We love our oldies; old dogs have a special charm and we share with them a unique bond as family members over many years. Naturally, we want to do our best for dogs in their old age – it’s a time in their life when they need us the most, which is why caring for an older dog is so important.
Elderly dog care often involves more veterinary care, as regular check-ups are paramount so that problems, such as changes in activity, behaviour or eating habits, can be picked up quickly. There are things we can do when caring for an older dog to help them stay healthy, happy and more comfortable. Herbal medicines and dietary supplements for older dogs have an especially valuable place for ageing dogs as they are gentle on the system and effective in their actions.
Here are some issues you may have noticed in your older dog:
Elderly dogs are more susceptible to feeling the cold and heat
Your dog may feel the cold more in the winter, so a warm coat or woolly jumper to wear when they go out is helpful, especially for the short coated breeds. In the summer they may find the heat difficult so making sure there is a cool shaded place to rest, preferably with a nice cool breeze, will make them feel more comfortable.
Delicate digestions and gurgly tummies
If you’re caring for an older dog, this may well sound familiar. Dogs find gurgly tummies uncomfortable, and we don’t much like the wind that often accompanies it! Unfortunately, both seem to be more common in our elderly pets. Older dogs usually do better with smaller meals given more frequently as the digestive system can be a little more delicate than before. Try giving Digestive Tablets for Dogs after a meal; these supplements for older dogs help support digestion and make life for them, and you, more comfortable.
Arthritis
Perhaps your vet has diagnosed arthritis, with stiffness and pain caused by inflammation in the joints.. Our herbal supplement, Green Releaf® Tablets and Garlic & Fenugreek Tablets, help relieve the symptoms of this condition. Ideally, these herbal supplements for older dogs should be given together to help with pain and inflammation, making your dog’s life much more comfortable.
Improvement is gradual, but within a few weeks of feeding these natural medicines for older dog’s joints you will notice your dog moving more comfortably. These tablets can be given in conjunction with any other medication from your vet.
Reduced mobility and movement
Often the first thing we notice when caring for an older dog is that they may be a slowing down in activity. Your ageing dog may not be running around as before; be reluctant to go for walks or in jumping or getting up after a snooze. Joints may need a little support to keep their flexibility and we would firstly suggest that JointWell® Tablets are given daily. In our opinion, these are the best joint supplements for older dogs, as these contain easily absorbed ingredients that support joint cartilage and the synovial membrane that produces lubrication for the joints. These ingredients work synergistically to maintain the flexibility and mobility in the older dog.
With most joint conditions there is inflammation which can be painful and reduce mobility and movement. Turmeric has attracted a lot of attention recently and we have searched high and low – with the emphasis on quality – to find the perfect source for our Turmeric Tablets. Turmeric supplements for older dogs can be used to support the body’s natural anti-inflammatory processes, so they are particularly useful when the body has inflammation. The turmeric in our tablets is the highest quality and potency with 95% curcuminoids and Piperine to increase the bio-availability.
Watch their weight
As older pets take less exercise they may be inclined to put on weight and so stress on the joints can increase. Try to restrict the treats and also adjust the size of their meals according to their activity level.
Urinary incontinence and leaky bladders
This can be as upsetting for the dog as it is for the owner. The bladder muscles might weaken and so they cannot help a little involuntary leaking, often while asleep. Green Releaf® Tablets given daily are effective for this problem. These supplements for older dogs ensure the bladder is emptied completely, resulting in a reduction in leaking – making life a lot easier for you and your dog.
Confusion and disorientation
Some dogs become confused with age, causing changes in behaviour which is upsetting for them and for those caring for an older dog. This can be intensified if they are a little deaf or losing sight as this can cause anxiety and an inability to settle. Giving Scullcap & Valerian Tablets daily to help relaxation and reduce anxiety will make old dogs feel calmer and less fretful.
Look at changing feed requirements
- Often the elderly pet may become more picky about food. Varying the diet may suit them better but adjust the amount to take account of their activity
- Avoid extra treats and titbits that may increase weight.
- If they are reluctant to eat harder foods have the teeth checked to make sure there are no problems.
- Raising feeding bowls is a simple thing that makes life easier too, especially for larger, taller dogs. You can buy raised stands or just use what is available, a stool or a box, to bring the bowl to a more comfortable height – simple but helpful.
Keeping healthy
We recommend giving Keeper’s Mix® daily as this general herbal conditioning supplement, ideal for older dogs. It contains a wealth of vitamins and minerals needed to maintain general health in older dogs.
By Mary Boughton MBE
Please feel welcome to discuss the supplements for older dogs that we have available with one of our experienced advisors. Please get in touch on 01308 897272 or use our contact form. Plus, get free UK delivery on orders over £50.
Note: If you are ever concerned for the health of your pet please consult your veterinary surgeon, we are not vets and can only advise on the general use of our products.
© All rights reserved. Dorwest Herbs 2017.
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8 thoughts on "How To Care For The Older Dog"
Good morning just a question ‘re my 11year old Westie Bella . She has started eating soil and the occasional pebble !!!! O what a worry. She has a very good appetite we feed her raw food twice a day and a little kibble at Lunch time. Generally I would say she is in good condition for her age. She must be in need of extra minerals what would you advise ?.. I look forward to hearing from you, many thanks. Regards Joey Hull.
We would recommend trying the Keeper’s Mix as this can help to provide important vitamins and minerals that may be lacking from the diet. It is a great general health supplement and is commonly used alongside raw diets. You can mix it into her food daily, split between meals if you wanted to give an even amount through the day. We would recommend introducing it quite gradually (start with salt-and-pepper pinches) as it has quite a strong herby smell and some dogs need time to adjust to the smell and taste. Whilst this can help to provide vitamins and minerals that may be causing this sort of behaviour, it is important to note that such behaviours can be partly habitual so it may not resolve the problem completely.
Hi Ben
Thank you for your reply.
I have been giving Roxxi the green releaf tablets and the garlic and fenugreek tablets for 3 weeks now.
I was giving her the treatment dose but have now switched to the maintenance dose from today
Do you think I may have been giving her to much?
The urinary problem is about the same still getting me up once or twice a night to pass urine.
How long on average do you think it takes to see an improvement?
The tablets have definitely improved her mobility and movement but just wish I could see an improvement
with the urine problem as otherwise she is doing well for her age..
Any thoughts greatly welcomed
Regards Lynne
Hi Lynne,
You can give the treatment dose for a month (although can be given longer for those that need a bit extra). We generally recommend giving products for a few weeks before you would expect to see an improvement. With urinary problems, it can vary as it depends what is causing the issue. Generally these are used to help with incontinence so if it is habitual that Roxxi is needing to urinate during the night, they may not be completely effective. It can take a little longer to see an improvement in urinary problems so it may be another few weeks before they are at full effect.
Hi
I have a 15 year old English springier spaniel who has been a healthy dog all her life.
Over the last couple of months she is wanting to go outside to pass urine very frequently, even wanting to go out
several times a night.
The vet diagnosed a urinary tract infection after having had an ultra sound scan and urine samples sent away to a lab to be cultured. No other problems were found ie kidney or bladder stones.
She has just finished taking a 14 day course of prescribed antibiotics. The vet has retested her urine and everything
seems clear now. However she is still passing urine frequently but only small amounts and then wants to go again 15 minutes later.
I wondered if the Dorwest Green releaf tablets might help and if so have people had good results for urinary problems with their
pets when using them.
Any thoughts greatly received.
Hi Lynne, our Green Releaf Tablets have been found to be very helpful in these cases as their mild diuretic action helps ensure that the bladder is emptied completely when your dog urinates, aiding normal urinary elimination. You will need to give the Green Releaf daily at a maintenance dose (1 tablet per 5-10kg) to improve the situation. You could also give the Garlic & Fenugreek tablets alongside, as these will help to build the resistance to minor infections with its anti-bacterial, antiseptic and anti-viral properties!If you need more help or advice give us a call on 01308 897272
Good morning, I have a 15yr old patterdale terrier who has been in fabulous heath all his life. But as he is getting older things have started to change here & there. I’ve noticed that he has started to be sick on odd occasion but he isn’t poorly with it. He’s on all good quality senior food & I’ve split his once evening meal into twice a day to help his digestion… I’m looking for something to help ease his digestion and keep his tummy from being a little “off” from time to time.
Many thanks
Hi Jacqui, we have two products which might help your 15year old. The Digestive Tablets are great to settle digestion, soothe and comfort the stomach. It is also great for dogs with ‘grumbly’ or windy stomachs. The other product is our Tree Barks Powder which is made of Slippery Elm Bark and White Poplar Bark which helps digestion by slowing the passage of food down and increasing absorption of nutrients, firming stools and easing discomfort. Both of these products should help with the odd sickness and help with digestion. If you’d like more advice or information do give one of our product advisors a call on 01308 897272 or drop us an email at [email protected]. Hope this helps- The Dorwest team