institute study, finds that dogs whose owners’ lawns were treated with 2,4-D, four or more times per year, are twice as likely to contract canine malignant lymphoma than dogs whose owners do not use the herbicide. Exposure to herbicide-treated lawns and gardens increases the risk of bladder cancer by four to seven times in Scottish Terriers, according to a study by Purdue University veterinary researchers published in the April 15, 2004 issue of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Research published in the December 1988 issue of Preventive Veterinary Medicine links hyperthyroidism in cats to flea powders and sprays, lawn pesticides and canned cat food. Allethrin, a common ingredient in home mosquito products (coils, mats, oils and sprays) and other bug sprays, has been linked to liver problems in dogs, according to a 1989 study by the World Health Organization. The 1989 edition W.C. Campbell Toxicology textbook reports that chronic exposure to abamectin, an insecticide often used by homeowners on fire ants can affect the nervous system of dogs and cause symptoms such as pupil dilation, lethargy, and tremors. According to 2004 statistics compiled by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ Animal Poison Control Center, 22% of approximately 880 cases of pet birds being exposed to common household items involved pesticides (including rat bait and insecticides....

If you suspect your pet has been poisoned, contact the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Centerat 888-426-4435. Encourage your veterinarian to document the pesticide poisoning through the new AVMA Website. To be sure the incident does not go undocumented, complete Beyond Pesticides' Pesticide Incident Report(pdf).
For more information on how your pet may be poisoned, what pesticides do to pets, and alternative pest management strategies for your home and pet pest problems, see Beyond Pesticides fact sheet Pesticides and Pets: What you should know to keep your pets safe(pdf).

Pet Chat: News for your Pet