Senior Dog Month

As a loving and responsible pet parent, it’s important that you become aware of the best ways to care for your senior dog. Being informed will help you ensure their utmost health and comfort.

When a dog enters their golden years is dependent upon their size and breed. Below is a guide to determine the age that your dog is considered a senior:

• Small breeds: 10-12 years old
• Medium size breeds: 8-9 years old
• Large and giant breeds: 5-7 years old

Senior dogs need our attention even more with age and they have different care requirements than a younger dog. Here are 7 tips that will help your senior pet have a healthy and happy quality of life:

Stay Active & Let the Fun Continue

Your senior pup won’t have the same energy of their younger pup self, but they still need to be active. Continue to do a lot of fun activities with your senior pup like playing a short game of fetch, going out for shorter walks, or having them do light swim in your pool. You can also treat your pooch with safe and fun toys that are designed for senior dogs. Remember to not push them too hard and expect them to move a bit slower. Consistent exercise will help your senior dog maintain their strength and keep extra pounds off their joints and internal organs.

Before and after their daily activities, you should protect their paws with our Certified USDA Organic Paw Rescue. Just gently massage this balm into your senior dog’s calloused, rough or hardened pads and paws to soften, heal and protect. The all-natural ingredients have healing, soothing and moisturizing properties that help to restore paw pads damaged by snow, ice, heat or rough terrain. Make this pamper session a part of your dog’s regular grooming routine.

Be Extra Gentle During Bath Time

Grooming sessions are a good way to notice any changes in your senior dog, such as skin irritations, growths, lumps, or thinning hair. Plus, it’s another way to bond with and pamper your precious senior pup. During bath time, wash your dog slowly and be extra gentle to avoid aggravating painful joints from arthritis, which is a common condition dogs can get as they age. Use a shampoo that is designed to relieve dry skin and a conditioner to soften up their fur. Our line of USDA Certified Organic shampoos and conditioners are all-natural and free from any harsh chemicals that can cause skin irritations. We have an extremely gentle and natural Fragrance Free Hypoallergenic Organic Shampoo & Conditioner that are specifically formulated for sensitive skin and perfect for senior dogs.

Our Waterless Foaming Organic Dog Shampoo can also make bath time easy and gentle for your senior dog, while keeping them clean. This shampoo is ideal for in-between baths or when the weather is not cooperating. It’s a stress & mess free way to freshen up your dog’s skin and coat until their next full water bath.

Keep Up with Dental Care & Oral Health

Regular dental care is critical for dogs at every stage of life and it’s especially important for senior dogs. Without proper care of dogs’ teeth and gums, they can experience symptoms of dental disease like bad breath, painful infections, tooth loss, or even life-threatening conditions to vital organs like their heart and kidneys.

To prevent the pain of dental disease and an expensive run to your veterinarian, add regular at-home brushing in addition to yearly professional cleanings by your veterinarian. Our Organic Dental Solutions Senior Dog Kit was designed to address the specific dental needs of senior dogs. We collaborated with RADIUS USA, a leading designer and manufacturer of eco-friendly toothbrushes, to craft a soft bristle toothbrush that’s gentle on their teeth and gums. This award-winning kit also includes a Sweet Potato and Cinnamon USDA Certified Organic Dental Gel packed with healthy organic oils and extracts that reduce tooth decay, naturally freshen breath, and aid overall oral health. Your dog will enjoy the sweetness of the gel since it also tastes like a yummy treat!

Another healthy dental solution to include in your at-home dental care routine is our Organic Dental Solutions Plaque Fighting Breath Spray. This aromatic organic clean mint breath spray reduces plaque, removes tartar, and freshens your dog’s breath naturally.

Make Your Home Senior-Dog Friendly

You may need to senior proof your home with adjustments that make life a little easier on your older dog. For example, if you live in a two-story home climbing the stairs can become very difficult for your dog. An adjustment that you can make is to keep food, water, toys, and other pet supplies on the ground floor so that your furry friend can access what they need with ease. Does your senior dog have a favorite sleeping area on a couch he/she can no longer jump onto? You can help them out with our carefully crafted Ergo Foam Stairs that are easier on your pet’s joints than traditional stairs.

They have a gradually angled slope, slightly rounded edges and wider landings.

These features make it significantly easier for pets with mobility issues, old age, or shorter legs to climb up to their favorite resting place while reducing back and leg strain caused by jumping. 

You can also increase the comfort of your dog’s bed or favorite resting spot with our Pure Soft Blanket, which features a Smart Tech™ fabric that warms in the winter and cools in the summer. With the brush of a hand, you’ll easily wipe away pet fur, plus it won’t pill. Turn their ordinary dog bed into a luxury dog bed with extra comfort.

 For senior dogs with disabilities (such as vision problems, mobility issues, or hearing loss), please contact your veterinarian about special home adjustments to accommodate your pet’s needs.

Prevent Painful Hot Spots

 Hot spots are already extremely painful for dogs. It’s even more uncomfortable and painful for senior dogs experiencing Hot Spots, so the sooner you detect and care for your dog’s irritating skin condition, the better. Two ways that will help prevent hot spots from forming are:  1) good grooming habits to reduce skin irritation & inflammation (like we mentioned above) and 2) naturally treating wounds. You should treat any wounds, cuts, abrasions, irritants, or rashes that you come across in a timely manner. Our Organic Healing Aid Multi-Purpose Ointment is a "must have" wellness item for your senior dog. This Organic Healing Balm is fast acting and calming, relieving your dog of pain and leaving them feeling relaxed. It’s perfect to have on hand to treat minor cuts and wounds as well as soothe aches and stiffness. It’s easy to use too: just apply gently and massage to the affected area multiple times daily or as needed.

Treat Hot Spots Naturally

 If your dog unfortunately gets hot spots, you can naturally treat them. Before treating your senior dog’s hot spots, you should identify and remove the underlying triggers if possible. The hair in and around your dog’s hot spot is usually shaved or clipped to allow initial cleaning of the affected area, which then should be treated with a safe and natural canine spray, ointment, or cream that kill bacteria and helps with pain and inflammation.

Our Certified Organic Hot Spot Oil will relieve, soothe and heal raw painful patches. It’s made with Organic Golden Jojoba Oil. This oil provides instant relief for wet eczema & acute pyoderma and is great at calming insect bites. Simply spray on your dog’s skin and leave on for lasting soothing comfort and relief. If you notice the hot spot is growing or signs of infection are present, it’s time to consult your veterinarian.

Provide A Healthy Diet for You Dog’s Needs

Good food and nutrition are vital at every stage of your dog’s life. You will more than likely need to make nutritional adjustments that benefit your senior dog. Have a talk with your veterinarian about the type of healthy diet your dog needs. Your vet can help you tailor a meal plan and provide you with information on the best quality food brands or ingredients.

With these tips, you’ll be able to give your senior dog the extra tender, loving, and care that they need and deserve. Remember to also regularly visit your veterinarian for checkups.

 Enjoy your senior dog’s companionship and make their golden years healthy & happy!