Keeping the older athlete in the field
Preventative medicine, proper nutrition and exercise are key
By Ben J. CharacterEven the most cursory search of the current literature reveals abundant new research that specifically focuses on the needs of the older, or "geriatric," dog, making the increase in life expectancy we enjoy also available for our dogs.
Along with increased longevity for our dogs have come different and challenging problems. In addition to maladies such as cataracts and cancer, many other age-related problems can prevent the older sporting dog from being able to perform at their best. Even so, we as owners want our hunting partners to be active as long as possible.
I commonly hear talk about "retiring" a dog. In the competitive arena, this usually means that the dog will no longer compete in trials, but many "retired" dogs will frequently be allowed, even expected, to continue to hunt in non-competitive situations. Let's talk about what you can do to keep your hunting companions going at their best for as long as possible.
Preventative medicine
Good preventative medicine is something that should not be given up in your dog's later years. In fact, it is probably just as important now as those first puppy shots were initially. Even so, the preventative care schedule looks a little different for the geriatric dog from that of the puppy. In the later years, the focus of preventative care is on maintaining and promoting systems that help the older animal repair damage caused by age.
In addition to building immune function, geriatric preventative care should emphasize maintaining healthy teeth and gums, because, as we will see, in the older dog nutrition will be a very important part in health maintenance. Although it is wise to have your dogs teeth checked annually during the adult years, it is even more important during their older years. The wear and tear from a life of eating and chewing can put a dog's teeth in very bad shape toward the end of their life, and without healthy teeth and gums, no matter how good your dog food is, it won't do it's job if it doesn't make it past the mouth.
Nutrition
Nutrition for the older dog can be a make-it or break-it part of their care.
With the passage of time, enzymatic functions of the gastrointestinal tract can wane necessitating foods that are higher in digestibility. It also takes considerably more energy to burn and process lower digestible foods, which means that your dog will have to eat more, using more energy and decreasing the efficiency of consumption. For the older dog, energy is a premium, and it is advisable to do what ever you can to promote efficient use of this energy.
On top of this, when it hurts to get up (as with osteoarthritis) many dogs will elect not to eat, illustrating why for the older dog ever bite counts.
Continued exercise
| About Ben Character | |
|
Dr. Character is a freelance writer and private veterinary practitioner
concentrating on sporting dog issues. He has practiced large and small animal medicine and surgery since graduating from Auburn University. Recently, he went on to complete post-doctoral studies at Mississippi State University. Dr. Character is a certified PennHIP member and writes for magazines such as Retriever Journal and Pointing Dog Journal. He is an avid outdoorsman who resides in Union, Alabama, south of Tuscaloosa, with his wife and two children. |
Our competitive dogs are canine athletes, and just as with any other athlete, to maintain performance they must stay in practice. Although training will likely need to be modified or lessened to one degree or another as they age, it is a good idea to keep even your older dog in shape through continued training and exercise. This continued exercise would also help relieve pain associated with osteoarthritis.
In 2002, the first "cox-2 specific" NSAID, called Deramaxx, was approved for veterinary use. Older NSAIDs had major drawbacks for chronic, long-term usage due to their side effects such as stomach ulcers and liver damage. Older drugs blocked both the bad effects of prostaglandins (the forerunner of inflammation) as well as the good effects, leading to problems. The new "cox-2 specific" NSAIDs inhibit only the prostaglandins responsible for causing pain and soreness, and can be a big help to the older dog.
Because people also experience age-related joint problems, they have demanded safer and more effective drugs to combat the pain of arthritis. For some of these products, such as the joint protectorates (Cosequin, GlycoFlex, Synovi Care), we have been able to adapt and use them for our dogs as well. This trend should continue as new products are developed and researched.1
So, what does all this mean for you, the sportsman?
It means that now, more than ever before, you have the means to keep your older hunting dog in the field longer. Whether it is a pointer, a retriever, or a setter, you don't have to give in to the problems that accompany old age. A combination of appropriate medical therapy, good nutrition, and keeping active can work together to keep your dog in the hunt.
References
Hall JA, Tooley KA, Gradin JL, Jewell DE, Wander RC. Effects of dietary n-6 and n-3 fatty acids and vitamin E on the immune response of healthy geriatric dogs. American Journal of Veterinary Research. 2003 Jun;64(6):762-72
Gingerich DA, Strobel JD., Use of client-specific outcome measures to assess treatment effects in geriatric, arthritic dogs: controlled clinical evaluation of a nutraceutical Veterinary Therapy. 2003 Spring;4(1):56-66
