[JeanKBBMMMAAN]

I thought that maybe we could start a little resource for senior pets of things that have worked well with our own seniors, or links you find that might be helpful for these old babies.

I am going to start with some of my favorite things.

<span style="color: #FF0000"> Pain Management </span>
http://www.vet.cornell.edu/pain/

I think this is great.

The website lists their services, information on Recognizing Pain-check out that list, and Managing Pain. They even do consults for the general public and for vets. For regular people calling or e-mailing it could be as low as $25 for the consult.

<span style="color: #FF0000"> Senior Dog Site-includes Rimadyl cautions</span>
http://www.srdogs.com/

<span style="color: #FF0000"> Adequan </span>
http://www.caberfeidh.com/Adequan.htm
http://www.adequancanine.us/

<span style="color: #FF0000">Handicapped Pets Site-includes a forum </span>
http://www.handicappedpets.com/

<span style="color: #FF0000">Ruffwear Lift and Assist Harness </span>
http://www.handicappedpets.com/acc/body/index.htm

Feel free to add things that you have found helpful-links or tips or whatever! Hope this will be useful for people.

 

[GSD10]

Re: Tips for Seniors

Great post Jean

I was just thinking of creating a litttle folder on my pc just for this stuff.

I am gonna make my links purdy like yours

<span style="color: #FF0000">Boots </span>fit for GSDs and great quality. This site has a lot of fun accesories for the non-small dogs as well.
http://www.vetnpetdirect.com.au/product.php?productid=16283&cat=0&page=1

Neoprene Orthopaedic High Performance Shoes (click here)

<span style="color: #FF0000">Arthritis Pain Relief </span>http://office.5pillars.com/e-nikken/palmmag/

<span style="color: #FF0000">Joint Support</span> otherwise known as the miracle pill. I have never seen anything work as well as this product for Mas. He was crouching as a result of back end issues, within days of being on this medication he was standing straight up and was back to the energy level of days gone by.
http://www.iact1.com/enikken/ShoppingCar...297209681127801

nikken Palm Magnet (click here)

<span style="color: #FF0000">Joint Suppliment</span> this product is a shark cartlidge base, however they use dogfish...no shark poaching!! I had my vet call the company and make sure it was ethical.
https://www.neopaws.com/catalog/sashasblend-p-1910.html?osCsid=ca89d2e06934fae2342c77a7e2bb1a4f

<span style="color: #FF0000">Bed</span> I have this on order and am eagerly awaiting it's arrival. I like the Nikken products and I was able to get my vet to order this for me. Typically the Nikken products have to be ordered through a consultant, however their products can be found on ebay and other sites. Given how well Mas has responded to the Palm Mag I think this will be great for him.

Bed Link (click here)

 

[LisaT]

Re: Tips for Seniors

Originally Posted By: GSD10.....
<span style="color: #FF0000">Arthritis Pain Relief </span>http://office.5pillars.com/e-nikken/palmmag/

Because of GSD10, I bought the palmmag and have been very happy with it.

More info on magnet therapy:
http://www.healthsentinel.com/news.php?i...print_list_item

 

[bluetick]

Re: Tips for Seniors

I bought the lift and assist harness from handicappedpets.com for my old girl. She was diagnosed with degenerative myelopathy, and most likely also has a small tumor on her spine. Her right rear leg is much weaker than the left.

The harness has been a big help! My bedroom is on the second floor, and that is where Zenta wants to spend the night. The harness allows me to safely and securely get her upstairs at night, and back downstairs in the morning. I am very happy with it!

 

[BowWowMeow]

Re: Tips for Seniors

Here is a very comprehensive article from WDJ on Arthritis:
http://www.dogaware.com/wdjarthritis.html

I am a big fan of the herbal tinctures from Animals Apawthecary.

They have a http://www.dogaware.com/wdjarthritis.html ]Senior Blend[/url] that is excellent for supporting senior internal and joint functions.

They have an Alfalfa/Yucca which is excellent for treating arthritis in conjunction with a gluc/chon/MSM supplement.

They have a Dandelion/Milk Thistle blend which is excellent for supporting liver function.

And i have no idea why these links didn't set up nicely like other people's but I have to go walk the dogs now so I will try to fix them later!

 

[debbiebrown]

Re: Tips for Seniors

i will also add that for seniors with spondylosis, hip issues, back issues, etc. they start toeing under, therefore wearing the nails down to a dangerous point from friction and even the tops of their feet. dogs with gate problems cannot have bulky boots to protect their feet, it will just make their gates worse. i have found the most wonderful boots after trying anything and everything in the boot dept. i finally found suede boots that fit like a glove on toby (senior) 12 years. they conform to his feet and he can walk in them. anyway, i think this information is so important for people who are looking for light comfortable footwear (protection) for the seniors and have tried those gommy rubber things, or other footwear that they cannot walk in or they don't stay on.
luckydogequip.com is the place.
debbie

 

[middleofnowhere]

Re: Tips for Seniors

For the dogs that are scraping their toenails to the quick, try "Soft Claws" or "Soft Paws" These have worked well for us. I cut them to size and adhere one to each of the center back toes (two per foot) which tend to wear. These last a few weeks before they need to be replaced. The trouble is that the adhesive dries out before you use it all and it even dries out in the tube.

 

[debbiebrown]

Re: Tips for Seniors

the soft claws would be good for dogs just wearing nails down, but for the dogs that also drag a bit more and tend to scrap the tops of the feet, you really have to have a boot to protect the skin in that area.

debbie

 

[JeanKBBMMMAAN]

Re: Tips for Seniors

Article on "hospice" care for pets:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22097836/

 

[JeanKBBMMMAAN]

Re: Tips for Seniors

This webinar sounds like it will be archived-so I am posting it here.

PAIN MANAGEMENT FOR YOUR PETS, KEY INFORMATION EVERY PET OWNER SHOULD KNOW –LIVE WEBCAST TO PET OWNERS, MARCH 13, 8:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. (EST) VIA MORRIS ANIMAL FOUNDATION

World-Renowned Pain Management Expert Robin Downing, DVM, Will Conduct Webcast For Pet Owners, Covering All Aspects Related to Pets and Pain

DENVER, March 3, 2008: Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) will sponsor a live webcast for pet owners on pain management for their pets on March 13, 2008, from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time). The live webcast will cover all aspects of pain management, including common causes of pain, overlooked hidden causes of pain, anticipating and avoiding pain in your pets, communicating with your veterinarian and how to ask the right questions. Participate in the webcast at: http://www.MorrisAnimalFoundation.org/livechat. In addition, a webcast on pet pain directed to veterinarians takes place from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. EST. Both webcasts will be available indefinitely for global audiences on a non-live basis at the webcast address.

Leading this webcast will be Robin Downing, DVM, a MAF Trustee and one of the world's leading experts on pain in animals. In 2005, Dr. Downing became the third veterinarian in the world to acquire diplomate credential from the American Academy of Pain Management. As of today, fewer than a dozen veterinarians worldwide hold this credential. Dr. Downing is founder and past president of the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management and was co-chair of the task force that authored the "2007 AAHA/AAFP Pain Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats." In 2006 she opened The Downing Center for Animal Pain Management, LLC, the only comprehensive pain management and pain prevention practice for pets in Northern Colorado. Contributing to the discussion will be Patricia Olson, DVM, Ph.D., president and CEO of Morris Animal Foundation. For more information, contact: Michael Burke, [email protected].


About Morris Animal Foundation: Morris Animal Foundation, established in 1948, is dedicated to funding research that protects, treats and cures companion animals and wildlife. MAF has been at the forefront of funding breakthrough research studies benefiting animals in some 100 countries, spanning all seven continents on Earth. MAF has its headquarters in Denver, Colorado. The Foundation has funded nearly 1,400 humane animal health studies with funds totaling more than $51 million. One hundred percent of annual donations go to fund health study programs. For more information, call (800) 243-2345, or visit http://www.MorrisAnimalFoundation.org.

 

[JeanKBBMMMAAN]

Re: Tips for Seniors

Bedding Idea-

I was looking at those mattress type beds for seniors. I also wanted something that had some kind of waterproofing. But I wanted to get two, so price was a big factor.

I ended up getting a baby crib mattress. It's not huge, it has reasonable support-more than a regular dog bed-maybe not as much as the much more expensive dog beds, it's waterproofed, crib sheets fit it (of course), and for about $50 at Walmart it's much cheaper than the dog beds I was looking at. Kramer LOOOOVES his. Nina is getting hers next week.

 

[JeanKBBMMMAAN]

Tips for Seniors, Incl. Pain Mgmt.

From Kelly's thread, from 3K9Mom:

http://tuftsvets.org/anesth_pain_mgmt.php

International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management (Colorado State) http://www.cvmbs.colostate.edu/ivapm/

FIND A PROFESSIONAL (Has links at the bottom)

http://www.cvmbs.colostate.edu/ivapm/professionals/find_prof.htm


http://www.avma.org/onlnews/javma/dec01/s121501g.asp (links at the bottom to further JAVMA articles)

http://www.cvm.ncsu.edu/vth/clinical_services/ipm/ (North Carolina State)

(I found this informative enough that I actually printed it. It discusses such things as TENS units, drugs like Neurontin (Gabapentin) -- which is actually an anti-seizure drug, but it's used with rather considerable success in treating humans with some kinds of pain syndromes; and it talks about surgical pain. In other words, it's something I want to refer now and then to remind myself to make sure my regular vet/surgeon/specialist is thinking both in- and outside the box.)
http://www.aahanet.org/PublicDocuments/PainManagementGuidelines.pdf

For those who can't ever own enough books, this looks interesting: http://www.amazon.com/Handbook-Veterinary-Management-James-Gaynor/dp/0323013287

 

[LJsMom]

Re: Tips for Seniors, Incl. Pain Mgmt.

Originally Posted By: JeanKBBMMMAANBedding Idea-

I was looking at those mattress type beds for seniors. I also wanted something that had some kind of waterproofing. But I wanted to get two, so price was a big factor.

I ended up getting a baby crib mattress. It's not huge, it has reasonable support-more than a regular dog bed-maybe not as much as the much more expensive dog beds, it's waterproofed, crib sheets fit it (of course), and for about $50 at Walmart it's much cheaper than the dog beds I was looking at. Kramer LOOOOVES his. Nina is getting hers next week.

Jean, I was thinking about a crib mattress for Lady Jane but she's a really big girl - 27 inches and 85 pounds. Do you think it would be big enough?

Joanne

 

[JeanKBBMMMAAN]

Re: Tips for Seniors, Incl. Pain Mgmt.

Let me see if I can take a picture with my camera phone of Bella (66#) on it sometime (I don't think my lenses will work in the bedroom). You might have to make it a double! Put two crib mattresses side by side!

 

[JeanKBBMMMAAN]

Re: Tips for Seniors, Incl. Pain Mgmt.

Dealing With Your Pet's Pain:
Severe Acute and Chronic Pain
By Christie Keith

http://www.caberfeidh.com/Pain3.htm



PS-Bella can fit on the mattress but it's not as nice a fit for her. I would guess LJ would be a 2 mattress sized dog?

 

[JeanKBBMMMAAN]

Re: Tips for Seniors, Incl. Pain Mgmt.

GREAT flyer on NSAID safety from the FDA-gives you an idea of what to look for in terms of reactions, questions to ask, etc. to make it safer to give these drugs (plus a listing of NSAIDs):

http://www.fda.gov/cvm/Documents/NSAIDBrochure.pdf

 

[LisaT]

Harness

What do you think of this harness for seniors?

http://www.tugnhug.com/DogMedical.html

Sorry Lisa but I had to add the picture.
Val

 

[Riley's Mom]

Re: Harness

Looks like a pretty cool idea for dogs that need help getting around.

 

[MaggieRoseLee]

Re: Harness

My friend used this one for her senior GSD and was very pleased with it Hartman Harness

 

[weber1b]

Re: Harness

Both of those look amazing.