Welcome back to the Senior Dog Digest from Grey Whiskers — In this week’s issue here’s what we are sniffing out

• Holiday Gift Ideas for the Seniors and their Owners

• Important News Item on Popular Drug Librela

🌲 Holidays with Senior Dogs

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa and Mele Kalikimaka to my Hawaii Ohana! Grey Whiskers wishes everyone a safe and wonderful holiday season. Enjoy all the time you can with family, friends, and furry loved ones. For those who are like me and haven’t done any shopping, here are some last-minute gift ideas for the pet lover, the pet, and the pet lover’s pet in your family. At this point, I’ll encourage you even more than usual, to shop local. We are down to the wire now! I’ve included links for items so you can see what I’m talking about even if you have to search for it in a store.

🎁 Gift ideas for old dogs:

1. Soft treats or mini muffins are great for old dogs with bad teeth. If the dog is old enough, the teeth are probably bad. Small dogs need small treats!

   • See the muffin recipe from this past issue: https://www.greywhiskersdigest.dog/p/defining-the-senior-years

2. Food puzzles are a wonderful toy. Choose something simple so that a dog doesn’t get frustrated with a toy that is too hard for him.

3. Soft stuffed toys if she still plays with stuffies

   

4. Small blankets for chilly nights.

5. If your dog has dementia or anxiety, sleep with an old beat-up sweatshirt, t-shirt or sweater for a week and then repurpose it into a soft pillow for his head, made with the extra fabric in the center of the pillow filling

6. A hot water bottle is a great gift to ease creaky old joints or take the chill off cold winter nights

Gift Ideas for People Living with Old Dogs

1. Offer to dogsit for a few hours so they can have a night out! Many elderly dogs need medicines multiple times a day so if you’re comfortable stepping in, it can be quite a luxury for a couple or family to go out and not have to plan outings around meals, medication, or potty breaks.

2. Offer to walk younger pets if the elder pups in the house can’t walk very far but the younger ones aren’t getting enough exercise.

3. This one is more ambitious, but I have a client who has saved all her dog’s bandannas over the years. A friend took the bandannas and made a quilt out of them for her. It was the sweetest idea if you have that skill set.

4. Doggy DNA test kit for your friend with a mixed breed senior. Everyone I know who’s done these loves them.

   • https://embarkvet.com/

   • https://www.wisdompanel.com/en-us

5. Paw washers are a good solution for dogs who hate their paws handled. Simply fill the cup with warm water, and a tiny dash of shampoo, and dunk your dog’s feet. This gift makes pet parent’s lives much easier.

   

Homemade Christmas Treat Recipe

Soft-baked goodness for our old pups. Check out this recipe from Sally’s Baking Recipes.

Ingredients

• 1 cup (255g) natural creamy peanut butter

• 3/4 cup (180ml) skim milk

• 1 large egg (or 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce)

• 1 large carrot, shredded (or 8-ish baby carrots, around 2/3 cup shredded)

• 2 and 1/4 cups (290g) whole wheat flour* (spooned & leveled)

• 1 Tablespoon baking powder

• 1/3 cup (28g) oats (either whole-rolled or quick oats are fine)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325°F (163°C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Set aside.

2. In a large bowl, gently mix the peanut butter, milk, egg, and carrot together with a wooden spoon or silicone spatula. Add the flour and baking powder. You may need to turn the dough out onto a floured work surface and use your hands to work in the flour. Mix in the oats. The dough is extremely thick and heavy.

3. Using a floured rolling pin, roll the dough out into 1/4″ thickness. Cut into shapes using cookie cutters. Arrange on the baking sheets. Bake for 15 minutes, or until very lightly browned on the bottom. Remove from the oven, and flip the treats to bake the other side for 10 more minutes. Want the treats to be a little more crunchy? Bake for 5 more minutes.

4. Allow to cool completely before serving to your pup. Store at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

🐶 Sniffing Out Senior Dog News 📰

🛑 Popular Arthritis Drug for Dogs May Have Severe Side Effects, F.D.A. Says

🏥 Dogs' healthcare needs change as they enter old age

🫂 How you can help dogs in shelters this Holiday season

Senior Dog Humor 🤣 

How did we do with this week’s newsletter?

• High Paws

• Pooped in the House