Featured Dog Friday

When people consider bringing a dog in to their lives, they tend to think of a puppy — but why not consider a senior dog? Senior dogs can make wonderful companions. Would you be willing to appreciate the beauty of an older dog waiting for a second chance at love?

All dogs love unconditionally, but senior dogs love more deeply. Senior dogs are special! They’ve been around the block a few times, and they’ve seen the best and worst of humanity. They know when they’ve found a good thing, and they’ll spend their remaining years thanking you. If only people understood the undeniable charm of older and wiser dogs, there wouldn’t be so many up for adoption. Look deeply into the stoic, wise eyes of a senior dog and you’ll find the answers to all your questions.

Meet Beautiful Yolanda! She is currently in a foster home through Brindle Posse Rescue located in Rochester, NY. She is estimated to be around 11 years old and has sadly spent 15 months with no interest, another forgotten foster.

Although Yolanda is loved and cared for in her foster home, finding a family and a home to call her own is what she dreams about. I know that many people may be reluctant to adopt a senior dog because you fear that the time with your new best friend will be short, but know that the privilege of loving your senior dog makes every day more special!

I know there has to be someone out there with a big heart and a soft bed; all this beautiful girl needs to be happy is some love, and she will return that unconditionally.

The ideal home for Yolanda would be for her to be queen of the castle, but with her by your side you’ll need no other. Yolanda also has not perfected the art of sharing, and guards her food and toys. Her foster mom has found her lack of sharing very easy to manage in an adult home.

While Yolanda does like to snooze a lot of her day she does have some needs that would make a rural home without any human children or pets just perfect for her.

The rescue has tested her and determined that she is not dog aggressive, just under-socialized and reactive on leash. They are recommending she remain an only child (both human and fur). I know that needing to be the one and only can make it more difficult to find a home, but I also know and have faith that there is a home out there that meets this criteria.

She loves food, knows her basic commands and a ton of tricks. She is highly motivated to learn just about anything. As much as she loves food and tricks, she loves sleeping even more. Yolanda can sleep at least 21 hours a day! She enjoys lots of snuggles, an extra comfy bed, lots of blankets, and a prime nap spot. She is house trained and left alone for about 8 hours a day, and she is perfectly content to sleep after a few minutes of settling down. She does not get on furniture without being granted permission, but she loves to curl up next to you if you ask!

Adopt an older dog and you will see exactly what gratitude really is… They have a special way of showing you how grateful they are for giving them a second chance.

The rescue is open to transporting Yolanda to get her a forever home. The foster is willing to travel with her along the east coast, and to even meet someone halfway.

So here I am once again asking for your help to get this beautiful girls name and face out there into the dog loving community. Finding Yolanda her own loving forever family will not just benefit her, it will also open up the foster home for another dog that is in need.

If you or anyone you know is in the market for a pet, Yolanda can be the one for you. While there can be lists written about the pros and cons of adopting a senior dog, they still have a tremendous amount of love to give. I ask that you tell everyone you know about this beautiful senior, I guarantee Yolanda can prove to you how wonderful senior dogs can be!

I believe that adopting a senior dog who needs a family is the very best thing you can do if you truly love animals. Bringing a senior pet into your home is a true measure of dedication to animals. Be Yolanda’s angel by giving her a forever home. Their gentle and loving nature in their later years is one of the most tender, rewarding and sweet things in life—why deny yourself?

If you have any other questions about Yolanda or you are interested in adopting this beautiful girl please reach out to the e-mail address listed below.

Brindle Posse Rescue

Rochester, NY

jenn.corbit@gmail.com

Be sure to head over to Adoption Central right here on Paws Give Me Purpose and share Yolanda and all the other Featured Dog Friday pups still in search of their forever homes.

https://www.pawsgivemepurpose.com/adoption-central-18/

Early Prevention & Treatment of Joint Issues in Dogs

There are two major categories of joint problems in dogs, developmental and degenerative. Hip dysplasia is a textbook example of a developmental problem, where the joint did not develop correctly. In comparison, degenerative problems cover a number of areas; a textbook example of this is arthritis. The most common cause of arthritis in dogs can be referred to as cruciate ligament problems, meaning the ligament is degenerating over time and causes instability and osteoarthritis (a form of chronic joint inflammation caused by deterioration of joint cartilage).

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis among dogs, leaving older dogs at the highest risk. Signs are often times nonspecific and may include:

  • Activity impairment: reluctance to exercise, decrease in overall activity, stiffness, lameness, inability to jump, changes in gait such as ‘bunny-hopping’.
  • Pain on manipulation: behavioral changes such as aggression or signs of discomfort.

In order to diagnose Osteoarthritis your Veterinarian will take a look in to your pet’s history and perform a complete physical examination. He/She will see if your dog shows discomfort when the affected joints are manipulated, if there is an accumulation of joint fluid, or muscle atrophy. In older canines, bloodwork and urine samples can help provide information on the dog’s geriatric baseline health. X-rays can show bone changes, narrowing of joint spaces, and other physical changes that are known to be associated with arthritis.

Here are a few ways to help your dog’s mobility:

  • Weight Control – Weight loss in obese dogs can improve his mobility and help minimize further joint damage
  • Hydrotherapy – Swimming is an ideal non-weight bearing exercise
  • Physical Therapy – ultrasound therapy, electric stimulation, massage, application of cold and heat to help relieve pain in the joints
  • Acupuncture, laser therapy- help relieve joint pain
  • Diet – research has shown that foods that provide high levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), an omega-3 fatty acid, can help decrease inflammation
  • Natural Supplements – pills and foods that contain glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, have shown to ease arthritis symptoms in dogs

Now returning to developmental issues, the word “dysplasia” can be defined as an abnormal growth or structure. If your dog has canine hip dysplasia, the femur and pelvic bone don’t fit together due to the socket being too shallow. The femur would then slide out of the pelvic socket and may dislocate. This developmental issue alone can lead to arthritis in your dog as well.

Another type of joint disease can be known as elbow dysplasia, caused by growth disturbances in the elbow joint, similar to hip dysplasia. Genes, nutrition, and environment can all contribute to the development of hip/elbow dysplasia, but adding joint supplements early in your dog’s life can decrease the severity if your dog is at risk.

If your dog is suffering from any type of dysplasia, your furry friend may be suffering from severe pain as well as mobility issues. Your pet may struggle to get up, climb stairs, get into a car, or even squat to urinate and defecate. Many dogs lose their good natures because of immobility and pain. The relationship you have with your dog deteriorates because your dog won’t feel like playing, and it becomes an effort to do anything with your dog.

Your Veterinarian can diagnose hip/elbow dysplasia in your dog with a physical exam for increased joint laxity, limited range of motion, creaking, and atrophy of the muscles. Some dogs X-rays will show evidence of disease but they show no symptoms, and other dogs have no radiographic evidence of disease but have symptoms. The diagnosis is often made based on the physical exam and your dog’s symptoms. Some of the symptoms may be:

  • difficulty rising
  • limping or putting no weight on the leg
  • swelling of joints
  • elbows held away from the chest (elbow dysplasia specific)
  • waddling gait
  • back legs kept close together
  • short strides
  • shifting weight from one leg to another when standing
  • falling over when squatting to potty
  • muscle atrophy

To reduce inflammation, your dog needs to be eating grass-fed animals, not factory-farmed and grain-fed animals. If grass-fed animal based foods are not available to you, adding omega-3 fats can balance out your dog’s diet. Also, any food high in antioxidants are the perfect choice for fighting arthritis. Here are some foods that are loaded with high quality antioxidants you can feed your pup:

  • Phytoplankton
  • Astaxanthin
  • Turmeric
  • Wild blueberries, goji berries and cranberries
  • Herbs like oregano, basil, cinnamon, parsley, cumin and ginger are all high in antioxidants

There are numerous conditions affecting the bones and joints in dogs. Make sure to discuss with your Veterinarian whether your dog needs a supplement, if he/she needs to lose weight, and what exercises are best.

Obviously, there are prescription medications that can be given, and surgeries your Veterinarian can perform for these joint issues if necessary, but the medications can cause side effects and the surgery can be an extremely painful experience for you pet. Working to prevent these issues in the first place are the best way to deal with them. Personally, I recommend starting with a healthy diet, supplements, and natural methods of prevention/treatment young, so you can try to help your dog avoid the serious Osteoarthritis and Dysplasias later in their lifetime.

Again, I want to stress that I am not a Veterinarian and before trying anything with your pet please consult your vet! I am just here to share my learned knowledge and personal experiences with you so you know what kind of options are out there.

Sources and Further Reading:

https://www.caninejournal.com/canine-hip-dysplasia/

http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/guide/dog-joint-health-pain-osteoarthritis-and-other-joint-problems