The Basic of Adjusting your
Dog Diet in Old Age
I am the Original Holistic Pet Health Coach, and am now training passionate pet parents, and pet professionals to be Certified Holistic Pet Health Coaches so that more pets can be helped holistically.
As pet parents, we all wish for our fur babies to have a long and healthy life in their elder years. Pets appear to be surviving longer than ever before, thanks to increased animal medical care, enhanced meals, supplements, and treatments, and your unconditional love. Learn about switching dog food without mixing and adjusting it based on their age.
As pets age, it’s natural for their bodies to begin to weaken. Our senior pets may still act like a puppy, but his charming grey face serves as a reminder that his body is aging and that he may require some help from time to time.
Dogs’ requirements change as they get older. Paying attention to the effects of aging will assist you in making your dog more comfortable as he gets older.
What’s the best diet for older dogs?
Obesity is one of the most common health problems in older dogs, and it can lead to a variety of other disorders ranging from aggravating joint discomfort and dyspnea to heart and liver problems. Older dogs become obese for a variety of reasons, including a decline in energy and activity, as well as a shift in their overall caloric needs.
Our metabolism slows as we age, and we require less food to maintain a stable weight. Dogs are the same way. Though they may appear to be just as hungry and treat-obsessed as before, their bodies aren’t burning calories as efficiently as before, causing them to gain weight. It may be time to switch to moderate protein, lower simple carbs ( i.e rice, potatoes), and add more complex carbs like vegetables and beans. Increasing vitamin and mineral intake can be very helpful too. Senior Dog foods often are lower in protein and may cause muscle wasting. You may need to cut back on the number of snacks you give out during the day.
If your pet needs to lose weight, I propose giving them The Original CrockPET Diet. This all-natural pet food plan will aid in her weight loss while also delivering the nutrition she requires to be strong and healthy. Switching dog food without mixing may be possible but usually you can start giving it by adding this to their regular food.
If your pet is obese, feeding a simple no-carb version of the diet (KETO diet), such as no rice, will aid in weight loss. If your pet is underweight, add more coconut oil to the meal to help it stay in shape. I created Keto meals for pets with cancer and other health difficulties (high fat, extremely low carb).
Feed a Moisture-Rich Diet to Senior Pets
The most crucial ingredient in your pet’s body is water. Your pet’s organs have a tougher time working when it is dehydrated.
Unfortunately, as your pet gets older, his organs will begin to degrade and stop working as well as they once did. Increased water consumption, partly through a moisture-rich feed, is essential for your pet’s health for this reason alone.
Avoiding dry commercial pet foods in favor of an all-natural diet is the greatest approach to enhance your pet’s water intake.
The Original CrockPET Diet is a meal plan I devised to guarantee dogs are fed the healthiest and most nutritious foods available. The moisture in this diet aids digestion and leaves the body with more nutritional fluids to prevent or control other problems. It’s also a terrific method to keep tabs on the food your pet consumes.
Check out other senior pet care tips and what we can do to help them live an optimal life in their golden years.
Which supplement should I give my senior dog?
Choosing a supplement can be very confusing as there are tons of great brands and the ones that claim to be great for pets.
Holistic Total Body Support
I recommend using my own Holistic Total Body Support for Cats & Dogs but since it is currently out of stock and will be back in February 2022, here’s the best supplement I suggest or you can also check other high-quality pet vitamins. Holistic Total Body Support contains glandular products that help support the endocrine system and supplies the raw materials for the internal organs to function optimally. I’ve seen this supplement take a 14-year-old golden retriever and return it to the level of activity, comfort, and function he enjoyed at 10 years old.
“Like feeds like” therapy is the primary premise of glandular supplements. To put it another way, eating a healthy animal gland will strengthen the comparable gland (or organ in your pet). Purified organ and glandular extracts from animals are used in glandular therapy (usually cows, sheep, pigs). The pituitary, thyroid, adrenals, pancreas, liver, kidney, heart, and thymus are all common sources of these extracts.
Why should I consider glandular support for my pet?
Supplementing with glandular supplements can be an important part of a well-balanced diet. Many vital elements are not found solely in plants and meats. A high-quality gland-based multivitamin can fill in all of your pet’s nutritional gaps. Which is highly needed by our senior pets.
Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids
Omega-3s and omega-6s are fatty acids that are responsible for supporting a number of critical body systems. However, omega-6s are often consumed in higher amounts than omega-3s. Omega-3s are commonly associated with fish consumption, but modern aquaculture produces fish that are lower in omega-3s than wild fish. This has the potential to create nutritional gaps, which can be improved through supplementation.
Probiotics
A probiotic supplement like Fidospore contains high amounts of these “good” bacteria. Fidospore is the first probiotic supplement clinically shown to support digestive health and reduce leaky gut in dogs. The supplement, combined with the bacteria already present in your pet’s body, creates a more favorable ratio and balance of those bacteria.
Glucosamine
What does Glucosamine do? Well, it supports the synthesis of collagen, a key structural protein in tendons, cartilage, and ligaments. Using a joint supplement like glucosamine or chondroitin sulfate, those two components are anti-inflammatory and there are tons of different options out there. They are often chicken-based, which can be a problem for pets with chicken sensitivity.
I have a great supplement that is proven to be safe and effective for pets who needs help with arthritis. Arthri-Pawz offers ideal nutritional support for joints, providing them with the nutrition they need to rid fluid that results in swelling, repair, stay lubricated, move freely, and function at their best.
Why do I recommend this joint formula over all others? For starters, it’s hypoallergenic. Because this is based on shellfish, pets that have allergies to chicken or beef can take this. It provides the essential building blocks and nutrients for joint repair. Arthri-Pawz reduces free radicals and supports a healthy inflammatory response which may help lessen wear and tear on the joints and between spinal vertebrae. It reduces the potential for the body to attack its own joint tissue, a known cause of the second cruciate rupture in dogs.
CBD Oil
If your dog is in a lot of pain, there are new studies that point to CBD products that can also help with pain associated with arthritis.
Mushroom blend to boost immunity
In addition to my top 4 recommendations above, We have to start worrying about combatting chronic disease in our older pets. This can show up as Kidney failure, Cognitive dysfunction, liver disease, and many more.
Studies have shown that medicinal mushrooms provide a source of polysaccharides, including beta-glucans. Beta-glucans have been reported to have antioxidant properties, reduce the spread of cancer, and may support blood glucose and lipid metabolism.
My all-new Myco-Pawz has this Blend of 8 standardized mushrooms, including reishi, Chaga, lion’s mane, cordyceps, maitake, shiitake, Agaricus, and turkey tail.
Alpha-Lipoid Acid
One of the supplements that I suggest for dogs that have dementia-like symptoms or sundowner syndrome is alpha-lipoic acid. Alpha-lipoic acid has strong antioxidant properties, which may reduce inflammation and skin aging, promote healthy nerve function, lower heart disease risk factors, and slow the progression of memory loss disorders. Because alpha-lipoic acid is a powerful antioxidant, studies have examined its ability to slow the progression of disorders characterized by memory loss.
Learn more.
Other Pet Care Tips in transitioning to
the Original Crockpet Diet
The majority of dogs are ecstatic with homemade food and lose weight quickly. Dogs must consume a combination of protein, veggies, and carbohydrates such as potatoes, rice, or whole grains because they are omnivores.
It’s vital to gradually introduce new food to your pet over the period of one to two weeks when changing their diet.
The Original CrockPET Diet can take some time for cats to adjust to. Make sure your cat has switched from dry to canned food to make the transition smoother. Patience is essential, and you may need to start with 1 teaspoon per meal for several weeks before your cat would eat it.
Gradually increase the amount of home-cooked meals and decrease the amount of old food until they are just eating the diet. Because cats are carnivores, you can eliminate simple carbs from their diet and replace them with a diet rich in fat and protein.
The majority of dogs (and some cats) dance for their food, and many dogs wait at the crockpot for hours until it’s done. Pet owners have dogs and cats who despise eating, but who, after being fed The Original CrockPET Diet, begin devouring their bowls in record time.
To introduce The Original CrockPET Diet to a puppy, you need to start gradually by adding a few spoons per meal and gradually increase the amount until your puppy is fully transitioned. You can start by mixing it with their kibble or whatever diet they are on. Plan to take a total of 10 days to 2 weeks to transition the food.
For starters and to all my patients, I do really recommend rotating the ingredients. By doing this we are able to rule out the ones our pets are allergic to or the ones that cause sensitivities on their stomach.
For this reason, I recommend freezing the vast majority of the food, so that you are only leaving approximately 1/2 to 1 cup of food in the refrigerator.
It is a pretty common thing especially if our dogs suddenly changed their diet or eat something the gut is sensitive to. And we all experience this but this is something that we don’t want to last long since it is uncomfortable for our pets, and can create big problems for a senior pet with other health challenges.
Oftentimes we think that after a couple of episodes of diarrhea or vomiting we assume they must be starving. Giving them food and water right away may only make things worse. Allowing your pet’s GI tract to rest is one of the most crucial things you can do if they’ve had G.I. upset.
Your pet may have to go without food for at least 24 hours. If they are already dehydrated, small amounts of water will need to be given often to keep them hydrated. After 24 hours, a bland diet can be offered. If your dog’s diarrhea has stopped, gradually return him to his regular food.
To help your pet’s gut take food back in successfully, boil some turnips, rutabagas, sweet potatoes, potatoes, or whatever else you have on hand, or white rice. Because fiber helps to absorb water in the GI tract, then diarrhea is slowed.
If you don’t change your dog’s food carefully enough, their digestive tract will not adjust to the new food properly and create diarrhea. Diarrhea can also be caused by allowing your dog to eat too much or consuming garbage. Gastrointestinal distress and diarrhea can also be caused by a dietary allergy or intolerance.
That is why when transitioning from dry-moist, or moist-dry, or raw-moist diet it is highly recommended to do a rotation of ingredients, In this manner, you can easily identify which ingredient may have caused your dog’s diarrhea and eliminate that when doing another batch.
Learn other tips on when Diarrhea strikes from Dr. Ruth Roberts.
If you’ve been feeding commercial dog food to your pet their whole life, It’s about time you consider if it is enough to give them the daily nutrition they need.
There are a variety of reasons to prepare food for your pet. The most critical aspect is that you are aware of what your pet consumes.
Following the 2007 recalls, pet owners were understandably wary about pet foods. Because they believed those brands could be trusted, many individuals began looking for safety in home-cooked foods and premium pet feeds.
The authors of a recent study published in the Journal of Animal Physiology and Nutrition evaluated popular dog food for soy, beef, and poultry allergies. All of these probable allergies were discovered in a number of high-end venison-based dishes that were supposed to be low-ingredient recipes.
A single facility produces several brands, and if there are difficulties there, the entire set of products is tainted. Another big recall occurred in May 2012 owing to salmonella poisoning of food, which sickened both dogs and their humans. The cause of these massive recalls has yet to be determined, and smaller brands are not exempt from recalls. Pet food recalls are so common that there are entire websites dedicated to keeping track of them and alerting you to them.
Feeding home-cooked foods allow you to tailor a diet to the needs of your pet. Yes, it generally requires that you give a multivitamin, but it is truly a complete and balanced diet, even with the variations in the ingredients between batches. Vitamins are necessary these days because conventionally farmed foods are grown in nutrient-depleted soils and are unable to give us all we need.
Cooking for pets takes time and effort especially if your pet has many sensitivities. So you have to be patient in working with your pet’s diet so you can optimize their health.
It took me a couple of months in transitioning most of my dogs to the crockpet diet. Every pet is different than the other same goes for their food tolerance and health issues.
If you need ongoing support, We do have a weekly coaching program called Ipets Ally where pet parents gather virtually every week via Youtube Live to do a live Q&A with me. It is an interactive coaching group in which we discuss common health issues in pets and ways to solve them. I have supported thousands of dogs and cats to overcome health hurdles like kidney disease, GI Illness, allergies, cancer. My natural approach to healing creates a gentle yet effective path for your pet to take on their journey to wellbeing.
I will help you to develop a health plan for your pet via e-learning, videos on a range of health topics, and One on One coaching.
You can subscribe and try it for as low as $7.77 for the 1st 30 days, and get access to all my online courses, videos, transcripts, and recipes.
I am also available for online consultation and review all your pet’s medical history, and create a Diet and, supplement plan, and I can work alongside your regular vet to ensure your pet is getting the best possible treatment, integrating holistic and conventional therapy if needed.
