[theBCnut]

Skip the senior food. A lot of them have reduced amounts of protein and that is the opposite of what a senior needs. Keep her on a good quality food with good quality proteins in it and you might want to add some fish oil, as well as the joint supplement. Don’t bother with a food that advertises that it has a joint supplement in it, they don’t actually have a therapeutic dose, so it would do little good. There are a few people here with senior dogs that will chime in with what else you can do to help your old gal.

[casey]

I have a 12 year old boxer/pit mix. I have had her since she was a 6 week old tiny, runty rescue. She has always maintained an deal body weight for her, of 60 lbs. She has never had a sensitive stomach or issues with food and has eaten all kinds of different higher quality brands of kibble and canned. She has no known health concerns (other than several small lipomas on her chest and neck and one very large one on the right side of her neck. It was removed when she was about 8 years old, but since it was down in her shoulder muscle the Dr. was not able to get all of it and it slowly came back over the course of the next year and has since continued to grow slowly. It does not bother her at all and since her first surgery was so invasive her Dr. does not want to remove it again unless it starts causing her problems.) She has definitely slowed down quite a bit in the past year or so and wants to mostly sleep. She will run around in the back yard with our 2 year old doodle every morning and evening and has a blast, but only has about 20 minutes or so in her and is done. Her last vet checkup was great, her blood work was wonderful and she had no signs of arthritis or hip problems. But I have noticed she seems a little less stable on her feet lately and will occasionally fall up or down the deck stairs, but maybe this is just normal for her age ? (like when older people get weaker and more frail) I was wondering if a senior dog food and joint supplements might be better for her? I was not sure about the senior food since she is in no way over weight. Her coat has gotten a bit dull lately too. Just wondering what I can do to help my old girl age gracefully.

[Tambourineman]

Because of the Chinese dog food gluten scare, we researched our dog’s food and based on the rating and info here switched him to EVO Senior. EVO Senior(and related products made at the same plant) was recently recalled due to the FDA finding salmonella in one batch. So again based on reviews here we switched him to Orijen Senior. It’s made in Canada and I just discovered that during the mad cow disease, some of Champion Pet’s products may have used infected cows and were recalled. I do not know if Canadian dog food manufacturers are inspected similar to US ones. Whether a dog food is inspected or not is not shown in the ratings. Does anyone know how good the Canadian inspection agency is? What’s top rated dog food that is subject to a good independent inspection regime and preferably available off the shelf at PetCo, Pet Supplies Plus, or most vets or animal stores?

[Haychucko]

My dog now has 3 lipomas, still quite small, they have all been checked by my vet. I’m wondering if a lower fat diet would help prevent them from growing, and prevent more of them from forming. She’s only 6 and I’m curious why she’s getting them so early. I know that fat is good for dogs, but I’m worried that if she has them already, she’s going to be riddled with them by the time she is a senior. I’ve already tried switching to a grain free diet, because I’ve heard grains can feed tumors, but it’s hard to say whether it’s had any effect. They definitely haven’t shrunk, but I don’t think they’ve gotten larger, although they grow so slowly I can’t say for sure. Anyone out there have an opinion on sacrificing some of the fat in a dog’s diet to prevent limpomas?

[kennekra]

Hey all,

My 15 year old Lhasa/Shih Tzu mix has been diagnosed with the onsite of chronic kidney disease. He’s on Azodyl and until recently was eating Blue Buffalo’s Homestyle Recipe Senior. The vet is recommending we put him on Prescription Diet K/D. While the ingredient list isn’t horrid, it ain’t great either. And I know it’s going to be pricey.

Since Thorndyke only eats canned food these days, what foods would you recommend for him?

Thanks!

[Hound Dog Mom]

I’ve heard up to 1 tsp. per 20 lbs., as Patty stated. It is a maximum dose though – you don’t have to give that much and can certainly give less if fat and/or calories are a concern. My girls (one slightly under 70 lbs. and the other slightly over 70 lbs.) get 1 tbs. each per day.

That actually sounds like a well rounded supplement regimen to me – definitely not overboard. If you’re looking to cut costs on the joint supplements I’d highly recommend checking out Swanson’s. There are so many different supplements to choose from all at a reasonable price. For a senior dog with joint issues you’d want to be sure to include something with joint maintenance properties and also anti-inflammatory properties. Glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, hyaluronic acid, esterified fatty acids (such as celadrin), green lipped mussel, sea cucumber, shark cartilage and velvet antler all support the maintenance of joints. Turmeric (or curcumin), boswellia, bromelain, tart cherry, yucca, microlactin, omega 3’s, devil’s claw and white willow all have natural anti-inflammatory properties. You can try some combinations until you find what works. Swanson’s does sell a supplement called “Mobility Essentials” which contains glucosamine, MSM, boswellia, bromelain, chondroitin, white willow, curcumin, devil’s claw, quercetin, sea cucumber and yucca – at $10.99 for 180 caps (a 60 lb. dog would need 3 – 4 caps per day and a 40 lb. dog would need 2 – 3 caps per day) it’s a bargain and I know people who have success with it for both human and animal use. I used NOW Foods brand Celadrin + MSM ($16.49 for 120 caps) for my senior before he died.

No, I’m not a vet. I’m currently working towards my bachelor’s in veterinary technology and canine nutrition is my main area of interest. As of now I plan on applying to vet school after I get my vet tech degree – not sure if it will happen or not, I’ll just have to see how everything pans out.

[pugmomsandy]

If your dogs don’t have any health issues, they can eat any food whether it’s an “all life stage” food or one that is for “maintenance”. Seniors still need the same (if not better) food as adult dogs and most foods marketed for “seniors” are full of fillers and high in carbohydrates. Pick a regular food.

http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2012/06/20/aging-pet-food.aspx

http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2011/05/05/surprising-findings-from-tufts-study-of-37-senior-dog-foods.aspx

[sophieandcowboysmom]

I originally searched for change to Chicken Soup Senior and came upon this site! Chicken Soup Senior has changed their formula no longer do I see carrots or peas but square chunks of potato and the dog food is now so watered down and has a grainy texture. After 5 years of using this brand I no longer believe in it. What’s the best SENIOR canned food on the market? Primarily used to hide my 12 y/o Pointers meds and mix up with the dry for my 10 y/0 finicky eater. Thank you!

[pugmomsandy]

Seniors actually require more quality protein with age so what you are feeding her now is good. Do not go with a low protein “senior” food.

http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2012/06/20/aging-pet-food.aspx

[bullterriermom]

Hi all, I was curios how much protein my 9yr old bully should get? She is on Merrick duck and sweet potato, she get 3/4 c twice a day. She also gets a small amount of wellness venison sweet potato or duck sweet tater. Large can lasts about 3 days. She is 55 lbs. I wasn’t sure if her bing a senior mattered.

[Anonymous]

We just recently “adopted” (adopted from the people who bought him from a breeder, as life changes happened) a Saint Berdoodle puppy, Tobi. He is now about 8 months old, we’ve had him for about 6-7 weeks.
He was on Purina Puppy Chow when we got him 😛
Locally we have Feeders Supply pet store, they carry lots of brands, including lots of holistic.
I picked out Professionals Large Breed Puppy.
I have 2 main concerns for feeding Tobi.. Nutrition, I want to feed him the best quality food I can afford. Cost, we are a one income family, with 2 kids and 2 dogs. I cannot afford to pay $50-60 for 25lbs of dog food.

Tobi did great with transitioning to the Professionals, but is now having loose stool (for about a week now). He still eats fine, and acts normal.

Im thinking of trying something different. And after reading several pages on this thread, Im seeing that perhaps I don’t need to be buying “large breed puppy” specifically?

I also have a Aussie mix senior dog (11yrs old), with no age ailments so far. Currently she is on Nature’s Recipe Senior, because it was at Big Lots for $30/25lbs . She is a picky eater, and seems to like it well.

I would love to find something they can both be on eventually? Or even now? Without breaking the bank.. 40-50lb bags would be great!

Currently Tobi is eating about 5 cups a day of the Professionals LBP… that bag is emptying fast!

This fall we plan to switch them to a 50/50 raw/kibble diet (with more research first) once hubby is able to get an extra couple of deer and turkey.

Any suggestions on brands to try, that are at least corn free, but I would prefer grain free, and are not going to kill my budget! 🙂

[katj813]

I know I may not receive specifics but I find info on the web too general so here’s a few specifics on my dog:
He’s an 11 year old terrier mix @19lbs. He has two heart conditions treated with Enalapril and fish oil. He has occasional arthritis in his back legs which is treated by dog aspirin as needed. He has an activity level between low and medium. Some days he has bursts of energy and likes visits to the dog park but the high energy is limited and he mostly sleeps. I currently have him on taste of the wild because while I do my best to get the best food I can, I have a college student budget.

I want to make sure my dog is getting the nutrients he needs to stay healthy so what sort of things should I look for in his food to meet his requirements and do you think TotW is covering it? I don’t have the time for raw and home made diets so I want to stick to dry food, he gets wet mixed in but it’s only for supplemental feeding so I don’t rely on it for nutrients even though he gets at least some from it. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

[Pizza Garlic]

My dog passed away last month because of CHF. The cardiologist suggested low sodium diet and the use of fatty acid, such as Salmon fish oil, as the supplement. Omega 3 & Omega 6 should be in the right proportion. I have also made nutritive consultation and the consultant suggested Salmon oil (in pill form) and L-Carnitine. My vet also recommended “Rx Vitamins – Formula CV”. Hawthorn is helpful too.

My dog was fed with “Karma” kibble which has a low sodium level of 0.06, you may also find the others as follows:
– Natura – Innova Low Fat Adult 0.12
– Natura – Senior Dry Dog Food 0.11
– Hills Prescription h/d (It was recommended by vet, but I really dislike it and stopped it, and used Karma instead) 0.07

I saw from books that the following dog foods also have low sodium level:
– Purina CNM Canine NF-Formula 0.22
– Select Care Canine Modified Formula 0.28
– MediCal Cardio 0.17
Hope you find the information helpful.

Best wishes for your dog!!

[molliesmom]

Yes to culture and sensitivity tests. She’s resistant to many! I just learned about the kibble not being that helpful to outer tartar. Thank you for your recommendations! I will research all of them. I am willing to pay a bit more for a quality dog food. It’s either the vet bill or the good food and supplements! Saving now for dental cleaning. I’m going to try grain-free and not senior. Thanks again!! I’ll let the forum know how we make out.

[pugmomsandy]

Has her urine been sent for a culture and sensitivity? Her strain of infection could be resistent to certain drugs.

Can you get her a dental cleaning? If not giving her real bones to gnaw on will help with tarter. Bones that are considered recreational bones and are not consumable like a big femur bone or marrow bone.

As far as food goes, I’d feed her a regular food. Not a “senior” food or a “dental health” food. There are few “senior” foods I’d recommend like Merrick or Amicus (but Amicus is for small breeds). Some budget friendly foods would be Nutrisource, Dr Tim’s, Fromm, Victor, ProPac and a Tractor Supply brand called 4Health Grain Free or Coscto brand called Kirkland’s. A kibble will break up into bits before doing much scraping on the teeth.

You might also try a d-mannose supplement. It attracts a certain kind of bacteria away from the bladder wall.

Also a fellow pugvillage.com member called 6BeautifulPugs has used Cystex tablets (OTC) with success for her troubled UTI dog. You can contact her if you wish. She’s a foster mom that specializes in the old and infirmed.

http://www.pugvillage.com/forum/pug-life/124181-good-news-ching-once.html

[molliesmom]

My poor 10-yr-old female English Springer gets two to four UTI’s a year (for three years now). Vet puts her on heavy duty antibiotics and just recently suggested Craninadine which she’s been on for a few months now and yet another UTI!
She’s had crystals too, but not this time. Her urine is very diluted so I’ve been told to cut back on her water intake.
She is on thyroid meds and doing well with that (not so ravishingly hungry and weight back to normal)
AS FOR CAUSE: she’s been tested for other things – vet doesn’t see anything. She DOES lick herself often (you know, lady parts) and vet thinks she keeps transferring bacteria from her mouth to there and may be causing UTI. And her teeth and breath have gotten so bad because of that! I’ve asked about probiotics but no real enthusiasm from vet.
BEHAVIOR: Outdoors often (fence). Highly intelligent, stubborn and high-strung. Has more obsessive habits as she ages. Examples: more barking; she LOVES rabbit poop! YUK! Vet says that would not contribute to UTI problem, but I wonder, and try my best to keep her from it – we have so many rabbits in the yard! I also wonder if the licking is more behavioral.
I am with her all the time due to my disability, so she’s hardly ever left alone.
DIET: Here’s where I could use some advice. I’ve always suspected that it might be her food at least contributing to her problem and recently switched her to Blue Buffalo Senior. I’ve just found your wonderful site and realized that she DOES need more protein even though she’s older. DUH! So do I!! She’s not really a fan of it and she’s sick again, anyway. Vet gave me samples of Hills Adult t/d. Very large kibble to use as treats for tartar control. But now unsure of the quality!
Any tips would be greatly appreciated. I do live on a limited income so all fresh food may be hard to do, but some (like raw chicken wings?) may be possible.
I thank you in advance — Colleen

[LindaW]

Stupid question from me, but I’m a senior–hey, what can I say? To find the large breed puppy thread, do I look under “forums”? I couldn’t find it there.

[Hound Dog Mom]

The Fromm Classics I mentioned is rated 3.5 stars and the Precise Senior formula is rated 3 stars – neither contain any bad ingredients and both are made by reputable companies, the lower ratings are due to the lower protein content. These foods could, however, easily be upped to 4 star quality by topping with some lean meat. Chicken gizzards, chicken hearts and beef hearts are generally pretty cheap at the grocery store – you could cook them up in a healthy oil (such as coconut oil or olive oil) and they’d be a great high protein/low sodium topper.

[Hound Dog Mom]

Precise Senior is 0.12% sodium and retails for $37.99 for 30 lbs. on Chewy(dot)com.

[kateagray]

Thanks! I finally decided to go with Grandma Lucy’s Pureformance. It’s very low in phosphorus and is low fat which is good. It’s sort of high protein wise what she was on before (the old stuff was 18% while this is 34% so I’m hoping that’s ok. Thanks Again!

[laney.delaney]

This site was really detailed and helpful for calculating phosphorus levels, which contributes to kidney problems, while also asserting that high protein is GOOD for a senior dog, as many on this site have also said: http://raingoddess.com/dogfood/phos.html

Unfortunately, the brands listed with low phosphorous also have low protein and are considered by many to be sub-standard foods. I hope one of the experts on this site can give a good rundown on how to feed your senior dog well but also keep their special needs in mind.

[julez4you]

@Sharfie and others…
Glad to hear your pup is doing much better on raw. I’m a firm believer as well- but with my senior dog 100% raw fed and my lack of desire to make my own, I just can’t afford the expense for a growing Great Dane pup. But I do hope to make the transition some day as I believe it’s what saved my former Dane life when I switched him to raw at 8.

In the meantime- wanted to share some info that might be helpful to there as they transition to new foods and/or have periods of loose stools not as a consequence of something more concerning. My Dane pup was having them as I transitioned him from Purina to a quality holistic food. My friend told me about Honest Kitchens Perfect Form herbal supplement and this stuff is amazing. It’s all natural, and I just add a little in with 2 of his meals each day (along with a probiotic) and now everything is looking good.

My next step is too hopefully transition him from kibble over the THK Love dehydrated raw.

[Hound Dog Mom]

Hi freshley –

If you are referring to Dr. Mike’s lists of best puppy foods – all of the formulas he has listed are appropriate for puppies. The thing is (and this confuses a lot of people, so you aren’t alone) the AAFCO only recognizes two nutrient profiles: “maintenance” (ie “adult”) and “growth” (ie “puppy”). The requirements to meet the “growth” standard are more stringent than the requirements to meet the “maintenance” standard (the formulas much have higher levels of protein, fat, etc.). Personally – I don’t feel “maintenance” formulas are appropriate for any dog – even adults – as they tend to be way to low in protein and fat. If a food conforms to the more stringent “growth” nutrient profile the company can choose to label their food for “growth” or “all life stages.” What the company decides to do really comes down to their marketing strategy. As a general rule, most manufacturers of high quality 5 star foods do not cater to “life stages” – they make a few very high quality foods that exceed the AAFCO’s requirement for “growth” and label them as an “all life stages” formula. The lower quality companies that market heavily (Purina, Hills, Royal Canin, etc.) like to make a wide variety of formulas that cater to all different ages, sizes, breeds, etc. Puppy formulas, senior formulas, large breed formulas, breed specific formulas, weight loss formulas, etc. etc. are just marketing gimmicks. Dogs just need a high quality growth or all life stages formula throughout life.

• This reply was modified 10 years, 9 months ago by Hound Dog Mom.

[freshley]

I’m just curious of your ratings for “puppy” food. All the foods listed are “dog” food and not puppy food. I thought puppies needed different nutrition than dogs because of growing so quickly. We will be getting our new pup in a few weeks so I’m doing the research now. Our previous dog was started on PRO PLAN puppy and then we switched to pro plan, then senior, then after finding your website I switched her to Candidae.

I just want to use the best puppy food I can so he doesn’t have problems later in life.

[kateagray]

my senior dog has protein in her urine, protein/creatanine ratio came back at .4 and the and the test range said >.5 so the vet said it was ok, bloodwork looked fine but high triglycerides. (she had just eaten prior to the bloodwork so I’m not sure that matters) the lab result came back to suggest to also test for thyroid levels as hers was .7 and it should be between .8 and 3.5 but the vet did not suggest any testing on that. Hmm, I’m wondering why now. Vet says stay on low protein diet (currently 18%) took to a different Vet and he said that protein does not matter. Does it? She has gallstones and 2 occurrences of pancreatitis in 2006 and 2009. she has allergies too and I really just want to try to keep her comfortable the last few years of her life – don’t want to rock the boat and make her ill by switching dog food but she is on a prescription purina ha (hypoallergenic) diet and the reviews on here are horrible.

[WarHorn Clan]

I have two 8 year old daschunds, a 4 year old shepherd, and a 7-8 month old rescue that appears to be a shepherd/melanois/lab type of mix. I am currently feeding all of them Orijen Senior, but in varying amounts based on their breed/size. I’m looking for a food that is the same, or almost the same nutritionally, but a little less expensive. We are going through about one 15lb bag every 1-1.5 weeks, at $50/bag. Ideally, I would like to feed them all the same food…so I guess I’m looking for an “all life stages” or quality puppy food? Since they’ve been on the grain free (I think the Orijen is grain free), I think I should keep it that way? One reason we like the Orijen is for the glucosamine/chondroitin…Anyone have any suggestions?

[InkedMarie]

I’m sorry but I’m going to be blunt. You chose to adopt this dog; you need to have money to take her to the vet, especially with an senior dog. They can end up costing more in vet bills than a younger dog.

[jewel0247]

Appreciate the input! Will look into it. Was going to bite the bullet and get a kibble bag of NV Instinct LID Turkey and just soak the kibbles for her.

[julez4you]

Hound Dog Mom:
I know you are working to compile updated lists, but I’m running low on my pups current bag so hoping to switch. I just transitioned my pup to Petcurean Go Chicken, and calcium levels are a bit higher than optimal. What do you think of this formula? http://www.petcurean.com/for-dogs/go/sensitivity-and-shine-duck

The guaranteed anaysis as fed is provided.

Also- how would you compare feeding something like this or even a higher protein grain-free kibble vs. The Honest Kitchen Love?

I’m a big believer in raw- my lab/mastiff mix is 100% raw fed. But I don’t have the time/desire to make my own, so I buy commercial raw and I just can’t afford to have my senior dog plus a 9week old Dane pup on raw right now. I do eventually hope to make the switch though once he’s past the high growth years where he’d be eating us out of house and home 🙂

Thanks again! I’ve really been struggling with this one.

[Mom2Cavs]

Aahh….aren’t senior dogs wonderful! I’m not an expert, of course, but it seems to me that there is some kind of intolerance going on. If she were my dog I would keep giving her probiotics/enzymes and find a food without chicken and grains. Tractor Supply has a nice grain free kibble that contains Whitefish and Potato (4Health, their private label brand) and it’s pretty much a limited diet. I don’t know how big she is or if kibble size is an issue but the kibble size of 4Health is not tiny. They also have a limited ingredient can food there (I believe Turkey & Sweet Potato) for .99 a can. There are some other hypoallergenic diets that are listed on this site that might be good options, too. Go to “best dog food” and then look for hypoallergenic. I’m sure others will post here soon. 🙂

[jewel0247]

Forgot to mention: have been putting probiotics in her food and she tends to only eat canned.

[jewel0247]

Hi,
New to the forums and I need some help looking for a dog food that my dog can tolerate. This doggy has been with us since April (she is about 10-12 years old).. the previous owner had been giving her cheaper dog food (alpo, kibble n bits, etc) for most of her life and complained about the dog vomiting half to most of the feed. I took her to the vet for meds to get her stomach “settled.”
Went from bland boiled chicken and rice to Nature’s recipe: easy to digest and no more vomiting, but the stool was kind of loose (not too bad/often). But then she didn’t like the food after a few days; turns out she is very picky and goes on hunger strikes :).
Then switched her to Canidae: chicken and rice for a better flavor and nutrition. No vomiting but still having loose/semi-formed stools 3-4/day. Sometimes the diarrhea is so bad she strains and small bright red blood is noted with the straining (but not normally in the stool). We had to use Pepto-Bismol to get it under control and back to bland chicken and rice. Other symptoms she has are: lots of paw licking, very loud tummy noises, itching a lot (but not from fleas) and some bare patches by her tail where she chewed at.
We will be taking her to the vet soon for fecal testing, etc. We’re budget conscious so only can do so much unfortunately.

Sorry so long! Appreciate any input!

[Gemma60537]

I saw this the other day and wanted to wait to chime in…I have fed Canine Caviar for about two and a half years. I learned about it through my friend/breeder who is an acquaintance of the founder, which is Jeff Baker who was mentioned as a good source of info. We had three senior dogs very close in age who passed away as each one hit 13, so now with my 2 year old Lab and my 10 week old Lab puppy I am NEUROTIC about anything that hits their bodies. I believe strongly in my Canine Caviar.

They are a pretty small company, so they probably do not have vast numbers of customer service people to answer questions, but my friend/breeder who made me aware of this brand swears by it with all of her dogs…and she’s one of those breeders who LOVES her dogs and carefully does a litter once or twice a year. I don’t think there’s some awful cover up over at CC. I know they are extremely cautious with their product, so it seems way more likely to me to be a printer error versus an error in the recipe of the food.

Personally I feed the Chicken & Pearl Millet formula to my 10 week old pup just like I fed it to my 2 year old since it’s so similar to the large breed puppy formula. My breeder says she’s been feeding it to her pups for 10 years, before their large breed pup formula was available.

[GSDFreuline]

Hello everyone and thanks for reading this. I am hoping someone can provide some guidance for me. I have 3 dogs – a14year old GSD, a recently rescued 6 year old GSD and an 8 year old greyhound. Currently I am feeding all three Hills for seniors because it has glucosamine for my older boy. I also mix in canned food with their dry and feed twice daily. My newly rescued girl has an extremely sensitive stomach and any variation from her diet or even treats will cause vomiting and diarrhea. Last week she vomited so I bought some cans (can’t remember the name but got at Petsmart and it was easy to digest). Well it was so easy to digest she had diarrhea for 2 days. My greyhound also has episodes of vomiting but it is down to about once every 3 months or so. My vet of course recommends Hills for GI but I am reluctant to try it because I’m just not crazy about Hills at this point. Now I have to feed all dogs the same food because if one leaves a little another finishes it up etc. It is just easier.
I live in a large metropolitan area so availability is not a problem, nor is price. I am just lost as to what to start looking for – could it possible be a grain problem? Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated
Thanks

[Hound Dog Mom]

Hey EHubbman –

Glucosamine and chondroitin are fine for puppies. A dog’s natural diet (raw) would be very rich in glucosamine and chondroitin as cartilage and bones contain high levels. Dogs foods, even those with added glucosamine and chondroitin, don’t contain enough to say so – so I wouldn’t worry about it’s presence in a kibbled dog food.

I have not been able to find any evidence suggesting that supplementing a large breed puppy’s diet with glucosamine can be harmful, however I don’t believe it to be necessary either. My two get lots of RMB’s so I know their diet is rich in glucosamine and chondroitin – I probably won’t add any supplements until they’re seniors. I do, however, typically recommend that large and giant breed dogs eating processed foods receive supplemental glucosamine and chondroitin (or whole foods providing these nutrients) starting between 1 and 2 years of age (when they’re young it can be a low dose, just for maintenance).

This is an excerpt from an article about large and giant breed puppy nutrition written by integrative veterinarian Dr. Susan Wynn:

“There are no studies so far that indicate whether it is effective or harmful to supplement with glucosamine to large breed puppies because of their risk of DOD. In general, I wait until I recognize a risk factor in a dog.”

[Ronald]

Never Fostered any dogs, don’t know if I could, well to begin with we live in a senior’s townhouse complex, so limited on space like no back yards fronts are mostly for parking..

Yea I do see and hear a lot of unusual dog names. I named my first rescue dog Eddie after the TV program Fraser..

My second rescued dog was older and knew her name Abby, so it remained the same, no sense in confusing her..

My last dog Abby came from a shelter, she gets the dogs from the Humane Society when there filled and it’s time to put dogs down, she steps in and takes them and places them in Foster Homes..

I thank these people, they have to have a good heart to do things like this for our animals..They didn’t ask for this to happen to them..

I am proud of each one of you who are Foster Homes..

Ron..

[BlackAndTan]

Hello everyone! First post here. Hope it’s not too long; just want to be thorough 🙂

My Rottweiler is 6.2 years old with a history of seizures over the last year. Despite the fact it is unusual for dogs of his age and breed to be idiopathic epileptics, we found no evidence of underlying causes in his diagnostics. He is being treated with standard anti-seizure drugs and is doing well, by all measures.

I’ve had him on Orijen for over 3 years. His neurologist and regular vet agree that grain-free is a particularly important factor for dogs with seizures.

Over the last 9 months – maybe more? – he developed horrible gas. Seriously, his gas could peel the paint off the walls. In February, I switched his food from Orijen Adult to Orijen 6-fish and this coincided with a cluster of seizures, so I switched him back to be safe. I tried adding probiotics, but no help.

In the last few months, his energy levels really dropped. He started acting sluggish, would drag on the leash, struggled to get up, etc. I worried about him but didn’t want to panic. I also considered it could be related to age: 6 is senior for a Rottie, I think. A few weeks ago he came down with haemmorhagic gastroenteritis and was hospitalized. But here’s where things get interesting: post-hospitalization and particularly when on the vet’s prescription GI diet (which I don’t even think is particularly high-quality), he has been a renewed dog. A ton more energy, zippy and peppy. His old self. And, the gas was COMPLETELY gone when off Orijen. Since being back on Orijen and off the vet food, the gas is creeping back.

It’s time for a change. I do not want to see him get sluggish again and the gas certainly is not welcome. There was such a marked difference when he went off Orijen – from acting like an old senior to the endurance athlete he’s always been – that I feel strongly the food isn’t agreeing with him any more. And it isn’t just one suspicious bag; he’d shown these problems over the course of over ten bags of food.

I welcome all suggestions for a high-quality grain-free alternative.
I’d been looking into EVO but have read a lot about recalls.
Ideally I’d like something low-sodium with a limited ingredient list.

Thank you SO MUCH, everyone, in advance!!!

[KarenC]

I’ve recently turned to Victor Grain Free Joint Health and am LOVING the results. I feed nearly half of their previous food (Diamond Naturals-rotating the version between beef, chicken, lamb) and all of the dogs are holding their weight nicely 3 weeks in. My pudgy 6 year old female has leaned out a bit too. I’ve never been excited for poo scooping but every single pile is perfect! My sweet 100lb senior lab (with “arf”-ritis in his back knees) is a pup again and I’m so happy for him. I’m new to rotating between brands, mostly because some of the better stuff is hard to get here (1 pet boutique allll the way across town…with limited operating hours and premium prices) so I have to depend on a feed store near by, but after a few bags of Victor I’m going to try some Fromm Grain Free to really do “rotating” right. I top with home cooked or canned and switch that up every meal. I’m feeding 9 large dogs so I have to be very budget careful and Victor has turned out to be a winner in that regard as well.

[rogerharris]

Here are top 10 wholesome dog treats you can make at home:

1.Dog Cookies: Include kiss me cookies, peanut butter cookies, pink delight paw print cookies, etc. that are specially made for puppies.

2.Pumpkin: You can use wheat cream or rolled oats with pumpkins. There is no need to cook first; you should bake for 20 minutes at 300 degrees F. This treat is made mostly for senior dogs.

3.Peanut Butter and Banana Dog Biscuits: This vegan diet is great for gluten intolerant dogs. You can use millet, almond, rice, corn or oat flour if your dog is allergic to wheat.

4.Apple Cinnamon Dog Biscuits: The treat is meant for dogs with arthritis and/or diabetes. This dish should be refrigerated overnight or for one and a half hours then baked for about 25 minutes at 350 degrees.

5.Oatmeal Bark Bites: This treat is good for dogs with pancreatic or liver disease since it has low animal protein and fat.

6.Veggies Treat: The treat contains low levels of phosphorous and fat. This is restricted for diets that curb liver and kidney diseases. When cooking, include vegetables like zucchini and sweet potatoes which are low in phosphorous.

7.Crispy Yam Doggie Snacks: Bake slices of sweet potato and make the dish sweet, salty, crunchy or spicy.

8.Vegetarian Muffins: Include ingredients for vegetarian diets like apples, carrots, wheat flour, molasses, oats, etc.

9.Beef Dog Treat: These biscuits are meant for dogs that love meat.

10.Chicken Dog Biscuits: To make the treat, you have to use organic low sodium chicken broth that is organic.

These and other dog meals are easy to make and the ingredients are readily available. These recipes are a great way to offer wholesome treats to your dogs unlike the commercial foods in the market which cause kidney complications. Make your dog treats from 100% natural and organic ingredients.

[SusanandEcho]

I have a 12 year old shep/husk mix who has who has arthritis in her elbows. I believe the word the vet used is “horrendous” <spelling>. Anyway, I switched to Orijen Senior about 4 months ago, mainly based on the amount of glucosamine and chondroitin it has. I wish it had more protein, but I also mix in some Primal Freeze Dried or frozen raw with her kibble. She also gets a gluc/chon suppliment called Prudence Hip and Joint (High Potency) and Salmon Oil.
We also had great success with accupuncture, but unfortunately my current income no longer supports that. Exercise is key. We may not be able to do the 10-15 mile hikes we used to, but I don’t let a day go by without a meander through the park.

[SusanandEcho]

I recently started using Dog Rocks. Not something I would normally buy, but I work in a pet store and had heard a lot of positive feedback. They are literally rocks that you put in their water dish.
This spring the area of lawn she (my dog, Echo) was going on was pretty much dead. I started with raking off the dead grass and planting new, and not allowing her to go there while it was growing. I’ve been using the dog rocks for about three weeks now. She has gone on the new lawn just a few times, but so far so good. Here is their website http://dogrocks.org/. They do say that a raw diet or diet high in protein will hinder the productivity of the dog rocks, so it may not work for you. I feed Echo Orijen Senior with a little Primal Freeze Dried mixed in, so she is on a higher protein diet (compared to most kibble). Hope this helps.

[Gemma60537]

I’m personally a dedicated Canine Caviar customer. I learned about them from my Lab breeder and have fed them for 2 years. I fed our senior Basset Hound their Special Needs formula which might be a good option because it’s lower in fat and it has a lot of plants in it. I think you can contact them to see if they have a recommendation.

[Hound Dog Mom]

Hi dnaolson –

I feed my dogs a raw diet and they get raw meaty bones daily – these are great for dental health. My dogs are aged 11 months to 8 years and none of them (even my senior) have smelly breath or build-up. I try to brush their teeth daily – I forget sometimes, but they generally get their teeth brushed at least 5 times per week. Aside from specially formulated prescription kibbles (like T/D) the only food that’s going to promote dental health is a raw diet with raw meaty bones. There are some dental chews available but I have yet to see any with quality ingredients. And regardless of what your dog eats you need to be brushing its teeth, all dogs should have their teeth brushed at least 3 times per week. Hope that helps.

[jochurch63]

She is on fortiflora right now and it seems to be helping her. I have changed her food to Origen senior formula, boiled chicken and some wet food added and after a week I am noticing a big difference. She is not eating grass like she used to. I thought she was part goat with all the grass she was eating. She was doing a lot of but licking even after her anal glands were expressed. That has dramatically dropped also. I am thinking changing her food was a step in the right direction. Hopefully this continues. I will keep my fingers crossed.

[Hound Dog Mom]

Yeah a cat that can’t jump a gate? I have three dogs so my entire house is a maze of gates and my two senior cats (12 yrs.) have no issues jumping the gates. It gives them their exercise.

Is there any way you could gate your dog into a room – as in gate the other dog out and make it so your dog can’t get to the room with the food? I’m not sure what the weather is like where you are or what kind of yard you have, but if you have a yard and it isn’t too hot fencing in the yard, investing in a kennel or pulley run would be another option. I would only use crating as a last resort – I hate seeing dogs crated all day.

[Hound Dog Mom]

Hi Marie –

Sorry to hear the supplements aren’t working for Gemma. I’ve heard very mixed things about Chinese herbs – they seem to be hit or miss. I’m surprised the Swanson Mobility Essenials isn’t helping at all though. To make sure – are you basing her daily serving on the human dose of 6 caps per day (feeding her a percentage of that)? On the bottle it says serving size 3 caps but then recommends it twice a day (total of 6 caps per day) so I just wanted to make sure you weren’t accidentally basing her serving off 3 caps per day.

In some cases it’s just trial and error – you need to try things until you find something that works. I just started Gus on an esterified fatty acid supplement (NOW Foods Celadrin + MSM) and I know Sandy has said she has some of her seniors on one as well (I forget which brand she said she uses). So something like that would be worth trying. Have you tried enzyme supplements like Wobezyme? Other supplements I’ve heard good things about that could be worth a shot: duralactin, phycox, reservatrol, liquid hylaluronic acid and SOD.

[Hound Dog Mom]

Hi cinner00 –

You’re definitely not bugging me, I don’t mind questions. 🙂

1) If he’s not on a grain-free food I would definitely go that route as grains are inflammatory – something you really want to avoid with arthritic dogs.

2) It will be very important to keep his weight down – being a healthy weight is probably one of the most important things for arthritic dogs. Any extra pounds are just extra stress on the joints. So I would definitely focus on getting him to a healthy weight (on the thin side is best). Unfortunately, like people, there’s really no easy way to get the pounds off. It’s calories in and calories out – the dog needs to burn more calories than it’s eating in order to lose weight. A deficit of about 3,500 kcal. equates to one pound. If he’s inactive it will be important to get him moving – this will not only help him to burn calories but it will also help to lubricate the joints and make him feel better. Start small and keep the activity low impact (i.e. leashed walking, swimming, etc.). Frequent activities of short duration are better than longer activities. I’m not sure exactly how active he his but something like 3 short (10-15) minute walks per day would probably make a big difference.

3) Glucosamine is great to help slow deterioration of the joint cartilage. However if he’s already arthritic he may benefit from some anti-inflammatory supplements as well. Some good options are turmeric (or curcumin), yucca, boswellia, bromelain or tart cherry. High doses of omega 3’s (up to 300 mg. per 10 lbs. of body weight) have an anti-inflammatory affect as well. I’ve also heard great things about esterified fatty acids (such as cetyl myristoleate). I recently started my senior on NOW Foods Celadrin & MSM which contains an esterified fatty acid complex with added MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane is a natural source of biologically active sulfur that helps maintain the structure of connective tissue).

4) You may also want to check out what are called “PROM (Passive Range of Motion) Exercises.” There are some great videos on You Tube demonstrating how to do PROM exercises with dogs. They help to maintain flexibility in the joints.

Good luck!

[LolaPalooza]

Good afternoon all!

This website is a huge source of information!!! Kudos to all who contribute!

I am currently researching a suitable replacement for Hill’s® Prescription Diet c/d® Canine Urinary Tract Health dry dog food. I have a 4.5 year old beagle who is on it due to her tendency to develop crystals in her urine. I tried switching her to the same product my other dogs are eating, Acana Wild Prairie, but she developed issues within a couple months. So far, I’ve learnt that a low phosphorus and low sodium is the main differences and I’m having a problem finding something suitable. The best I have found is the Kirkland’s Senior with a phos level of 0.7 (c/d is 0.59) but no sodium info.

Does anyone have any other recommendations? I hate the ingredients in c/d and I want her to get onto better food than this stuff!

Thanks for your help!!

[satobrinn]

While dogs with specific medical issues may be affected by too much protein, by and large recent research suggests that the notion of having too much protein is a myth both for senior dogs as well as for puppies. Dogs thrive on quality protein and it should makes up at least half of your dog’s diet, the remaining ingredients falling into place at various ratios. One of the most important aspects of a dog’s diet is variety. Healthy humans typically follow the same basic idea, and we benefit from rotating the sources of our nutrients by having different meals every day. By following general guidelines about fat intake and activity level we can stay lean and healthy while getting the nutrients we need. I think the biggest mistake we make when feeding our dogs is getting stuck in a pattern of feeding the same foods repeatedly. Vets don’t always have a great handle on nutrition, but speaking to your vet about your dog’s overall health and lifestyle is a good place to start if you’re really concerned about too much protein. Providing all the minerals and vitamins is more of a challenge in home cooking than determining the protein amount, and then you have to decide if you want to use synthetic sources or natural sources. Find a pyramid that makes sense for your dog and switch it up.

[Hound Dog Mom]

The AAFCO minimum sodium level is 0.30% for foods labeled for growth or all life stages and 0.06% for foods labeled for maintenance. It would probably be smart to stick with foods that don’t contain much more than 0.30% sodium – especially if your dog is a senior.