my dog katie means the world to me and i need some help?

Question
hey my dog is 6-7 ish i adopted her at the humaine society she is a black lad mix border collie. she was abonded and they didnt know anything about her we gladley took her in and gave her love.now she has became me life i love her dearly and take care of her greatly. today i noticed she has been constipated i wanted to ask if there is any natural (no medications) food or treat of human food to help her out. also i was wondering how old should he be before i begin to feed her senior food? my dog has many problems such as stress (she chews if she leave the house and dont take her. we purchased a kenal (metal bars) from a local pet store but one day we tryed it and went out and came home and the bars were pryed apart so she coul get outi wanted to know how to over come her stress? also my dog has seizeurs she is epaleptic during the summer when it is hot and she is stressed she has them she has only ever had 3 but this is a concern to me because i love her so muchi would like to know how to help this out? my is the most loveable and sentive dog ever she is well trained and lvoes everyone and everything i would never want her to die becuas ehse is my life she makes me whole. so if u have the time answer me question and i realy apprechaite it!!!! many thanks to me and katie:)

Answer
I have all the time you need, Katie;
I feel that way about my dgs too.
Does she stay outside or is she an inhouse dog?
If you have her living outside, I would strongly advise you to NOT let her stay out much in hot days, or very cold days.
Dogs can have nervous conditions just like some people do.
They can have stress, nerves, fears, just a nervous personality even, and they need the same understanding people need when they have a lot of stress or problems.
I put mine on senior formulas  when they get around 8 years old.
A lot depoends on the amount of exercise the dog gets, how their health is, and if they have weight problems, Arthritis etc.
I have put thm on a senior formula as early as 5 years old, and as late as 9 years old.
If you live in a high polution area, like North Texas, where I live, and you have a lot of pollen and other allergins, that is even more reason to keep her inside more in hot weather especially.
For stress, and fears, nerves etc, the best help I have found is in animal massage.
It is also great for reieving pain, with fewer medications when they get old, and are suffering from Arthritis etc.
It is easy to learn how to do it, from a video, and you can go to this website and read about what can be done with these massages, and order a video from there to learn to give them.
I have videos for dogs, cats and horses. Those are the animals different members of our family have,
I realy can't praise these massages enough. I have had such great results with curing fears, easing nerves and stress, and aggression etc, in addition to the pain relief.
Check out     www.lindatellington-jones.com

I don't like those crates at all, and apparently neither does your baby.LOL
Ain't no jail can hold her.LOL

border collies are very sensitive and loving and nurturing dogs, and very protective, and those are the same traits in a Lab, so you got the best of both breeds, and I have not seen many traits from either of these breeds I don't care for.
We have a little Sheltie, and they are tempered and natured much like a sheltie.
Same little hyper ball of layfulness.
I don't like to think about losing them either, but the sad fact is, they just don't have as long a lifespan as we do.
I have been fostering for rescue groups for some time, and all 4 of the dogs I have now are rescues I kept.
I have had to lose a lot of dogs to old age, and it never gets easier.
The one thing I do, because all mine have helped me train the new foster dogs and teach them how to live in a family, while we find good permanent homes for them, when I do have to lose one to old age, or unhappily, several to illnesses that could not be cured or fixed, I take another eescue.
They have given so much to my life, that the way I honor all they gave me, is to take in another one of their own, and give it a good, loving home.
I talk about my past dogs to my dogs. I have lots of pictures of all of them.
I have been raising dogs and cats since I was 3 years old. My dad taught me back then, how to take care of my own animals, and I am now 72, so I have had a lot of little four footed babies come through my life, and I remember every one of them.
go to this site and read some of the stories, poems and other things in there.
   www.petloss.com

It will give you a lot of comfort, when they time comes that you do have to lose her, and help you deal with it.
One thing you have to remember. You took her from a terrible life and gave her a happy one, with love and care, and happiness.
She will never forget you.
When you are in the site, read especially the poem," The Rainbow Bridge".
YThat poem gives me so much cmfort, to think all y ittle ones will be waiting there for me.
Go to     www.petloss.com
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The constipation;
Have you given her milk lately?
Or have you changed her food, without mixing it with the old food she is eating?
If you change the food suddenly, it will sometimes constipate them, and sometimes give them Diarrhea.
When you change food brands, or very different formulas withing the same brand, mix it 1/2 & 1/2 with the new food and the food they are presently eating, for one week, then mix 3 parts new food to 1 part old food, for one week.
Then all new food.
That eases their digestion system through it.
Milk can constipate them or give them Diarrhea.
Not drinking enough water could do it.
If they stop drinking water for some reason, and they could become dehydrated, try giving them some broth, without any fat in it.
She may be will have to NOT be alowed outside for more than just enough time to go pottyt, in the hours when the temp is up.
I really think easing the stress, through massage, will help the stress level enogh to give her some relief from the Epilepsy.
Try to get her to drink more wtaer, and take her for a walk.
Not a fast one that will stress her, and possibly bring on a seizure, but a nice steady long walk.
That very often stimulates their bowels to move.
Call her Veterinarian to see what else he can suggest to soften her bowels.
Write me anytime you think I can help.
Charlotte