11/15/2024
November is Senior Pet Month! This week we are shouting out Ethel Mae! Ethel Mae is a spunky 11 year old small breed.
We asked Ethel Mae's mom a few questions about life at home with a senior pet:
Senior pets often develop osteoarthritis and have trouble walking or getting around. One way to slow down progression of that is to keep them moving. How do you keep Ethel Mae moving?
"This is a hard one given the size of a guinea pig LOL! She comes outside with me when I do yard work and loves to sun bathe."
Senior pets tend to have aches and pains from osteoarthritis and other biological illnesses. What are some ways you keep her comfortable at home to prevent aches and pains?
"Ethel Mae gets fish oil in her diet every day to help lubricate her joints. She also has a special orthopedic bed to cushion her as she sun bathes or sleep through the night. Lastly, Ethel Mae receives a Librela injection once a month." (See below for information!)
When our senior pets age, they aren't able to digest some foods as well, or they need more fiber in their diet compared to other formulated foods so as not to cause any organ disfunction. Does Ethel Mae have a preferred food of choice?
"Ethel Mae loves her prescription diet, Hill's J/D, with her daily fish oil."
It appears Ethel Mae is quite pampered! It is great to see that she stays moving, stays comfortable, and in turn can still be silly at home. Ethel Mae's mom mentioned having her on monthly Librela injection, which is indicated for the control of pain associated with osteoarthritis in dogs. It works differently than NSAIDs by reducing Nerve Growth Factor effects, a key factor in canine OA pain. Ethel Mae is also on daily fish oils which have many health benefits including heart health, skin health, joint health and many other benefits.
It is important to keep our senior babies as comfortable as we can as they age. Stay tuned throughout the month for more tips and tricks for enjoying the golden years with your senior companion. You're always welcome to give us a call if you have any questions or want to schedule an appointment to have your senior bestie checked out!