The Care & Feeding of Aging Dogs

A lot of folks don’t realize it, but as companion animals grow older, their nutritional needs often change. As their caretakers, we owe it to them to provide the best we can, based on their current nutritional requirements. The truth is, when it comes to senior dogs, appropriate, targeted nourishment can make a real difference in terms of longevity and long-term happiness.


The Four Stages of Canine Life

The four stages of a dog’s life are:  puppyhood, adolescence, adult and senior. Keep in mind, however, that breeds age at differing rates. When it comes to determining where your dog lands on the scale, size really does matter. For instance, small breeds enter adolescence and reach full size as adults much more quickly than do large breeds. Even so, small breeds enjoy a longer period in the adult life stage. Large and giant breed dogs progress more rapidly to the senior life stage but overall have shorter lifespans. For example, while the average miniature poodle lives 15 years, a Great Dane’s life expectancy is about nine.

When Do Dogs Become Seniors?

There is not one specific age at which a pet becomes a senior. In general, veterinarians consider dogs ages 6-7 as having entered their senior years, with larger dogs reaching seniority more quickly than small breed dogs. In human terms, a small or medium-sized breed dog at seven years of age is the equivalent of a mid-forties human, while a large or giant breed dog is more similar to a 50- to 56-year-old.

Aging is a complex process that depends on breed, environment, and lifestyle, so even within the same breed, some individuals age more quickly than others. Your companion animal’s unique state of health is more important than any date on the calendar!


Common Health Conditions in Senior Dogs

Some of the common medical conditions seen in older pets include heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes, obesity and joint disease. While it’s impossible for diet alone to address all of these conditions, we do know that providing senior dogs with optimal nutrition is the best thing you can do to ensure longevity (more about that in a minute). I ask each of you to work with your veterinarian to come up with a holistic plan to address your senior dog’s individual needs.

In addition to regular veterinary checkups, pet parents should be on the lookout for any of the following symptoms, all of which warrant a visit to the vet . . . . 

• Sudden changes in appetite, either decreased or increased
• Increased thirst & urination
• Straining to urinate or defecate
• Persistent cough
• Panting, even when resting
• Vomiting
• Difficulty rising from a resting position, climbing stairs, or getting in & out of cars
• Increased incidents of indoor elimination
• Sudden changes in temperament
• Acting confused or disoriented

The Importance of Dietary Supplements

Nutritional plans for seniors really should feature dietary supplements. For instance, most senior dogs would benefit from taking a premium joint supplement. Remember, aging joints are often painful joints! And it’s not at all uncommon for coats to lose their luster later in life . . . . not to mention, skin becoming dry and flaky. Adding a balanced skin-and-coat supplement just might make all the difference! And, of course, general wellness supplements with antioxidants and immune support could help provide what your senior dog needs for his or her golden years.


The All Life Stage Food Solution

If you have multiple dogs on different diets and you’re worried about who’s eating what, simplify meal time by feeding in different rooms, or even in crates.

For most households, a premium all life stage diet offers the perfect solution. At Life’s Abundance, we’ve worked diligently to perfect formulas that provide abundant nutrition for all breeds, at all points in their life spectrum. The truth is, puppies and senior dogs share many of the same nutritional needs. For instance, our All Life Stage Dog Food features the additional amino acids, probiotics, Vitamin E and zinc that dogs need early AND late in life. With precise portions and individualized wellness supplements, the needs of each individual dog can be met.


Now that we’ve covered canines, we will soon be delving into senior cat nutrition! 

Learn more about all of our pet & people products at:

www.PremiumPetFoodStore.com

Skin Problems ~ Lumps and Bumps

Skin problems rank high among the most common reasons that pets go to the veterinarian. Chief complaints include unexplained lumps and bumps that develop on the surface of the skin, under the skin, or even inside the mouth. The good news is that most of the time these swellings are simply benign (non-cancerous) growths. However, it is imperative to have any suspicious growths examined by your vet since they could lead to a more serious condition that may require treatment.

There are a few things that you can do at home if you spot a ‘bumpy lumpy’ on your pet. You should immediately inspect your companion to see if there are multiple bumps or just one. Your pet could be acting fine, the lumps not sensitive to the touch but they can still be serious. The size of a lump is not an indication of its severity. If your pet is acting normally, the lump does not appear painful, and it’s not accompanied by a bad odor, then you probably aren’t facing a dire emergency. Benign growths can include fluid-filled cysts, fatty tumors, warts, skin tags and histiocytomas. Don’t make yourself crazy by trying to diagnose the malady at home. Simply schedule a vet appointment and find out what’s going on.

On the other hand, if you do notice a change in your pet’s behavior then this should be an immediate red flag. Other red flags include fatigue, food avoidance, or inexplicable limping. Symptoms of an infected lump may include red swelling, foul odor coming from the lump, and obvious pain or tenderness associated with the area. Bumps that appear overnight could be due to an abscess, an infection in a wound. Of course, the ‘worst case scenario’ for many is that a bump will prove to be a cancerous tumor. If left unchecked, malignant tumors can grow and spread to other parts of the body. It probably bears repeating … if there’s any question about what’s going on with your dog or cat, take them to the vet for testing.

When you bring your pet in to see your vet, he or she will ask you some questions regarding when you first noticed the lump or swelling, whether you’ve noticed any changes in its appearance, and more. These questions are necessary for your vet to start narrowing down the possible causes and treatments needed. Don’t be alarmed if your vet uses the terms mass, tumor, or growth when referring to any bumps. These are simply medical terms used to describe any swellings and does not automatically mean a cancerous diagnosis. Additionally, your vet will likely perform a physical examination from head to tail. This exam is critical for the assessment of your pet’s health state, and to determine whether there are multiple lumps present (i.e., any that you might’ve missed in your home exam). The look and feel of a bump can give your vet a lot of insight towards what could be wrong. Further testing may be needed to successfully establish the source of the trouble.

After the physical exam, your vet will either offer some immediate treatment options if nothing serious is going on, or ask for permission to conduct further diagnostic testing. A simple test, known as cytology (Greek for ‘the study of cells’) of the lump, may be initially recommended. During this test, a needle is inserted into the bump or swelling, and cells are extracted. The sample will be studied under a microscope for further analysis. The only problem with cytology is that the results can provide only a limited amount of information. If this procedure does not provide a sufficient explanation for the problem, your vet may recommend a biopsy.

There are two types of biopsies: incisional and excisional. With an incisional biopsy, a small amount of the lump is sampled and sent out for analysis. An excisional biopsy requires the removal of the entire mass or swelling, also sent out for analysis. Your pet may need local anesthesia or general sedation before a biopsy is performed, dependent upon the size and location of the mass, as well as the behavioral temperament of your companion.

Ultimately, treatment options will depend on the results of the lump’s analysis. Your vet may determine that the lump or swelling is only cosmetic and poses no threat to your pet kid’s health. In this case, you will want to keep a close eye on the area and notify your vet of any changes. If the diagnosis is more serious, your veterinarian will discuss all available treatment options to address, and hopefully heal, whatever’s going on.

If you remember nothing else, the take-away here is that your greatest resource in diagnosing and treating any skin problem is your vet.

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Raven is an engaging entrepreneur who encourages others to celebrate pets as part of the family, as well as keep them happy, healthy, and spoiled with her online specialty pet boutique (http://www.TheGiftedPet.com), and premium pet food business (http://www.PremiumPetFoodStore.com)

For more information, please visit her Facebook page to PM her (https://www.facebook.com/TheGiftedPet), or email her at Raven@TheGiftedPet.com