A woman who owns an 18-year-old dog has revealed the secrets behind the pup’s incredible longevity.
Mikaela Medina of Chicago, Illinois, has been caring for Toto, the family dog and her beloved childhood pet, for the past two years.
The 30-year-old lawyer insisted that the key to his advanced age is that he only eats organic rice, sleeps in a double bed and travels in a stroller.
Toto is said to have an “exquisite” palate and never eats regular dog kibble or treats.
Mikaela Medina, of Chicago, Illinois, has been caring for Toto, the family dog and her beloved childhood pet, for the past two years.
The 30-year-old lawyer insisted that the key to his advanced age is that he only eats organic rice, sleeps in a double bed and travels in a stroller.
Mikaela believes Toto’s taste for good things began when the family first adopted him.
His parents refused to buy him kibble and instead fed him what they ate, which included many Filipino dishes.
While Mikaela admits she doesn’t have time to continue feeding Toto traditional dishes, she now makes him teriyaki, or roast chicken, with organic jasmine rice made in her own personal rice cooker.
The Jack Russell Chihuahua is often mistaken for a puppy, even though he is about to turn 18 on July 9, which Mikaela attributes to his high-quality diet, which now includes a daily dose of bone broth.
Toto not only has his own order at local chain Jollibee’s for when he’s feeling particularly picky, but he also sleeps in a large double bed and is taken everywhere in a stroller.
“His preference is organic jasmine rice. I’ve tried basmati and long grain. I’ve tried everything (but he won’t eat them),” Mikaela shared.
You won’t have tiny, express rice in the microwave. It has to be in a rice cooker.
It is very particular. I don’t eat rice that often, so it’s just their rice cooker.
Toto is said to have an “exquisite” palate and never eats regular dog kibble or treats.
Mikaela believes Toto’s love of the finer things began when the family first adopted him.
Followers flocked to the comments with jokes and humorous questions.
Mikaela continued: ‘If the food is not to your liking or your palate, you pass it by or you don’t eat it. She goes on hunger strike. She’s kind of a diva.
‘We have our tips or tricks if you don’t eat. You have to salt the fish so that the flavors stand out.
‘If he really doesn’t like the food you’ve given him, we have to take him to Panda Express or Jollibee’s, which is a Filipino chain.
“He has his usual order for that. We ordered fried chicken with sauce and marinated rice. He has an exquisite palate.”
Speaking further about Toto’s popularity, she added: ‘I take him out for walks in the pram these days, because he doesn’t walk as much, because he’s getting older.
“Everyone always says, ‘Oh my God, a puppy,’ but I say, ‘No, this is an old man.’
Everyone says that she looks very young and lively for her age.
“I think it’s been the rice over the years that has kept him young. He’s also very muscular for his age.
“Not eating too many processed foods and drinking bone broth, I think that has extended his life.”
Mikaela admits that she doesn’t have time to feed him traditional dishes, now she prepares him organic teriyaki or roast chicken and jasmine rice from her own personal rice cooker.
Mikaela says that in the past year she’s even started to refuse regular dog treats and now only opts for turkey-flavored Chomp sticks from Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s.
As a puppy, Toto enjoyed traditional Filipino dishes: he ate adobo, a mixture of meat or seafood with vegetables and soy sauce, and tinola, a chicken-based dish made with papaya.
Mikaela said: ‘He’s my childhood dog, so my parents initially raised him.
They said, “We’re not going to buy kibble for this dog.” Two years ago, I moved to Chicago and brought him with me.
“I don’t have time to cook ethnic food for my dog, so now it’s more like rice, teriyaki chicken and roast chicken.
“I’ve tried giving him kibble. When we brought him here I told him, ‘You’re going to be a kibble dog,’ and he just looked at it like it was pebbles on his plate. He doesn’t know what to do with it.
When Toto moved to Chicago with Mikaela, he upgraded from a dog bed to a double bed.
Mikaela said: ‘I have my own bed and he has a big mattress next to my bed.
“He has his own blankets and steps to get in, which help him get out. For him, that’s very diva-like.”
The doting dog lover said that in the last year, Toto even started rejecting regular dog treats and now only opts for turkey-flavored Chomp Sticks from Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s.
‘At Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods, there are turkey sticks called Chomp Sticks.
‘They cost about $2 each. They’re definitely not for dogs, they’re for humans.
‘A year ago I was eating one and I put it down for a second and turned around; when I looked back, he had devoured it. Since then, he has never looked back.
The dog’s mom believes Toto’s high-quality diet and pampered lifestyle have contributed to his puppy-like appearance in his old age.
She added: “My advice to other pet owners would be to take good care of them and they will love you back.”
‘He used to eat regular pepperoni dog treats, but now he only has these turkey-flavored jerky sticks. It’s improved his palate; he’s very refined.’
The dog’s mother believes Toto’s high-quality diet and pampered lifestyle have contributed to his puppy-like appearance in his old age, and she now encourages others to take good care of their pets.
‘He’s so sweet and very gentle. But as he gets older, he has a bit of an attitude,’ Mikaela said.
‘My whole family loves him very much. He’s our first dog from childhood. He’s our only pet. He’s our firstborn.
‘The rice thing worked for us and I really think that’s what has contributed to its longevity.
‘My advice to other pet owners would be to take good care of your pets and they will love you back.’