Kero’s Guide to Senior Dogs

Apparently Leia Is Vintage Now

Hello.

Kero here.

We need to discuss Leia.

Leia is a black-and-tan Shiba Inu and, according to the humans, she is a senior dog.

I prefer the term vintage.

Leia has reached the stage of life where nobody questions her decisions anymore.

Want to sleep until noon?

“She’s old. Let her sleep.”

Don’t want to go outside?

“She’s old. Don’t make her.”

Demand a snack immediately after eating a snack?

“Awwww, she’s old.”

Interesting.

I tried this.

Apparently I am “being difficult.”

There is no justice.

Anyway, senior dogs like Leia need a little extra support as their bodies get older. Things get stiffer. Digestion can become more sensitive. Brains occasionally misplace information. Naps become a competitive sport.

So the human has several herbs and mushrooms she likes for older dogs.

I investigated.

You’re welcome.

🌿 Ginkgo Biloba: Leia, Why Are You in the Kitchen?

Sometimes older dogs can experience changes in memory, awareness and sleep patterns.

They might wander into a room and forget why they’re there.

Personally, I walk into the kitchen for one reason.

Food.

There are no other legitimate reasons to enter a kitchen.

Ginkgo is an herb commonly associated with supporting healthy circulation and cognitive function.

For an older dog whose brain occasionally seems to be buffering, it may be something worth discussing with a knowledgeable professional.

Leia sometimes wanders around the house.

The humans ask:

“Leia, what are you doing?”

Leia does not answer.

Because she’s a Shiba.

We don’t explain ourselves.

KERO RATING: 🌿🌿🌿🌿Potentially useful for the distinguished elderly brain.

Important boring human information: ginkgo isn’t suitable for every dog and can interact with medications, particularly those affecting blood clotting.

Apparently I’m legally required to mention these things.

🍄 Lion’s Mane: Brain Mushroom

First of all, this is false advertising.

There is no lion.

I checked.

Lion’s mane is a functional mushroom that’s become popular for supporting brain and nervous-system health.

This makes it especially interesting for senior dogs like Leia.

Think of Leia’s brain as a filing cabinet.

Breakfast: Filed.

Favourite sleeping location: Filed.

Location of water bowl: Filed.

Whether she received a treat 45 seconds ago:

FILE MISSING.

Very convenient.

Lion’s mane is being studied for its potential role in neurological and cognitive support, which is why you’ll increasingly see it included in senior-dog supplements.

KERO RATING: 🍄🍄🍄🍄🍄Mushroom that supports brains.

Still disappointed about the lack of lion.

🌿 Turmeric: For Leia’s Creaky Parts

Leia is old.

I am apparently not supposed to say that.

Leia is experienced.

With experience comes wisdom.

And stiff joints.

Turmeric is commonly used to support a healthy inflammatory response and comfortable movement.

This can be particularly helpful when older dogs start taking a little longer to get up.

You know the move.

Front legs extend.

Back legs consider participating.

Everyone waits.

Back legs finally receive the memo.

DOG ACHIEVED.

Leia sometimes needs extra time.

Nobody rushes Leia.

This is partly because she’s elderly.

Mostly because rushing a Shiba is pointless.

Turmeric can upset some sensitive stomachs, especially if humans enthusiastically decide that more must be better.

Humans do this constantly.

KERO RATING: 🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿Good candidate for supporting old joints.

Use sensible amounts.

Try behaving like adults.

🌿 Marshmallow Root: Because Old Stomachs Have Opinions

Here’s something nobody tells you about getting older.

Your digestive system apparently starts filing complaints.

Leia’s stomach sometimes needs a gentler approach.

Marshmallow root contains mucilage, which sounds disgusting but is actually one of the reasons herbalists value it for soothing and supporting the digestive tract.

Basically, it becomes slippery and soothing when mixed with moisture.

Senior dogs with sensitive digestive systems may appreciate herbs like this because we’re trying to support them without starting a gastrointestinal rebellion.

Nobody wants that.

Especially at 3 a.m.

KERO RATING: 🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿Quiet.

Gentle.

Doesn’t cause drama.

I respect it.

One human note: because marshmallow root can potentially affect absorption of oral medications, timing may matter if your senior dog takes prescriptions.

🌿 Milk Thistle: Leia’s Internal Maintenance Department

Leia has been alive for approximately 900 years.

During that time, her liver has been working every single day.

No vacation.

No weekends.

No Christmas bonus.

Typical management.

Milk thistle is commonly used to support normal liver function. Its best-known active compounds are collectively called silymarin.

For senior dogs, supporting organs that have spent many years quietly doing their jobs can be part of a broader wellness plan.

Notice I said support.

We’re not “detoxing” Leia.

Leia has a liver.

That’s literally one of its jobs.

She does not require celery juice.

KERO RATING: 🌿🌿🌿🌿Respect the liver.

It has seen things.

🌿 Nettle: The Plant Nobody Respected Until It Became Useful

Nettle is rude.

Touch it incorrectly and it stings you.

I respect boundaries, so we’re already off to a strong start.

Nettle is naturally rich in plant compounds and nutrients and has traditionally been used for general nutritive and inflammatory support.

For older dogs, I like the idea of gentle herbs that provide broad nutritional support without turning dinner into a chemistry experiment involving 47 different supplements.

Leia doesn’t need 47 things.

Leia needs her dinner.

Preferably now.

KERO RATING: 🌿🌿🌿🌿Nutrient-rich.

Useful.

Hostile when approached incorrectly.

Basically a Shiba.

🌹 Rosehips: Tiny Fruit, Ridiculous Work Ethic

Rosehips contain naturally occurring antioxidants and vitamin C along with other beneficial plant compounds.

Dogs actually make their own vitamin C, because apparently dogs were designed correctly.

Still, rosehips can provide useful phytonutrients and antioxidant support and are often included in herbal blends designed for older animals.

They can be particularly interesting as part of an overall mobility and wellness formula.

KERO RATING: 🌹🌹🌹🌹Small.

Efficient.

No unnecessary conversation.

Approved.

🌼 Chamomile: Leia Would Like Everyone to Calm Down

Senior dogs sometimes become restless.

They may wake during the night.

They may pace.

They may become more sensitive to changes around them.

Or perhaps they’re simply surrounded by irritating people.

Hard to determine.

Chamomile has traditionally been used for gentle calming and digestive support.

That’s a useful combination for older dogs because sometimes the nervous system and digestive system apparently form an alliance specifically designed to inconvenience everyone.

Chamomile can help provide gentle support when settling and digestive comfort are the goal.

KERO RATING: 🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼Calm your brain.

Calm your stomach.

Ignore everyone.

Excellent philosophy.

The Most Important Senior Dog Rule

Here’s where I’m going to become serious.

Don’t tell anyone.

Leia is older now.

She doesn’t see as well as she used to.

Her body gets sore.

Things that were easy when she was younger aren’t always easy anymore.

But Leia is still Leia.

She doesn’t need to become young again.

She needs us to make being old easier.

That might mean herbs.

It might mean veterinary care.

It might mean softer beds, rugs on slippery floors, ramps, shorter walks or helping her navigate things she used to do by herself.

And it definitely means paying attention when something changes.

Don’t dismiss pain, confusion, appetite changes, digestive problems or sudden behavioural changes because:

“She’s just old.”

Old isn’t a diagnosis.

Herbs can support senior bodies, but they don’t replace proper veterinary care. And because older dogs are more likely to be taking medications or dealing with medical conditions, herbs and functional mushrooms should be chosen carefully.

Even gentle herbs can interact with medications.

Annoying, but important.

One Last Thing About Leia

Leia is slower now.

She sleeps more.

Sometimes she needs help.

Sometimes we wait for her.

That’s okay.

She’s spent her whole life being a dog.

She doesn’t owe anybody a youthful performance at the end of it.

So if your senior dog takes ten minutes to sniff something on a walk…

Wait.

If they need seventeen blankets arranged according to specifications only they understand…

Arrange them.

If they fall asleep halfway through something…

Let them sleep.

And if they insist they haven’t been fed despite overwhelming documentary evidence proving otherwise…

Give them a small snack.

They’ve earned the right to manipulate you.

Kero out.

I need to investigate why Leia’s senior-dog privileges appear to include additional treats and whether these benefits can be applied retroactively to younger Shibas.

This feels discriminatory.