Treasured Golden Oldies We have come to know so many special Golden Oldies or
Mellow Yellows, as they are
sometimes called. The story of
Golden Oldie Bullet,
the special 15-year-old pictured here who alerted Mom to his new baby
brother's distress, was broadcast all over the country. Old dogs used to be a rarity. But, not now! That's due to
our increased awareness, better veterinary care, and improved diets. With
nearly 40% of our canine buddies considered geriatric, is it any wonder that
veterinarians and researchers are now focusing on geriatric nutrition,
dental care, and cancer?
Tufts University defines the senior dog this way:
"The point at which a dog qualifies as 'aged' varies. Veterinarians generally
consider small dogs to be senior citizens at about 12 years of age, while large dogs reach
the senior stage at 6 to 8 years of age. This roughly corresponds to the 55-plus category
in people."
Below, is a true Golden miracle that went by the name of Chance. Formally,
Synergold Beau Geste Quand'ry JH, CD, WCX, CGC, of Jan Bramhall's
Beau Geste
Golden Retrievers, Chance enjoyed 19 wonderful years. The photo below, with his
pal Rhyme, was taken on his last morning of November 5, 2005.
Synergold Beau Geste Quand'ry JH, CD, WCX, CGC "Chance"
October 8, 1986 to November 5, 2005
Did you know that . . . . your
Golden does his/her fastest maturing in his first two years, already
equal to a 15-year-old teenager after only one year. And, believe it or not, he or she is
equal to an adult's age after only being with us two years. After that, however, only 4
years in maturity is gained with each passing year.
Age of Dog
Human Years
Age of Dog
Human Years
5 months
=
10 years
12 years
=
64 years
8 months
=
13 years
13 years
=
68 years
10 months
=
14 years
14 years
=
72 years
1 year
=
15 years
15 years
=
76 years
2 years
=
24 years
16 years
=
80 years
3 years
=
28 years
17 years
=
84 years
4 years
=
32 years
18 years
=
88 years
5 years
=
36 years
19 years
=
91 years
6 years
=
40 years
20 years
=
94 years
7 years
=
44 years
21 years
=
94 years
8 years
=
48 years
22 years
=
97 years
9 years
=
52 years
23 years
=
100 years
10 years
=
56 years
24 years
=
106 years
11 years
=
60 years
Did you know that at . . . . 7
YEARS: Seven marks the beginning of the
geriatric period for medium sized dogs like Goldens—even
though your dog may still look, act, and feel great.
It is now time for your Golden's first geriatric profile. Start looking for changes in your Golden
as they tend to hide their illnesses from you until the problem is so
advanced that they can't hide it anymore. So, take your aging buddy to the veterinarian
every year. 8-10 YEARS: Now, in the early years of the geriatric
period, body coordination can become a common problem. There is also a risk for obesity because their energy requirements drop. So,
check for signs and use different
methods to decrease food intake. Make
sure your veterinarian gets a geriatric profile on your Golden. Have the following tested:
kidney function, liver function, blood sugar, hematocrit (ratio of red cells to whole
blood), and total protein. 10-11 YEARS: Older geriatric Goldens now begin to
show many of the diseases of aging, in no particular order. Much of this, though, depends
on the Golden's individual makeup and environment. Watch for signs for declining dental
health. This, of course, is preventable by
providing good dental care from day one. Also, watch for digestion problems, kidney and liver problems, heart
disease, diabetes, and cancer. Nutritional needs change for older dogs, research
showing the need for more protein to maintain lean body mass. 12+ YEARS: Now,
older Goldens often have more problems keeping weight on,
than they do with keeping it off. Losing weight, though,
could be a sign of many physical problems. Or it could be
due to a simple lack of interest in food that is too hard to
chew or no longer appealing because of a declining sense of
taste.
Bailey, with her pink cast laden broken foot,
loved rides
while recovering.
Ease your Golden into old age— the older your good buddy
becomes, the more s/he depends on their schedule. If there is a vision or hearing loss, don't
rearrange your furniture. Don't change your guy's eating or sleeping habits, and try not
to alter his or her daily routine. Any such disruption can be stressful. Also, groom your
buddy and periodically examine him or her for abnormal lumps. Your Goldens
also need to be touched and cuddled to reassure them that the dog-human bond is still
intact. Touch is extremely important in the lives of older canines, especially those who
can't hear or see as well.
Finally, let your guy know you're still there. Thank him or her
for a lifetime of love, loyalty, and companionship. Your Golden has devoted its very life
to loving you. The least you can do is keep him or her healthy, fit, and confident in your
affection.
Vital Choice Wild Alaskan Pure Sockeye Salmon Oil
Our Golden Alfie has gotten 6000 units daily since 2007, before that
getting 3000-4000 units a day. Boy, what a difference it
has made. His coat is incredible, and at his now senior age of 9 (2008),
the extra softgels keep down joint inflammation associated with
increasing age and arthritis. It is a must-have
supplement!
Derived exclusively from wild sockeye salmon
caught in the cold, pristine waters off Alaska, this 100% PURE oil is not
blended with any inferior salmon or other fish oils. Here's why this is unique:
To achieve high ratios of EPA to DHA, commercially available salmon oil capsules
are fortified with other fish oils. One benefit of Vital Choice Wild Alaskan Sockeye
Salmon Oil is that it has the lowest cholesterol levels, in contrast to the
higher levels found in farmed salmon oil.
The freshest and purest oils available, Sockeye contains the highest amount
of omega-3 fatty acids of any salmon.
It's orange color is due to the high levels of the carotenoid and astaxanthin
(occurring naturally in sockeye) that helps the eyes and cardiovascular system.
Alaskan sockeye salmon are the richest salmon species in the powerful biological
antioxidant astaxanthin, a natural caroteniod that imparts a rich orange glow to
the oil and eliminates the need for added tocopherols present in other brands.
Astaxanthin is a natural carotenoid that gives our oil its rich orange color—and
is up to 100 times more potent than Vitamin E at quenching singlet oxygen ‘free
radicals’.
There are NO artificial preservatives, color or sweeteners; corn, dairy,
starch, wheat, or yeast.
Dancing Paws
Pills 2 Go Pillcase for Pet Meds
This
new pillcase helps
you organize your pet medications when you're on the road, and is
great at home as well. Remembering to give your dogs their supplements and medications each day
is vital to their health. That's why this cleverly designed sturdy
plastic pill carrier is such a great idea! We have never seen
something this adorable as well as functional. And, the wonderfully large
size makes the case great to use for people's daily medications as
well. The entire unit is 9" L x 1.25" H x 1.75" D.
Convenient travel size
Easy to open and stays shut
Holds larger size pet tablets
Detachable Compartments
Key chain tab on each compartment
Durable
Daily pill organizer
There's a tray for every day of the week —
each with a paw print to remind you how important remembering
medications is. There's plenty of room for medications and
supplements. Plus, each compartment is detachable and has its own
key chain tab. If you are leaving for 1 or 2 days, you can detach
them and carry only the days you need! You do not have to carry the
whole 7 day chain. Pills 2 Go is great for around the house too! It
comes in either yellow or orange, but we like the yellow better. It
is actually more translucent, thus enabling you to see the contents
better.
Organic Wild Blueberries
A supreme snack for both you and
your dog.
USDA rated as the #1 fruit in antioxidant
activity.
Free-Range Bullys & More
South American free-range
grass fed
cattle, no antibiotics,
hormones, chemicals, smoke, or radiation.
A Memory Foam Beds
Brew for you & your dog. Also,
Washi Storage Tins,
bamboo
scoop. FREE organic teas bonus!
Colorado Elk Antler Chews
Free-ranging, ranch
raised elk shed
these naturally. Completely unprocessed, one can last months.
Meet some Special Golden Oldies
Belle made it past her 17th birthday. Quite a story for a dog
that was abandoned at nearly 9. Around age 9 Belle was hit by a school
bus, losing her left front leg. Her owners abandoned her;
whereby Kris rescued her and taught her how to walk on three
legs. In this video she is recovering from pneumonia and cannot
walk. A vet contributed the wagon and a painter contributed the
exquisite artwork.
At nearly 17 years old, Belle was "eating
hamburgers, hot dogs, cornbread with fresh blueberries,
spaghetti, and grilled ham and cheese sandwiches".
These pictures were taken in 2001 at an AKC dog agility trial in
Cato NY. Belle was certified by TDI and Delta and labeled as an
"awesome Team". She gave much hope to hospitalized children who
had lost limbs. They witnessed Belle hopping carefree through
the halls and rooms and realized they were not alone.
sometimes called. The story of
7
YEARS: Seven marks the beginning of the
geriatric period for medium sized dogs like Goldens—even
though your dog may still look, act, and feel great.
It is now time for your Golden's first geriatric profile. Start looking for changes in your Golden
as they tend to hide their illnesses from you until the problem is so
advanced that they can't hide it anymore. So, take your aging buddy to the veterinarian
every year.
This
new pillcase helps
you organize your pet medications when you're on the road, and is
great at home as well. Remembering to give your dogs their supplements and medications each day
is vital to their health. That's why this cleverly designed sturdy
plastic pill carrier is such a great idea! We have never seen
something this adorable as well as functional. And, the wonderfully large
size makes the case great to use for people's daily medications as
well. The entire unit is 9" L x 1.25" H x 1.75" D.
