Blog - Page 2 of 2 - My Big Old Mutt

Understanding the Causes of Urinary Incontinence in Your Senior Dog

What is the first thing you taught your dog when he was a puppy? What was one of the first things you asked about when you found a dog you might want to adopt? I bet it was house-training. And for a good reason. It’s kind of a big deal. I think we can all agree that a house that smells like pee is pretty much the last place you want to live. When I was researching the questions that people were asking about caring for their aging dog, one of the biggest topics was urinary incontinence. Many people…

Safety

Making A Basic Dog First Aid Kit

Ok, so in addition to being a nurse and dog mom, I’m also a bit of an emergency preparedness nerd. I don’t mean those crazy people with tin foil hats and bunkers. I do mean having basic supplies on hand to handle whatever life decides to throw at me that day. One of those basic supplies is a first aid kit. Many of the items that you include in a dog first aid kit are the same as a human one, but there are a few differences to consider. Your big, old best friend is a lot hairier than the…

Health Conditions, Health Treatments

Home Dental Care for Senior, Large Breed Dogs

You love your big, old mutt just much as any other member of the family. But do you know as much about dental care for your four-legged children as your human ones? How you care for your senior, large breed dog’s teeth will affect the health of the whole dog as he ages. We rely on our veterinarians to help us take better care of our canine companions. And this is especially true with regard to dental care. But there are ways that you can help to keep your dog’s mouth healthy in between visits to the vet. Paying attention…

Health Conditions, Health Treatments

How to Tell if Your Senior Dog is Losing Vision and What You Can Do

Are you concerned about your older dog who seems to not see objects as he used to? If your senior dog is losing vision, what can you do about it? What should you be looking for? Dogs, like people, tend to experience changes in their eyesight as they grow older. Since they don't need to concern themselves with reading any fine print, many of these changes can initially go unnoticed. However, knowing the signs of visual deterioration in dogs and some of the predisposing factors can lead to earlier detection and may give you more treatment options. Spotting Vision Loss…

Health Treatments, Life With A Big, Old Mutt

The 4 Easiest Ways to Keep Your Senior Dog Moving

Hey there! Its April and its finally getting to be somewhat not-winter outside. Its also Canine Fitness Month! We already covered some general nutrition guidelines for your aging dog. So now let's talk about some ways to keep your senior dog moving. Exercise is integral for all dogs. It prevents injury, arthritis complications, obesity, and provides health advantages for pups of all ages. Especially for senior dogs, exercise is a necessary component of a healthy life. Senior dogs who fall under the larger breed umbrella, in particular, benefit from daily exercise, as their joints are often more susceptible to the…

Food and Supplements

Feed Me, Seymour! Meeting your dog’s nutrition needs as they age.

Is your dog so food motivated that you think he might be a space alien…or a Labrador? Or are they so picky that they turn up their nose at the slightest change from their preferred meal? As your larger breed dog ages, you want to do all you can to make his life comfortable and enjoyable. This includes feeding him a diet tailor-made to meet his specific nutritional needs. Here's a little general information that can help get you started. (Don't worry, we start deep diving in future articles) unsplash-logoJames Barker General Canine Nutritional Needs for Senior Dogs Learning how…

Life With A Big, Old Mutt

My dog is getting old and I’m scared…

In nursing school, everything is about evidence-based practice. This means using actual verifiable scientific study to decide how to best help your patient. Not “I think this might work” or “That’s the way we’ve always done it”. How to read a study and look for who financed it, how they got their data, and what the data actually says vs the stated conclusion. (Treatment A works 5% of the time, but Treatment B works 7% of the time. Conclusion: Treatment B is superior! Reality: Yeah, technically, but they both still suck.) And since the entire body of knowledge of all…

Life With A Big, Old Mutt

The Mutt Behind My Big Old Mutt

In 2016, I bought my first house. I had recently made the switch from hospital nursing to working on the insurance side of healthcare and now, with the move, I would be working completely remotely. In theory, I was going to have more free time probably since high school (although anyone who has ever owned a house knows how that turns out). This would hopefully be the last move after a series of apartments with one thing in common…NO DOGS ALLOWED. I had two cats who had trekked with me from place to place, but I missed having a dog…