Caring for Immobile Dogs

Dogs that went through an accident or have a certain illness could become immobile. They could lose the ability to move and control their legs, have difficulty walking or end up lying around all day. This is a sad situation but there are still a few things that dog owners can do to help their pets be able to move again.

Therapy

Dog owners can now sign their dogs up for physical therapy sessions at their local animal clinic or hospital. There are some physical therapists that specialize in animals but some vets are also knowledgeable about the practices and therapies to help dogs be able to walk again. Dogs who undergo therapy, especially the ones that are ill with degenerative myelopathy, tend to develop the illness slower and regain control of their paws.

Ramps

Little things like ramps and elevations can help your dog get around the house or into your car a bit easier. You don’t have to purchase those expensive ramps, you can just create one out of some wood or even just get the inexpensive ones. These help your do move up the stairs, get into cars and even go from one floor to another in your house.

Booties and mats

If your dog has a hard time standing up because it can’t control its lower limbs anymore, let them wear a bootie so that they can have a better grip on the floor. Another way to help them out is to place mats on areas in the house where they might need to turn. This helps to avoid them from slipping and tripping. This helps dogs with arthritis and degenerative myelopathywhen keeping their balance and not falling off.

Wheelchairs

If your dog has completely lost its ability to move its hind legs, then getting it a wheelchair will help. Ask your vet id they can offer a good doctor that can fit your dog a wheelchair. Don’t just get any readymade one since this could not be the right fit and size for your dog. 

Medication
Although some immobility problems are not curable, you can still help minimize symptoms by giving your dog some medication. Other vets would just advise some additional food supplement and extra exercise. Before giving your dog any form of medication or food supplement, make sure that the vet approves it first. Regular check-ups are also advisable.

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Pet Life – Listing your Dog as a Therapy Dog

If you want your pet to become more than just a home and family dog, try having it listed as a therapy dog at your local clinic, hospital or other health facility.

Pets have long been used to make us feel better, especially dogs. People of all ages react well with therapy dogs, which help them stay happy through their recovery. Therapy dogs are also great when it comes to children since it gives them something to look forward to while they get well.

But not all dogs are eligible to become therapy dog. Your dog may not have the right personality or could be sick with dm in dogs. This could affect their ability to help the therapist. Dogs that are well socialized are great for the job, but dogs that are hesitant with strangers may need more training. Below are other things that you need to watch for before signing them up.

Handle well with the handler

Not unless you’re actually the one handling your pet, your dog and the handler must have a good relationship with each other. Most handlers are commonly therapists or health care professionals who took up a specialty in therapy, so they should know how to deal with your dog and the person they are interacting with. Check how your dog reacts and moves around with the handler to see how they work together.

Heath

Your dog’s own health should also be taken in consideration. If your dog has illnesses like arthritis, joint problems or dm in dogs, they may not stay as therapy dogs for long because of their illness’s progression. Same thing goes to dogs that are sickly. You’ll want to make sure that your dog is healthy and fit before training them to become a therapy dog.

Personality
As mentioned earlier, your dog needs to have a sociable personality. If your dog is really open and welcoming to strangers, then they could make the perfect therapy dog. You have to watch their temperament because your dog might be rough with the patients.

Size

Toy dogs are wonderful therapy dogs, but medium and large sized dogs also do very well with this job. When it comes to large therapy dogs, you have to be really watchful especially with younger children. You dog could over power them and hurt them by accident, but most well trained therapy dogs know how to control themselves around kids.

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All Meat vs. all Dog Food Diets – Which is better for your Dog?

Our pet’s nutrition has always been a main concern. We want to make sure that our dog stays healthy, happy and in good shape. There are a lot of things to consider when picking out the right diet for our pet. Some people say that an all meat diet is the best way to go while others say that dog food is enough for your dog. Both diets have their pros and cons and it may be difficult to choose from one. Here is a short comparison between the benefits and downside of an all meat and an all dog food diet.

 All meat

Dogs naturally eat all meat in the wild. They more or less have the same dietary need as humans however they need more meat and protein in their diet. Dogs that have meat based diets usually have shinier coats, strong muscles and bones and healthier jaws and teeth. Meat and bones also go along with each other and your dog will definitely enjoy chewing on a bone for hours on end. Some people recommend raw meat while others prefer to serve their dogs cooked and prepared meat. A downside of giving them this diet is the cost. Luckily, dogs don’t mind what type of cut or meat you give them so you can just purchase the most affordable parts and serve it to them, but this still gets a bit expensive over time. Some dogs are also not allowed to go on all meat diets, such as dogs that have degenerative myelopathy. You will also need to give them vitamins and supplements since meat doesn’t contain all the nutrients they need.

Dog food

Easy to serve and buy, dog food can be bought anywhere these days. Today, dog food formulas have become more complex and contain all the important vitamins and minerals your dog needs so you don’t have to give them food supplements anymore. You don’t have to prepare this and you can easily store in in a cupboard somewhere in your kitchen. Semi-solid dog food, like the ones you get in cans, are also easy to feed to dog. This makes feeding time for dogs that have mobility issues, like in cases of dogs that have degenerative myelopathy, easier. Price is more reasonable, but you should never feed your dog cheap dog food. The main down side of giving your pet dog food is that you don’t really know what the mixture is made out of. If you want to make sure your dog’s getting nothing but natural ingredients, it’s going to be difficult.

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Top Vitamins that your Dog Needs

As a dog owner, your top priority should be doing all you can to keep your dog fit and healthy. Many dog owners, however, do this by concentrating on buying good dog food and ensuring their dogs get enough time to run and play around.

Exercise, however, is just one of the many important components of dog health. In fact, it’s better to be more cautious about what your dog eats and if they are getting enough vitamins and minerals.

A high quality, well balanced dog food mix that you can get in most pet shops or even supermarkets is enough to give your dog all their daily nutritional needs. The science behind creating dog food has become more high tech and accurate, so you don’t have to give your do supplements if you are giving them a good dog food brand.

Differences between Dogs
Keep in mind that older dogs and younger dogs have different nutritional needs. Puppies for instance, need higher doses of vitamins and minerals to help them grow and develop properly.

When it comes to older dogs on the other hand, it’s usually a case to case basis. Dogs with problems such as DM in dogs, will need more nutrients, but healthy older dogs usually need vitamins in small amounts.

Below are the essential minerals and vitamins that you need to give to your dog.

Vitamin A

This vitamin helps your dog stay fit by burning extra fats, making it easier for them to lose weight, especially if they’re too large for their size and age. Vitamin A also helps rid their bodies of toxins that they could have eaten or absorbed through the skin. You can give them liver or eggs if you want to boost up this vitamin on their daily intake.

Vitamin B-12

This vitamin helps stimulate cell growth, nerve and muscle development. With proper exercise, the right amount of this vitamin can help your dog develop strong muscles and healthy nerves. It can even prevent serious health problems such as DM in dogs.

Iron

Helps keep blood cells healthy as they’re transported all over the body. For higher iron, give them meat products, which are rich in the stuff.

Potassium

Give your dog a healthy heart with this mineral. It’s also a good idea to feed your dog with some kind of carbohydrate-rich food, which is likely to be rich in potassium.

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Dog Care – 5 Tips on Taking Care of a Sick Dog

Many of us start to panic when our dog gets sick. This is mainly because we do not know what to do. Below are some simple tips on how to take care of a sick dog.

Keep them warm

When your dog is sick, it’s best that you keep it warm. As much as possible, keep your dog inside the house at all times. If you have to go for a walk or a trip to the vet, do not say outdoors for too long. You can also bring around a blanket with you or make your dog wear some kind of jacket. Dogs that have degenerative myelopathy might have a hard time moving around so use a body supporting contraption to keep them warm and support them as they move.

Give them water

Like humans, dogs also need to consume enough water so they recover from their illness faster. Keeping your dog hydrated will not only prevent it from suffering a heat stroke, the water also helps flush toxins out of the body. Give your dog clean drinking water and change it every few hours or so. You also need to clean your dog’s water bowl every time you change the water.

Change of diet

Some vets will actually advise dog owners to change the dog’s diet when they are sick. If they are having a hard time eating on their own, you can help them by giving them semi-solid food and use a syringe to feed them.

Other people would also give their dog puppy-specific food when they are sick. Puppy food contains more nutrients compared to normal dog food, helping ensure that even a dog that’s ill still the nutrients it needs even it doesn’t consume the amount of food it normally does. For example, dogs that have degenerative myelopathy will need more vitamin B in their diet, so a vitamin rich brand or type of dog food could be beneficial.

Medication

Medication is important to help the dog get well, but before giving any medication to your dog, you have to talk to a vet first. Get the correct prescription and dosage because giving your dog too much or the wrong medication can poison it. But the medication from the vet or from the pet shop and do not give your pet human medicine.

Veterinarian

Visit the veterinarian to get a full diagnosis of your dog’s illness. Ask what you can do to help the dog get better as soon as possible.

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Adopted Dogs – Helping them through their Adjustment Problems

Adopting a dog is a wonderful thing to do. You are giving a helpless dog a second chance in life, taking them out of a life in cages and holding pens, or worse, a fate that may involve them being put to sleep. Taking in an adopted dog to a new home usually calls for minor adjustment problems, both for you and your family as well as the new pet. However, some adopted dogs have been through a lot of abuse and suffering. Even if the animal shelter says that the dog is cleared for adoption, they may not have looked at factors that could cause the dog to feel fear, anxiety and even extreme hyperactivity when they move it with their new owners.

So how do you deal with your dog’s odd behavior?
Just let it be. You can simply keep it calm and make it feel that it’s going to be fine. Try to make it feel that it’s not such as big deal. He will soon find out that his fears and worries are just for nothing. However, sometimes this is not enough.

Professional intervention

If your dog has a tendency to want to escape or run away from the house, act violently and snarls or bites,  constantly keeps on hiding away from other people, does not eat even if you try to hand feed it, or gets seizure attacks, then you will need to get a professional to help you with the problem. This could be either a health or behavioral problem.

Talk to a Veterinarian

Make sure that it’s not a health issue that’s causing the dog to act strangely. If the dog constantly shakes, have it tested for illnesses like degenerative myelopathy or other nerve problems. If he does not eat or vomits, check if his stomach and digestion is ok. They could also be suffering from internal damages, so have a few tests run on them just to make sure.

Ask Help from a Trainer
You can definitely ask help from a trainer to modify your dog’s behavior. Choose one that concentrates more on positive reinforcement then punishment. It may take the dog a longer time to learn, but he will not feel threatened if he does not follow orders.

Family

Make sure that your family knows how to deal with the dog. Younger children need to be watched over very careful around the dog since they might place themselves and the dog in harm. If you adopted a dog that is already ill with a progressing illness, such as arthritis or degenerative myelopathy, you will have to make sure that you and the other family members can actually give time to help the dog recover and get better. 

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Common Nerve Disorders Amongst Dogs

In humans and animals, nerves control all body movement. Any disorder that affects the nervous system is bound to cause mobility problems. In many cases, the normal function of that body part will never get back to normal. Dogs are also affected with nerve disorders, especially if they are already in their senior years. Below are some common nerve disorders amongst dogs that you should know about.

Peripheral Neuropathy

This illness is caused by damage or an injury caused by outside sources. Nerves that are spread all though-out the body, controlling the different systems and sending back responses to external and internal stimuli, become weakened as a result of the problem. Loss of consciousness, instability, and spatial disorientation are also other symptoms. This could be caused by toxins, infections, immune or metabolic diseases, and even certain medications that are used to treat cancer.

Radial Nerve Paralysis

Radial nerve paralysis is by far one of the most common nerve problems experienced by dogs. When the dog has this, they have a very hard time using their front legs, resulting with them dragging their paws while walking and damaging their nails. This is usually caused by an injury or excessive stretching. The dog will need some form of therapy and rehabilitation to be able to walk properly again.

Degenerative Myelopathy

Genetics plays a vital roles in this illness. Degenerative myelopathy or DM in dogs, is an illness that affects the dog’s spine and nerves. It usually first affects the dog’s hind legs, causing it drag them while walking. The dog will also shake and lose balance because of the loss of control. The illness will progress and begin to affect the dog’s body, moving up to its torso, front legs, and then their head. DM in dogs eventually results in full body paralysis and manifests in dogs that are in their older years.

Neuromuscular Disorder

With neuromuscular disorders, illnesses such as diabetes, Cushing’s disease, botulism, Addison’s disease, cancer, and tetanus could affect the dog’s neuromuscular system. These disorders could cause swelling of the nerves, leaving the dog in pain. They may also have a hard time when exercising, eating, and even supporting their own weight.

Axonotmesis

This is when nerve fibers rupture due to prolonged pressure, crushing and pinching. It normally takes the dog about a few weeks to a few months to recover from the damage.  Depending on how damaged the body part is, the dog may not regain full ability and control of that part of the body.

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Puppy Care – 8 Vitamins your Pup Needs

Although many of us just buy a random bag of dog food for our dog, it’s actually important that they get a specific blend or formula, especially if they are still puppies. If puppies do not get the right amount of vitamins and minerals, they are more prone to develop illnesses such as DM in dogs and heart problems. Below is a short list of the different types of vitamins your puppy needs to develop a strong and healthy body.

Vitamin A

This is to ensure that the dog’s eyesight stays in top shape. It also helps build a healthy immune system. It’s important however to never overdose your dog on vitamin A since it’s fat soluble and sticks to the dog’s body fats.

Vitamin D

This vitamin is needed for strong muscles and bones. As with vitamin A, it’s a fat soluble vitamin so you should not overdose your dog with it.

Vitamin B

Your dg will need different types of vitamin Bs. Thiamin or vitamin B1 for high carbohydrate metabolism and energy. B6 is needed for a healthy immune, blood, and nervous system. The right amount of B6 also helps prevent DM in dogs. B6 deficiency can cause muscle twitching, weight loss and anemia. Lastly, B12, riboflavin and niacin is needed to help the dog prevent low levels of white blood cells and low appetite.

Calcium
Calcium is needed for strong teeth and bones. The right amount of calcium also helps normal blood coagulation and a strong nervous system. Lack of calcium will cause skeletal abnormalities.
Copper

This might sound unusual, but it’s also very important for proper bone, cell, and tissue formation. It also helps their fur color stay at its best.

Iron

Red blood cells need iron to work properly. These cells transport oxygen all over the body, and if the dog does not get enough of this substance, they become weak and lethargic.

Iodine

Iodine is needed for proper metabolism and thyroid function. Symptoms of Iodine deficiency would include thyroid gland enlargement, dry and sparse fur, and sudden weight gain.

Zinc
Dogs need this to maintain healthy skin and hair. Not having enough zinc can cause skin lesion, vomiting and low weight gain.

The best way to make sure your dog gets enough of the right vitamins and minerals is to get dog food that is appropriate for its age. You can also give it food supplements.

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