I have had so many of you ask about nutrition and/or supplements to help with some of the issues that our best friends have, especially as they age.  I turned around yesterday, and Cooper was 12...with a lump in my throat I notice that my long legged Beast can no longer get into the van by himself, and as he comes up the driveway, his gait is a little stiff and slow. I want the boy to last forever, but the facts are he isn't going to.  My mission in life is to make sure that he feels as good physically and mentally as possible for as long as I can.  Here at Dogpatch we have had the honor to provide hospice for several deserving dogs.  Also, I have been in business for over 15 years now and many of my friends have entered into honored guest status.  I want to state up front that I don't have any training in the veterinary field and my suggestions should be run by your vet to make sure that they are a good fit for your dog. But...these are some of the things we do here at Dogpatch for our own dogs as they turn to us to ease both their aging bodies, and their brains as they lose a little in the cognitive department. There is information on helping with allergies as well.

First I would like to say that I am a firm believer in CBD oil.  You will find an amazing amount of information by searching the web.  I know that they are touting it as the newest "snake oil" that it cures everything from bi-polar to shingles BUT for both anxiety and inflammation I recommend it without reservation.  I first studied its use for dogs and then actually started using it for my own pain ( some of you may notice that I am not limping nearly as much as 6 months ago) For me, the pain was frustrating and caused some mental anxiety from that pain.  WIth the use of the CBD oil I still have some discomfort, but not the frustration nor the insomnia that it was causing.  Understanding what CBD oil does and its application is a difficult thing to wade through on your own.  I recommend MEAT www.meatforcatsanddogs.com The staff there is well versed in its dosage and application for your pets needs, etc.  Please purchase your cbd oil from a reputable dispensary or from MEAT....it seems that several businesses are taking advantage of the "snake oil" reputation and manufacturing items aimed at pets that are not regulated. ie:they do not actually have a significant amount of cbd .  At an actual dispensary the State of Oregon requires that the product be tested and labeled.  The owner of MEAT has had the products she provides tested as well to ensure proper dosage.
Please be aware that CBD is non-physcoactive so there is no element of sedation or "high" for your dog.  

The next thing that is running rampant especially right now is itch scratch scratch itch drive dog and owner crazy.  We have all tried benedryl and chased our tails trying new diets.  Many of us have gone through allergy testing only to find out that our dogs are allergic to pollen, mold, dust, fleas ( in other words everything.) Sometimes I believe that it is better to treat the symptoms rather than to spend years chasing down the root of the problem.  A little fish oil and coconut oil go a long way with flaky dry skin.  Benydryl at the dosage of 1 mg per pound of body weight twice a day is also helpful ( again check with your vet on this).  When our own dogs have reactions we start with a spoon full of locally sourced honey a day in their food.  This builds their immune system up to the local allergens and can help.  Speaking of reactions, if your dog gets stung by a bee ( or you even suspect that is the case) get some antihistamine into them right away.  The dosage is the same as above, but I give a little extra if I think that a reaction is imminent.  Watch closely as they can get the same reaction to stings or bites as humans and if their throats swell it can be dangerous.  
If your dog gets a hot spot it is important to clip the hair back completely from the spot, leaving a margin of good skin around the area.  Then clean it completely and treat much like you would a wound of your own.  If it is a moist area the key is to dry it up.  If the area is scabbed and dry, you want to soak it and keep it moist.  Things to watch for are odor, odd color, warmth or swelling...then it needs to be attended to by a vet. If your dog has long hair, (the goldens, bernese, etc) it may be a good idea to get them trimmed in the areas that tend to matt up.  Matts in their coats are not simply ugly, but they can be very uncomfortable to the dog and cause it to pull and create a "hot spot" Also if your dog spends a lot of time in the water, the area of the matt does not dry and can cause extreme irritation.  We often perform "hair ball ectomys" here where we get out the scissors and off go the matts.  


Now for the most important recipes....what I give to my seniors to help with their inflammation.  There are many that don't believe in special "human" food for their dogs.  None of the things I recommend here have excess sodium or ingredients that would be harmful to my friends.  I know that dogs have amazing olfactory glands.  Giving them a little tasty treat makes me happy...I salivate when entering a bread store, can you imagine what a little "super stew" smells and tastes like to them.  
I put chicken, turkey, lean pork or beef into a crock pot with a big clump of coconut oil. To this I add a pretty good amount of powdered tumeric. I season this with Italian seasoning ( for some reason most dogs love this, even when illness makes them turn away from most foods)  I add low sodium chicken broth and cook it on low until it is half way done, then add carrots, green beans, celery and cook that until they are tender.  ( at this point, if there are bones remove them) The dogs don't mind if the meat is overcooked....I then pour in brown rice cover and let that cook until done.  Sorry that my amounts are not exact....and the dogs don't care that it is different each time.  At the end I stir in a can of pumpkin.

I make a huge amount of this and put it into freezer bags in about 5 day portions.  This is not an actual food, but what I supplement their normal food with.  So they each get a glop of it on their food dishes at night.  For some of our seniors that had no appetite at all, I would cook two eggs in a little oil and add a glop of this to it each morning.  ( and sprinkling it with a little parmesan doesn't hurt)
The tumeric coupled with the coconut oil is amazing for inflammation.  The rest can entice a dog with low appetite to keep up their weight.  
I don't have a problem with Coopers appetite ( quite the contrary with him) He is getting the stew now simply because of my love for him.  He goes at the plain kibble just as much as when I put his special stew on.  However I want every day of his life to be the best ever.  This stew is the equivalent of me having an ice cream sundae for desert each meal, which I intend to do when I am over 80 as Cooper is.

Please if you have any questions at all, shoot us an email or give me a call and we can chat about personalizing "super stew" for your dog.

Those of you who follow our Pack know that none of us take for granted all that we have to be thankful for.  As we prepare for our wonderful Howl A Day party this week we are ever mindful of having a roof over our heads and a substantial pack of friends to share our feast with this year.  It bears repeating that we are indeed grateful to all of you who trust us with the care of the pets you are Thankful for this season.  I am particularly thankful for Katie who was able to hold it all together while my ankle was holding me down.  Her and Rick stepped up in an amazing way and I appreciate all of you for being patient as I am getting back up and around.
Katies Rat Pack has grown and watching her with the little terrors as well as the Party Animals makes me realize what a magical place we provide for our guests.  The Dogpark at Dogpatch takes constant management of personalities, but here it seems that the dogs are able to let loose of their responsibilities and rip it up.  While they may come home carrying a little of our Dogpatch Mud they enjoy pleasant dreams of their next visit with our pack.
You may have noticed that recently we have had to decrease our home pick up and drop off and utilize our Northwest Portland "bus stop".  As Dogpatch and the Rat Pack have grown we have found that is going to have to be more and more necessary.  Less time on the road means that we are able to ensure the quality of care that is provided at Dogpatch.  We thank you for understanding that while this change may be a little less convenient for you, it is, as always the quality of the care for your dog that is our primary concern.
I could go on about each and every dog that we entertain here and what we love about them as individuals and as members of our pack, but that would fill a book ( which, when I get around to it....)  I am going to leave you now with a bittersweet farewell.  I have always felt that one of the only things that justifies dogs living such a relatively short time is that it means we get to love and share our lives with another friend.  The hardest part of loving so many dogs as we do here at Dogpatch is the inevitable loss.  Do not think for a moment that it gets easier.  It doesn't .  The fact that they are not "our" dogs is a very minor detail.  This year there will be two empty spots at our Howl A Day tables.  Both Zipper and Baxter joined us for most of our Thanksgiving and or Christmas festivities since they were puppies.  Baxter was one of the very first Dogpatch Dogs, and Zipper was not far behind.  This last month they went ahead to wait for us.  They are in good company where they are running now, but it is a lonesome pack they leave behind.  The slideshow is a few of the many happy memories shared with them through the years.....
Remember to hold close, for in the blink of an eye, or the wag of a tail time goes by

As I live this amazing life loving and being loved by so many, far too often my friends go on ahead to wait. They have a new pack to run with, and new paths to follow. I only hope that when I arrive, each and every one is there to greet me. This month was a particularly difficult one...three old friends ran ahead, tails wagging to a new adventure. Those of us left behind are sad indeed. Good bye Lexi, Presley and Kobo
In the words of the great Will Rogers “If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.”
 

This morning my favorite Valentine nuzzled me at 430 am, and said "Lets get this day started" At 18, sometimes Sammy the Weasle doesn't understand the quality of life that is enhanced by sleep. Every night after his supper he leads the Dogpatch dogs in a little happy dance, letting us know that he has had the best day ever, and can he have another please. We should all live like Sammy and his friends. 
These dogs are the diamonds I don't wear on my fingers, the gold trinkets that I pass by in lieu of vet bills. I love them more than Life, for life without dogs, would be no life at all. I offer you these pictures of my Valentines and send out a heart felt thank you for being part of our pack. The dogs you send to me, make my life full. Thank you for letting me feel, as Sammy has taught me, that every day is "The best day ever", and "Can I have another, Please"