All dog owners know and are anxious from the moment the four-legged friend arrives and begins to show signs of aging. His vigor is not the same as yesterday, the fur whitens, the eyes frown, and the gait becomes slow and heavy. Thus, those who are usually gathered into the family when they were a young and bouncy puppy mature over time, a maturation accompanied by heartache with a predictable end.
On the occasion of International Senior Day, Dr. Paul Slone, certified veterinarian and Royal Canin's Director of Scientific Relations in Israel, talks about groundbreaking research in the field, suggests ways to care for pets in the elderly and also explains why the elderly should adopt older pets.
Fortunately, just like the world of human medicine, veterinary medicine is advancing more and more every year. Just as our dogs do everything they can to make us happy, leading researchers from all over the world are trying to find solutions to improve and increase the quality of life of our furry family members.
No longer a bouncy puppy. An older dog, Photo: Getty Images
One of the biggest scientific breakthroughs in this field came recently, thanks to the publication of the results of a long-term, large-scale study by a British team from Mars Petcare Group and the Pet Health and Nutrition Center in the United States, which monitored the biochemical health of dogs over a period of 10 years, with an emphasis on specific proteins in the blood and immune system, known as markers of aging in humans. The samples were taken twice a year from when they were young adults until the end of their lives.
The most dramatic results were for proteins associated with oxidative stress. In fact, as we age, cells become more prone to damage. The body develops mechanisms to counteract this, but with aging, the proteins that perform these protective duties decrease, so the decrease in these proteins can serve as a marker of aging. In this study, the concentration of a specific protein (HSP70), which is used to protect cells from injury, decreased in the tested dogs by 86% from age 6 to the penultimate year of life. Other findings included an increase in low or chronic inflammation and changes in the immune system.
The key to slowing aging?
The study suggests that as dogs age, they suffer from low-grade inflammation and cellular damage as a result of oxidative stress. The study also identified several possible targets for therapeutic intervention to protect against or delay the effects of aging, insights that help us provide them with more effective support at this stage of life.
Everyone benefits. An elderly woman with a dog, photo: Getty Images
By understanding the age of our pets, we can provide the most appropriate veterinary and nutritional support for our pets. Combined with regular veterinary check-ups, improved diets for the elderly could bring healthy activity for senior dogs for many years to come. However, more long-term research will be needed before the optimal nutrition for each stage of life can be fully understood.
When we are concerned about your dog's long-term health, it is important to provide them with food appropriate for their age and physical condition. There is a lot of data to consider when planning your dog's diet in their third age, and it is important that the diet is best tailored to their specific needs. Over the years, your dog's nutritional needs also change: older dogs are often less active than younger dogs, so they need less energy-themed food. In addition, many have joint problems, so senior dog food should include ingredients that help support joint health, especially if it's a large dog.
When we know how to better and more accurately diagnose the dog's age (and not using the method known to us from childhood of multiplying his age by 7), we will be able to better adjust his food, treatments and method of breeding. Just as we would not take Grandpa for a run on the beach at an advanced age and without fitness, so we would not take the dog at an advanced age, despite his desire to please us.
An elderly couple and a dog, Photo: Getty Images
Unconditional love
Speaking of research and elderly dogs, know that many studies show that adopting and caring for dogs can improve the mental and physical health of the elderly. The dogs increase physical activity due to the need to take them out for a walk, and also relieve the loneliness of the elderly by always waiting for them at home, expressing affection and giving unconditional love, when all they ask for in return is petting.
A new study from the University of Maryland suggests that controlled interaction with dogs can be effective for maintaining and even improving the mental health and physical functioning of people with dementia. The study involved 40 elderly people with dementia living in assisted living facilities who conducted two 90-60-minute encounters with dogs every week for three months, encouraging them to interact with them. The result was clear: these sessions reduced depression following a pet program that included regular interaction with a dog
One of those stories is that of Cessna and Yerachmiel. Once a week, Orit Nevo, who volunteers with the Matav organization, which connects dog owners and the elderly, comes to visit Yerachmiel at the Chabad House together with Cessna the dog. During this time, the two sit next to each other and indulge, creating interaction across sectors and cultures. "The impact of the visit is simply amazing," says Orit. "Yerachmiel was a stam writer (engaged in writing Torah scrolls, tefillin, mezuzot and scrolls) who in his youth had dogs, something he missed very much in old age. His family said that during those visits he became more active, sitting up straighter than usual – becoming sharper and clearer, which is very important, because Yerachmiel began a slow process of dementia. "An example of the connection between them is when, in the hospital where Yerachmiel was staying, Cessna was also hospitalized. Both were in hospitals with complications at the time, and both families were worried about each other. Unfortunately, Yerachmiel did not leave the hospital, but Orit at least Cessna gave him and his family many moments of happiness."
Yerachmiel with his grandchildren and dog Cessna, photo: courtesy of the subjects
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