My tip this week: keep your senior canine happy and healthy, and enjoy each others’ companionship!

Hello, everyone!

I hope everyone’s Easter was filled with good times. In most of my blogs during spring I usually mention the rebirth of nature in all its glory but today I want to write about the other end of the spectrum.

 While some of you may have recently adopted a puppy there are many of you that have a senior canine. My pal Shredder is 8 1/2 yrs. old and is considered a senior. To look at him you may not notice the few white hairs he’s getting around his mouth and he may look like a young fellow but his joints say otherwise. He loves to run and play outside with his family but they have to limit some of his play so he’s not in so much pain afterwards.

Shredder takes a daily supplement called Synovial Support. It contains ingredients like glucosamine, omega-3, and antioxidants and it’s liver flavored. Do those ingredients sound familiar? Yes, they are some of the same supplements that humans take….but please keep the ones for canines away from people! This supplement and others like it help to promote healthy joints and relieve some of the joint discomfort due to regular physical activities.A healthy diet, regular exercise and up to date vaccines and vet exams will help keep your senior canine living a longer healthier life with – hopefully – less discomfort. 

Try to avoid lots of stairs and steep inclines when walking your senior dog. Talk with your vet for additional suggestions on how to relieve joint discomfort in your dog. Large breed dogs tend to have a shorter lifespan than the smaller breeds. Like people,  dogs still want to live a happy active life even when they are older but just keep in mind the suggestions I’ve made  to lessen their discomfort. 

Also, if you are a senior yourself you may want to think about adopting a wonderful senior canine to share your life with. 

My Tip this Week keep your senior canine happy and healthy, and enjoy each others’ companionship!

Romeo , the little black dog