Anti-Aging Remedies for Dogs
The Effects of Aging in Dogs
Most canines lose show signs of decreasing Metabolism in their seventh year of life, resulting in lower activity levels and reducing caloric intake by as much as 40%. Cells begin dying off at a faster rate than they can regenerate, decreasing body temperature and providing an easier breeding environment for bacteria. The slow loss of muscle mass puts further strain on their cardiovascular system as an aging dog’s heart grows heavier and decreases inefficiency. This can lower oxygen levels in the blood causing anoxia and early senility.
Wear and tear on digestive systems is also a large cause of Canine aging as the teeth wear away and salivatory responses decrease. The production of digestion secretions slowly declines, preventing the absorption of proper nutrition and easy passage of fecal matter. Insulin and blood levels are lower, further hindering digestion and proper breakdown of nutrition. As your older dogs systems slowly deteriorate, they may lose their once acute sense of smell, sight, and hearing causing them to behave more irritably. Bones begin to lose density, hair their thick barrier against infection, and white blood cells their ability to fight off viruses. It is the collective degeneration of these systems that result in the eventual loss of life.
We all want our four-pawed best friends to live forever. I often get asked what the life expectancy of a particular breed is. I hate this question, because there are so many different factors that go into aging and lifespan. It is especially hard when the pet is older and close to that number, and that little guy is running around my office like a 3 year old. In this blog post, we will discuss what aging is and what we can do to increase the life expectancy of our beloved dogs. So, here is the chart that no one wants to see.
What Causes your Dog to Age?
Well cellular aging is just a fact of life, the body is not designed to last forever. Aging is the physiological changes a dog experiences during its lifespan. Cells replicate and die, they are damaged by external factors, and some just lose their function. Many theories exist about why we age, but most will say that it is a multitude of factors and not just one thing that causes aging. Let’s talk about a few:
Free-Radical Oxidation (Environmental Factors): Reactive free radicals in the environment have been shown to damage cell DNA, contributing to health problems in animals. Antioxidant nutrients include Vitamin A, B, C, E, Beta carotene, bioflavonoids, selenium, zinc, copper, magnesium, and iron.
Genetics: Life expectancy is pre-programed based on the genetics from the parents. Providing cells with building blocks such as Omegas found in NatrixOne can more easily reverse the damage caused by accelerated aging.
Wear and tear: All machines wear down over time, and the more that you use that machine, the faster this occurs. But, this doesn’t take into account the body’s ability to repair itself. One day, Canine hip and joint replacements may become commonplace surgeries as we learn to extend our parts in new inorganic ways.
Neuroendocrine Failure (Nutrition): keeping the body in optimal condition with diet is important, overweight dogs have more issues than healthy body conditions. Just like people, a quality diet is providing the body with the proper fuels it needs to perform in the optimal way
These are just a few of the theories that cause aging. So what can I do to help my buddy live a longer life?
Habbits to Keep Your Dog Young and Healthy
- Weekly Home Checkup: Coat, Skin, Eyes, Nose, Ears, Mouth, Feet, Limbs, Back, Weight, Respiration, and Temperature. Keep their water and food bowls clean daily and If necessary, keep a log.
- Behavior Training & Stimulus: Teaching obedience to your dog is good for his health, hygiene, and psychology. From housetraining to positive reinforcement, bonding with your dog will help with his overall happiness.
- Hygenic Practices: regular grooming and dental care reduce the stress placed on the immune system in warding off harmful bacteria. A weekly brushing, nail trimming, and ear inspection, as well as daily teeth cleaning, are all good practices to adopt.
- Diet & Nutrition: receiving essential nutrients is critical to replacing damaged and dying cells. Keeping your Canine hydrated with clean water will keep the health of his internal organs, flush out toxins, and contribute to longevity. Providing a dietary supplement such as NatrixOne to help boost your Canine’s immune system will greatly improve his chance of fighting off bacteria and diseases.
- Remove Environmental Risk: removing as many toxins as possible from food and living environment will help with longevity. Providing a dog house and safe yard conditions from other dogs or wild animals will reduce the risk of serious injury. Reduce stress in your canine’s world to create less fatigue and inflammatory responses.
- Exercise your Canine: promote strong bones, muscle, and cardiovascular growth which help create a more efficient bodily repair process. Fetching, walking, hiking, swimming, herding, pulling, or agility competitions are all great forms of canine recreation.
- Regular Veterinarian Screenings: Consulting routinely with a certified animal practitioner will contribute positively to your dog’s longevity. Seeing a vet once a year is recommended. A good vet will be your dog’s health detective and adept at providing a proper examination. Keeping your dog on a regular worming and vaccination schedule will greatly reduce his risk of contracting a disease from another dog, bug, or wild animal.
Dogs are living longer with each passing year. Better foods, better veterinary care, and the increase in the human/animal bond over the last 100 years has allowed our dogs to live their best lives. Continue to love them everyday, provide good nutrition for them into their old age, listen to your veterinarian, and give them a supplement like NatrixOne to help them live as long as they can.
Dr. Rich
