It's Important to Cool Down an Old Dog on a Hot Day!

In the midwest we are heading into a week of 90+ temperatures and even higher heat indexes. People are in danger of heat exhaustion or heat stroke but dog owners have to consider their pet too. Many think the best way to help cool down a dog quickly on a hot summer day is to pour cold water on them but it is bad idea. An extremely hot dog can go into shock if suddenly doused with water so what should you do?

Senior dogs are even more susceptible to heat stroke in the extreme heat. Our older canine friends often have many health issues. Becoming overheated can have deadly consequences with the additional stress on their bodies and heart.

Know the SIGNS of Dog Dehydration

• Heavy panting
• Labored breathing
• Vomiting 
• Out of the ordinary behavior
• Drooping mouth or lips
• Lack of energy
• Won't eat or drink

PREVENT OVERHEATING

The best way to keep a dog cool in hot weather is to prevent overheating in the first place. Don't take your senior dog with on errands when the temperatures are extremely hot. If they cannot go into the stores or other places on your route, show them more love by leaving them home. A car with all of its windows rolled up can be incredibly hot on when parked in the sun. If your dog's temperature gets up to 110 degrees, there is little that can be done to cool them. Even a dog that loves riding in the car will prefer to remain in the air conditioning at home.

Other quick tips to keep your canine cool:

1. Let outdoor dogs in--Let them cool off on the basement or garage cement floor.
2. Invest in a cooling bed designed to keep a hot dog cool.
3. Kiddie splash pools are perfect pet ponds
4. Walk them early in the day or later at night 
5. Grass is more paw-friendly than concrete or asphalt
6. Dogs with dark fur will heat up faster than those with lighter fur in the sunshine.
7. Sunscreen is available for pets with short hair or light colored fur (yes dogs can sunburn).
8. Check with groomer before shaving. Not all breeds should have short cropped hair

Copyright 2012 OldDogPaws.com

How to Surprise your Old Dog with a Happy Birthday Cake!

An old dog deserves a special treat at least once every year. This birthday why not skip the Milkbones and make your older dog a healthy birthday cake that is as treat just for him? Everyone knows that chocolate is not an option for any dog but they love peanut butter! This is an easy recipe for a Banana Peanut Butter Birthday Cake. A doggie's birthday dream come true!

Banana Peanut Butter Doggie Cake

1 ripe mashed banana

1/4 unsweetened apple sauce

1/2 cup natural peanut butter

3 eggs

3/4 cup water

2 cups whole wheat flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F

Mix together mashed banana. applesauce and peanut butter until creamy. Add eggs and water. Beat well. Stir in dry ingredients. Beat until smooth. Spoon batter evenly into small greased cake pan. Bake for about 35 minutes. Remove from oven and let set for about 10 minutes. Turn over on wire rack or serving plate to continue cooling.  Serve as is or decorate with Happy Dog Cheesy Peanut frosting.

Happy Dog Cheesy Peanut Frosting

12 ounces Fat Free Cream Cheese

1/2 cup natural peanut butter

Mix well an spread over cake. (If frosting is too thick to spread, soften in microwave for a few seconds until spreading consistency.)

If your older dog is too excited after all the celebrating and does not have the appetite to finish his birthday cake, leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. 

Copyright 2012 OldDogPaws.com

Raising Food Up Makes Mealtime More Enjoyable for the Older Dog!

Elevated dog bowl is Beneficial to Older Dog Health

Any age dog can benefit from an elevated feeding dish. However, as a dog matures into old age an elevated dog bowl might be essential A raised dog feeder, whether on a platform or stand can help to eliminate the need for dogs to position their head at a downward angle during meal times. This way the senior dog will swallow less air with his meal and reduce gas and other digestive trouble. Additionally,  an older dog that suffers from arthritis or other joint pain can feed more comfortably. 

Tips on how to select the best elevated dog bowl for your senior dog!

Copyright 2012 OldDogPaws.com

The ABC's of Senior Dog Care--Ears

There are so many things to consider when caring for your dog as he ages. Literally from A to Z there are conditions, products and ideas that will make the most of your dog's senior years. 

The "E" word for today is EARS!

If you have ever visited Disneyworld or Disneyland, you know that all trainees wear badges that say "Earning their Ears". Well, your older canine has earned his ears in your family over his long life, but they might not be working as well as they used to. There are many indications of a potential ear problem from balance issues to smelly discharge. These can be caused by infection or a disease.

CLICK HERE for a full list of signs of ear problems in senior dogs.

Products and supplies to keep your dog's ears healthy:

Ear Clensing Pads - Keeping your pet's ears clean and dry is your best defense against ear infections. It's recommended you clean your pet's external ear canal 1-2 times per week. Ear Clens® Pads are convenient pads that work gently; yet contain powerful anti-bacterial, anti-fungal ingredients that help change the pH in your pet's ear, making it much less likely to harbor the growth of yeast and bacteria. Simply toss these mess-free pads in the garbage when cleanings are done. 

Ear Cleaning Solution - For areas of the ear you cannot reach with a pad, squirt a few drops of Ear Clens® Solution in the ear. This solution contains the same active ingredients as Ear Clens^® Pads. You may also consider Pet-Otic, with salicylic acid and malic acid, which break down and remove wax and other debris. 

Ear Drying Agents - Relieve your pet's irritating ear itch and help prevent bacteria and fungal growth by keeping ear canals dry. Dry ears stay clean and healthy and odor-free. After weekly cleaning with liquid ear solution, simply hold the Ear Powder applicator tip about an inch from your pet's ears and squeeze directly into the ear. Powder makes gripping with a hair puller much easier when you need to "strip" ear canal hairs on certain dog breeds. 

Ear Mitacide - Ear mites can be a misery for your pet. An effective pyrethrin Ear Miticide can eliminate these irritating, common parasites that your pet can pick up. If itchy ears are accompanied by a black, crumbly discharge, there's a good chance your pet has ear mites. And the constant scratching means that he'll be more prone to ear infections. 

Ear Care Kit - A convenient way to keep everything you need to care for your pet's ears on hand is the Ear Care Kit. The three products included in this kit will protect your pet's ears from inflammation by cleansing, killing mites (if your pet has them), and drying out moist ear canals.

Otoscope - A high intensity Veterinary Quality Otoscope lets you examine your pet's ears up close so you can detect ear conditions before they become problems. Lighted scope magnifies up to 10 times in high resolution and includes three cones for different sized ear canals.

Copyright 2011 OldDogPaws.com

Cigarettes Can Kill Your Dog

The pet owner of this video clip may have found this hilarious, but could it be considered a form of animal abuse? I wonder...because that cigarette could kill the dog. We all know smoking is bad for your health and yes, it can even kill smokers eventually, yet some people cannot kick the habit. But did you know that ingesting just one cigarette could KILL your dog? I'm not talking about second hand smoke here...though I am sure that can affect a pet's lungs and heart, especially if you have an older dog, as much as it affects a human. But if your dog were to get a hold of your pack of smokes and eat one or several, it could be deadly. An ingested cigarette could cause several conditions in your pet including an elevated heart rate, a drop in blood pressure, seizures, respiratory failure, vomiting and diarrhea. In severe cases your pet could die from the stress caused by the nicotine.

So what do you do if you think your dog ingested a cigarette or any other poison?  

Keep your dog as calm as possible and immediately contact your veterinarian. If the vet is not immediately available try ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) at (888) 426-4435. This phone help line for pet owners is staffed with experts that can answer questions and provide guidance 24 hours a day for a reasonable consultation fee.

More Examples of DOG POISON in your Pocket CLICK HERE.

Copyright 2011 OldDogPaws.com

 

Got a Hot Dog? How to Cool Down a Senior Dog in Extreme Heat

On the  news today they were showing a police dog competition that went on yesterday in our town despite heat indices of well over 100 degrees. One officer mentioned that many have a first instinct to cool a dog by pouring water on them but it is not a good idea. An extremely hot dog can go into shock if suddenly doused with hot water so what should you do?

Senior dogs are even more susceptible to heat stroke in the extreme heat. Our older canine friends can have many health issues and becoming overheated can have deadly consequences with the additional stress on their bodies and heart.

PREVENT OVERHEATING

The best way to keep a dog cool in hot weather is to prevent overheating in the first place. Don't take your senior dog with on errands when the temperatures are extremely hot. If they cannot go into the stores or other places on your route, leave them home. A car with all of its windows is like a oven. If your dog's temperature gets up to 110 degrees, there is little that can be done to cool them. Even a dog that loves riding in the car will prefer to remain in the air conditioning at home.

Other quick tips to keep your canine cool:

1. Let outdoor dogs in--Let them cool off on the basement floor.
2. Kiddie splash pools are perfect pet ponds
3. Walk them early in the day or later at night 
4. Grass is more paw-friendly than concrete or asphalt
5. Dogs with dark fur will heat up faster than those with lighter fur in the sunshine.
6. Sunscreen is available for pets with short hair or light colored fur (yes dogs can sunburn).
7. Check with groomer before shaving. Not all breeds should have short cropped hair

SIGNS of Dog Dehydration

• Heavy panting
• Labored breathing
• Vomiting 
• Unusual behavior
• Droopy Lips
• Lack of Energy
• Won't eat or drink

Copyright 2011 OldDogPaws.com

Is YOUR Senior Dog Geriatric? Or just a Good Old Dog!

 Many times when you search the internet for information on senior or older dogs, the sites tend to incorporate the term geriatric as well. So are all old dogs considered geriatric? According to Webster the term geriatric refers to “dealing with the problems and diseases of old age.”  Since all dogs are not raised exactly the same I think it is inaccurate to put all dogs into a category based on there age and breed. With proper nutrition, exercise and preventive care any aged dog that is still active, may be senior but still considered relatively healthy.

 I would consider two separate categories for our aging pets. Senior dogs have simply grown old but still remain active, eating well and have not been affected with any age related illnesses. Geriatric dogs have come down with some kind of ailment associated with getting old age and are usually on some kind of medication.

 Based on statistics, our old dog should have had a life expectance of 10-12 years and was considered old at six. Our family was very fortunate to have had our senior dog with us for 17 years but I would have only classified his last year as geriatric.  The saying, “you are only as old as you feel,” also apply to our pets. Treat them well and hopefully yours will be as fortunate by living a long time past the statistical charts.

Copyright 2011 Olddogpaws.com