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Feeding elderly dogs



 
 
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  #1  
Old September 25th 10, 09:43 PM posted to rec.pets.dogs.behavior
cshenk
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Posts: 1,078
Default Feeding elderly dogs

Hi folks,

With the advent of Sammy, our new 17YO, looking to see if there are any
special brands of mature dog kibble recommnded? So far he's been on a
'Science diet mature' type. I got him some Blue Wilderness mature which we
will start mixing with that (about 4lbs left). Just wondering if there are
special brands that do better for elderly dogs. Looking for personal
experience, not charts which I have.

He has no special dietary needs other than G/C suppliments and is also now
getting the bone broths and stuff we do here. He's a good weight and needs
to stay there due to arthritis.

  #2  
Old September 25th 10, 11:57 PM posted to rec.pets.dogs.behavior
Char
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Posts: 771
Default Feeding elderly dogs

On 9/25/2010 4:43 PM, cshenk wrote:
Hi folks,

With the advent of Sammy, our new 17YO, looking to see if there are any
special brands of mature dog kibble recommnded? So far he's been on a
'Science diet mature' type. I got him some Blue Wilderness mature which
we will start mixing with that (about 4lbs left). Just wondering if
there are special brands that do better for elderly dogs. Looking for
personal experience, not charts which I have.

He has no special dietary needs other than G/C suppliments and is also
now getting the bone broths and stuff we do here. He's a good weight and
needs to stay there due to arthritis.


Foods aimed at a specific age or type of dog is nothing more than a
marketing strategy by the dog food companies. Science Diet's special
diets in general don't do a thing towards helping those dogs with
whatever problems they may have. Indeed, sometimes they are harmful.

Note that raw feeders don't change their diets because of age. The same
diet is given to all ages successfully.

Your bone broth is great for him.

I saw in another post that this dog is on heartworm "preventative". That
is another scam especially on a dog that old. There is no possibility
that this dog could live long enough for a heartworm infestation to hurt
him. Since it isn't really a preventative but a poison it would be
better for him to skip them since he's probably been exposed to them for
a very long time.


And as for vaccinations....

http://www.critteradvocacy.org/Canin...0Guidlines.htm

"The duration of immunity for vaccines for diseases like rabies,
distemper, and parvovirus have been shown to be 7 years. More
importantly it has been scientifically proven that, after the initial
series, when vaccines are re-administered the immune status of the
patient is not enhanced. Antibodies from the initial vaccine block the
subsequent vaccines from having any effect."

Many vets are now suggesting that older dogs not be vaccinated at all.
  #3  
Old September 26th 10, 02:34 PM posted to rec.pets.dogs.behavior
Janet
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Posts: 120
Default Feeding elderly dogs

On Sep 25, 4:43*pm, "cshenk" wrote:
Hi folks,

With the advent of Sammy, our new 17YO, looking to see if there are any
special brands of mature dog kibble recommnded?


I don't feed senior diets. Lucy (almost 14) eats canned food only,
for kidney health. Her numbers were a bit off in September of 2008,
but since we switched to canned California Natural, everything has
been picture perfect. For seniors who need weight loss (or even
weight maintenance for those prone to gaining) Canidae Platinum is a
very good kibble.
  #4  
Old September 26th 10, 03:35 PM posted to rec.pets.dogs.behavior
cshenk
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Posts: 1,078
Default Feeding elderly dogs

"Janet" wrote
"cshenk" wrote:

With the advent of Sammy, our new 17YO, looking to see if there are any
special brands of mature dog kibble recommnded?


I don't feed senior diets. Lucy (almost 14) eats canned food only,
for kidney health. Her numbers were a bit off in September of 2008,
but since we switched to canned California Natural, everything has
been picture perfect. For seniors who need weight loss (or even
weight maintenance for those prone to gaining) Canidae Platinum is a
very good kibble.


Looks good from the reviews as well. Local place not but 2 miles from me
sells it as well. Sammy we are told is a *slightly* picky eater although
we've seen no signs yet. Most we've noted was seeming delighted looks at the
odd to him treats.

His doggie alarm went off at 8am even though he was full (fed at 6am). He
licked his dish and we dropped in 1 kibble with lots of pettings.

I know that canned can be important to cats and kidney health. I'll keep an
eye on that with Sammy.

Don just pulled out 2 freezer baggies of bone broth. Sammy yipped softly as
he saw the 2nd one and wagged tail. He got used to the nooner broth habit
really fast (grin). The feeding complication tonight is Cash gets his
marrow bone and Sammy can't handle one the same (not the same strong jaws
etc). I'm thinking a fefrosted 4-5 inch finger fish for Sammy at same time
then keep him away from Cash's other half of the marrow bone which he comes
back to in about 2 hours.

  #5  
Old September 27th 10, 02:03 PM posted to rec.pets.dogs.behavior
cshenk
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Posts: 1,078
Default Feeding elderly dogs

"cshenk" wrote
"Janet" wrote


followup to this

Don just pulled out 2 freezer baggies of bone broth. Sammy yipped softly
as he saw the 2nd one and wagged tail. He got used to the nooner broth
habit really fast (grin). The feeding complication tonight is Cash gets
his marrow bone and Sammy can't handle one the same (not the same strong
jaws etc). I'm thinking a defrosted 4-5 inch finger fish for Sammy at
same time then keep him away from Cash's other half of the marrow bone
which he comes back to in about 2 hours.


The fish worked. Sammy sniffed the marrow bone and Cash whined and looked
protective so Sammy wandered off as I called him. Got his first whole
fingerling fish. Cash came over to investigate and Sammy whined then turned
around with it in his mouth and Cash seemed to get the point. 'The bone is
mine, the fish is his'. It's the one thing that worried me as Cash is 'food
protective' and we want no incidents as Sammy learns this one negative about
his buddy.

Cash will share his regular bones though. The big ones from the pet store
(not the frozen defrosted raw marrow cut ones). I'd give Sammy one but I
can tell from his looks of the jaw and all, he can't really do more than
have fun licking and knawing at it a bit.

-------
Slight break. First sign of Sammy being back was a huge beagle-y bugle and
a run to the front door. They lifted out his carrier and before they could
snap a leash ion him he was *running* to the front door and sniffing through
the screen. Tails wagging so fast I thought we'd have a tornado! I let him
in and they were acting like puppies for a bit. Finally heard Sammy bark!

Yeah, we've been adopted ;-)

Anyways, I have his records now. All looks good other than the known
arthritis.



  #6  
Old September 27th 10, 05:03 PM posted to rec.pets.dogs.behavior
sighthounds & siberians
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Posts: 2,538
Default Feeding elderly dogs

On Mon, 27 Sep 2010 09:03:55 -0400, "cshenk" wrote:


Slight break. First sign of Sammy being back was a huge beagle-y bugle and
a run to the front door. They lifted out his carrier and before they could
snap a leash ion him he was *running* to the front door and sniffing through
the screen. Tails wagging so fast I thought we'd have a tornado! I let him
in and they were acting like puppies for a bit. Finally heard Sammy bark!


It's always such a happy thing to see old dogs like Sammy get a good
home to live out their days.

Anyways, I have his records now. All looks good other than the known
arthritis.


I'd be surprised to see a 17 year-old dog *without* arthritis.

Our Borzoi rescue, Nikita, has been with us since the end of March and
is feeling comfortable enough to get into trouble. She was the most
mentally damaged of her group of 14 dogs (we always seem to end up
with those even when it's not intentional), and we put her on
amitriptyline (human anti-depressant, brand name Elavil) at the end of
April. There was a HUGE improvement in her fearful behavior and her
OCD behaviors disappeared. We've weaned her from one pill a day
(which was half the normal dosage) to one every two days and soon
she'll be off it entirely. She was not in as bad a physical shape as
some of the other dogs, though she did lose most of her remaining
teeth (she is only 5 or 6) and had many growths removed, but she's
certainly building muscle running with the other sighthounds. Her
coat looks better but is still fairly coarse. Can't blame the kibble,
as she's been totally raw-fed since her dental. One of her favorite
things (and mine) is to jump up (about 5 feet) to look into the
kitchen window from outside while I'm getting dog meals ready. "Hey!!
What's taking you so long?!"


 




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