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Geriatric Supplementation

Dr. Pat Zook

 

View all articles by Dr. Pat Zook

Geriatric Supplementation

As our pets get older they often need additional help dietarily to maintain their quality of life. There are some supplements which can help with some of the "normal" deteriorations which occur with age.
 
The change to a senior diet is only really necessary if the animal is not active enough to need to have its caloric intake reduced to keep it from gaining excess weight. A restricted protein intake is only needed if the kidneys are not working efficiently to remove waste products, or there are other medical concerns which specifically need to be addressed by dietary changes.
 
The supplementation of the diet with digestive enzymes is often beneficial to older animals as there seems to be a reduction in the amount of digestive enzymes produced by the body with age. Acidophilus added to the diet also helps maintain a good healthy intestinal flora which will help the immune system.
 
Also, giving a good antioxidant supplement may help with some arthritic pains and stiffness. Glucosamines, MSM, vitamin C, alfalfa, vitamin E, and a good trace mineral supplement may all be of benefit. Be sure there is also a good supply of essential fatty acids which help reduce inflammation in joints-flaxseed oil or even safflower oil at about one teaspoon per 20 pounds will help. (Build up to more than one teaspoon, if needed, over a period of time by increasing the dose by a teaspoon every three days, to reduce the possibility of diarrhea from suddenly adding an unaccustomed amount of oil.) Usually no more than four teaspoons daily is needed for even a large dog.
 
Additional vitamin B-complex can also help keep the appetite and nervous system in better condition and also helps animals whose kidneys are not functioning well, as they will be flushing much more of the water soluble vitamins out of their systems with the greater volume of fluids passing through the kidneys.
 
Ginko biloba may be indicated in some cases to help maintain the health of the nervous system, but it may take several months for it to show its effects.
 
The use of co-enzyme Q 10 as a supplement for maintaining the heart function as well as the health of teeth and gums may also be a good idea. Don't forget that for dogs nature's toothbrush is raw beef bones. Do not give cooked bones and do not feed raw pork. If you want, you can wash the bones with soap and water and rinse them well before giving them. Some dogs with delicate stomachs may throw up the bones after they chew them, but they will not be a problem passing through the intestinal tract. (The cooked bones are the danger.) Also, when the bones are small enough that they might be swallowed whole, pick them up and give a new one. I've seen many dogs clean their teeth amazingly well by chewing bones when they would have had to have a dental cleaning otherwise, and were a poor anesthetic risk for the procedure.
 
For older kitties who have gotten sedentary and portly, and are therefore having some constipation, a very simple remedy which many cats like is to give them one to two tablespoons of plain, canned pumpkin daily (yes, the same kind from which you make pumpkin pie, but without the spices).
 
Providing the animals do not have specific allergies to given foods and no medical conditions which prohibit it; supplementing with fresh foods-cooked vegetables, bananas, some raw meats (be choosy about your sources and don't use store hamburger), can help ensure they get the benefit of non-processed foods. Do not give more than ten percent of the ration that way so that you do not produce an imbalance-or be sure what you give is balanced. Of course, if you want to go to the effort of fixing fresh foods, these are really optimal, but be sure you use a formula which is balanced nutritionally; read, study, and learn before you try this. You need to appreciate how many factors need to be balanced in a ration before just feeding homemade foods-and even among the experts there is controversy.
 
Remember that feeding for the geriatric animal should begin before they are geriatric. The money invested in a better plan of nutrition when the animals are young will make for a healthier older pet. Unfortunately, we have not reached the level of nutritional expertise which can prevent all the problems which come with age: weakness and loss of control will eventually develop, but good food can help stave some of it off longer.
 
After seven years of age, a blood profile, CBC, complete history and good physical work up are important in determining the needs of your pet to help maintain a long, high quality life. Radiographs may be useful in some cases.
 
Call your veterinarian for an appointment.
 
Dr. Pat Zook practices at Loving Touch Animal Center in Stone Mountain, Georgia, USA. She uses conventional western medicine, acupuncture, herbs, N.A.E.T., good nutrition, etc. to treat and promote optimal health for her patients. 

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