Preventing Brain Aging in Dogs

What if you could keep your dog young forever? Forget all the housebreaking and training for a moment, and just imagine your dog staying spry, alert, and energetic well into adulthood. Chances are you’d be all for it. Just as with humans, aging can have negative effects on a pup’s brain, and the lively, social companion you know and love starts to lose the pep in his step.

Know the signs

It doesn’t take a brainiac to tell if your dog could benefit from a little extra brain food. Here are some signs your dog’s brain is aging:

• Frequent soiling accidents in housebroken dogs
• Stops responding to verbal cues or commands
• Appears confused or lost in familiar spaces
• Stares off into space
• No longer wants to be pet
• No longer recognizes familiar people
• Sleeps more than usual, particularly during the day

Fortunately, there are plenty of things pup parents can do to keep our pets’ minds active and healthy, from the food we feed them to the way we play. Ollie’s vet-formulated recipes make it easy to feed both your dog’s body and mind, keeping them sharp beyond puppyhood. Get a load of the brain food found in our fresh recipes:

Omega-3 fatty acids

Why be an alpha dog, when you can be an omega dog? Brain development is why! Omega -3 fatty acids are healthy fats that boast a wide range of health benefits, including brain development in puppies and providing cognitive support for aging dogs. Ollie uses fish oils in each recipe, as well as eggs and chia seeds to give your pup a healthy boost of omega-3s.

B Vitamins

Next time you pop a B-complex vitamin, scoop out some Ollie for your pup too. You’re basically treating yourselves to the same health benefits. In general, B vitamins are essential to brain function in both humans and dogs, but it’s B-6 and B-12 that should stay top of mind. B-6 and B-12 vitamins aid in brain development, as well as have proven effective in improving memory and preventing memory loss — so your pup will never forget where he buried his favorite chew toy.

Vitamins C & E

When it comes to brains, antioxidants are the game. Antioxidant-rich foods help combat the free radicals found in air pollutants and pesticides, which cause cellular damage that can lead to brain degeneration. Berries and leafy greens are prime sources of antioxidants, which is why you’ll find blueberries, spinach, and kale hanging out in Ollie’s recipes.

Luteolin

One quick scan of Ollie’s food labels and you’ll see rosemary come up again and again. What might seem like just a simple seasoning actually packs a lot of punch nutritionally? Rosemary, as well as other foods like carrots, green peppers, and celery, are excellent sources of Luteolin, which has anti-inflammatory properties that target brain inflammation and has even shown to help restore memory in animals.

The Ollie blog is devoted to helping pet parents lead healthier lives with their pups. If you want to learn more about our fresh, human-grade food, check out MyOllie.com.