He’s doing well for his
age!
I walked by a shop the other day and overheard a lovely snippet of
Oxfordshire
village chat. The old Labrador was shuffling patiently at the end of
his
lead. “.... he’s 11 years old, you know. He’s a bit rickety on his legs
but
he can walk to the shop. He’s very good for his age!”
What on earth does that mean? Since when did old age become a disease?
How
often do we accept that our dogs fall apart gradually, as they become
older?
They seem to die in instalments, saving just a little of that poor old
body
until the last great inevitable day. Why do we accept that?
Old age is NOT a disease in my book. Yes, things change and yes, they
may
deteriorate a little. The ‘spark’ should burn just as brightly, though
and
the body should be able to stay in one piece, to convey the spirit,
with
appropriate dignity, into its next existence. We should be able to
‘keep
body and soul together’, until such time as they have to separate.
That is the nature of my job. It is the duty of all of us who care for
animals.
It is not just a matter for clever geriatric prescribing; it is a
whole-life
endeavour. It starts at a puppy’s birth and its success depends upon
management
throughout life.
We should feed our dogs a natural diet, not the modern processed foods,
which
have cleverly seduced us away from common sense with their
oh-so-attractive
convenience. This was the subject of an earlier article in the series.
Diet (nutrition) is very important. They should be brought up on raw
meaty
bones, especially shoulders, knuckles etc. (which are composed of
spongy
bone), rather than marrow bones (which are rich and very hard). In this
way,
their teeth and gums are kept healthy and they take in a perfect
‘mineral
supplement’ for healthy and strong skeletal development, in a wholly
natural
way.
We should keep our pets trim and physically fit. The body thrives on
challenge,
of the right nature and in the correct moderation; “if you don’t use it
you
lose it!” We should not be zealously walking our young pups. They
should
be given freedom to romp, but not forced formal walks until at least
six
months old. There are arguments for waiting longer, especially in the
larger
breeds.
We should consider, very heavily, whether to delay vaccination until a
less
sensitive stage of life, or even whether to use the homeopathic
(homeoprophylactic
– using nosodes) method instead.
Having painted this nice picture of healthy youth, leading to a sound
basis
for a healthy old age, I hear: “What if my old dog is an arthritic
cripple
already, though? It’s all very well talking about what I should have
done,
but what should I do now? Is it too late to do anything to help, now
he’s
in his dotage?”
It is never too late to try to help. Age can be a factor but only
because
the more time a dog can give us, the better chance we have of regaining
some
of the old vitality. Firstly, change the diet to a natural and
unprocessed
one, avoiding carrots unless they’re organic. Avoid even the
manufactured
foods, which pretend to a natural ethic, unless they’re organic. Two or
three
well-known brands leap to mind, which sell on a ‘natural ticket’ but
are
sadly far from it. Fresh food beats tinned or bagged, any day. In this
way,
we are feeding the new skeleton, as it is formed. Even your very old
dog
is recycling and renewing his skeleton!
Homeopathic and/or herbal medicine have much to offer, by way of
stimulating
healthier bone and joint remodelling and relieving symptoms.
Acupuncture may help, as a result of its short-term pain control
capability
and its longer-term healing stimulus. It should be supported with a
good
diet and skilled chiropractic support, in order to ensure that the
spine
and pelvis are in correct alignment. If all else fails, conventional
pain-killers
can make life more comfortable, despite the side-effect risks.
N.B. Herbs, homeopathy, acupuncture or drug medicine must, by law, be
provided
by a veterinary surgeon. The Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 is the
relevant
legislation. It is recommended that you should visit a vet with skill
in
natural medicines, rather than buying off-the-shelf products, which are
marketed
with enthusiasm and which have not been tailored especially for your
dog.
Further Reading:
Feed Your Dog The Natural Way, by Christopher Day - Chinham Publications
Homoeopathic First-Aid For Pets, by Christopher Day – Chinham
Publications
Homoeopathic Treatment of Small Animals – Principles & Practice, by
Christopher
Day – C W Daniel
The above information is simply informational. It's intent is
not
to replace the advice of a veterinarian nor to assist you in making a
diagnosis
of your pet. Please consult with your own veterinarian for confirmation
of
any diagnosis. Your pets life may depend on it.
