Helping Your Senior Dog Loose Weight

Most of us have a family vet that we trust in the care for our four legged family.  This article shares pretty much the same information your vet would tell you.  I thought I would share with you!  It is always nice to have multiple sources of helpful tips when caring for our loved ones!  This article is originally written by
 Leslie Gallagher McMahon CCMT, CCRT

One pound of excess weight in a dog is the equivalent of five pounds for us, so even if your dog “only” needs to lose about ten pounds, that is like you or I having to lose 50 pounds!!!  The call from Alex’s owner was typical. “My dog is somewhat overweight and needs to have surgery for a torn cruciate ligament, but the vet cannot do it until he loses some weight. Can you help us??” I replied that of course we could help and we set up an appointment. Alex turned out to be more than “somewhat” overweight. He was, in fact, absolutely enormous. For a golden retriever a good weight can be anywhere from 70-90 pounds give or take. Alex was 165. As soon as I saw him my heart sank, and I knew we had our work cut out for us.   Golden’s are right up there with Labrador Retrievers as the breeds most predisposed to weight gain and torn cruciate ligaments, which is a ligament keeping the knee in place. Being as they are usually completely adorable as well, it is often hard for their owners to resist over-feeding them. There are so, so many things we as canine rehabilitation therapists can do (we cannot use the term physical therapy as that term is protected for humans only), but one of the hardest things to manage in the world of canine rehabilitation is diet.   Most veterinarians will tell you that they never, ever, ever tell their clients that their dogs or cats need to lose weight, even if the animals are grossly obese. Why? Because the fear is that most clients will be so offended that they will not come back. I was astonished when I heard that until I set up my own practice and found out for myself. I am pretty outspoken when it comes to weight as it is one of the absolutely easiest things in the world you can manage to keep your animals healthy. One pound of excess weight in a dog is the equivalent of five pounds for us, so even if your dog “only” needs to lose about ten pounds, that is like you or I having to lose 50 pounds!!!   In addition to putting an overweight dog on a diet, one of the most helpful tools for keeping your dog fit is exercise as well. This is where we come in. Our goal in canine rehabilitation is to get your dog as active and healthy and pain free as we can, for the life of your dog. Even your very senior dog needs to get regular, fun exercise just as we do. If the owner is unable to provide that exercise there are worlds of tools at your disposal. Everything from a regular treadmill (you’d be surprised at how many dogs love to run on a treadmill!) to the swimming pool, to biking alongside them and everything in between. The caveat with senior dogs is that you need to make sure the exercise is appropriate to the dog’s age and general conditioning. A dog with cancer, for example, needs a lot more rest times worked into his exercise session.   What are some of the benefits of keeping your dog athletic and fit? Your dog will be more coordinated (less risk of falling and injuring himself) and you will reduce the risk of injury. If your dog does get injured, his recovery will be faster. If you are able to keep his weight down, he will be more able to withstand stress (and yes, dogs do feel your stress all the time!!) and they will have an enhanced sense of well being. The other bonus is that you get in a workout as well and have some wonderful bonding time with your dog!   What is an appropriate weight level for your pooch? You can either ask your vet (if they’ll tell you!) or feel their waistline. There is absolutely no benefit to a dog carrying around any extra weight, so you want to check their neck, ribs and rear end. Typically you want to see no excess skin/fat at any of these spots. You should be able to feel their ribs easily without having to press in too much. You also want to stand over your dog and see a visible waistline.   And as mentioned above, regular quality exercise is very important for the senior dog. Your dog should be able to comfortably do strength exercise for 15 minutes at a time at least 3 days a week. By strength exercise that can be anything from brisk walks to easy trotting if they are able, to swimming (with multiple breaks) to hiking, to even riding alongside you as you slowly ride your bike. Of course all of these activities should be worked up to slowly so that your dog builds endurance and doesn’t get injured.   Another important caveat to keeping your senior dog healthy is making sure to get regular veterinary care. All elderly dogs should have semi-annual urinalysis, as well as an annual blood test to check their thyroids, as well as a good dental check up. And what you can do is just as important. Brush your dog’s teeth on a regular basis. Be sure to do weekly body checks to look for lumps and report anything suspicious to your vet. Regular total body massage is important for both you and your senior pets and is especially beneficial in detecting any lumps or bumps.

Feeding the Geriatric Dog and Cat

Feeding the Geriatric Dog and Cat

Source: www.animalhealthcare.ca

The nutritional requirements of aging pets are as varied as the personalities of our four-legged friends...

The nutritional requirements of aging pets have been the subject of much discussion in recent years, particularly with the introduction of therapeutic specialty diets. Even though there is little experimental information on the nutritional requirements of senior dogs and cats, commercial diets are nevertheless currently available on the market designed specifically for the geriatric pet. These diets differ from adult maintenance diets in that they contain altered protein and fat levels, fibre content, and vitamin/mineral levels. Whether or not these changes are necessary in all older pets remains to be seen.   Aging results in numerous changes in the geriatric dog and cat that have a direct effect on their nutritional requirements. These changes occur in all the organ systems, causing a decline in body functions and a decreased ability to maintain optimal health . As pets get older, long-term exposure to oxidants, both within the body and outside the body, results in the production of harmful molecules called "oxygen-free radicals". These radicals cause damage to cells in the body. Aging is also associated with a decline in efficiency of the immune system and, since nutritional deficiencies and excesses can modify the immune response in animals, the nutritional make-up of the senior diet must take these factors into account.   As pets get older, there is a decrease in total energy needs because of reduced physical activity and a decline in their ability to metabolize what they eat. For this reason, it is usually recommended that older animals be fed fewer calories per unit of body weight than a younger animal in order to maintain a constant body weight. However, the energy intake of a pet should be based on the individual needs of the pet rather than reducing the caloric intake in all geriatric pets regardless of health status or body mass.   Most older pets, regardless of health status, will benefit from some nutritional guidelines. For example, because food intake is often reduced in the older pet, the percentage of protein may need to be increased modestly in order to maintain an adequate protein intake per unit body mass. There is presently no evidence to indicate that protein restriction in the normal pet will prevent development of kidney disease. Similarly, in those pets that have a reduced food intake, moderate increases (e.g. 25-50%) in the concentrations of vitamins and minerals in the diet may also be beneficial. Increased dietary fibre in the geriatric diet can be helpful but may not be indicated in all senior pets. Current studies indicate that the digestive system of older dogs and cats is very little affected by age and older pets are no less efficient in extracting nutrients from food than younger animals.   Aging brings with it numerous changes which adversely affect normal body functions. However, it is important to realize that these changes do not necessarily affect all pets at the same time. There is currently no evidence to suggest that all geriatric pets would benefit from a specially-formulated therapeutic diet designed specifically for older animals. Above all, it is important for the practitioner to distinguish between the normal, healthy geriatric pet and one that exhibits clinical signs related to diseases due to the aging process before making any recommendations regarding dietary changes.


I found this article on a website that is dedicated to senior pets.  They have everything from pet products specially for seniors, to helpful hints on care.  Check it out!  seniorpetproducts

2010 Mutt Mosey

Despite the rain, we had a pretty good turnout on Saturday for our annual Mutt Mosey.  Thank you to everyone who showed their support and came out in their rainy day best to support us!  Check back soon for some photos of our event, along with the money you all helped to raise!  Thank You again for everyone's support.  With out you all we would not be here! 

Peaches and Mio our very first cat and dog!

To Insure, Or Not To Insure....

Almost every domestic cat or dog will become sick or injured at some point during their lives. Thankfully, veterinary medicine now provides services once thought impossible -- using surgery, chemotherapy and radiation to treat many pet health problems.   The downside of this new technology, however, is the high cost of these procedures. Too often, pet owners must choose between their pet's health and the size of their wallet. That's where pet insurance comes in.  Pet insurance can help cover the costs of everything from routine care to major surgeries and procedures. Similar to car or homeowners insurance, pet insurance reimburses the policyholder. Almost all insurance policies allow the pet owner to choose his own vet, since medical providers are not paid directly by the insurance company.
The costs can be high  Pet insurance can be a large expense in itself, ranging from $10-$50 per month. Understanding each plan's options and limitations is important.  Routine care such as the annual physical exam, vaccinations, testing and prescription flea and tick control are not covered under the major medical plans, but coverage is available under a separate plan. Generally, insurance plans do not cover elective procedures, behavioral problems, pre-existing conditions or pet foods. Nor do they cover specific hereditary problems - such as hip dysplasia or eye problems that certain purebreds are prone to develop.  Be sure to read the "fine print" in the insurance policy. There are deductibles, co-pays, unreimbursed costs and medical exclusions, which will all be paid out of your own pocket. Adding those costs to the premiums can be quite considerable.
… so can the advantages
Medical expenses only add unneeded stress to an already painful situation. People who have purchased pet insurance cite the emotional and financial benefits of not having to think twice about costly tests or procedures when their pets became ill.   There is no age limit on insurance policies, and claims are generally processed very quickly. Over one million policies have been sold by Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI), the nation's largest licensed pet medical insurance provider. VPI covers over 6400 medical conditions, and offers discounts for multiple pet enrollments.
Is it right for you? 
When determining whether or not to purchase pet insurance, experts recommend assessing your pet's risks, based on medical and genetic history, as well as behavior.   One of the more common reasons for emergency vet visits is the ingestion of foreign substances. VPI reports that pets have been treated for eating tinsel, prom dresses, golf balls, electronic pagers, needles and thread, hearing aids, human medications, drywall, snail bait, anti-freeze and batteries and even pantyhose. If your pet likes to nibble on more than just dog chews, you might want to consider insurance!  Behavior should also be considered. Cora, an Alaskan malamute, was out for a walk when she spotted a cat sunning itself in a window. Following her instincts, Cora decided to crash through the window, and was rushed to the vet with severe lacerations. Cora is thankfully fine, after careful - and costly - treatment.   Always be sure to get your dog's medical history from his breeder or shelter representative, and speak candidly to your veterinarian.
For more information, visit http://www.petinsurance.com/, http://www.apswann.com/or http://www.healthypet.com/.

Article from Best Friends Pet Care

Senior Pet Photo Contest

Check out the Dog Channel's senior photo contest.

'My Special Senior Dog' Photo Gallery

Upload a photo of your golden oldie and share a few words with other dog lovers about what makes her so special.
Like a fine wine, dogs just get better with age. As a tribute to our beloved senior pets everywhere, we’d like to know what makes your dog’s golden years so special.
Is she a young-at-heart senior? Or a true-blue friend to the end? Share your story with other dog lovers by uploading a photo and a few words.