Happy Fursday Friends!
I hope you are all having a great week so far. I’m happy to report that I made it through all of those Fourth of July fireworks. Why do you humans love loud noises so much???
This week, I wanted to spend some time focusing on nutritional tips to help reduce muscle loss. Just like humans, your four-legged family members can lose muscle as they age. Thankfully, it is possible to significantly slow age-related muscle loss with nutrient dense food and supplements. Let’s discuss some nutrients that you may want to consider increasing or adding to your dog’s diet after talking with your veterinarian.*
Protein:
If your dog does not receive an adequate amount of protein from their diet, they may not be able to maintain their existing muscle mass. Special consideration needs to be given for dogs with specific conditions such as chronic kidney disease as these dogs may not be able to tolerate diets that are high in protein. Commercial pet foods can vary significantly with their protein content. Switching from one brand of dog food to another brand can inadvertently lead to muscle loss as pet food labels provide limited information. This is why it is important to discuss diet and protein intake with your veterinarian who can determine which foods would bet support your dog’s muscle health.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids:
Inflammation can contribute to age-related muscle loss in both dogs and humans. Dogs that become ill due to a serious chronic disease such as congestive heart failure (CHF), chronic kidney disease (CKD) or cancer often develop a serious form of muscle loss known as cachexia. In studies involving CHF-related cachexia, dogs that received omega-3 fatty acid supplementation did experience a decrease in inflammatory activity and a decrease in muscle loss. The most common source of omega-3 fatty acids is fish oil but there are other sources as well such as flax and algae. Your veterinarian may be able to advise you on selecting the right omega-3 fatty acid supplement.
Fortetropin®:
MYOS Canine Muscle Formula, powered by Fortetropin is a nutrition product for dogs that is comprised of 100% fertilized, egg yolk powder. The product is different from other egg yolk powder products on the market in that it is made from yolks of fertilized eggs via a patented low temperature technologies to pasteurize and dry it. The advanced manufacturing process helps to maintain the integrity of the biomolecules that are found within fertilized egg yolk while effectively destroying harmful pathogens. In a clinical study that was completed at Kansas State University in 2019, dogs that received MYOS Canine Muscle Formula on a daily basis following a common orthopedic procedure known as “TPLO surgery” experienced less muscle loss and improved recovery during the 8 weeks that followed surgery.
*Millie is a dog who writes a blog. She is not a veterinarian and therefore this article is not intended as medical advice. Please consult your veterinarian to discuss how to address your pet's specific needs.