Caring for Your Senior Dog

I read this post on LinkedIn today and wanted to share it here as it provides excellent advice when caring for a senior dog.

Don't make the mistake I did. Protect your senior dog.

My thirteen going on fourteen year old lab mix was really doing pretty good except for arthritis. I took her to our life-long vet for an assessment and he suggested “vetprofen.” We started her on it with no lab work. He did tell me that periodic lab work should be done to see if her liver was OK from the drug. I trusted him and I didn’t know better. He called on the tenth day to see how it was working out and I have to admit, she had a new spring in her step. On the 18th day, my sweet Kola, threw up and started bleeding out, slowly at first. I wondered if at first if she developed a bladder infection. Within 2 hours she was bleeding heavily and was lost a lot of blood. It was a Sunday, and I took her to an emergency facility where she died. Since, I’ve learned how important an initial lab test is before starting the drug. It can cause kidney failure. At age 14, I didn’t expect her to last years but I never expected that Kola and I would have to go through such trauma because I didn’t know or ask about lab work. Even if it's a doctor you have known a long time..........ask more questions.

 

************** Before giving your dog ANY medications, please make sure the necessary blood work is done. Also consider Holistic options!**********

Dog Food Advisor

Dog Food Advisor saves dogs from bad food and is located in Williamsburg, Virginia. Feel free to sign up for his free Bad Dog Food alerts . . . click here to be taken to the Dog Food Advisor Web site.

Meet the man behind Dog Food  Advisor: Dr. Mike Sagman. (The following is from his Web site.)

The The Dog Food Advisor is a website designed to help you make a more informed decision when shopping for dog food.

Welcome! My name is Mike Sagman. And as the editor and creator of this community, I believe it’s important for you to know a little about my background.

I’m a graduate of the Medical College of Virginia with a doctoral degree in dental surgery.

In addition, my college training includes a major in chemistry and a minor in biology.

Yet none of my education or my 30+ years in the practice of dental medicine should be considered a pre-condition for publishing The Dog Food Advisor.

That’s because after writing and publishing more than 700 dog food reviews representing some 3,200 commercial products, I’m considered an authority on reading and interpreting pet food labels.

The 10 Canine Commandments

I saw this posted on a beagle rescue group and wanted to share it with you . . . click here to be taken to the beagle rescue group: Beagle Rescue of Southern Maryland, Inc.

http://www.brsmbeagles.org/

Double click on the photo to enlarge the image.

FDA Investigates Animal Illnesses Linked to Jerky Pet Treats

Since 2007, the FDA has become aware of increasing numbers of illnesses and deaths in pets associated with the consumption of jerky pet treats.

To read the information provided by the FDA (FDA Investigates Animal Illnesses Linked to Jerky Pet Treats), click here.

http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/SafetyHealth/ProductSafetyInformation/ucm319463.htm

Mackeral for Winter Skin Problems

I saw this posted on Face Book and wanted to share it here.

Goya Jack Mackerel in Brine

Winter weather wreaking havoc on your pup's skin & coat? Add a tablespoon of smashed up canned mackerel w/ it's brine (juice) per 1/2 cup of kibble, mix w/ warm water to make a gravy & serve. Very inexpensive, super heart healthy & the beagles LOVE it! Our guys have the softest fur. A $2 can lasts several meals! Canned Mackerel can be found with canned tuna.