5 Top Products for Senior Dogs
Shea
Shea — Happy Dog’s ‘inspiration’, ‘spokesperson’, ‘doggie model’, ‘shop friend’, and owner’s beloved fur-friend since her college years — just celebrated 14 incredible years of life in October of 2022. His spunky personality has never waivered, and his body has only just begun showing signs of slowing down — and there’s a method to this miracle of longevity, with science to back it up.
Despite our best efforts, the body inevitably weakens as your furry BFF ages — it doesn’t retain as much nutrition out of food, the liver functions slower when ridding toxins, and brain functions aren’t as sharp (which is why it’s increasingly important to keep in mind your dog’s quality of life to ensure that their golden years are as golden as possible).
Rest assured, all senior pupper’s need is a few useful lifestyle adjustments and helpful tools to ease the transition into their older years. We rounded up a few helpful products to look out for (paw-selected by Shea) if you’re adopting a senior dog, or yours is starting to gray.
Shea’s go-to products and tips
Note 1: Gut health is the foundation to building a strong immune system. As dogs age, their microbiome can become unbalanced, so adding probiotics and prebiotics to their diet become especially important. Probiotics and prebiotics ensure the gut flora is healthy; and improve nutrient absorption, digestive function, and increase the metabolism and energy.
One of Shea’s favorite food toppers that aids in supporting and maintaining healthy gut flora is Animal Essentials Healthy Gut Tincture. This all-natural, inulin-rich prebiotic is blended with fiber derived from chicory root, marshmallow root, fennel seed, and yucca root that help to supply nutrients to the strains of bacteria already thriving in a dog’s digestive tract. When these beneficial bacteria are healthy, they have a positive, boosting effect on digestive health in the GI tract, and the overall wellbeing of your pet.
Snacks and Meal Toppers That Offer Probiotics
Goat's Milk (Add 3-4 tablespoons to 1 meal per day, or feed 1 cup as a treat)Animal Essentials Mushroom Defense
Plain, greek yogurt
Cheese
Asparagus
Bananas
Apples
Seaweed (Shea loves ocean kelp on top his food - which is also a great digestive enzyme!)
Increase AntioxidAnt Intake
Note 2: As dog’s get older, their bodies become more susceptible to oxidative stress, especially in the brain. Oxidative stress happens when your dog’s body has an excess of free radicals (free radicals are unstable molecules that attack other cells; damaging DNA, proteins, and cell membranes), which can lead to premature aging and chronic disease.
To help prevent free radical damage, consider adding antioxidants to your pup’s daily diet. Antioxidants help control free radicals to stop them from harming your dog.
Natural antioxidants that are safe for dogs:
Blueberries
Strawberries
Raspberries
Cranberries
Kale and spinach
Bananas
Sweet potatoes
Apples
Pumpkin
Broccoli
‘shrooms
Note 3: Medicinal mushrooms can have powerful benefits for dogs, including cancer prevention (and tumor shrinkage), improved cognitive function, immune support, and are rich in prebiotics which support gut health. Animal Essentials Mushroom Defense tincture includes the most beneficial mushrooms for dogs, Shea enjoys every day as a meal topper.
Mushroom Type’s Benefits Breakdown
Lion’s Mane – this mushroom is ideal for your senior dog. It supports the brain and can help with cognitive function as your dog ages. It helps the nervous system and can help with spinal problems as well as anxiety. Lion’s Mane also supports fat and sugar metabolism and can help with weight control, as well as blood sugar levels in dogs with diabetes.
Turkey Tail – this mushroom offers powerful immune support. It’s shown to help manage cancer, and extending quality of life.
Chaga – supports heart, intestinal and liver health. It’s rich in plant-based antioxidants that reduce free radical damage.
Cordyceps – high in ergosterol, an antioxidant compound. Cordyceps can help support healthy skin, liver and kidneys.
Maitake – rich in beta-glucans and D-fraction, high in the antioxidant glutathione, and extensively researched as a potent immune system enhancer.
Reishi – known as the “mushroom of immortality.” It’s rich in triterpenoids, ganoderic acid and antioxidants, with anti-inflammatory and antihistamine actions.
Shiitake – has been shown to support the immune system, help with digestion and urinary health and normal allergic response.
Upgrade your dog’s bed
Just as we grow out of our 20s and can no longer handle crashing on floors and couches, our dogs also need a sleep upgrade. Upgrading their bed’s to one that offers extra-comfy support such as a memory foam insert is a great way to provide comfort while they’re resting. As dogs age, most — if not all — will eventually develop some form of arthritis, and this can help decrease any pressure on hips, knees, and elbows, versus a firmer type bedding.
Elevated Dog Bowl
In actuality, there are many small adjustments that’ll help your pup handle their aging joints. To avoid them bending over too much, try an elevated bowl. Elevated food bowls are a good idea for any dog, especially if they’re larger, or they have, for example, a chronic neck issue that may make it more difficult to put their head downwards.
Joint Supplements
Again, joint issues are a huge part of aging. As dogs get older, natural function of the joint starts to deteriorate. Cartilage and bone inside of the joints start to deteriorate, and this stimulates the body to create inflammation to help clean up the issue. Luckily, there are easy relief options, and a lot of evidence around joint supplementation offering benefits to rebuild components of the joints, which will help them function better, and in many cases can help to reduce pain.
follow an anti-inflamming diet
Note 4: Small dietary changes can extend your dogs life and comfort, and there are many whole food options that can ease arthritis pain when fed regularly to your dog. These foods include:
Celery
Alfalfa
Ginger
Mango
Turmeric
Blueberries
Kale
Salmon
Broccoli/broccoli sprouts
Prebiotics and probiotics
Shea has exquisite taste and isn’t very picky, but if your dog is try blending some of these fruits and vegetables together to make a juice or smoothie and add them as a topper to your dog’s daily meals so they can still receive the benefits these superfoods offer!
Aniaml acupuncture for Overall wellness
Another option of providing joint relief is animal acupuncture. Shea began acupuncture treatments on a monthly, then “as-needed” basis during the past few years, and as seen amazing results that certainly attribute to his steady mobility and mood. You can read more about it’s benefits and our services here.