by admin on January 8, 2012
MYTH 4. ANESTHESIA ISN’T SAFE FOR
SENIOR PETS
Lifelong dental care is a good example of the
advances that have been made in senior healthcare.
There’s a growing body of evidence demonstrating
the importance of lifelong dental care on a pet’s
longevity and quality of life. Unfortunately, the
positive benefits of routine dental care and teeth
cleaning have historically been tempered by the risks
of general anesthesia, which is necessary to
effectively clean and polish a pet’s teeth without
discomfort to the pet. It is true that the risk of
anesthesia is real in older pets, especially in those
that may have heart, lung, liver, or kidney ailments.
Still, the risks of anesthesia have been significantly
minimized. The standard practices of required blood
and urine screening tests, safer anesthetics and
anesthetic protocols, and newer patient monitoring
equipment have all notably contributed to much safer
anesthesia. These are monumental advancements,
especially when compared to the negative effects
that chronic dental disease has on a pet’s overall
health and well-being.
As your dog ages, you must assume an increasing
responsibility for their overall health. By being an
active and observant partner in care – including
being more informed about early warning signs,
taking timely action, and visiting your veterinarian
more often – you can take advantage of the
recommended life-extending preventive healthcare
programs available for senior pets today. Your pet
will thank you for years to come.
by admin on December 6, 2011
Organic, Fresh Dog Food and Treats!
Nathan, Lisa and Lorelei showed off A-Way to Wag — and all the yummy treats — at a recent Holiday Pet Festival.
by admin on December 6, 2011
MYTH 2. NOTHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT
AGE-RELATED PROBLEMS
Unfortunately, some specific diseases are agerelated.
Most pet owners recognize the symptoms
and behavior changes associated with an agerelated
disease. However, many mistakenly assume
that nothing can be done to help senior pets afflicted
with the common diseases of aging. As a result, their
pets continue to suffer from a lack of medical
attention and care. In truth, many of the following
symptoms, which are associated with aging, can be
managed:
· Decreasing activity
· Urinary or fecal accidents
· Bad breath
· Morning stiffness
· Decreased or increasingly finicky appetite
· Periods of confusion or disorientation.
If you notice any of these in your older pet, speak
with your veterinarian about options for limiting the
effects. Specially formulated senior diets, regular
exercise, weight control, and dental health can all
help prevent age-related diseases – or at the very
least, significantly postpone their onset.
by admin on November 30, 2011
THE TRUTH ABOUT (OLDER) DOGS
Don’t let these four myths slow down your senior pet. With the proper knowledge and healthcare, your mature dogs can live longer, better lives than ever before.
Today’s pets enjoy the opportunity to live substantially
longer and healthier lives than those just a decade ago.
More and more pets are making it to 7 years old – the
age when a pet usually is deemed senior – and beyond.
One big reason is you. A generation of pet owners who
view their dogs as family members, have demanded
higher-quality healthcare for their pets. And the
veterinary industry has responded. Significant advances
in health-management strategies for older pets –
including senior-focused nutrition, surgical procedures like
hip replacements and kidney transplants, improved
therapies for mental decline, effective cancer
chemotherapy protocols, complete dental-care programs,
comprehensive arthritis management strategies, and easy
access to sophisticated diagnostic techniques – have
contributed greatly to the average pet’s longevity and
quality of life.
Yet for all this good news, there are several common
mistakes that even well-intentioned owners make when it
comes to their older pets’ health. These missteps are
usually based on outdated or incorrect information. To
help, here are four of the most common myths related to
senior pets.
MYTH 1. THE PROBLEM IS JUST OLD AGE
Old age certainly is not a disease. Rather, it’s the sum of
the damaging effects of time on the body and internal
organs. While veterinarians use a pet’s age as a
measuring stick for longevity, age alone is by no means
an indicator of a pet’s current health status. Nor is age a
singular predictor of a pet’s future health. The best way
to determine a senior pet’s actual health status is through
comprehensive veterinary examinations at least twice
every year. For senior pets, these exams need to include
routine screening tests of the most vital internal organ
systems.
Older pets are more susceptible to such serious and
progressive diseases as cancer, arthritis, hormone
imbalances, mental decline, and age-related disease of
the heart, kidney, or liver. Unfortunately, many pet
owners write off early symptoms of these problems as
simply old age. Pet owners may incorrectly assume that
nothing can be done to improve these conditions. As a
result, the pet suffers from lack of timely medical
intervention. By the time the dog is taken to the
veterinarian for an evaluation, the condition may be
advanced. This can greatly reduce the number of
health-management options available.
So be on the look for the following common
conditions, which many pet owners mistake for “just
old age.” If you notice any of them in your dog, don’t
hesitate to schedule an examination with your
veterinarian:
· Inactivity (which may actually be arthritis or a
system illness).
· Decreased appetite (possibly from dental
disease or any of a number of systemic
diseases).
· Decreased vision (perhaps due to cataracts or a
retinal problem).
· Periods of disorientation or confusion (likely
culprit: cognitive dysfunction syndrome).
(see Part 2 in our next blog entry)
by admin on October 6, 2011
A-way to Wag is now selling My Perfect Pet dog food for the Phoenix area — and we deliver to the East Valley!
My Perfect Pet Dogfood in Phoenix
My Perfect Pet dog food piqued our interest because it is fresh dogfood – so no preservatives or fillers. The natural dog food comes frozen to make it more convenient for storage and delivery — and ensures the quality of the dog food.
Pick up your bags of My Perfect Pet dog food at A-Way to Wag — or arrange for delivery at your home.
- No Meals!
- No Preservatives!
- No By-Products!
- No Supplements Needed!
- No Corn or Soy!
- No Added Colors or Flavors!
- No Partial Grains!
- No Beet Pulp or Sugars!
by admin on September 26, 2011
But it’s still fun to play outside of A-Way to Wag. Soft green grass. A misting system. A wading pool – it’s an eden made for dogs!
Outdoor Dog Day Care Fun
Jumping through hoops for Nathan
Lila loves to do tricks for treats at Away to Wag, she is always a happy girl!
by admin on April 16, 2011
Kiley, the Wiley Dachsund
Kiley is no fool — by waiting until the rest of the dogs were diverted, Kiley then took off with the Easter basket of treats.
by admin on April 14, 2011
Humphrey Poses Patiently
A famous portrait artist gained his reputation by taking photos of his weimaraner dogs.
As you can see from Humphrey here, weimaraner dogs are perfect for posing. Humphrey allowed us to dress him in a silly outfit, and then shoot photos. He handled it all with dignity and resignation.
by admin on April 13, 2011
Sammy, King of the Kennel
Sammy is a schnauzer, so that means he is ultra confident about everything. He’s convinced he runs our dog day care, and that’s okay — he’s a sweet soul.
