Meet Susan Rubin—a triple-threat in the world of pets.
She’s a much sought-after pet trainer with a stellar success rate. She’s certified by the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT) and trains puppies, senior dogs, cats (!) and their human companions. She understands that no single training method is right for every animal, so she uses her insight into canine and feline neurology and behavior to create individual, caring, common-sense solutions for each pet she trains.
She’s also a big-hearted animal rescuer, the kind of person who goes into an animal control center and walks out with animals with missing limbs and serious health issues—the animals that nobody else wants. She has three permanent rescues of her own and has enough love in her heart to take in seriously compromised fosters and offer them a bridge back to a rewarding life.
And she’s the producer, director and host of a popular web series, From the Pound to the Penthouse, which features celebrities who have been rescued by their adopted pets—Natalie Portman, Jennifer Aniston, Mickey Rourke, Jake Gyllenhaal, Charlize Theron, Vanessa Williams, Ed Asner, Eric Roberts, Pauley Perrette, and many others.
One of Susan’s many interests is how dogs can continue to live rich, full lives as they get older. Just as the number of elderly humans is increasing, so is the number of senior dogs. And just as older people have different challenges than younger folks, our senior canine companions also have specialized needs. Susan’s vast experience in caring for all kinds of dogs at all stages of life has given her unique insight into what kind of products, services, and accommodations are best for older dogs.
Susan Rubin has been kind enough to share that insight with us. Here is her list of the best pet products and services for senior pets and their owners:
Big Barker & Barker Junior Beds
While visiting the renowned Ryan Veterinary hospital at the University of Pennsylvania, I spoke to a veterinarian involved in a study of dogs with arthritis. I asked her what I could do to help my elderly Shepherd, named True, who had arthritis in her knees and back and hip dysplasia. Since True had started falling and being unable to get back up by herself, I expected to hear about a new medication or procedure. To my surprise, she advised me to get a Big Barker bed.
Joint conditions are one of the most widely undiagnosed problems in dogs, particularly big dogs. Although skeptical, I was curious to try one. I was amazed! Just two weeks after she was using the bed regularly, (combined with Treatables, which I will talk about next), True was no longer falling. In fact, numerous friends and family commented that she was walking more steadily.
The Big Barker is the world’s first therapeutic mattress for big dogs. The “Extra Large” that I got is actually big enough for my Shepherd to stretch out on! The Junior is for dogs under 50 pounds. My Chihuahua mix and my mini Schnoodle love to take over True’s bed! All the beds are made by experts in the USA using top quality materials and come with a 10-year guarantee.
Treatible biscuits are much more than “treats.” They contain hemp oil. The company has over ten years of experience in scientific phytocannabinoid infusion. Phytocannabinoids have been proven to be effective in helping pets with issues such as anxiety, joint pain, loss of appetite, nausea, inflammation, mobility problems and cancer-related issues.
And they fit my standards for treats—high quality ingredients with antioxidants.
These incredible treats—which my dogs tell me are delicious—have made a visible difference with all three of my canine family members. As I mentioned, the combination of the Big Barker bed and Treatibles made more of a difference in my 13-year-old Shepherd’s ability to walk without falling than Glucosamine/Chondroitin, Adequan and acupuncture. When my Mini Schnoodle was diagnosed with kidney disease, Treatables helped her nausea and other discomfort. Once these issues got worse, she needed medication, but the treats seemed to help minimize discomfort between pill doses. My Chihuahua mix was badly abused before I adopted him. Treatables lessened his fear of loud noises, including thunder.
By the way, I tested the effectiveness of the bed and treats by removing all elements from True’s life that might be helping her achieve increased steadiness, including the glucosamine chondroitin. I then put them back into her daily routine, each at a specific time, to see which combination was truly making the difference. It was the combo of the bed and the Treatables that did the trick.
GingerLead makes wonderful padded sling supports for dogs who have temporary or permanent weakness in their rear legs and/or back. Even with the benefits of the products I mentioned previously, True still needs help if she has to walk over obstacles, is especially tired, or has to get into the car. But if you’ve ever tried to carry a German Shepherd or hoist her into a vehicle, you’ll see why I really love the GingerLead! The padding makes it comfortable for her, the outside construction is durable, light nylon, the handles are adjustable and padded for my comfort, and the unit has an attached lead that hooks onto the dog’s harness. This has made life much easier for both me and True.
Einstein Pets Signature Treats
I really like Einstein Pets Sigature Treats because they have Chia seeds, which have three times more Omega-3 than salmon. Omega-3 is important for healthy joints, the immune system, eyes, and skin. One of my dogs has kidney disease and another might be in the early stage of liver disease. Pets with these diseases must minimize the amount of animal protein they ingest. The protein they do eat must be high quality. Most of the Einstein Pets treat varieties have no animal protein. All have high-quality ingredients. Chia seeds also help dogs with diabetes stabilize their blood sugar.
There aren’t many treats on the market I feel good giving to my senior dogs—but Einstein Pets treats are one of them.
When my Shepherd was a young athlete, she wore rugged boots to protect her feet from sharp rocks, broken glass, snow and ice. Now that she is 13, she needs lighter boots to grip slippery floors so her legs don’t slide out from under her. Another challenge is that the toes on True’s back feet curl under when she walks—a symptom of the nerve damage resulting from spine degeneration. She would end up with scraped, bloody toes by the end of a walk. I needed to find boots that had excellent traction and rubber that was heavy enough on the toes to not wear out, but light enough to not trip her up. Like Goldilocks, we finally found the boots that were “just right.”
RuffWear Grip Tex are awesome! They fit really well and are a perfect balance of protective yet light. And they don’t come off her until I take them off.
It’s very hard to find a rolling pet carrier for a 20-pound dog. But I found one. Not only is it perfect for smaller dogs, it’s also light and eco-friendly as well.
The Madison pet bag by A Pet With Paws is just big enough for my mini Schnoodle and can be purchased with the light, foldable Pet Trek. The bag slides down the Pet Trek so you can roll your dog to your destination. My Schnoodle, like many older or sick dogs, gets tired very easily, so when I have to walk somewhere in a hurry, the Madison and Pet Trek combo are a huge help.
When our pets get older, they often start having accidents inside the house. Finding a cleaning service that can get out those stains and odors using techniques that are safe for pets and children is a challenge. What I love about Zerorez is that it meets those challenges—and does so very well—without leaving a sticky, soapy residue.
Zerorez is a Washnington-area carpet and rug cleaning service. The company uses electrolyzed and oxidized water to create a powerful cleaning solution that cleans better than detergent, but is safe enough to drink. It doesn’t contain soaps or detergents and is therefore safe for both two- and four-footed family members.
Zerorez also sells their patented cleaning fluid through their website. That means even if you don't live in the DC area, you'll still be able to enjoy your beloved pets well into their senior years and have clean, fresh-smelling carpets and rugs.
Since summer is here, I thought it would be timely to talk about the best hotels for senior dogs. Kimptons are both my and my pets' favorite 4-star hotels. They have no pet fees and NO limit on the number of or size of dogs who stay with them. Their policy is, "If your pets fit through the door, we'll welcome them in." Many hotels claim to be pet-friendly, but Kimpton outdoes them all. One of their managers at the Palomar Hotel in Washington, DC once pet-sat one of my rescues who had separation anxiety. Food and water bowls for your fur babies are provided--and no matter your pets' size, there is a bed for them too. My dogs, however, prefer to join me on Kimpton's luxurious mattresses. All Kimpton hotels have wonderful amenities, including excellent restaurants, 24-hour gyms, personal yoga equipment, and in-room massages. They also have free, top quality tea and coffee in morning and a free wine and snack hour at 5 pm. Maybe that’s not something that most senior dogs appreciate—but I know I do.
While there are other are pet-friendly hotels, Kimpton Hotels distinguish themselves by being pet-employers. Some Kimpton Hotels have a Director of Pet Relations on the premises, a furry four-footed greeter of guests, tester of pet amenities, and fixture at the nightly wine and snack hours. So even when you don’t bring your own dogs with you, be assured that you’ll be able to get your minimum daily requirement of canine love and attention when you stay there.
This hotel has been a special place for my senior dogs and me. The Inn at Little Washington is located on picturesque Virginia acreage about 70 miles west of Washington, DC. Every detail at the property is sumptuous, from the European furnishings to the wood-burning fireplaces. The restaurant here is internationally famous. The chef and owner, Patrick O’Connell, has won five James Beard Awards and two Michelin stars.
What I love most as the "owner" of senior dogs is that you can stay in a private cottage with your pets. No worries about stairs for your dog with joint problems or stress of getting through a busy lobby when your elderly dogs are not able to hold their bladders for long. Your dogs can simply walk out your front door to your own private yard.
So many dog throws are fine for a family room, but not your living room. The Mambe furniture cover is just what I have been searching for. It's elegant, soft, silky and 100% waterproof! So even with a large incontinent dog, I can have a beautiful large throw and my expensive sofa is fully protected.
The furniture cover comes in four sizes. The small and medium can be used as a throw. The large and long sizes are big enough to cover a bed or a sofa. Mambe products are made of high-quality, long-fiber fleece with a 100% waterproof membrane sewn in between the two color reversible fabrics. Pet fur shakes right off.