Sue Kobus wrote 12/13/2007 04:35 PM senior dog diet #168447 - 12/13/2007 04:35 PM
Sue Kobus Webboard User Reg: 01-11-2005 Posts: 154 Loc: Minnesota Offline	I'm a little confused on the feeding of a senior dog. I'm not quite to raw yet, but I do add some raw beef once or twice a week. He will be 14 in March. I've been feeding Canidae All Life Stages and Solid Gold's Barking at the Moon that is grain-free, thinking no grain all the better, but is that too much protein for an older dog in the SG? It's 41%. Is that harder on his kidneys? I've been reading 'Give your dog a bone', and am not quite half-way thru, and am getting close to switching, but not quite comfortable yet. He doesn't need less calories, like most senior dry diets are, if anything he needs more calories. He is underweight to me, there is no insulation from the cold on him at all. He is always hungry, and thirsty, and doesn't sit still. I'm just a little confused as to what I really should be feeding him. Should it be differently than a younger dog? I do add Salmon oil, vit. E and glucosomine.
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Connie Sutherland wrote 12/13/2007 04:46 PM Re: senior dog diet [Re: Sue Kobus ] #168449 - 12/13/2007 04:46 PM
Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005 Posts: 31571 Loc: North-Central coast of California Offline	1. No, the protein-kidney thing has been long debunked. It's critical that the protein is high quality (meat/fish) and not grains. 2. The thirsty thing -- have you had bloodwork lately? For blood sugar levels? Also a thyroid check. It does sound like maybe there is a thyroid or diabetes issue, and both are usually simple to manage once they are diagnosed. How are his teeth? JMO is that switching a senior to raw, especially the easy-to-crunch parts like chicken backs -- is a big quality-of-life favor. JMO. Even THK with RMBs added -- real food! What a nice thing to do for an old guy. :>
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Connie Sutherland wrote 12/13/2007 04:48 PM Re: senior dog diet [Re: Connie Sutherland ] #168452 - 12/13/2007 04:48 PM
Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005 Posts: 31571 Loc: North-Central coast of California Offline	P.S. GOOD FOR YOU, too, on the salmon oil, E, and glucosamine. You are probably helping his system to delay the inevitable breakdowns of body parts that come with age.
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John J. Miller wrote 12/13/2007 04:49 PM Re: senior dog diet [Re: Sue Kobus ] #168455 - 12/13/2007 04:49 PM
John J. Miller Webboard User Reg: 05-09-2007 Posts: 268 Loc: Chicago, IL Offline	I can't answer the protien and kidneys questions as I don't feel I'm qualified. I can answer the underweight and insulation question. You WANT him as lean as possible, with the last rib or two present and to be able to feel all ribs to the touch. Jump up and down and rejoice that you have a 14 year old that can't sit still! I prey that my two are around to see 14, and would celebrate if they were that active at that age. His coat provides proper insulation, no need for weight that will be a burden on 14 year old joints. He will drink less if you switch him to raw, and a healthy dog is a hungry dog. John
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John J. Miller wrote 12/13/2007 04:52 PM Re: senior dog diet [Re: Connie Sutherland ] #168457 - 12/13/2007 04:52 PM
John J. Miller Webboard User Reg: 05-09-2007 Posts: 268 Loc: Chicago, IL Offline	Quote: Connie Sutherland JMO is that switching a senior to raw, especially the easy-to-crunch parts like chicken backs -- is a big quality-of-life favor. JMO. Even THK with RMBs added -- real food! What a nice thing to do for an old guy. :> I can second this in a big way. I switched a dog at 9 years old and it was like he was a different dog. MUCH more energy, the colos in his coat became much more brilliant, and no more doggie smell. John
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Sue Kobus wrote 12/13/2007 05:43 PM Re: senior dog diet [Re: John J. Miller ] #168467 - 12/13/2007 05:43 PM
Sue Kobus Webboard User Reg: 01-11-2005 Posts: 154 Loc: Minnesota Offline	Connie we had full bloodwork done in Sept, I had been thinking both issues also, but no to diabetes and thyroid, slightly elevated kidney values, maybe dehydrated, retesting next month. His teeth....pretty worn down, getting to be little nubbin's. The protein issue had me worried so thanks for clarifying that. John I can feel all his ribs very easily, but he does have a real good coat. Don't get me wrong, I love his energy, he's really something. All the other pooches are sound asleep and he is still trying to kill the jolly ball that keeps popping back to life. What a guy. I will try and gain a little more confidence in switching to raw. I bought the additives from leerburg several months ago, just one more step.... it's just a big scary one.
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Connie Sutherland wrote 12/13/2007 05:49 PM Re: senior dog diet [Re: Sue Kobus ] #168469 - 12/13/2007 05:49 PM
Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005 Posts: 31571 Loc: North-Central coast of California Offline	How about the THK with a few chicken backs thown in? A nice balanced slow step.... :> http://www.leerburg.com/honestkitchen.htm Hydration is not helped with kibble. Kidney issues particularly call for food in its natural water-filled state, IMO. Meanwhile, I would give him baited water if necessary to encourage fluid intake. (No salty broth, though.) There is a thread here from months ago that listed 16 authoritative sites debunking that protein-kidney thing.
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Sue Kobus wrote 12/13/2007 06:01 PM Re: senior dog diet [Re: Connie Sutherland ] #168473 - 12/13/2007 06:01 PM
Sue Kobus Webboard User Reg: 01-11-2005 Posts: 154 Loc: Minnesota Offline	I've used THK, he does love it. It is not easy to find here, and I forgot about getting it Leerburg which would be the easier way to go. Sorry, what do you mean by baited water? Are there foods I shouldn't give him at his age? I do have a food processor that I could pulverize everything in.
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Carol Boche wrote 12/13/2007 06:04 PM Re: senior dog diet [Re: Sue Kobus ] #168475 - 12/13/2007 06:04 PM
Carol Boche Webboard User Reg: 10-30-2005 Posts: 4531 Loc: South Dakota, USA Offline	Quote: Sue Kobus Sorry, what do you mean by baited water? You can add some broth to his water to encourage him to drink. If you use canned broth, make sure you get the low or no salt variety. Until The Tale of the Lioness is told, the Story will Always Glorfy the Hunter
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Cathi Kemp wrote 12/13/2007 06:06 PM Re: senior dog diet [Re: Carol Boche ] #168476 - 12/13/2007 06:06 PM
Cathi Kemp Webboard User Reg: 01-21-2007 Posts: 265 Loc: Los Angeles, CA Offline	My Lab Boomer is now 14 years old. I switched Boomer to raw in January. He crunches down his RMB's twice as fast as my 1 1/2 year old GS and Terrier/Husky mix. Don't let the age fool you. Boomer still has his teeth. I don't know if yours does but I don't see that his age makes any difference. At least not yet. http://s173.photobucket.com/albums/w49/catkemp9/
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