March 2010
			Click headlines to skip to specific article: Recipe Did You Know? Training Tips Canine Comics
Dear Friends of the Eskie Connection:
This past month we celebrated Addie’s 17th birthday. As some of you know, Addie is one of my dogs. Born in a puppy mill in Nebraska, she was shipped to a pet store in Palatine (IL) at just 6 weeks of age. For whatever reason nobody wanted to buy Addie and she sat in that pet store until she was 6 months old. That is when I first saw her. And after finding out her story, I bought her and brought her home.
As any of you with a senior dog know, our dogs age much the same as we do. Their eyesight and hearing fades, their bones and muscles weaken, they develop arthritis, and their immune function declines. But with a little extra TLC from us, our seniors can continue to live a happy, comfortable life. To help keep your aging dog healthy, regular vet appointments are a must. Addie has periodic physicals and blood work done to be sure her organs are all functioning properly. Knowing that, she can continue to eat a kibble high in protein that helps her immune system and helps maintain muscle strength. I know I’m safe also giving her an anti-inflammatory for her arthritis, and a vitamin/mineral supplement that has omega 3 for her coat and skin and glucosamine for her joints. I moisten her kibble and John built her a stand to elevate her bowl.
		Because Addie’s eyesight isn’t what it used to be, we don’t move things around in the house and we keep the floors picked up. She doesn’t hear so well either, so we have taught her to come when she hears us clap our hands. To make getting around easier for her, we put runners on the kitchen floor and carpet pieces at her favorite resting places. For getting outside, we always have a path shoveled for her and the stairs cleared of snow.
Although her activities are very limited now, Addie is still enjoying life. She has a good appetite, occasionally “plays” with the other dogs, and will carry a bone or toy around the house. She still barks when she needs to go potty, gets up and down the 3 deck stairs leading to the yard, and strolls around the yard. I hold my breath each morning as I walk into the kitchen, over to her favorite sleeping place. That breath continues to be held until I see the twitch of an ear, or hear the soft sound of her breathing. And each day that she lifts her head, slowly gets up, and does her morning stretch, I smile and thank God for giving her one more day to enjoy in her own way. ^back to top
Recipe— Cheeseburger Muffins
Ingredients 1 cup cooked ground beef (about 1/3 lb) 3/4 cup water 1/2 cup oats (old-fashioned or quick-cooking) 1/2 cup whole wheat flour 1 small carrot, grated (about 1/3 cup) 1 egg 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 cup shredded low-fat cheese 1 teaspoon dried oregano (optional)				Preheat the oven to 350º and spray two mini muffin pans with cooking spray. Mix all ingredients, except the shredded cheese, together in a large bowl. Spoon the batter into mini muffin tins. Sprinkle with cheese and optional oregano. Bake at 350º for 20 minutes. Remove to wire cooling rack and cool for 15 minutes. Remove from pans and serve. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days or in the freezer for up to three months. Note: This is a fantastic recipe. Very easy to make, all ingredients you probably already have, and a good way to add beef to your dog’s diet. ^back to top
Did You Know?
All dogs tend to suffer some memory loss as they age. A percentage of old dogs develop more severe symptoms, technically called Canine Cognitive Dysfunction. Signs of Canine Cognitive Dysfunction are: DISORIENTATION: wanders aimlessly, acts lost and confused, gets “stuck” in corners or lost in the house. INTERACTION CHANGES: no longer greets family members, not interested in getting attention, interaction changes with other pets. SLEEP CHANGES: is awake and active at night, sleep cycles are disrupted or reversed. HOUSETRAINING IS FORGOTTEN ANXIETY OR COMPULSIVE BEHAVIORS: tremors, howling, pacing, licking, circling, tail chasing ^back to top
Training Tips - Go Out
The training tips over the last few months have been a progressive set of exercises. Their purpose is to give your dog the skills necessary to move quickly away from you in the direction you send him.
					You can use these skills to teach your dog to find (and retrieve) an object, take something to another person, run an agility course, or just do some jumping in the back yard. To teach your dog to take a jump at your signal, start by placing a jump in line with a target. Send your dog over the jump in the direction of the target, adding the cue at this time. Add more jumps and targets, and run along with your dog, directing him to the next jump. As your dog is confidently moving about the filed, remove the targets, add more jumps, and have fun! ^back to top
	Canine Comics
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I want to hear from you!
I always enjoy hearing stories about the dogs and seeing pictures. If you have something to share, you can e-mail it to The Eskie Connection. ^back to top

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