A fit senior dog is so important! A fit senior dog will be able to live a longer, and happier life. My big sister Katie is thirteen and has had a lot of “old age” problems to deal with, and now I am nine and also considered a senior dog. We hear all the time from our vet and others how well Katie is doing for being thirteen and a large breed, so I wanted to share some of our tips with you all! I will also be offering three giveaways at the end of my post because I want all senior dogs to have the best quality of life possible!
8 Tips for a Fit Senior Dog
1. Lots of love
Every pup needs lots of love and seniors are no exception! As a matter of fact, senior dogs may actually need a bit more love and extra attention.
2. Visit your veterinarian
A yearly vet visit is a must for all dogs. In my family we always go in twice for exams. A senior dog really needs to visit the vet regularly. They say one dog year is like seven human years – would you like your gramma to only see her doctor every seven years?
3. Maintain a healthy weight
Even on a larger dog, a few extra pounds can shorten life span by a couple years, so make sure and keep your dog at the proper weight. If your dog needs to lose weight, check with your veterinarian to work out the best weight loss program for your dog.
4. Keep those teeth healthy
Poor dental health can result in serious health problems! Our veterinarian told us weight and bad teeth are the two biggest problems in senior dogs. Brush your dogs teeth, give them dental chews, get them checked periodically.
5. Exercise – physical and mental
Being a senior dog doesn’t mean you can’t be a fit senior dog. Keep up with the walks, they may be slower and shorter, but walk. Do exercises to strengthen your dog’s muscles if you can. Keep your dog mentally fit. A senior dog isn’t as active and may be bored, so use puzzle toys, or food balls to keep them mentally challenged.
6. Keep the body in good shape
Katie and I both see an animal chiropractor and it has done wonders for both of us. We had lost hope with Katie and her paw dragging, but since her chiropractic treatments it has stopped and she is walking better overall! Other ideas would be canine massage, acupuncture, or physical therapy. Pet parents have to determine what helps their pup the most.
7. Dr. Buzby’s Toe Grips
Katie has trouble on slippery surfaces such as our hardwood floors. Mom ordered her Dr. Buzby’s Toe Grips, her actual size is orange, and they are helping her a lot! We highly recommend them for dogs having trouble getting a grip! They are easy to put on and Katie has been wearing her initial pair for three weeks now.
8. Good supplements
Rejenease
Katie started taking Rejenease in January. She had had a front left leg limp for several years and nothing was helping. After just one month on Rejenease, it disappeared! Katie also started enjoying going for walks again! She still walks a bit “unsteady” but she is one happy fit senior dog! Rejenease is a natural liquid glucosamine, chondroitin & MSM product. Rather than simply masking pain, it works to repair joint cartilage. Rejenease is produced in an FDA-inspected and certified facility. Independently tested for safety and purity at NSF, NASC & cGMP labs. Made in USA. We showed our vet and she thought it was a great product. In fact, she liked it so much, we are all taking it daily at our house for joint health!
Omegease
We have all started taking Omegease, fish oil supplement. Our veterinarian checked out this product and suggested we all take it as it has so many health benefits – good for the heart, brain, stiff joints, boosts immune system, reduces shedding, and shines up your furs! We get this on our food, and eat it right down. Omegease is a richer source of EPA & DHA than wild and farmed salmon oil. It is guaranteed to contain at least 800 mg EPA and 525 mg DHA per 5ml serving – more than wild Alaskan salmon and nearly double the levels in farmed Norwegian and Icelandic salmon. It is not at all fishy and is rather tasty! Natural supplements are so beneficial for dogs. Even young dogs like my sister Bailie can reap the benefits. We are truly amazed at how much these two supplements have improved Katie’s quality of life! Mom tried many other supplements as well as prescription products on Katie and nothing helped. We are so thankful to have found these products and we hope they will help Bailie and I live a longer, healthier life too. As always, we are not veterinarians, and we suggest you do consult your own vet before trying new products.
Giveaways
- Steven Hoursten, the man behind Rejenease and Omegease has put together a fantasic e-book “50 Tips To Help Your Dog To Walk, Run, And Play Like They Used To”. If you click the title link, you can download your own free copy of this book in PDF format! We have read this book and found lots of great tips we could use. Thank you so much to Steven for allowing our readers to download his book!
- Steven has also offered to provide three readers with a bottle of Rejenease. To enter, simply click here to be directed to the giveaway widget. All you need to do to enter is fill in your email address.
- Steven has also offered to provide three readers with a bottle of Omegease. To enter, simply click here to be directed to the giveaway widget. All you need to do to enter is fill in your email address.
My GBGV Life received Rejenease and Omegease to review. My GBGV Life receives no additional benefits for barking about these products or the company. The opinions in this review are the honest opinion of My GBGV Life. Finest for Dogs is not responsible for the contents of this post. No purchase necessary. Rejenease and Omegease giveaways are open to 18 yrs old and over US residents only. Giveaways will run from Friday, September 25, 2015 through Thursday, October 1, 2015 at 11:59pm PT. Three (3) winners will be randomly selected by PromoSimple and notified via email for each product. The winner will have 24 hours to claim their prize; failure to do so will result in forfeiture of the prize. Participants must read and agree to PromoSimple’s and My GBGV Life Privacy Policy before entering and participating in this promotion. Prizes are provided by Finest for Dogs and My GBGV Life is not responsible for prize fulfillment. 
I’m co hosting the FitDog Friday Blog Hop with SlimDoggy, and To Dog With Love! Make sure and stop by next Friday when we’ll announce a terrific month-long fitness event with lots of great challenges and tips to get your pups (and you!) in shape for the upcoming holiday season. Get ready for cardio, strength training and conditioning — we’ll have a new challenge each week in October. AND, you won’t want to miss the chance to win some fabulous prize packs from our Fall Fitness Challenge sponsor. All the details will be announced next Friday… so get ready to have some fall fitness fun!
I love fit senior dogs! Tynan went on a snowshoe with us to the top of Mt. Hood at 12 years old, 47 days before the cancer won. These are great fit senior dog tips, thank you!
It is hard with a senior sometimes, lots of extra work and so sad to see them deteriorate, but it is also very gratifying to see them at an old age still happy and able to do things especially larger dogs who often don’t make it to a real old age.
This is a great list, I’ve been doing a lot of research on supplements. Did you know a “senior” dogs, for large breeds, are considered 6-8 year old. That means I’m old!!! Have a great weekend!
I know. Heavens, at my 38 lbs or so I was supposedly senior at 8, but I held off calling myself that until now when I turned nine!
Fantastic tips! My Bay-Li turns 12 today and she’s been quite lucky health wise. I think a good diet with high quality foods has truly helped. We’ll be talking to the vet about Rejenease at her next checkup. She loves treadmill walking and is always my first on, last off, tail wagging girl! We’re also big on brain games for all our Shih Tzu girls, at ages 6, 10, & 12 they have learned to love puzzle games and treat dispensing toys.
And of course, lots of hugs, kisses, and cuddles! Have a great weekend ladies!
Thank you. Our vet has told Mom many times if Katie hadn’t been an active fit dog all her life she might not be with us anymore as the arthritis would be much worse than it is. A good lifestyle does pay off.
Wonderful post with your normal beautiful photography. It’s an honor to support you with the giveaways. If only my ebook was as well written as your posts!
Thank you so much. We are so thankful for having won that one bottle of Rejenease last winter. It really was a huge turning point and changed Katie’s life drastically. Now with all of us taking both products, even Bailie at 2, we feel we will be so much better off as senior dogs!Thank you for your generosity!
Steve’s products and advice are fabulous, made a huge difference and now my neighbor is using them with her senior boy
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That is awesome! Katie’s results have been a true miracle after trying so many things and nothing worked. We love these products!
Have your neighbor enter to win!
I love all your tips for a fit senior pup, especially the extra love & ongoing exercise/walk! I had never heard of Toe Grips, so I made a mental note. Our pups are only 4 years now, but they’ll get up there in age eventually!
I’m looking forward to your October challenge – sounds like fun!
We met the toe grips company at BlogPaws and decided to order some recently as Katie was having big traction issues on our wood floor. They have helped immensely!
Very helpful. I don’t think of my Katie as a senior dog but I guess she is.
I don’t feel like a senior at 9 either, but I guess I am. You are only as old as you feel Mom says.
That are great tips, specially a lot of love is very impawtant :o) and to stay fit and active… that counts for humans too… to do a little bit and to do it efurry day is the key for a longer life :o)
Mom is our fitness buddy and we are her fitness buds. It works pawfectly!
We followed your recommendation on Rejeanese and we might take your suggestions on the toe grips – Jack has the same problem.
Katie was actually waking us up in the night as she likes to sleep on the wood floor, but she couldn’t get up so we would hear her trying and scraping. Since she got the toe grips, no more noise in the night and she is walking much better on the wood floors.
Great tips and beautiful pictures. The mom is walking without her cane (but she takes it with her just in case she needs it.) She is not real steady on her feet so I get left a home until she is better. WE are all so proud of her – she is doing super! XOXO Sparkle the PBGV
That is great! Slow and steady wins the race! So glad things are going well and before you know it, she will be all back to normal!
So much more to do for senior dogs than there used to be!
It is pretty amazing, but it is a good thing. Nothing is better than seeing Katie being able to enjoy life as much as possible and looking happy.
It is so wonderful that these products are helping Katie feel and move better. I have the boys on supplements and it makes such a difference.
Mom hasn’t seen much of a change in Bailie or me, but we are much younger than Katie. The Rejenease has been a true life saver for her.
Hi Y’all!
I’m 9 and 1/2. I still race around and jump around like I always have. My Human says I do sleep a bit more, but I need lots and lots of exercise to burn off all my retriever energy.
Y’all come on by,
Hawk aka BrownDog
Katie was still romping around getting her wild pants on until she was about 11 and then the arthritis and everything started slowing her down. She still is enjoying walking, just slow and not as far and she can’t really run anymore, but for a large dog at over 13, she is doing real well.
Great post! We use both of Steve’s products and are very happy with them.
We love his products, and he is so nice to follow up with customers to make sure things are working well and to see if there are questions.
These are great tips!!! I will be looking into these products for sure!
ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!
We are so thankful to have heard about these products through blogging and then trying them and seeing how they have helped out Katie has been amazing. We are confident they will help Bailie and I feel better longer in life.
Good tips cause we are seniors
Snorts,
Lily & Edward
Then you know what I’m howling about first paw!
Katie is such a good example for senior dogs. She looks amazing.
We are really happy she is doing so well being a large breed. She is usually happy which is the most important thing.
Brilliant advice. Older dogs need exercise, too!
They sure do. It may be different than younger dogs but they need to keep moving.
Good tips for keeping them healthy. I want to make sure I’m going good things for Cocoa right now (she’s 2 1/2) so she will be healthy and active her whole life.
Bailie is 2 and our vet suggested she be on both supplements now to keep her joints in good order not to mention her heart, fur, etc.
Those were terrific tips. When we had senior dogs they sure had a rough time of it..
Senior cats seem to have it a bit easier, not always, but they don’t have to do as much as dogs do.
These are such great tips! I especially like how you really put the vet visits into perspective, none of us should wait 7 years between Doctor visits!! I’ll be saving my link for easy access, Thank you!
Thank you. I don’t think a lot of people realize how much a dog can change in a year because they simply age faster. We notice it a lot with Katie.
Thanks for the tips. Some I have been doing, like BJ”s weight in check, getting semi-annual vet checkups.
The weight and vet checks are so important. The supplements are real helpful too.
We think Katie is going to be around for many more years because of the great care she gets! Love Dolly
On her good days, we think so too, but on her not so good days, we start to wonder, but she is happy and that is what is most important.
Does Katie wear the Dr. Busby’s all the time? I got a pair in Nashville but we have rugs so I haven’t put them on yet. Do they help her get up?
She has them on all the time. We have lots of carpeting, but she has to cross wood floors to get from room to room and she sleeps in the wood floor a lot and couldn’t get up. It is kind of like having tires instead of claws, gets a good grip going.
I got the toe grips in Nashville too, but hadn’t tried them on Sheba. I definitely need to do that. It is so great to see Katie doing so well at 13. I agree just staying active can be key, but all the other things you do have to add up to them being able to be active. With all the great things you do to help, I can see you staying very active and healthy as you get older too, Emma.
Bailie and I are planning on being around forever, so Mom has to take good care of us. The toe grips are real nice for Katie and her wood floor problems. Just soak them in some rubbing alcohol and slide on. Simple. It took her about 5 mins to adjust to them.
I still need to try out our Rejenease. I’m trying to finish our current joint supplement before we start.
We realize different supplements work differently on different dogs, but for us, Rejenease is the only one that really made a difference and the improvements have lasted. We love it and now all take it. We go through a bottle about every month, but we are a lot bigger than you.
What a fantastic post! You are SO right–it is so important to maintain their health as they age. As we have one dog in the house that is eight this year, we will be looking into the products you mentioned.
Our vet said to start supplements as young as possible to keep damage from happening in the first places, so we are all on both products.
Those are excellent tips. Best of luck to all who enter the give-away.
Thank you.
This is a fantastic post. Our dogs aren’t seniors yet, but I do many of the same things. My goal is to help them age gracefully and without incident.
I love the phone of the toothbrush. Although our dogs are raw fed and eat raw bones for teeth cleaning, they don’t get enough bone chewing time due to weather (they eat bones outside) or time. So I give them other things that help and I have a tooth brush and finger brushes too.
Mom tried the finger brush a few times but we kept getting it off her finger and almost swallowing it. We love our real toothbrush. Healthy chompers are important.
Rejenease is a GREAT product! I was using it for Callie and it did wonders for her mobility. Unfortunately, it bothers Shadow’s sensitive tummy right now. I might try again once things get back to some normalcy around here.
Rejenease has been a miracle for Katie, we are hooked!
Great tips for any age (or species)- mental and physical exercise and good teeth are so important. Kilo and I may both start taking these supplements as my joints are way worse than his.
I can see you two taking them, LOL! They are great for us dogs for sure!
Senior dogs are the best snugglers!
Dental health is a big one – I’ve heard that something like 80 percent of cats and dogs have dental disease by age 3! Plus, mouth bacteria can cause heart disease and other problems in the body. Brushing a dog’s teeth was such a novel thing years ago, but everyone needs to be doing it.
Yes, dental health is so major and humans just don’t seem to get it. All that mouth bacteria spreads in the body and makes a pet ill eventually.
Love this products – thanks for the GiveAway
They are amazing! Good luck!
For a senior pooch, Katie looks amazing! Good job you guys. 😉
It’s funny, she gets more compliments from people stopping in cars when she is on walks than she did when she was younger! She is doing pretty well for her age and size.
Harley’s 7th birthday is coming up next month – so all these tips were right on time. Thank you. Katie you look amazing!
Lucky 7 is a great age! Start early with preventative care to cut down on problems later.
Katie looks really well.
She is doing pretty well. On humid days, I think she has more pain, but overall, she is happy.