The genetic lottery is played out in all of us. We either inherit longevity or not and we can inherit susceptibility to certain illnesses. Once born, none of us, including dogs, have the luxury of choosing different parents with better genes.

What can we improve for our dogs and their health and well-being?

Obviously environment plays quite a part. If you are reading this magazine and this article the chances are high that you are already a dog lover and as such you will be doing your best to provide your dog with a healthy and fun environment. But for the record lets run over a few essentials:

• Clean, dry bedding and housing.
• Plenty of exercise and stimulation.
• Good quality food and water.
• Free movement for a part of each day (not constantly chained up).
• An appropriate and understood place in the pack (pack includes humans as well as dogs).
• Close contact with another being from the same pack (dog or human especially) for the majority of the time each day.
• Good medicine when needed.

What can Herbs & Homoeopathics do for the Older Dog?

Even if you have never given your dog herbs he or she will be quite experienced with them anyway. Every dog self-medicates. Those dogs who live in an environment where there are plenty of different grasses, weeds and herbs available will select a herb as medicine from time to time as needed.

We can help them in this process by giving them herbs with specific actions for a particular health problem or to improve the functioning of a specific organ. As dogs age, their body and body systems and organs all age too, of course. Just as we can slow ageing in humans, we can in dogs. Here are some examples:

• Liver herbs such as milk thistle, dandelion root and Schizandra all detoxify and rejuvenate the liver.
• Immune herbs such as Echinacea, Baical skullcap and Astragalus build up the ageing immune system.
• Digestive herbs such as Meadowsweet, Chamomile and Gentian improve the dog's ability to digest foods properly.
• Urinary tract and kidney herbs such as Horsetail, Cornsilk and Bearberry strengthen and tone the urinary tract.
• Nervines such as Chamomile, Valerian and St John's wort calm and settle a jumpy nervous system.
• Adrenal herbs such as Licorice, Withania and Siberian ginseng nourish the adrenals of a stressed, excitable dog and assist the nervous as well.

Homoeopathics basically do whatever is needed to be done. It's that simple but it's not that easy! The homoeopath has to find exactly the right one for your dog - one that matches as many aspects of your dog as possible - physically, mentally, emotionally. Bach Flowers are great for dealing with emotional problems. Rescue Remedy is the most famous of these. The most common tonics I use for my older patients are:

Digestive tonic; Convalescent tonic - gives more energy and vitality and improves immune system.

General tonic - contains herbs for all main body organs and systems.

If you want to know more about Good Medicine for the Older Dog you can contact me on homoepat@ihug.co.nz or visit my website www.animalherbs.co.nz