As a previous dog owner of two Golden Retrievers and as a Naturopath, one of the questions that I asked myself is how could I slow down the aging process of my dogs ( and me for that matter) and how can I keep my dogs with me for a bit longer ( and me on the planet ). It is only natural as I loved my dogs as much as anyone else, and their companionship was most cherished.
So, what can you can do to keep your dog healthy and around a bit longer?
Essentially to keep it simple, there are three things to look at for dogs and humans as well –
- You have the appropriate diet and exercise for your dog and you.
- Contain inflammation, the number one stressor in old age for all of us
- Use Tonic Supplements to extend and enhance the qualities of life
The use of tonic supplements is in another blog
See – herbal tonics for aging dogs
DIET :
The length of your dog’s life will be determined somewhat by size and breed, as smaller dogs generally live longer than large dogs. Nevertheless, any discussion on longevity must start with a good diet, as the diet is the basis for good health. According to Honeys natural dog food, there is evidence that dogs live longer, healthier, and happier lives if they eat the same diet they enjoy in the wild. That is to say: raw, fresh meats, bones, organ meats, and vegetables. This diet is referenced to be a biologically appropriate raw food diet, the BARF diet.Since in the wild the dog ate a variety of different animals and different vegetables in season, then it seems that they also got a variety of vitamins and minerals from the organ meats consumed.
Here is a link to BARF Australia https://barfaustralia.com for more information
The Dangers of Kibble–
Recently, I had a conversation with a neighbour who had an 8-year-old Kelpie whom he walks every morning. On the morning of our conversation, I noted that the dog looked stiff, had a limp, and seemed overweight. He mentioned that the dog was on anti-inflammatories from the V.E.T. I inquired about what he was feeding the dog. He said, Kibble. I discreetly mentioned that Kibble is pro-inflammatory for dogs due to the additives and binders and what goes in the Kibble. I mentioned the BARF diet and the website. Two weeks later, I met them, and the dog was walking a lot better. He thanked me as he was not aware of the BARF diet and what it could do. He was also not aware of the dangers associated with Kibble and has converted his dog to a Barf-style diet. His dog was no longer on Anti-inflammatories.
Kibble is associated with the following issues –
- It is highly processed at high temperatures, which can produce carcinogenic compounds called heterocyclic Amines and Acrylamides.
- It contains many rendered products from diseased animals or those who died of cancer. These meats are bio-acceptable to be used in pet food and do not have to be labelled.
- Devoid of natural enzymes, which promotes a good microbiome and bowel flora.
- Acid load. Many contain wheat or rice or corn fillers, which add to the acid load of the Kibble encourages inflammation.
- By default, many kibbles have preservatives and colourings to mask the original colour of the rendering. The colour makes it easy for the purchaser to see, not the dog but the human. Pigments chosen are for human visual appeal and have nothing to do with Nutrition. Manufacturers who render and sterilise at high temperatures can claim that they only need to use natural preservatives and colours; however, that does not disclose what is really in the Kibble. It is not required by law for them to reveal their sources.
- Kibble often contains G.M.O.s, glyphosates’ and other chemicals. The Manufacturer does not knowingly add these but comes via the Rendering process from animals fed with Industrial feeds and antibiotics etc., that remain in the animal flesh when deceased.
Here is a good link- https://journal.lyka.com.au/feed-the-dog-not-the-dog-cancer-the-danger-of-processed-dog-food/
Age newspaper in Melbourne Australia has reported on some dogs that have been affected by Kibble – https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/pet-food-recalled-after-death-and-illness-of-police-dogs-20180324-p4z630.html.
In. short, if you wish to promote ill-health, Arthritis, and inflammation in your dog, then give them Kibble!!
Lots of Vets stock and promote Kibble in their clinics. Why? Do your research and make your own decision. If in doubt, contact a holistic vet in the resources below or look at the internet links provided.
INFLAMMATION:
Inflammation is, without doubt, maybe the most crucial topic in discussion in the natural therapy industry in the world today. The inflammation process is a major causative factor in treating chronic diseases such as Arthritis, Autoimmune disorders, cardiovascular disease, and cancer in both dogs and humans. There are many different forms of Arthritis with Arthritis, but for this discussion, I will mainly relate to Osteoarthritis, which is inflammation of the joints. Contributing factors for Osteo Arthritis are dogs’ wear and tear on joints, age, genetics, trauma, ingestion of acid-forming foods like Kibble, or lack of vegetables. Greens and vegetables are oxidised to alkaline compounds in the body and therefore are promising to give proportion to a dog’s diet. As a dog ages, their body chemistry changes due to reduced kidney functions that control body acidity. Aging also affects the liver that contains inflammatory compounds in the bloodstream. An appropriate age-related diet is so important.
SUPPLEMENTS & HERBS :
There are many choices in natural supplements for addressing Arthritic symptoms. There are many options, and I will rank them according to what I think is important later.
Now I have interviewed my local V.E.T. and asked why they do not stock many natural supplements? The reply was, “by the time the dog gets to our clinic, the Arthritis is usually so severe that the dog requires powerful pharmaceutical anti-inflammatories due to pain and stiffness. By the time it becomes severe, it may be too late to treat naturally !! ” The Vet has a good point of view. Many owners miss the first signs of Arthritis and either do not notice or ignore signs.
NOTE: If your dog has first signs of limp or stiffness at any age, this is the best time to begin natural supplements after seeing your V.E.T. for confirmation. Natural Supplements will then need to be given for the rest of the Pets’ life to control the inflammation.
Choosing the correct type of natural product is essential. It is better to give one product long-term and stick with it, rather than trying a lot and proving too expensive or time-consuming to use long-term.
If your Pet is in acute condition, please do not give your Pet natural supplements unless you have seen your V.E.T. Some Pets are in much pain and stiffness, and appropriate drugs may be needed to be provided by the V.E.T. to control the discomfort. If your Pet is on drugs, then your V.E.T. must be consulted before taking natural supplements just in case there may be any cross-reactions to the drug.
Green-lipped mussel
G.L.M. has been around for many years now and has some extracts that have been clinically trialled to treat various inflammatory disorders, including Arthritis. Products are Freely available in most pet supply stores, online, and in Veterinary clinics. Available in Capsules and powders. G.L.M. needs to be taken long-term and at the correct dose to be effective. Naturally, you can adjust the quantity downward to save money and better compliance with a good response.
Curcumin and Boswellia
This dynamic duo of Herbs is often used in many human formulations and is now available in Pet formulations. There are reasons for this combination. There are mainly two metabolic, inflammatory pathways in mammals – The Cox and Lox pathways. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories work primarily to the Cox pathway but not the Lox. Curcumin mainly works on the Cox but not the Lox, and Boswellia works on the Lox pathway. So combining both modulates both inflammatory pathways for better effects.
Refer Terry Talks nutrition- https://www.terrytalksnutrition.com/books-for-download/boswellia-stop-5-lox-inflammation/
So together, they inhibit the Cox 1 and Cox 2 and – 5 lox pathways of inflammation.
I would rank this combination as probably the best for use for Osteoarthritis and inflammation in general and may rank it a little better than G.L.M. for Arthritis.
Chondroitin and Glucosamine –
This combination of therapeutic agents has been around for many years and is helpful for O.A. as they provide substances used as joint food to repair the joint. They need to be combined with other Natural anti-inflammatories for best results as by themselves as not as practical as Green Lipped Mussel or Curcumin/Boswellia.
Fish oil –
Trialled and tested Fish oil is available in gelatin capsules or Oil that can be mixed with food. Fish oil is relatively inexpensive and has a good safety record, so this is an excellent supplement for any pet and has proven anti-inflammatory effects.
P.E.A.
P.E.A. (Palmitoylethanolamide) is a compounded treatment option for chronic pain, recommended by pain specialists and clinics throughout Australia. It mimics the Eco-cannabinoid System and is best combined with Quercetin, a Bioflavonoid, for better results. It may offer a cheaper option than CBD oil for treating inflammation and pain.
Here is a good link –https://drjudymorgan.com/products/palmitoylethanolamide-120-count
P.E.A. is available on Health food shelves, but please check with your holistic V.E.T. before using it.
CBD Oil
CBD oil ( Cannabis oil ) has been around in the U.S.A. for many years and in the future may be freely available in Australia in Pharmacies. Before you “dope your dog” with legal or illegal cannabis, you may want to have a look at this article https://www.walkervillevet.com.au/blog/dog-cbd-oil-australia/.
CBD oil is beneficial, but it is not the panacea it is made out to be for both dogs and humans. It is not the only product on the market that will best fit you or your dog for controlling pain or inflammation.
Although CBD oil is generally safe, the quality varies, and one needs to ensure proper dosing to be effective. My suggestion here is to contact a Holistic V.E.T. that can provide more information.
The above good quality CBD oil looks promising to treat various disorders, including some cancers and autoimmune diseases.
Chinese Herbal formulas –
Chinese herbal formulas for treating Arthritis have been around for thousands of years and are available in easy-to-use pharmaceutical-grade granules.
They work but must be professionally prescribed to the presenting symptoms, so you need to consult a Holistic Vet that prescribes Chinese Medicine.
I would not purchase retail or off the internet.
Pharmaceuticals-
These are not natural and are made in a laboratory, often from petroleum-derived products and potentially toxic if used long term.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs act quickly in controlling inflammation. They have issues if used long-term, such as affecting the heart muscle, causing internal bleeding, and making Arthritis worse long-term by shutting down metabolic pathways involved in healing.
If a natural substance can control pain and inflammation, there is an advantage for its use as it can be taken over time with little or no side effects.
So having written that statement, it may be assumed that I am against the modern pharmacy for pain control – not so!
Dogs have feelings and emotions, but they live in the present. They do not know of the future as we do, so you, the owner, will have to decide how their life will be comfortable. Pain and discomfort control is the most important, so I am for it if pharmaceuticals are required, as I certainly would not want a dog to suffer.
Natural therapies take time to work and may not be suitable for difficult situations, so you may have to consider them.
However, the use of natural supplements can also help the pharmacy work better. It may reduce the dose of pharmacy required to enable pain control – check with your Vet for compatibility.
Exercise :
Circulation of nutrients to tissues is essential at any age, especially seniors, as joints need nutrients to repair. The pain and stiffness of Arthritis deter anyone from looking forward to a workout, and that includes dogs. Small shorter walks through the day are better than one long walk that puts more stress on the joints. It would be wise to avoid ball games and to run. Swimming and other low-impact exercises are the go. How long a walk? There is plenty of information on the internet, but perhaps 30 mins x three times a day will be plenty for most. The amount of pain and stiffness will determine things after exercising or walking. Too stiff, after exercise, reduce the length of time walked but still keep the number of times walked.
TIP1: If you purchase products online, I would highly recommend you stick with Australian retailers/suppliers and manufacturers as the quality and what you get may be different from buying from unknown sources from overseas via the internet. Buyer beware!
TIP2: Using proper doses of supplements is crucial to their effectiveness. Too lower doses and ineffective and too higher doses can cause your Pet to have loose bowels or feel nauseous. Check with your Holistic V.E.T. or supplier.
CONTACTS AND RESCOURCES :
Pure Animal podcasts have a lot of information from Holistic Vets; many do telehealth consultations for advice. Here is the link
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/pure-animal-podcast/id1444959251
In Adelaide, https://www.holisticvethealing.com.au is a holistic vet service that dispenses Chinese herbal formulas and is worth checking out.
My blog on Tonics for aging dogs
http://localhost:8888/peter/herbal-tonics-for-aging-dogs/
In Australia – Australian Holistic Vets website – for a list of Holistic Vets http://www.ahvets.com.au/complete_list.php
Dr Demian Dressler is a Holistic Vet in Hawaii with a lot of helpful information on diet, and his specialty is treating dogs who have cancer. He is a world expert in this area and has books and supplements.
https://www.dogcancerblog.com/meet-the-veterinarians-dr-dressler/
Natural Health and Nutrition blog – broad section of blogs on Nutrition for your Pet
https://naturalhealthandnutrition.com.au/blog/
Terry Talks nutrition. One of the best sites, if not the best site for resources on articles on nutrition and supplement and natural therapy treatments. Terry is the real deal, and you will like what he offers when you drill down in his information – free !!
https://www.terrytalksnutrition.com
BOOKS
Here is but one example on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Herbs-Pets-Natural-Enhance-Your/dp/1933958782
There are lots there, so pre-read if possible and choose the best you can.
I would listen to the podcasts first and read some articles before purchasing books.
MAGAZINES
https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com
MANUFACTURERS :
Blackmores: Paws division has some excellent pet products and a free advisory service https://www.blackmores.com.au/pet-health/shop – worth a look.
Here is an example of a pet manufacturer with pre-packaged products that may be suitable for your Pet.
PODCASTS
LATEST NEWS! THIS IS THE BEST PODCAST / U-TUBE VIDEO ON SMALL ANIMAL NUTRITION THAT I HAVE LISTENED TO!
Dr Karen Becker is a USA VET who specialises in Animal Nutrition. She has spent her career as a small animal clinician and writes extensively on lifestyle medicine for small animals. She has a new book called “The Forever Dog “: surprising new science to help your canine companion live younger. You can listen to her on The Ultimate Health Podcast by Jesse Chappus. Here are some links below
Link for Ultimate Health podcast: https://ultimatehealthpodcast.com/dr-karen-becker-the-forever-dog/
Here is the U tube link https://ultimatehealthpodcast.com/dr-karen-becker-the-forever-dog/
Here is her book website https://foreverdog.com
Disclaimer: I am a naturopath interested in Nutrition and dog nutrition, and I am not a Veterinary Surgeon. This article is from information from a variety of sources which will be referenced through the article and expresses my personal opinion. Don’t hesitate to contact your Holistic Vet for further advice on any matters arising from reading this article or listen to Dr Beckers podcasts.
Peter Farnsworth N.D
revised 1/10/21
