Vicki
Administrator
TLC keeps Kush going
1:00p.m. 12th June 2009
| By Blythe Seinor
Fifteen-year-old Kush just loves the beach Photo:Brett Wortman
Photo Gallery: 15-year-old Kush
Fifteen-year-old Kush may be the oldest English mastiff in Australia.
Meet Kush.
The loveable, huggable ball of fur from Coolum could be the oldest English Mastiff in Australia.
At 15 years of age in dog years (or 105 in human years), Kush has far outlived the life expectancy of her breed, which usually is a maximum of nine or 10.
And the secret to Kush's longevity?
A diet free of processed foods, according to her owner and best friend Phil Newman.
As a naturopath, Phil decided early on he would not feed Kush tinned dog food. Instead, she eats raw meat, bones, vegetables and herbs.
In addition to the no-processed food rule, Phil said he did not feed Kush every day.
"In the wild a dog would make a kill and gorge itself and not have another kill for a couple of days," Phil said.
He said in all her 15 years, Kush had never once been to the vet.
These days, she spends most of her time greeting clients at the Migraine and Chronic Pain Clinic in Marcoola.
However she is also a mum of 60 and was previously a "hospice dog" in Melbourne, where she visited cancer patients.
"She comes in (to the clinic) half the time because I don't like leaving her by herself, she likes to meet people," Phil said.
He said he could not do without Kush.
"She loves babies, she loves women... she loves a pat. She'll always go up to a woman who comes into the clinic, she just wants some TLC (tender loving care)," Phil said.
"She has a really good nature and she's a great guard dog. If she doesn't like someone she lets that person know. She's a lovely old dog and wouldn't hurt a thing."
Phil said he was surprised Kush was still alive and said he hoped she would continue to surprise him with her longevity.
He said he knew of an English Mastiff in Australia that was 14 years old, but believed Kush to be the oldest in the country.
http://www.thedaily.com.au/news/2009/jun/12/tlc-keeps-kush-going/
1:00p.m. 12th June 2009
| By Blythe Seinor
Fifteen-year-old Kush just loves the beach Photo:Brett Wortman
Photo Gallery: 15-year-old Kush
Fifteen-year-old Kush may be the oldest English mastiff in Australia.
Meet Kush.
The loveable, huggable ball of fur from Coolum could be the oldest English Mastiff in Australia.
At 15 years of age in dog years (or 105 in human years), Kush has far outlived the life expectancy of her breed, which usually is a maximum of nine or 10.
And the secret to Kush's longevity?
A diet free of processed foods, according to her owner and best friend Phil Newman.
As a naturopath, Phil decided early on he would not feed Kush tinned dog food. Instead, she eats raw meat, bones, vegetables and herbs.
In addition to the no-processed food rule, Phil said he did not feed Kush every day.
"In the wild a dog would make a kill and gorge itself and not have another kill for a couple of days," Phil said.
He said in all her 15 years, Kush had never once been to the vet.
These days, she spends most of her time greeting clients at the Migraine and Chronic Pain Clinic in Marcoola.
However she is also a mum of 60 and was previously a "hospice dog" in Melbourne, where she visited cancer patients.
"She comes in (to the clinic) half the time because I don't like leaving her by herself, she likes to meet people," Phil said.
He said he could not do without Kush.
"She loves babies, she loves women... she loves a pat. She'll always go up to a woman who comes into the clinic, she just wants some TLC (tender loving care)," Phil said.
"She has a really good nature and she's a great guard dog. If she doesn't like someone she lets that person know. She's a lovely old dog and wouldn't hurt a thing."
Phil said he was surprised Kush was still alive and said he hoped she would continue to surprise him with her longevity.
He said he knew of an English Mastiff in Australia that was 14 years old, but believed Kush to be the oldest in the country.
http://www.thedaily.com.au/news/2009/jun/12/tlc-keeps-kush-going/
