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Hydrotherapy Dog Story
This is one of the most amazing stories I want to talk about! I have witnessed two dogs, one in particular, that went from barely being able to walk for any amount of time, to practically running around in circles and walking with minimal difficulty! This is so incredible given the dog’s health condition and circumstances.
I created a video of this dog in my hydrotherapy for dogs section on this website. It is listed under neurological conditions, and is the beginning of Norman’s canine rehabilitation program. I am working on releasing the new video as a follow up to the first one so people can truly see what happens when hydrotherapy for dogs is a consistent regime, and used as a form of therapy.
Some incredible points with this dog: Continue reading
Older Dog Alerts
There are many signs that we need to be aware of when it come to our older dog aging and them changing their behavior. We get used to the everyday routines and may not notice the subtle changes that are taking place with our companion friend. We need to be aware of all of the littlest of changes to know when something is brewing underneath.
My dogs were showing signs of cognitive dysfunction and I immediately recognized it and addressed it with my holistic veterinarian. We ran the usual geriatric tests and determined that yes, there was something not totally normal in my girl’s body and so some precautions were taken. It can be frustrating at times because you begin to worry about your beloved dog and how their health is.
Senior dogs will have health issues of some sort and it is up to us as their caretakers to look after them. They have given their entire lives and dedicated themselves totally to looking after us, spilling out their love unconditionally, and laying their lives on the line if need be. Aging dogs are here to teach us lessons in life. Continue reading
Vital Signs
So many of us don’t know what the baseline is for vital signs for our dogs. The last time you want to discover this is when you are having an emergency and your vet asks what is their temperature reading? Believe me, knowing what the temperature is for normal dogs pales in comparison to knowing that you now have to place a thermometer up your friends butt! Hoping your canine buddy will allow you to do this, it is not the way you want to find out in the last minute! In an emergency it is critical!
I ran across a time when I had to do this and I can’t tell you how frustrating it is when you have a dog who will let you do anything with them because they were very well conditioned as a puppy, and trust you to the end of the earth, until now! Not only do you have to keep your state of calm, relaxed and in charge mindset, you are panicking inside at the possibility of your dog running away through the house with a thermometer hanging from their bum!
It is very important to practice taking your dog’s temperature when they are a baby. One of the few things most of us don’t do. Older dogs may need to have their vital signs checked regularly and I cannot stress the importance of this enough! If there is an emergency, the more you know the better it is for all involved. Continue reading
Older Dogs
Let’s face it folks, we all will have our loving companion getting older and unfortunately, they don’t live as long as we do. While they are here, we need to give them the best possible life ever, overflowing with all of the unconditional love they pour onto us.
Older dogs face an array of difficulties just like people do when they age. It can be very sad watching our once active dog romping around chasing butterflies and them now letting the same butterfly land on their nose and not even caring! What can we do to help?
There are many things we can do to help the aging pet get through their days with much more ease, and less pain from any dog arthritis or other debilitating disease. Very simple and yet helpful tips are: Continue reading
Dogs in a Pool
Hydrotherapy for dogs is a great way to manage all sorts of health ailments. Whether you beloved family member is suffering with dog arthritis or is an older dog that has just slowed down with age, swimming will increase their mobility. Hydrotherapy will also have them feeling years younger than they are!
Dogs in a pool will each vary as to how great they float or sink! I can truly attest to that when I have witnessed dogs who just cannot keep their rear end up and float in the water. Then there are those canines who glide like an eel, ever so smoothly amongst the surface! How can there be such a difference?!
Here are some reasons: Continue reading
Hydrotherapy Aids
Hydrotherapy has been used for horses many years ago. Horses were conditioned and healed by walking in water. Now it has become the norm for the community to utilize this method of treatment for dogs. I am really glad for this!
Canine hydrotherapy is becoming more and more recognized as an alternative method of treatment that has great results. In a pool a dog has no pain when they are moving about. In an underwater treadmill, there is a percentage of weight on the limbs, although the percentages are controlled by the level of the water. On land, all the joints have full weight placed upon them and the dog is mobilizing with pain.
There are numerous different pieces of equipment that can be utilized when an animal is in the water. Some will reduce the effort that they have to expend and some will increase the effort. Read on for a list of them: Continue reading
Staph Infection
Staphylococcus aureus is usually harmless but in susceptible patients can cause severe skin infections, pneumonia and toxic shock syndrome. The strain MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus), is dangerous because it’s highly resistant to treatment with conventional drugs. This can cause internal infections in vulnerable patients. Abscesses causing fevers, pus and pain can develop.
The most common way our dogs contract this is through surgery.
Unfortunately, my own dog contracted this scary and dangerous infection after she had acl surgery for one of her knees. The bacteria enters the dog’s body by way of catheters, surgical wounds, feeding tubes or invasive medical procedures. With dog health care being so advanced today, you would think this cannot happen. However, with people and pets, it is a very real possibility. Continue reading
Powerful Nutrition
Well the most disgustingly, smelly food you could probably ever feed your beloved dog is green tripe. I tell you, when you pull out a pack of this stuff your dog will think it has died and gone to heaven! They will wonder what they ever did to get this royal treatment!
Green tripe is raw, unprocessed stomach tissue from either cows or sheep. It can be purchased from butchers or companies that deal with making raw dog food, packaging and freezing it in portion-able amounts.
This amazing food has been used for many years in Europe, Australia and Russia and is only fairly new to America. Green tripe has been proven to help with all the following:
- dog’s appearance and disposition
- dog’s digestive disorders improve profoundly
- coats become shiny
- eyes become clear and bright
- muscles get toned
- teeth get whiter
- endurance and stamina increases
- stool size decreases
- dogs live far longer
- dogs have fewer health issues
- dogs have fewer injuries
- hot spots, lick granulomas and rashes have improved after eating tripe
- older dogs become more lively and active again Continue reading
Diet and Arthritis
It is known that a dog performing high intensity or endurance exercise requires a higher calorie food intake than a dog which is sedentary. Fat in their diet will provide more than twice the calories than protein or carbohydrate provide. Therefore, increasing the fat content in a dog’s diet will ultimately provide far more calories. This type of diet will actually promote obesity in more sedentary dogs.
It is when we start feeding our dogs a high calorie diet and they are not burning it off that obesity becomes an issue. Arthritis in dogs is more common in an overweight pet than in a trim one. Overweight dogs have a higher incidence of: Continue reading
Nutrition
Dog health care is influenced hugely by what foods we feed them. Illnesses from arthritis in dogs to cruciate ruptures and including cancer in dogs, are directly related to what we feed them. When you think about what we put in our own bodies and how it affects us, why would it not be the same for our wonderful canine friends?
If we eat junk food all the time and fast foods, we will end up with enormous health problems. That is equivalent to feeding our companions a poor quality, inexpensive dry kibble. In fact, if you look at the ingredients listed:
- meat by- products
- corn
- preservatives such as BHA, BHT, and ethoxyquin will usually be in the list
- sweetners
- artificial colors
All of these items are non- condusive to a healthy dog body. Continue reading