Is your senior dog ready for hunting season?

Sunday August 04, 2013 02:04pm

So, my boyfriend Max, was sitting on the couch with Gussi, my eight year old dog, (now 10) feeding her potato chips and going through the Cabelas' catalog.  He looked up at me to tell me how many days there were until the 2011 waterfowl hunting season started.  Max continued to talk about the new gear he was going to buy and getting his gun ready.  I told him that he was forgetting one very important hunting "tool" that he needed to get ready...Gussi.

Gussi, like the rest of your dogs LOVES to go out hunting (still does at 10) and pretty much do anything for that matter.  She still runs just as hard as she did when she was two (at least in the beginning).  Unfortunately, by the end of the day she really feels it.  I am sure a lot of you have GREAT hunting dogs that are getting older and you want to hunt with them as many more waterfowl seasons as possible!  So here are my suggestions for getting your older dog ready for this years hunting season and hopefully many many more.

1)  Make sure your older dog is getting EXERCISE!  If your dog is not getting regular exercise you need to start an exercise routine with them NOW!  When I say exercise I am not talking about playing ball in your small back yard!  Take your dog for a long walk at least 3 times a week.  Get them swimming.  Swimming is GREAT low impact exercise for older dogs.  For Gussi's exercise she either trains with me, goes for walks/runs or I have her swim "laps".  Most recently she has been swimming at Wet Dog Wellness...she is addicted to it!  And I love it because she is clean when she come out of the pool.

Also, with the help of Bobbie Lyons from Pawsitive Performance I have been working with Gussi on exercises and stretches.  I have a few "moves" I have Gussi do before she exercises which helps to warm her up before working hard to decrease injures.  Gussi also has exercises she does to stay fit and strengthen her core.  We can do many of the exercises in the living room while watching Duck Dynasty!  I also have learned how to stretch Gussi to help her not get as sore after exercising and training.  I wish i would have started this much earlier in Gussi's life!

 2) Keep track of your dog's weight.  If your dog is overweight make sure to cut back their food and/or switch them to a senior diet. A senior diet will have the calories and nutrients needed for an older dog.  Gussi is at a fine weight, I feed her 1 1/2 cups Eukanuba Senior twice a day.  When hunting season starts and Gussi is working harder to retrieve birds and keep herself warm I will increase her food and/or give her a higher calorie food such as Purina Pro Plan Performance. 

-Up Date-  Gussi is now eating Wellness Senior and doing very well on it.   But, since she gets so many "snacks" (Thanks Max) I mix green beans in with half her dinner meal.  For breakfast she has a normal mea of kibble.  At dinner time I mix have of her meal (1/2 cup kibble) with 1/2 cup Organic frozen green beans from Costco.  The green beans cut the calories of Gussi's food but still feel her up!  My other dogs get them as "treats" they LOVE them!  Silly Labradors!

3)  Take your dog to the Veterinarian for a check up.  Your vet can recommend a supplement that can help with joint stiffness and pain.  They can also prescribe pain medication.  I took Gussi to the vet just the other day for her yearly exam.  Gussi had routine blood work done (which came back great), was recommended a supplement, and prescribed a pain killer to use as needed (Rimadyl). 

In the past I have given Gussi PhyCox with success but as Gussi gets older she occasionally needs some pain medicine with her supplement and you can not give Rimadyl when a dog is taking Phycox.  So I have recently switched her to Synovie G3.  Rimadyl, PhyCox, and Synovi G3 can be found for a reasonable price at 1-800-Pet-Meds.  -Up-Date-  I just switched Gussi to a new supplement that is all natural Wholistic Pet Organics "Run Free".  I will tell you when I know more.

Remember our hunting dogs give us their ALL on every retrieve while we sit in the blind and watch.  The least we can do is exercise them in the off season, buy them quality dog food, and take them to the vet for a check up as they age. 

Happy Hunting!

Comments

On Dec 02, 2012 08:16am, Pharme89 said:

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