Wasn?t it just yesterday that he was just a kitten, bounding effortlessly from sofa to the top of the china cabinet like Tarzan on a vine? Remember when your ball-throwing arm tired out long before your puppy did? Today, they both move slowly, and you may notice a bit of limp in addition to that graying muzzle. Once immaculately-groomed fur now looks shaggy and a little unkempt. Like humans, cats? and dogs? bodies change as they age. The Golden Years can be a challenging time for pet owners. While Fluffy or Fideaux may have once leapt tall buildings with a single bound, today they may choose to stay earthbound for good reason.
As kitties and pooches age, they begin to experience stiffness?usually in the legs?caused by the onset of arthritis. Arthritis not only destroys joint cartilage, it causes bone spurs and impairs motion. By the time you begin to see symptoms your dog or cat may have already suffered significant cartilage damage and may be experiencing considerable discomfort.
As a result, it?s not uncommon for grooming to fall by the wayside as pets age. They become less flexible, and may not be able to reach their rear areas, especially if they?re a tad portly.
While degenerative inflammation can show up as early as five years, recent studies show 90 percent of cats show signs of arthritis by the time they reach six. Small dogs may start to experience it at six, and giant breeds like Great Danes and Great Pyrenees may start to feel it at four.
This degenerative joint condition causes varying degrees of lameness, stiffness, and joint pain, especially when getting up after a nap. They often exhibit irritability and behavioral changes associated with increasing disability. Pain and stiffness intensify in cold damp surroundings.
Arthritis pain doesn?t just affect older pets. Hip dysplasia and joint injuries can cause degenerative arthritis in young cats and dog. Fat cats and portly pooches are more likely to suffer from it than pets who weigh in at a healthy weight.
Arthritis is especially problematic for older cats since safe anti-inflammatory medications are not available for kitties.
Under no circumstances should you give your cat Tylenol?. It might be a godsend for Granny, but even the smallest dose will kill a cat. Never give your cat or dog any human medicine without consulting with your veterinarian.
Pain can be reduced by avoiding concussive actions like jumping, running, and climbing. Providing ramps and steps can make it easier for cats and small dogs to sleep on favorite beds and chairs.
Fortunately for both senior cats and dogs, there are products that give them a better quality of life, while at the same time easing the strain on the owner. To commemorate Senior Pet Month, I am reviewing some of the best products I?ve found through our affiliate merchants that make life more comfortable for both aging dogs and cats.
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Tobin Farms Red Deer Antler Velvet
Many years ago I was searching for holistic products for senior pets to review. The owner of an herb shop recommended this human-grade brand of red deer antler velvet to help relieve joint pain. I bought it with absolutely no expectations, but was pleasantly surprised when within a week my 11 year-old Jellicle cat, Chani, began trotting around the house like a kitty half her age. I was also surprised when her appetite, which had been waning due to the onset of early kidney disease, suddenly picked up. My editor did some research and learned deer antler velvet has been used to treat geriatric diseases by the Chinese for 2000 years. Today, red deer antler is used for its anti-inflammatory and anti-aging actions. It is a natural source of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, as well as collagen, which lubricates and helps repair joints.
A 1992 study published in Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica by B.X. Wang (et. Al) showed that velvet antler, called Rokujo in ancient Chinese medicine, might help treat inflammatory kidney disease in a manner similar to steroid-based pharmaceuticals.
A study published in the February 2004 issue of the Canadian Veterinary Journal showed that 30 dogs suffering from osteoarthritis receiving deer antler velvet for 30 days experienced improved gait and performance in daily activities, and their vitality was significantly improved.
I can only tell you that my old kitties move visibly more freely after I started giving them this velvet antler supplement. I usually mix it in a small dab of turkey baby food. The kitties love way it tastes. My dog Abby also ate it without a problem. On a personal note: when Chani died at 19?, I started taking the remaining capsules. I personally experienced significant relief from arthritic twinges I felt in my fingers. Although Chani has been gone almost eight years, I still buy it for myself and my senior pets.
I have tried other (cheaper) brands and they lacked the same observable positive results.
This supplement isn?t cheap, but I think it?s worth it. A bottle containing 200 capsules costs $90.40 from Amazon.com. A capsule can be divided into five doses for cats and small dogs for early-stage arthritis. Click on your favorite animal charity?s shopping page before going to Amazon.com to buy Tobin Farms Red Deer Antler Velvet. Just Shop to Donate!
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GREENIES? PILL POCKETS? Canine Treats,?Felines GREENIES? PILL POCKETS? Treats (natural salmon or chicken flavor) &?GREENIES? PILL POCKETS? Allergy Formula Treats
If pilling time brings out the beast in your cat or dog, try Greenies Pill Pockets Treats. These all-natural species-specific treats mask the smell and taste of your pets? medicine. These pliable treats have the consistency of Play Dough?, and feature a center hole in which to hide the pill
Not only has Greenies formulated the treats to appeal specifically to your dog or cat, they have scaled up the big dog Pill Pocket to accommodate larger doses. The manufacturer says that the small pockets will contain liquids for doses under .25 cc. but I never had any luck with them.
GREENIES? PILL POCKETS? Canine Treats come in smoke flavor, chicken or peanut butter. GREENIES? PILL POCKETS? Allergy Formula Treats (for dogs) are made with duck, a novel protein, and peas, neither of which normally causes digestive issues. The dog treats come in two sizes: a large treat that fits most capsules and a smaller size that fits most tablets. Feline Pill Pockets come in chicken and salmon flavors.
Naturally the success of these treats is solely dependent on your pet?s taste. Seven out of 10 liked the chicken. Half of the test cats gave the salmon flavored pilling treat a paws up. For the cats who liked the treats, Pill Pockets took the fight out of pilling. The hidden pill was devoured like any other treat.
As for the dog treats, super picky Abby ate the canine chicken and duck treats, but turned her nose up at the smoke and peanut butter. My neighbor?s dogs swallowed them without even tasting them. One black Lab almost took my fingers off.
I found inserting capsules into the pocket made it a little large for my kitties. I had more success opening capsules and dividing the dose into two treats. Getting it into the pocket without getting any residue on the outside is important and challenging. If the cat smells the medicine, he will refuse it. When dividing the contents of a capsule, the manufacturer recommended using a small piece of wax paper rolled up like a funnel to deliver the powder deep inside the pocket. Test the treat on your cat with an empty treat so you don?t waste medication.
A 1.6-ounce bag of feline Pill Pockets contains 45 pockets Pill Pockets. Expect to pay between $5.95 and $6.95. A 3.2-ounce bag of dog Pill Pockets hold 30 treats. The 7.9-ounce bag of dog treats for capsules has 30 pockets and sells for $7.74 to $8.99. The 6.6-ounce (25 treats) of canine allergy formula for capsules goes for around $9.49. Go to your favorite animal charity?s shopping page before purchasing it from AdoptAShelter.com?s merchants including: including:1800petmeds.com, Amazon.com, Cherrybrook.com, Entirelypets.com, Healthypets.com, Onlynaturalpet.com, Pet-source.com, Pet-dog.com, Pet360.com, Petbest.com, Petcarerx.com, Petco.com, Petswarehouse.com, Petsmart.com, Thatpetplace.com, Totalpetsupply.com, Tractorsupply.com, Wag.com or Walmart.com. Just Shop to Donate!
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CurvyStairz Scalloped Foam Pet Steps by PetStairz
This one-piece six-step curvy scalloped pet stairway acts as both a ramp and stairs. Measuring 30-inches by 16-inches by 22 inches, these tall steps provide access to tall captain?s pedestal beds and higher furniture for short-legged/long bodied dogs (like Dachshunds and Corgis), toys dogs, senior cats, puppies and kittens, as well as pets with joint or arthritis issues. Aging kitties will appreciate easier access to their favorite higher window ledge or perch.
All Petstairz are made in the U.S. of lightweight (under five pounds), high-density foam. The dense foam doesn?t give under your pets? weight. Keep in mind, the CurvyStairz are labeled for pets up to 50 pounds. If you have a larger dog or multi-pet household, check out the wider Petstairz Big Dog Stairz.
Because it is so light you can effortlessly move them from room to room. A textured rubber pebble skid-strip adheres to the bottom to prevent skidding on a smooth floor. This rubber grip makes the Stairz very stable even on like wood or tile floors. For safety sake, place the Stairz against a wall or furniture to prevent tipping.
A high-quality thick beige faux-lambskin cover provides traction and gripping for your dog or cat. The cover can be machine washed in cold water on gentle cycle. Air dry or drop it in the dryer on low heat.
While the cover holds up well to machine washing, putting it back on the foam can be a challenge. You can order replacement covers. PetStairz proved to be very stable with my pets and didn?t slide on either carpet or wood floors.
PetStairz come in six sizes with suggested retail prices ranging from $99 to $169. You can buy the CurvyStairz Scalloped Foam Pet Steps from Amazon.com for $159 with no shipping fees to the lower 48 states. Other sizes of PetStairz can also be purchased from Amazon.com. Click on your favorite AdoptAShelter.com charity?s shopping page before picking Amazon.com as your merchant. Just Shop to Donate!
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Safari Flexible Cat Slicker Brush &?Safari Flexible Dog Slicker Brush
Pets over five years old often suffer from arthritis discomfort before painful symptoms become obvious. When loss of flexibility makes self-grooming more difficult for both dogs and cats, the owner must step in to help. From the dog or cat?s perspective, that may be worse than doing it himself. When painful joints turn the simple act of brushing into an exercise in agony, consider using this flexible grooming tool. It?s perfect for any pet, but especially for the sensitive, painful senior pet.
All models have a flexible non-slip polypropylene brush head with a combination of ?-inch and 1-inch stainless steel pins attached to a six-inch long ergonomic handle. The front and back of the handle are imbedded with inserts to provide improved grip.
The brush head flexes as it moves to conform to the contours of your dog or cat body curves. The longer one-inch teeth penetrate the coat to remove loose undercoat. I tested these flexible brushes on my own arm and elbow, comparing the comfort level to other fixed-head slickers. Safari Flexible Cat Slicker Brush felt much gentler and pressed much less pressure on my joints.
I then tested the brushes on most of my cats and some of the neighborhood pooches. The Test Cats included my senior cats: 16-year-old Nixie, 15-year-old Riou, 11-year-old Cosmo, and nine-year-old Groucho. With the exception of Riou, who was suffering from an illness, every cat loved it. During the testing Groucho and Cosmo actually pushed other kitties out of the way so they could enjoy the brush. Five-year-old terrier/Chinese Crested mix Abby also seemed to enjoy it. The three mature neighborhood Labrador Retrievers also liked it and didn?t have problems with their joint areas being groomed.
The dog and cat flexible slickers have the same features, but the big dog is simply larger. It removed a great deal of dead undercoat. Not only was the grooming process enjoyable for most of the dogs and cats, the ergonomic handle made it comfortable for me, as well.
The small dog and cat Safari Flexible Slicker Brushes sell for $9.82 at Amazon.com while the large dog brush sells for $10.84. Just click on your favorite animal rescue?s shopping page before ordering it from Amazon.com. Just Shop to Donate!
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