A recent article by Pete Keesling about older pet care reminded me about a very important point when taking care of your senior dog. He describes the need for keeping your dog active to help keep both mind and body healthy. As dogs get older they typically become less active because of arthritis or other health issues that slow them down. However, this is something that with the help of your vet, you can help to alleviate in most cases. The bottom line is that you need to do what you can to keep your dog walking, exploring, and playing to keep his or her mind active as much as his or her body.
This point is something I had almost forgotten. I have a 12 year old Pug named Mackenzie who suffers from arthritis. I have just put him on Metacam to help him since he has been in pain due to one leg in particular, and as a result we have not been able to do much walking. My focus has been on alleviating his pain which of course is the most important thing, but at the same time I was ignoring the benefits that having him mobile can bring.
Even with his pain under control I realize that Mackenzie will not be able to go on long walks, but that is ok. He has his dog jogger, which is our favourite thing in the world because it allows him to walk for a bit and then ride for a long period of time. This accomplishes two key things. He gets his much needed exercise to help keep his body healthy and he gets to enjoy the fun of riding in his jogger, which keeps his mind stimulated as he sees new things, new people and gets out of the house.
Often we are so worried about our older dogs that we treat them like fine china. Senior dogs still need to get out, move around, play and experience life to the fullest. The health benefits of keeping them stimulated are numerous so find the right balance and start enjoying life with your older dog.
Ann-Marie Fleming is the Founder of www.DogQuality.com, a site focused on products that help older dogs enjoy life.
If you have a small dog and need to take them with you then try this terrific front carrier. This legs-out carrier is perfect for senior dogs that may not be able to walk very far, but would love to come along for the ride.
This video shows 13 year old Sheba, a wonderful Yorkie-Poo in her favourite way to travel. This padded front carrier is very comfortable and secure and she just loves being able to come with her owner instead of being left behind. This carrier lets dogs have their legs hang out rather than being squished, which for older dogs many times is a necessary feature to ensure comfort.
Ann-Marie Fleming is the Founder of www.DogQuality.com, a site focused on products that help older dogs enjoy life.
We have been getting such great feedback from our customers that I wanted to start sharing them. Getting positive feedback not only makes us feel like we are really making a difference in the lives of older dogs, disabled dogs and small dogs, but we have come to see the joy we are bringing to dog owners who get to see the happy reactions from their dogs.
I’d like to thank Jim Kettles from Oakville, Ontario for his recent testimonial. Don’t his Chihuahua’s (Pepsi and Sienna) look adorable?
“The price of the same stroller at a pet store in Toronto was nearly double your price, needless to say we were very happy to get such good value from your company. On our excursion into Toronto last weekend, we were stopped by literally dozens of people that thought the stroller was a GREAT idea. Both pooches love it and it makes our life and theirs a lot easier.”
James Kettles, Oakville, ON
Pepsi and Sienna enjoying their new dog jogger.
Ann-Marie Fleming is the Founder of www.DogQuality.com, a site focused on products that help older dogs enjoy life.
Watch as I review the Petzip dog stroller, a lightweight and extremely versatile dog stroller perfect for older dogs.
You will see this stylish dog stroller in action on rough terrain as well as smooth pavement. I also show how easy it is to fold and transport.
What I really like about this stroller is that you can use it just as well in the city as you can on a bike path or trail. I also appreciate that you don’t need to sacrifice style for functionality. While it is much smaller than the Jeep Rubicon jogger which I am a big fan of, this stroller is much more convenient to transport and to maneuver.
Ann-Marie Fleming is the Founder of www.DogQuality.com, a site focused on products that help older dogs enjoy life.
Anyone of us who have lost their dog has probably asked the question “what happened to my dog after death?” Even those people who are not religious have posed the question of afterlife. I know because I have done the same. I read a great article the other day entitled Do pets go to heaven? It depends on your religion and what I liked about this article is that is showed the various perspectives across a variety of religions such as Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, Buddhism, Judaism, American Indian, Hindu and others. Each religion sees the question of a pet’s afterlife differently. If I was to pull the most consistent point made across the different belief systems I’d say that if a pet makes your life better then once they pass they will be reunited with you once again in the afterlife.
So what if you don’t believe in the afterlife? Many people don’t believe in Heaven for humans let alone pets. I believe that religion and spirituality is a very personal experience and how much or how little is up to each person. Religion offers comfort for many but questions for others. One thing I do know is that the idea that there is a perfect place where we will all be reunited with our pets is a dream come true…do I believe it exists? Well that’s a loaded question.
As I have mentioned in previous posts I have recently lost the love of my life, my French Bulldog named Churchill who was 12 years old. When he left I wanted nothing more than to know we would meet again or to somehow get a sign from him. I can’t say that I believe in a dog heaven, but I have been thinking about another theory which says that energy cannot disappear and that it needs to go somewhere. What form that takes or where it goes I have no idea, but if this theory is true it means that Churchill is still around and that is comforting. Am I 100% sure? No, not at all, but maybe that is the point. Maybe it is good for us to not know everything. Maybe the quest for answers is more important than getting to the absolute truth.
So what does that mean exactly? Well it means that if you believe in dog heaven then great because it means you always have your dog in your heart and on your mind. If you believe that energy transforms but never leaves, then the same holds true. The bottom line is never stop thinking about the pets you have lost because one thing I do know for sure is that if you keep remembering them and how much love they brought to your life, then they can never be truly gone.
Ann-Marie Fleming is the Founder of www.DogQuality.com, a site focused on products that help older dogs enjoy life.
