Young at Heart
We All Get Old Sometime
I am going back to an area I addressed a few years back and that is the inevitable process of aging. As I write this article one of my dogs, a 14-year-old Bernese Mountain Dog, is sacked out at my feet. For those of you who know this breed, she may be the oldest in the country. I blame her wonderful condition on good genetics and wonderful nutrition. She still has some bounce in her step even though she is deaf as a post. She enjoys eating and loves her long walks into the corn field but her eyesight is a bit lacking and her muscle tone is a bit lax. The point being that growing old can be a wonderful time of life, albeit there are some things that will not work as well as they used to. In my veterinary practice I think I enjoy seeing the senior citizens as much as any group I see. I marvel at how these dogs are able to adjust and enjoy themselves in most cases, even when some things are not quite up to snuff.
So what causes aging and what can we do to prevent it? Hey, if I knew the answers to that social security and Medicare would already be long bankrupt and I wouldn't be. In fact, I would make Bill Gates look like a pauper. Actually the aging process is understood a little; at least some of the body changes that occur. Basically, the body does the opposite of puppyhood. Instead of net growth and rejuvenation of the body tissues there is a net loss and aging of tissues. This process is affected by many hundreds of biochemical reactions. The interesting part is that it happens at different times for all of our dogs. It is easily seen between breeds of dogs. Little poodles live a lot longer than Great Danes, in general, and we have all seen that within a breed some lines live much longer than others do. I think that from this comparison we can say without a doubt that the major influence is genetics.
Since there is nothing we can do for the inherited aspects of aging, where can we help our friends live longer and healthier? Following are some basic things you may want to do:
1. First and foremost the most important thing to do is nutrition. I think these new senior foods on the market have hurt our aging canines more than most anything I can think of. They are low in fat and moderate to low in protein which leaves them high in carbohydrates. The old dog is not as good at building muscle mass so she needs really high quality protein to be able to use what is there. Many foods are just too low and the old school of thought that protein is hard on the healthy kidney just is not true. Fat is the other important ingredient for seniors. I am so very tired of seeing my old patients with dry, flaky hair coats. I do not even have to ask what they are being fed… I know it is the less active, senior, etc. type diet. Our seniors need moderate amounts of high quality fat in their food both for skin and coat and also for mental brain activity. Fatty acids may help to slow senility and other debilitating decreased brain functions. Lastly, carbohydrates are the least important ingredients; in fact, many will cause or induce your dogs to always be hungry. In some studies most dogs actually gain weight on these less active diets. So please, feed your dogs moderate amounts of high quality proteins and fats (actual numbers depend on the quality of food you feed so I cannot give them to you). If you want to supplement the best food you can give is egg. It is the highest quality protein nature has to offer and the fat works well also. (Dogs do not have to worry about cholesterol.) Also, a fish oil capsule once or twice daily is a really good way to be sure that fatty acids are adequate.
Obesity is one of the worst things anyone can do for their older pets, yet it is probably the number one problem I see. I suspect that comes as no big surprise since that is the number one health problem in humans as well. Really, there is not a lot to be said about it as we all know what causes it and we all know how to prevent it and how to lose weight. The big thing to remember is not to use fat dog diets, however. They usually do not result in weight loss anyway. The real trick is to cut out the doggy treats and feed a well balanced food on a schedule and get out there and do some power walking.
2. Exercise is so important.. Muscles are constantly being destroyed and remade all through life. As your dogs age the process favors the break down (catabolism) more than the build-up (anabolism). The process responds to the stresses put upon the systems so if your dog is exercising regularly nature will have a better chance. I prefer walking to a slow jog for older animals. A slightly inclined treadmill works well, especially for dogs that are failing in the back end. It tends to throw the weight back on the hind legs, building the muscle. I find this method especially good for German Shepherd Dogs who have spinal cord disease. Swimming is great anytime, as well, if facilities allow.
3. Drugs: There are a couple of really good drugs available now that allow our seniors to live longer, healthier and happier lives. This list is just a few of the more senior oriented ones we use and that are nationally marketed to us directly from the companies that make them.
- Anti-inflammatories for sore bones and joints. The most common are Rimadyl and Erogesic. Both are excellent long-term drugs and probably have been more responsible for helping our older dogs live longer than anything before. I recommend a blood test once in a while when on these things long term.
- Anapril. This drug is used to treat cognitive dysfunction or senility. I have seen it work pretty well on some dogs and not at all on others. I think it really depends on a lot of factors and on the dog herself.
- Anabolic steroids. These drugs are just like what the body produces a lot more when young. The most common form we have is Winstrol-V. I use it a lot in low doses and it really helps.
- Some nutritional supplements such as glucosamines, chondroitin, antioxidants, MSM and others all probably are ok. I use some of them in moderation..
4.Veterinary care. Be sure that things are checked out regularly. Many cancers can be cured if approached early as can many disease processes. As an example, heart disease is nearly always treatable with the modern drugs and diagnostic processes we now utilize in veterinary medicine. Be aware that some things that we once attributed to just getting old are very treatable (arthritis is but one example that I mentioned above).
5. Tender loving care. Remember that emotional interactions go a long way in motivating our pets to want to live a long time. This statement may sound whacky to some people but I truly know this to be a fact. A dog will do anything to stay alive to please her lifelong friend. Certainly we can reciprocate to whatever degree we are able.
Gary Cotton, D.V.M.