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Your Old Dog Deserves Tender Loving Care And |
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Our Pets Should Be Living Longer Than They Are
We want your old dog to not just live a long life, but remain happy, healthy and mobile. We share the best possible ways for you to care for your furry old-timer using safe natural methods including nutrition, supplements and other natural alternatives such as therapy. We also provide insight into traditional medicines, so that you can compare and choose the best option for your old dog.Whether you're looking for help on how to feed your old friend a healthier diet or safe, effective pain relief medicines to manage his arthritis and hip dysplasia, we have you covered. We believe that more dogs today are suffering with chronic skin and yeast issues than ever before and there's no reason for it. Dog owners are often being led to believe that their only alternative are prescription diets, steroids and harmful drugs when it's not always the case.
Our dogs should live longer than they are and many of the problems that our dogs face are due to poor nutritional choices and the products that we use to care for them.
We've found that by applying a simple, natural approach and avoiding unnecessary chemicals and toxins when at all possible, most dogs live a longer, happier, healthier and more comfortable life. KNOW YOUR OPTIONS!
Place Your Curser Over Our Slide Show for Doggie Health Tips!
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Keeping Old Dogs Happy, Healthy and Full of Life
All too often pet owners give up on their dogs once they reach a certain age and start showing signs of slowing down. What dog owners don't realize is that age isn't the only factor that dictates how your old dog feels. There are many causes that determine how your dog ages, how well he feels with age and overall longevity. You might be surprised at what you as a dog owner can do to keep your best friend around as long as possible.
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Food and Nutrition
Nutrition should be the number one concern for all dog owners despite age. Of course the earlier you start feeding good healthy food, the better. So if you get your dog as a pup, start right away and if you adopt an older dog, start immediately. Nutrition is the foundation for how your dog feels, responds and ages. Take it very seriously.
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Rotation and Variety
The best diet for dogs includes a nice variety of proteins such as deboned chicken or chicken meal, salmon or salmon meal, turkey or turkey meal, lamb or lamb meal, etc. Grains should be limited if included at all. Be choosy of any grains included in your dog's diet. Excellent sources include quinoa and whole brown rice. Russet potatoes and sweet potatoes are excellent choices of carbohydrates for your dog. Regardless if dogs are domestic pets or not, they need a diet that includes variety. Despite what you read that older dogs need less protein; that's absolutely not true. A healthy older dog may need up to 50% more protein than a younger dog. Choose your dog food brand carefully and use the rotation method to provide your dog with the necessary assortment he needs to thrive.
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A healthy dog is a happy dog...
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Supplements/Neutraceuticals
Liquid Glucosamine
With age, many dogs become stiff, arthritic and their immune systems weaken. There are several things you can do as a dog owner to provide quality of life for your older dog. Supplements are one way to improve your dog's health or continue his good health well into the golden years. Liquid glucosamine with MSM products can help loosen stiff joints. If this alone doesn't work, there are many other products available both natural and traditional that can be used in combination with glucosamine to ease the pain of arthritis and/or hip dysplasia and keep your dog mobile.
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Supplements
Probiotics are another excellent source to maintain or boost your dog's health. Probiotics strengthen the immune system helping your old dog to ward off illness and disease. They also help a great deal with digestive distress that many dogs face due to poor nutritional choices or foods, sensitivities or foods that don't agree with the dog. Probiotics keep your old dog in check.
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Exercise and Weight Control
Exercise is critical to your dog no matter what the age. Unfortunately, many dog owners ignore or think that because the dog has a yard, that's enough. This couldn't be further from the truth. In fact, many dogs will just stand in the yard if left alone. All dogs need movement; they need to be walking or running with the pack and believe it or not, but you're the pack.
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They need to walk and sniff their way around. By using their strong sense of smell, dogs learn a lot about what's happening around them. Like their ancestors, dogs sniff to learn who's been in the neighborhood, what species they are, type of dog they are such as dominant or submissive. While a walk might seem like an unnecessary chore to dog owners; it's critical to a dog's nature and well being. Old dogs often become constipated and exercise helps to keep them regular and manage weight issues as well.
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Social Interaction
Dogs are very social beings and not meant to be isolated or alone. Canines that are given the opportunity to interact regularly are happy, healthy, confident and secure. Socialized dogs are typically very comfortable with humans as well as other dogs. Bonding is very important for your old dog or dogs of any age.
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Make It Fun
This section pertains to providing your dog with simple fun. Instead of just placing a treat on the floor, make him work for it. Dogs love a good challenge, even old dogs. Instead of just handing him a treat, try placing it inside an empty box filled with crumpled paper or hide it somewhere and make him use that powerful sense of smell he has. Another idea is to place it inside a treat ball or dispenser.
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Make It Fun
There are many healthier choices of entertainment for your dog today. Tripe sticks are one example of a low fat safer alternative to rawhide. Easily digested and dogs love them.
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Respect His Rest
It's critical that your old dog get the rest he needs. Although he might still act like a spring chicken at times, remember that he needs more sleep than his younger counterpart. Respect his need to cuddle up on his bed and take a long nap.
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Rest During Play
It's especially important if your dog is older to make him take a "time-out" during play periods. If the weather is warm, don't allow your dog of any age to play to hard without rest and cool clean water.
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These Tips Will Keep Your Old Dog Smiling!
Why We Do What We Do
We would like you to meet just one of our 
fur kids; this was our old dog "Lulu" who turned the ripe old age of sixteen in 2010.
Unfortunately, we suddenly lost our old girl in June 2010, but we will be forever grateful that we were able to spend 14 years with this wonderful dog. R.I.P. Lulu and we'll see you at the bridge.
It's no accident that our old dog Lulu was extremely healthy, fit and full of life. Through diet, exercise and emotional stimulation, she was able to remain healthy for many years.
Having rescued dogs for over 30 years, we consider ourselves to be pretty savvy when it comes to their care. No matter how much we thought we knew about dogs though, Lulu was one of those dogs that continued to teach us more and more over the years about specific issues relating to dog care.
She struggled with irritable bowel syndrome and severe allergies. She suffered with thunder phobia from the day we brought her home from the humane society. Plus, she was a cancer survivor and remained in remission for almost 4 years on an all natural diet and nutritional supplements before passing. Many of the topics that we discuss throughout our website are based upon our own experiences with Lulu and our many other dogs.
It's very important to us that you find the best advice possible when it comes to caring for your older dog. If there's something in particluar that you're looking for and can't find, please ask. Get in touch with us using our contact form and we'll respond as quickly as we can.
Always Provide Your Old Dog With A Quality Diet, Social Activity, Exercise And Professional Veterinary Care
Once dogs reach the age of eight, most professional breeders and Veterinarians consider them to be senior dogs. Since all of our dogs have been large and lived to be fourteen (the youngest), we don't necessarily agree with that thinking. Yet, our goal is to make it as easy as possible for you to find the best dog products, dog supplies and resources available for your aging dog.
Like younger dogs, older dogs need social activity to remain healthy and vibrant. A healthy supply of love and fun, combined with excellent nutrition, exercise and his favorite dog treat will liven-up almost any dog.
So re-energize your dog with good old fashioned fun including walking, ball time or whatever it is that your best friend likes to do. The attention and exercise stimulate their mind and body and ultimately keep them young.Nutrition plays a vital role in your dog's health and a healthy diet should be started as soon as possible. The sooner the better! Feed dog treats wisely. You can read many horror stories from our visitors about rawhide dog chews here.
An Active Dog Is A Young Dog
Although all dogs live for routine, old dogs especially rely on it. A nice walk in a dog park or a good game of fetch provides great exercise and social activity for your old dog. A game of hide-and-seek with his favorite ball or toy is a great at home game for your senior dog.
Remember, dogs love to work so spend a few minutes teaching him a new trick and he'll enjoy the attention as well as the special treats.
Another idea is to make him use his "sense of smell" by developing a game of "Search and Rescue" which all dogs seem to love. Pick out an object such as a dog treat or toy. It's important that you allow your dog to thoroughly smell it. Make him remain in position while you hide the object. Now, tell him to "find it" and watch that nose go. It might take a few times for him to catch on, but he will.
Since self esteem is critical for dogs and it's very important to make a big deal about his trick so that he knows he is still top dog no matter what his age!
Dogs and Family
That special bond that we have with our dog is indeed special. Our spouse, our children and our pets make up our family. They have their place in our hearts and in our homes. It's natural to want the best for him just like any other family member.Remember, routine is one of the best things that you can give to your old dog, by providing consistency, your dog will be confident that you will always be there for him. In turn, you will have a content and well behaved dog that will bring you joy for many years.
Old Dogs Warm The Heart
And By Providing Time For Your Dog Today,
You'll Receive Even More Time With Him Tomorrow...
Meet Harry - one of our contest winners!
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No reproduction permitted without our written consent. We ARE NOT VETERINARIANS and DO NOT have any type of formal education in veterinary care. Our website is meant to provide you with ideas and options, but NEVER meant to replace your veterinarian's advice, treatment or prescribed medications regarding your dog.