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  1. #1
    Puppy
    Join Date
    May 2014
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    Minnesota
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    13-year-old Lab Foster

    I just started fostering a 13-year-old lab a week ago. His owner was 80 and had a severe stroke and could no longer take care of Cole. He is deaf, slightly vision impaired, and has weakness in his back legs. He also had bilateral ear infections. All of these are being treated. He is also overweight. Overall, for his age, he is pretty healthy! He naps a lot, goes on short walks, still loves food, and loves belly rubs. I would love recommendations on a good food and any supplements that might help his back leg weakness. He is a gentle, loving old soul

    -cobi2-jpg-cole3-jpg

  2. The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to Chuckles For This Useful Post:

    Blackboy98 (08-15-2016), Mollysmomma (08-15-2016), SamsonsMom (08-15-2016), Scoutpout (08-17-2016)

  3. #2
    Senior Dog
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    May 2014
    Location
    Williamsburg, Virginia
    Posts
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    Wow- I've never seen a 13-year-old without some graying on the muzzle! I don't have food advice but thank you for saving this sweet boy.
    Stormageddon, Princess of Darkness, aka "Stormy"
    Birthday 9-13-18, Gotcha Day 11-11-18
    Hidden Content

    Miss Kimber, CGC, 6/15/2005-1/27/2018 forever in our hearts



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    Chuckles (08-15-2016)

  5. #3
    Senior Dog POPTOP's Avatar
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    May 2014
    Location
    Illinois
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    Gorgeous pup! Yes, I call the seniors pups.

    Thank you so much for helping him out. As far as food, feed a good quality food only in smaller amounts. Green beans, frozen or canned (no salt), can be added to fill the tummy. I also feed frozen fruit in limited amounts with meals. A good joint supplement and vitamin C (human grade chewable) should be given with meals. I buy Cosequin D but there are many good joint supplement products on the market. You also might want to mix in, every so often, some plain greek yogurt with a meal. He's going through a big life change and this helps keep the good bacteria in the gut. Keep up the daily walks as tolerated; it really does help keep the joints mobile. Also, passive range of motion exercises help.
    Hidden Content
    Kissing Bandit

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    Annette47 (08-14-2016), Blackboy98 (08-15-2016), Chuckles (08-15-2016), Scoutpout (08-17-2016)

  7. #4
    Senior Dog labsnewfy's Avatar
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    May 2014
    Location
    WV
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    Thank you for rescuing and fostering this gentleman. Cole (love the name) is a beautiful boy. Yes agree on the green beans, apples and baby carrots are also a good in between meal treat. Hopefully his rear end will strengthen a bit with the short walks and weight management along with joint supplements.
    Hidden Content

    Coleman - CGC blk lab 6/02/97-2/25/08 adopted
    Tootsie - choc lab 10/19/99-8/03/13 adopted
    Bailey - CGC newf/fc 7/12/00-07/15/14 rescued
    Ginger - BT 11/16/05 - 10/14/19 rescued
    Sarah - blk lab 6/22/06 - 12/30/19 rescued
    rescued felines - AJ - 8/00 - 1/11, Merlin - 5/20/05-8/23/21
    Tucker - 8/3/10, Penny - 7/7/13, Toby - 6/14/21

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    Chuckles (08-15-2016)

  9. #5
    House Broken
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Location
    Rpyal Oak MI
    Posts
    106
    Thanked: 54
    OMG he is gorgeous.....

    You are doing a great thing by taking him in. I feed Aowyn; Taste of the Wild and we give her about a half a cup less than what is on the bag to help maintain her proper weight. He doesn't look too over weight, he looks great for an older dog.
    Alex Aowyn - Born 11/07/2003Hidden Content

  10. The Following User Says Thank You to ZZSW7Y For This Useful Post:

    Chuckles (08-15-2016)

  11. #6
    House Broken
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
    Location
    Pacific Northwest
    Posts
    174
    Thanked: 41
    Bless you! It takes a special person to foster a senior

    I highly recommend Advanced Hip & Joint Chewables from Springtime Inc. They make natural supplements for dogs, horses and people. I copied the ingredients here
    Desiccated beef liver 500 mg/tablet
    MSM, 99%
    (methyl sulfonyl methane)
    300 mg/tablet
    Boswellia serrata extract, 65% 275 mg/tablet
    Chondroitin sulfate, min. 90% purity
    (bovine cartilage extract)
    250 mg/tablet
    Glucosamine HCL, 99% 250 mg/tablet
    (shellfish extract)

    The ingredient that I think is really
    helping my Lab is the Boswellia Serrata
    extract. I have given glucosamine, chondroitin
    and MSM for years but recently tried this
    with the Boswellia Serrata and it seems to help.

    In addition to green beans I give our dogs raw
    celery for crunch and fiber.

  12. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to shelly For This Useful Post:

    Chuckles (08-15-2016), outrag (08-15-2016)

  13. #7
    Senior Dog Snowshoe's Avatar
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    May 2014
    Location
    Ontario, Canada
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    The photo of Cole lying down, with the sky behind is a lovely, lovely shot. A framer. Maybe you could cheaply frame it for his previous owner and yourself? What a wonderful thing you have done. Do you know the previous owner? Fear of aging and leaving a pet is a serious concern for many people, it's so good of you to be able to help calm that poor owners angst.
    Hidden Content

    Castilleja's Dubhgall Oban, the Black Stranger of The Little Bay
    Oct. 15, 2007 - June 13, 2021
    Oxtongue Rapids Park. Oct. 2019 Hidden Content

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    Scoutpout (08-17-2016)

  15. #8
    Senior Dog classiq's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Michigan
    Posts
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    Thanked: 307
    Bless you for taking him in.
    Kathy--mom to:
    Mac--chocolate lab
    Scotty--Arabian gelding


    No philosophers so thoroughly comprehend us as dogs and horses.
    (Herman Melville Redburn)

  16. The Following User Says Thank You to classiq For This Useful Post:

    Chuckles (08-15-2016)

  17. #9
    Puppy
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Minnesota
    Posts
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    Thanked: 7
    That's a great idea for his owner. I'm not sure who it is, but the rescue group I foster for probably has some information. I'm not sure how badly he was affected by the stroke, but sounded severe.

  18. #10
    Puppy
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Minnesota
    Posts
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    Thanked: 7
    Thank you! I have found out in the week of having Cole, he doesn't like green beans, carrots, or celery, but does like raspberries, cantaloupe and watermelon. He is doing well here and adjusting to life with myself and my Cocker Spaniel. I previously owned a lab and I just love the breed! Cole may be a mix, but he certainly has a lot of the great lab qualities

  19. The Following User Says Thank You to Chuckles For This Useful Post:

    labsnewfy (08-16-2016)

 



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