Old Age doesn’t have to include Pain & Discomfort.
It’s a misconception that pain and discomfort are a natural part of getting older…something we have to learn to live with.
Anyone living with chronic pain will tell you it’s debilitating, affecting EVERY area of their life. If relief was available, they would use it - be it lifestyle adaptions, medication, supplements or equipment - they would try ALL the things!
If Grandma couldn’t get out of bed due to hip-pain, doctors would do everything possible to help alleviate her discomfort and bring some normality back to her life.
Our senior dogs are no different, and yet they are often overlooked because pain can be hard to identify, even for veterinarians!
Welcome to SMART Support - a wholistic approach to senior dog care.
Your Senior Dog’s SMART Support & Dynamic Assessment is the missing piece to your dog’s pain-puzzle - or at least a great opportunity to take a deep dive into their daily life, and add some sparkle to their Golden Years.
S.M.A.R.T stands for Simple Management And R+ Techniques
* R+ aka Positive Reinforcement.
Change In Behaviour
Is your dog slow on walks, sensitive to touch, experiencing anxiety, or snapping at kids?
Recent Diagnosis
Does your dog have a musculo- skeletal condition such as IVDD, arthritis, or hip dysplasia?
Anticipatory Grief
Are you looking for support with palliative care, assessing quality of life or preparing for pet loss?
Let me show you what’s possible…
✓ Games & Activities to help slow cognitive decline
✓ Lifestyle Adaptations specific to your dog’s needs & medical conditions
✓ Exercise Options to support joints health & muscle condition
✓ Equipment Recommendations to help with mobility & palliative care
✓ Management Strategies to use around young kids or puppies
✓ Senior Dog Care Tips - everything from incontinence to pill delivery
Do I ONLY work with Senior Dogs?
No - I specialize in separation anxiety, and dogs with musculoskeletal conditions such as osteoarthritis, IVDD, hip dysplasia, luxating patella, spondylosis etc.
These conditions are often attributed to dogs in their senior years, but can actually affect ANY dog - at ANY age.
Your Senior Dog’s SMART Support Services are available to anyone looking to improve the quality of their dog’s life - no matter their age.
The SMART Support process:
Phase 1: Deep Dive Consultation
We start with a 90-min consultation, taking a Deep Dive into every aspect of your dog’s life - from medical history to what they ate for breakfast! This consultation forms the foundation for your Blueprint and Dynamic Assessment.
Phase 2: SMART Support Blueprint
This is a 60-min consultation. We take the findings from our Deep Dive and create and action plan & Blueprint - addressing ALL the areas that are important to you and your dog. This can include lifestyle adaptations, hospice care, or support with anticipatory grief. We can cover ALL the things!
Phase 3: Dynamic Assessment & Vet Report
Part of your homework from the Deep Dive is to take photos and videos of your dog doing “everyday things”. I then spend 4-6 hours going though all the evidence you send me, assessing your dog’s posture, gait and movement through daily activities - looking for indicators of pain/discomfort. All my findings are then put into a report for you and your vet.
There is a HUGE correlation between PAIN & BEHAVIOUR. If you have noticed recent changes in your dog’s behaviour, your dog is struggling with anxiety/reactivity, or your Vet is unable to identify areas of pain - this assessment is a Game Changer!
Phase 4: Review & Follow Up
This is a 45-min consultation. Once I’ve completed your Dynamic Assessment & Vet Report I’ll go through all the finds with you - breaking down exactly what I observed. I CAN NOT diagnose conditions, that’s what your Vet does, but I can make it very clear where they need to look - and why.
In this session we also review your SMART Support Blueprint, answering any questions and adding additional resources.
SMART Support For Your Senior Dog
What’s Included:
90 min Deep Dive Consultation
60 min SMART Support Consultation
Custom SMART Support Blueprint & Resources
Dynamic Assessment & Veterinary Report
45 min Review & Follow Up
Veterinary Liaison
Compassionate support via email & WhatsApp
What you’ll learn:
✓ Identified areas of pain/discomfort
✓ Lifestyle adaptations to reduces stress, anxiety & discomfort
✓ Enrichment & exercise options
✓ Answers to ALL your questions
✓ How to advocate for your dog - both at home and in public
Only $450 CD
(or around $333 USD)
Your Senior Dog Services are designed to compliment the work you do with your Veterinary Team. I can not diagnose medical conditions, or comment on specific pharmaceutical medications.
Questions I’m often asked:
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Yes! I specialize in separation anxiety, and dogs with musculoskeletal conditions such as osteoarthritis, IVDD, hip dysplasia, luxating patella, spondylosis etc.
These conditions are often attributed to dogs in their senior years, but can actually affect ANY dog - at ANY age.
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A Dynamic Assessment looks at ALL aspects of your dog’s life - and by analyzing the footage you send me I can often pick out areas where we can make impactful changes - independent of a diagnosis.
A Dynamic Assessment also provides a comprehensive review of how your dog is currently able to move - this can be a really valuable asset as a condition progresses.
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Separation anxiety can develop for a number of reasons, but in a senior dog - who’s never experienced anxiety in their puppy/adult years - it can be an indication of cognitive decline, impaired vision or hearing loss, or a symptom of pain/discomfort.
If this is a new behaviour it’s time to book a Health Check with your veterinarian.
If your dog has a history of SA you can book a FREE 30 min chat with me. -
If the grief you’re experiencing is affecting daily living, you’re suffering from depression, or have thoughts of self-harm, you need to speak with a Board Certified Grief Counsellor.
Please reach out to me and I will provide you with a referral. You are not alone in this.
With Saffrina’s help I was better able to advocate for Cooper at the vet clinic.
Saffrina is kind, knowledgeable and empathetic. My sweet 15 year old dog was showing signs of Intervertebral Disc Herniation and I knew nothing about it or what to expect. I took him to my local vet and got medications for him and he quickly went down hill.
Saffrina gave me the knowledge and the confidence to go back to the vet and make requests I didn't know I was able to. Saffrina got us through one of the hardest times with our dog Cooper and now he is on the path to healing.
My goal was to give him comfort in his final years and with Saffrina’s help that is possible. When the day comes that Cooper crosses the rainbow bridge I will be consulting with Saffrina again about coming to terms with the massive loss of my soul dog.
Thank you Saffrina for your guidance, friendship and knowledge. Cooper and I are so much better for it. I don't think Cooper would be here or have comfort in his final times without you.
♡ Nicole & Cooper - Campbell River, BC
Was great to see such an improvement…
As our dog, Brio, has grown older we have noticed changes in her both physically and mentally…not all for the better. Saffrina at Your Senior Dog has been amazing at offering a wide variety of solutions tailored specifically to our needs. She offered judgement free suggestions that left us feeling empowered and hopeful to help ensure Brio can thrive. Saffrina created a custom plan addressing each one of our problem areas making it easy to refer back to so we can stay on track.
If you are interested in working to ensure your senior dog has the best quality of life while easing their anxiety and pains I highly suggest connecting with Saffrina!
♡ Sara & Brio - North Vancouver, BC
Saffrina helped me embrace this new phase of Tic’s life.
I originally reached out to Saffrina because of her specialization in senior dogs. Tic Tac, my sassy 16-year-old Jack Russell, had been diagnosed with CHF, chronic bronchitis, Cushing’s, and severe arthritis. Her ability to do things was severely limited and I wanted her to have the best quality of life she could have. Saffrina was such a blessing. She created a plan to bring new scents and exposure to novel items for Tic to explore and engage with. Tic loved engaging through her nose. She also helped me to deal with the emotions I was experiencing and helped me to embrace this new phase of Tic’s life.
Unfortunately, a few weeks in my sweet girl went to emergency and they found a tumor and we had to pivot. I had to make the hard decisions and Saffrina was with me every step of the way. It was as if she knew exactly what I needed to hear and when. She listened to my sadness, my fears, my guilt, my understanding of who Tic was and what could be without judgment, with empathy, and a nice dose of reality. She never left my side during the hardest days. I can’t imagine how I would have managed my grief without her warmth, knowledge, and acceptance of all that was (and is) Tic and I.
♡ Tara & Tic Tac - Florida, US
