Denise Fleck has no clue how old her newly adopted dog, Kiko, really is. She guesses that her Akita rescue is between 7 to 10 years old, confirming that she is a senior dog. All Denise can verify is that by providing a quality-nutrient diet and supplements to Kiko, she now sports a shiny coat, is at a healthy weight and emits ageless energy.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey say 50 is the new 30, so in dog years, that makes an 8- or 9-year-old canine, 3 or 4!\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
Denise is nationally known as the Pet Safety Crusader for her pet first-aid classes and pet-safety books. But she also champions the needs of senior dogs as president of The Grey Muzzle Organization (greymuzzle.org<\/a>) that strives to improve the lives of at-risk senior dogs. This nonprofit group includes renowned veterinarians Marty Becker, Ernie Ward and Heidi Lobprise on its advisory board.<\/p>\n Meeting the nutritional needs of gray-muzzled dogs is a top priority for Denise and her organization.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is no one-type-fits-all food for older dogs, as their needs differ,\u201d Denise says. \u201cMy feeling with my senior dogs, and I\u2019ve now had a full dozen, is most things in moderation, nothing in excess. With Kiko, I continue to watch how she responds to her diet and supplements and make any adjustments if need be.\u201d<\/p>\n Dr. Jean Hofve, a holistic veterinarian in Jamestown, Colorado, agrees that there is no one super food or diet that will meet the nutritional needs of all senior dogs.<\/p>\n \u201cSenior dogs need more nutrition and better-quality protein and fat because they don\u2019t digest or absorb food as well,\u201d she says. \u201cTheir stomachs get worn out through aging.\u201d<\/p>\n That\u2019s why Dr. Hofve advocates providing older dogs with what is called symbiotics. It is a combination of omega-3 fatty acids, prebiotics and probiotics.<\/p>\n \u201cOmega-3 fatty acids are very important for senior dogs because they are antioxidants, have anti- inflammatory properties and are also good for their joints and help with arthritis pain,\u201d Dr. Hofve says. \u201cPrebiotics and probiotics given together work together in the body to improve digestion and the immune system.\u201d<\/p>\n Also a biggie on Dr. Hofve’s list for senior dogs: plenty of water.<\/p>\n \u201cI recommend canned foods over dry foods for senior dogs because they are easier to digest and contain more moisture,\u201d she says. \u201cAlso consider giving your dog bone broth \u2014 make sure it is free of any salt or onions.\u201d<\/p>\n Another senior dog advocate is Susan Blake Davis, CCN, a certified clinical nutritionist and licensed pet nutritionist who founded Ask Ariel.com (askariel.com<\/a>), a website with a lineup of veterinarian-recommended pet supplements. She shares her home with Legend, a special-needs rescue dog with severe hip dysplasia and epilepsy who is nearly 13 years old.<\/p>\n \u201cLegend eats a raw, frozen diet with raw, freeze-dried treats and lots of vegetables,\u201d Susan says. \u201cRaw, frozen diets are low in carbohydrates and are especially helpful for pets with allergies, skin problems and digestive issues.\u201d<\/p>\n Like Dr. Hofve, Susan also highly recommends supplementing a senior dog\u2019s diet with quality supplements. \u201cPet vitamins and supplements can assist with digestion and nutrient absorption, help keep your pet\u2019s coat and skin healthy, and strengthen joints and bones,\u201d Susan says. \u201cA good, multi-strain probiotic will contain many strains of beneficial bacteria to help your pet\u2019s immune system to fight harmful bacteria, yeast and parasites.\u201d<\/p>\n Bottom line for your senior dog: Acknowledge that every day we get to spend with them is a gift. That\u2019s a promise people like Denise Fleck are keeping for senior dogs like Kiko. As Denise says, \u201cDogs are living longer, healthier lives thanks to better nutrition, exercise and becoming part of the family unit.\u201d<\/p>\n Consult your veterinarian about identifying specific vitamins and other supplements that can maximize your older dog’s health. Here\u2019s a rundown of vitamins and the health roles they can play in senior dogs:<\/p>\n Vitamin A:<\/strong> Aids the aging immune system<\/p>\n Vitamin B:<\/strong> Helps enzyme function, the brain and regulates energy<\/p>\n Vitamin C:<\/strong> This antioxidant boots out toxins in the body and tones down inflammation<\/p>\n Vitamin D:<\/strong> Promotes healthy bones<\/p>\n Vitamin E:<\/strong> Helps metabolize fat and supports eyes and muscles<\/p>\n Whereas there used to be puppy food or adult food, now there is a variety of senior dog foods available in pet stores near you or online. We share three of them and what makes them good for seniors: low calorie, easy to digest and ingredients that benefit older dogs.<\/p>\n The post Good Chow for Good Old Dogs<\/a> by Arden Moore<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n The post Good Chow for Good Old Dogs<\/a> by Arden Moore<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n Denise Fleck has no clue how old her newly adopted dog, Kiko, really is. She guesses that her Akita rescue is between 7 to 10 years old, confirming that she is a senior dog. All Denise can verify is that by providing a quality-nutrient diet and supplements to Kiko, she now sports a shiny coat, is at a healthy weight and emits ageless energy.<\/p>\n \u201cThey say 50 is the new 30, so in dog years, that makes an 8- or 9-year-old canine, 3 or 4!\u201d she says.<\/p>\n Denise is nationally known as the Pet Safety Crusader for her pet first-aid classes and pet-safety books. But she also champions the needs of senior dogs as president of The Grey Muzzle Organization (greymuzzle.org<\/a>) that strives to improve the lives of at-risk senior dogs. This nonprofit group includes renowned veterinarians Marty Becker, Ernie Ward and Heidi Lobprise on its advisory board.<\/p>\n Meeting the nutritional needs of gray-muzzled dogs is a top priority for Denise and her organization.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is no one-type-fits-all food for older dogs, as their needs differ,\u201d Denise says. \u201cMy feeling with my senior dogs, and I\u2019ve now had a full dozen, is most things in moderation, nothing in excess. With Kiko, I continue to watch how she responds to her diet and supplements and make any adjustments if need be.\u201d<\/p>\n Dr. Jean Hofve, a holistic veterinarian in Jamestown, Colorado, agrees that there is no one super food or diet that will meet the nutritional needs of all senior dogs.<\/p>\n \u201cSenior dogs need more nutrition and better-quality protein and fat because they don\u2019t digest or absorb food as well,\u201d she says. \u201cTheir stomachs get worn out through aging.\u201d<\/p>\n That\u2019s why Dr. Hofve advocates providing older dogs with what is called symbiotics. It is a combination of omega-3 fatty acids, prebiotics and probiotics.<\/p>\n \u201cOmega-3 fatty acids are very important for senior dogs because they are antioxidants, have anti- inflammatory properties and are also good for their joints and help with arthritis pain,\u201d Dr. Hofve says. \u201cPrebiotics and probiotics given together work together in the body to improve digestion and the immune system.\u201d<\/p>\n Also a biggie on Dr. Hofve’s list for senior dogs: plenty of water.<\/p>\n \u201cI recommend canned foods over dry foods for senior dogs because they are easier to digest and contain more moisture,\u201d she says. \u201cAlso consider giving your dog bone broth \u2014 make sure it is free of any salt or onions.\u201d<\/p>\n Another senior dog advocate is Susan Blake Davis, CCN, a certified clinical nutritionist and licensed pet nutritionist who founded Ask Ariel.com (askariel.com<\/a>), a website with a lineup of veterinarian-recommended pet supplements. She shares her home with Legend, a special-needs rescue dog with severe hip dysplasia and epilepsy who is nearly 13 years old.<\/p>\n \u201cLegend eats a raw, frozen diet with raw, freeze-dried treats and lots of vegetables,\u201d Susan says. \u201cRaw, frozen diets are low in carbohydrates and are especially helpful for pets with allergies, skin problems and digestive issues.\u201d<\/p>\n Like Dr. Hofve, Susan also highly recommends supplementing a senior dog\u2019s diet with quality supplements. \u201cPet vitamins and supplements can assist with digestion and nutrient absorption, help keep your pet\u2019s coat and skin healthy, and strengthen joints and bones,\u201d Susan says. \u201cA good, multi-strain probiotic will contain many strains of beneficial bacteria to help your pet\u2019s immune system to fight harmful bacteria, yeast and parasites.\u201d<\/p>\n Bottom line for your senior dog: Acknowledge that every day we get to spend with them is a gift. That\u2019s a promise people like Denise Fleck are keeping for senior dogs like Kiko. As Denise says, \u201cDogs are living longer, healthier lives thanks to better nutrition, exercise and becoming part of the family unit.\u201d<\/p>\n Consult your veterinarian about identifying specific vitamins and other supplements that can maximize your older dog’s health. Here\u2019s a rundown of vitamins and the health roles they can play in senior dogs:<\/p>\n Vitamin A:<\/strong> Aids the aging immune system<\/p>\n Vitamin B:<\/strong> Helps enzyme function, the brain and regulates energy<\/p>\n Vitamin C:<\/strong> This antioxidant boots out toxins in the body and tones down inflammation<\/p>\n Vitamin D:<\/strong> Promotes healthy bones<\/p>\n Vitamin E:<\/strong> Helps metabolize fat and supports eyes and muscles<\/p>\n Whereas there used to be puppy food or adult food, now there is a variety of senior dog foods available in pet stores near you or online. We share three of them and what makes them good for seniors: low calorie, easy to digest and ingredients that benefit older dogs.<\/p>\n The post Good Chow for Good Old Dogs<\/a> by Arden Moore<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9729","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nSenior Dog Nutritional Needs<\/h3>\n
Drink Up!<\/h3>\n
Senior Supplements<\/h3>\n
Know Your Vitamin A-B-Cs<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/s36700.pcdn.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Chow-600x400.jpg.optimal.jpg\")
Take a Peek at Some Senior Eats!<\/h3>\n
\n
Senior Dog Nutritional Needs<\/h3>\n
Drink Up!<\/h3>\n
Senior Supplements<\/h3>\n
Know Your Vitamin A-B-Cs<\/h3>\n
Take a Peek at Some Senior Eats!<\/h3>\n
\n