In This Issue

● Holiday Gifts For Healthy, Happy Dogs
● Signs Of Doggy Dementia
● World’s Oldest Dog
● Teaching An Old Dog New Tricks
● Vet Corner: Tips For Senior Dog Care
● Reader Q: How To Know When It’s Your Dog’s “Time”

TIS THE SEASON

20 Holiday Gifts For A Healthier, Happier Dog

According to Rover.com, 87% of dog parents will buy their canine companions holiday gifts this year. If you are among them, why not choose gifts that helps improve their physical and/or emotional health?

At iHeartDogs we carefully curate each and every product to ensure it is safe and beneficial for your pup.

Best of all, every single item purchased from our site provides food, blankets, toys, and more for shelter dogs in need. Now through Giving Tuesday we’re DOUBLING meal donations with your purchases!

These 20 products will give your dog the gift of safety, health, and FUN!

A Tip From +THE HEALTHY HOUND

Boots aren’t the only way to protect your dog’s paws from winter hazards. Before heading outside, rub paw balm into their pads!

HEALTH ALERT

6 Signs Your Senior Dog Is Struggling With Dementia & What You Can Do To Help

50% of dogs aged 14 and older have signs of dementia, but the symptoms often begin as early as age 8 or 9.

The condition, known as Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD) or “doggy dementia,” is similar to Alzheimer’s disease in humans. As with humans, memory, communication, and focus are impaired, and the condition becomes progressively worse over time.

Luckily, veterinary research has led to medications and therapies that can help make life a little easier on dogs struggling with dementia.

Read on for the 6 most common symptoms and how you can help your senior dog deal with dementia.

QUIZ OF THE WEEK

How old was the confirmed world record holder for longest-living dog at the time of its death?

1. 17.5
2. 19
3. 29

Not sure? Read on to find the answer!

IN THE NEWS

This May Be The Oldest Dog To Ever Live – So Why Isn’t The Title Officially Hers?

In April of 2016, Maggie the Kelpie fell asleep in her basket and never woke up. According to her owner Brian McLaren, she was 30 years old.

Maggie lived out her long and happy days on a dairy farm in Perth, Australia. She enjoyed roaming the spacious grounds and tormenting the farm cats.

Despite McLaren’s assertion that she was more than twice the average canine life expectancy at the time of her death, Maggie was not able to take the official title of longest-lived dog.

Find out which dog still holds the title, and why Maggie could not dethrone him.

A Tip From +THE HEALTHY HOUND

Keeping your dog on a leash or in a fenced yard is even more important in winter. Snow can mask scent trails, making it harder for lost pups to find their way home.

BEHAVIOR & TRAINING

Yes! You CAN Teach An Old Dog New Tricks!

As Adopt A Senior Pet Month winds to a close, you may be wondering if welcoming an older pooch is the right choice for your family.

There are many misconceptions about senior dogs. Perhaps the most common is that they come with long-held behavioral problems and cannot be trained.

According to professional dog trainer, Kristina Lotz, this is a myth – and a harmful one at that.

“The fact is, you CAN teach an old dog new tricks, and it’s not that much different from teaching a younger dog,” Lotz writes. “In fact, older dogs have some advantages – attention span being one – that might make them easier to train in some ways.”

Check out Kristina Lotz’s Top 10 Senior Dog Training Tips here!

VET CORNER

A Vet’s Best Tips For Caring For Your Older Dog

by Lorie Huston, DVM

Breed, size, genetics, nutrition, and environment all play a role in how fast our dogs age; but one thing is for sure: once they reach their senior years, they require specialized care.

Conditions like arthritis, dental disease, and obesity are common in older dogs, and can greatly reduce their quality of life.

Veterinarian, Lorie Huston has several insider tips to help keep your dog happier and healthier in their sunset years!

READER QUESTION

How Will I Know When My Dog Is Ready To Cross The Rainbow Bridge?

We received several questions and topic suggestions from you last week, but this one stood out:

“My dog is 15 years old. Mentally, he’s 110% there, but he has bad arthritis which is mildly helped with medication and laser treatment, limited sight and hearing, and I’m wondering if I’m entering the range of cruelty keeping him with us. How do I know???? Please help!”

The question of when a dog has reached its “time” is always difficult because it varies for each owner and each pet.

Dr. Alice Villalobos, a veterinary oncologist, created the “HHHHHMM” Quality of Life Scale to help pet parents determine when their dog’s suffering outweighs their happiness.

The five H’s and two M’s are: Hurt, Hunger, Hydration, Happiness, Hygiene (the ability to keep the pet clean), Mobility, and More (as in, more good days than bad).

Grade each category on a scale of 1-10 (with 1 being poorest quality of life and 10 being best). If your dog scores below a 5 in the majority of categories, it may be time to discuss an end-of-life plan with your vet.

In fact, it is never too early to discuss this topic with your vet. Having your wishes and preferences on file can make the process less painful when the time comes.

Click the link below for more valuable tips on assessing your dog’s quality of life.

Do you have a question or topic you’d like The Healthy Hound to address in an upcoming newsletter? Click here to let us know!

Quiz Answer:

3. 29. The official world record for the oldest living dog belongs to Bluey, an Australian Cattle Dog that lived to the ripe old age of 29 years and 5 months, back in 1939.

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