Bring out the best in your senior dog!

Why aging puts stress on the body

Many herbs and medicinal mushrooms have properties that protect cells and the entire body from harmful influences.
A dog’s body is constantly exposed to stressors.

These may include:

• medication
• physical strain
• psychological stress
• short-term or long-term oxidative processes

At a basic level, this is natural and unavoidable.
If it weren’t — slightly exaggerated — we’d never age (which many of us might not mind 😄).

Problems arise when these processes reach a level where organs and systems can no longer function within a healthy range. That’s when visible consequences appear.

What can chronic stress cause?

• skin and coat issues
• digestive problems
• hormonal disorders
• autoimmune diseases
• allergic reactions
• cognitive decline
• nervous system changes
• accelerated aging

Not to scare you — but to raise awareness

My goal isn’t to scare you.
Ideally, dogs would age gently — and we’d simply notice that they:

• turn grey
• move more slowly
• become pickier eaters
• develop little quirks
• lose teeth
• struggle more with change

…and otherwise stay healthy.

Just like my 87-year-old grandfather said when we visited him in summer:
“If my body worked as well as my mind, I’d live forever.”

Canine dementia — more common than you think

Did you know that dementia affects dogs at a significant rate?

It’s often hard for pet parents to recognize, as symptoms may be subtle and not always as severe as in humans.

Common signs include:

• confusion, starting an action and then stopping disoriented
• suddenly treating familiar people as strangers
• difficulty understanding commands
• sleeping more
• loss of enthusiasm and playfulness

A proper diagnosis always requires a veterinarian, as these symptoms can also indicate other conditions.

Why prevention matters most

Most age-related diseases are not curable.
Medication may stabilize symptoms, but often leads to additional issues over time.
Dogs suffering from dementia rarely pass away because of dementia itself, but rather due to other illnesses that develop along the way.

Herbs & medicinal mushrooms — wisdom backed by science

Herbs and medicinal mushrooms have supported humans and animals for centuries in achieving longer, healthier lives.
It’s encouraging to see modern science increasingly returning to these roots.

An interesting insight

Many researchers have found that for numerous herbs, effects become weaker — or disappear entirely — when only isolated compounds are used.

Vitamins, fibers and minerals naturally present in the whole plant play a vital role in how well active compounds work.
That’s why, whenever possible, it’s better to use the whole herb instead of extracts.

Lion’s Mane — a remarkable medicinal mushroom

In our herbal blend Old Friend, created specifically for senior dogs and dogs with neurological challenges, we use a truly remarkable mushroom: Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus).

One of its most fascinating abilities:
It can help repair damaged nerve pathways and even promote the formation of new ones.

Beyond that, it offers:

• antibiotic properties
• antioxidant support
• anti-diabetic effects
• anti-fatigue benefits
• cardiovascular support
• anti-inflammatory action
• anti-aging properties
• liver protection
• neuroprotective support

The Old Friend blend also contains several herbs that support skin, coat, digestion and liver function — helping senior dogs stay in their best possible shape.

I could go on much longer about this incredible mushroom, but I also want as many people as possible to read this post until the end.
If you have questions or thoughts, feel free to share them in the comments — I’d love to start a meaningful conversation.

If you’d like to start supporting your dog’s mental health in the coming days, head over to the Shop:
There’s currently a 15% discount on Old Friend, valid during September 2022.

Wishing all senior dogs full, active days 🐕💚

Have a healthy day!
Magyari Detti
canine herbalist