Age is Not a Disease
Age is Not a Disease. So Why Does the Pet Food Industry Treat it Like One? 🐾
I need to say something that I say in the store all the time but I do not think gets said enough out here:
Age is not a disease!
But if you walk down the pet food aisle at the grocery store and look at what Hills, Purina, Royal Canin, and Blue Buffalo are selling as "senior formulas," you would never know that. They take their same ultra-processed, filler-heavy recipes, tweak a number or two on the label, print the word "senior" in a calming font, and charge you more for it. That is not support. That is marketing.
Your senior pet does not need a different bag of the same inadequate food. They need real, targeted support for what their body is actually going through. And there is so much we can do. Zaner is 12 years young and my little guy still runs this house. 😄
If you'd prefer to listen to this email, you can find it here anywhere you love listening to podcasts! Look for S1 E26 Age is Not a Disease.
Let me tell you what we actually do.
Feed the Gut First 🌿
Everything starts in the gut, and as pets age, their digestion changes. A lot of senior floofs who have been doing great on raw for years sometimes find it harder to tolerate as they get older. That is not failure. That is their body asking for something a little different.
Gently cooked food is one of the most underrated options for seniors. Still real whole food, still nutritionally dense, still miles ahead of anything in a bag. Just easier on a digestive system that has gotten a bit more sensitive. We carry some amazing options in store and this is one of my favourite things to transition seniors to. If you ask Zaner, he'll tell you just how much he loves his "home-cooking" that I didn't have to cook!
For the gut lining itself, I love Slippery Elm. It is a herb that coats and soothes the entire digestive tract from the inside out. Soft stools, tummy upset, inflammation, slippery elm works quietly and gently. It is still part of Zaner's routine and one of those old, simple remedies that just works.
Support Those Joints Before They Become a Problem 🦴
Here is something I really want you to know: you do not wait until your dog is limping to start joint support. By the time you can see the discomfort, inflammation has usually been building for a while.
Green Lipped Mussel (GLM) is one of the most bioavailable sources of omega-3 fatty acids and joint-supporting compounds on the planet. It comes from a specific mussel species in New Zealand and the research behind it for reducing joint inflammation naturally is genuinely impressive.
And then there is Adored Beast Jump for JOYnts. This is a homeopathic formula with four incredible active ingredients: Arnica, Calendula, Symphytum, and Ruta. Each one does something specific. Arnica reduces swelling and stiffness. Calendula is an anti-inflammatory that helps with muscle spasms and joint pain. Symphytum helps repair damaged tissue. Ruta eases inflammation and joint pain. Together they cover joints, ligaments, tendons, and muscles in one little bottle. No MSM either, which matters because some dogs and cats are sensitive to it.
I use Jump for JOYnts myself. That is how much I trust it. When something is good enough that I am taking it too, that tells you something. 😊
Brain Health and Restful Nights 🧠
This one does not get talked about enough, and the sleep piece especially is something I want you to know about.
Lion's Mane mushroom supports nerve growth factor in the brain, which helps maintain the neural connections that keep your pet sharp, curious, and present. But one of the things research on mushrooms in senior dogs is showing is that they can also support more restful sleep at night.
If your senior pet has been restless, waking up, pacing, or seeming unsettled overnight, that is not just "being old." Incorporating mushrooms into a senior dog's diet has shown benefits across several areas of health, and better sleep quality is one of them. You can check out all of the amazing benefits mushrooms offer our senior furry guys in the snapshot of the Senior Dog Study, conducted by MycoDog. The information you'll gain alone is worth it, for them and honestly for you too.
CBD for Seniors 🌿
We have put together an entire in-depth blog post on CBD because it deserves way more than a paragraph. The short version is that CBD is not a sedative and it is not a band-aid. For senior pets it can be genuinely life-changing when it is the right product at the right dose, working with their body's own systems rather than against them. Be sure to read the blog, it covers everything you want to know about CBD and everything I wish I knew sooner as a pet parent!
Still Move. Just Move Differently. 🐕
Shorter walks are not lesser walks. Zaner and I are not doing the long hikes we used to, but we are out every single day we can be (weather permitting). Sniffing. Exploring. Moving at his pace. That nose work is mentally tiring in the best possible way and keeping a senior body moving, even gently, makes a real difference in how they feel. Sniffari Walks are extremely stimulating for the furry guys. Think about how many rabbit holes you go down during a social media scroll session! That's what a walk for the furry guys with free range to sniff is like!
Do not stop. Just slow down together.
My Personal Opinion on Medications 💊
I want to be really clear that this is my personal opinion and I am not a veterinarian. But I am someone who thinks deeply about this every single day.
When our pets are in pain or slowing down, we want to fix it. I get that completely. And sometimes medications are the right call and I would never tell you otherwise. But long-term NSAIDs, steroids, and other pharmaceuticals come with real costs to the liver, the gut lining, and the immune system. And in my experience, a lot of families are handed a prescription without anyone asking what else could be tried first.
Before you commit your senior pet to a lifetime of medication, please ask that question. Ask what natural options exist. Ask what the side effects of long-term use actually look like. You deserve a full picture, and so does your pet.
The goal is not just more years. It is more good years. 🐾
Come in and let's talk about your senior furry family member. Whether they are 7 or 17, there is almost always something we can do to make their days brighter, more comfortable, and more joyful. We are here for all of it! If you're unable to pop by, browse our ailment section on our website for My Dog is Slowing Down.