Embrace Pet Community blog

Celebrating Senior Pets!

This month we're going to be celebrating Senior Pets!  We love their graying muzzles and whiskers, the special way the appreciate a good massage, and the sparkle in their eyes.  There is something special about the lifetime bond that develops with older cats and dogs, and we want to honor that connection that you have with an older animal.

My dogs are both getting on in years (Lyger's 10, and Tahlula's 8) and while I see them slowing down, I feel more in touch with them and their moods now, than when they were spastic younger dogs. I enjoy those quiet moments, watching them snore and enjoy a spot of sunshine, the way only an older pet can. 

Shown right is Cody, an 8 year old Corgi.

Therapy Pets Week: Meet Johnny!

Johnny's story is one too good not to tell.  About 2 years ago, Johnny was picked up as a stray by the local animal control in rural southern Ohio.  Clearly an older dog, he was filthy, mal-nourished, and all signs indicated that he was blind.  Luckily for him, and for the rest of us, they recognized the amazing personality and resilient temperament, and called GRIN (Golden Retrievers in Need).  GRIN picked Johnny up, placed him with a loving foster family, and worked with a vet to determine that his severe visual impairment was irreversible.

Posted on their website, as a "Senior Special Needs Dog" one might wonder how even the greatest of goldens might ever get adopted, let alone a 9 year old blind stray.  That was until Carrie saw his profile, and fell in love.  Carrie, a school psychiatrist, was looking for her next golden, but she didn't yet know that this boy with the white muzzle could be her next therapy partner.

After just a few days in her home, it became clear that Johnny was as capable of most.  When Carrie realized that he was chasing squirrels by scent, it seemed like there was very little that Johnny couldn't do.  She began working with Johnny in training classes (taking most of her training drills from online courses), and within a matter of months, he received his Canine Good Citizen certification from Delta Society.  He was a natural!   The only area of the test that Johnny would need extra preparation for was the distractions segment.  If he was to be a therapy dog, Johnny would need to sit calmly even amidst loud coughing, wheelchairs squeaking and crutches clacking.  But, with consistent socialization, even these sounds became second nature for Johnny.  Now, if Johnny becomes unsure, (as he did on his first elevator ride) he leans in on Carrie's side, for little reassurance.

Now, the best part of the story.  Johnny gets to go to work.  A few mornings a week, Carrie grooms him, and just as soon as his grooming is done, he starts spinning at the door, because he knows it's a work day!  Carrie and Johnny visit various schools, sitting with kids in individual or group sessions.  Johnny lies casually, accepting petting and hugs, often times sticking close to a kid that is having a particularly rough time.  After a few minutes, the kids hardly notice his disability, and by the end of a school year, they're telling Carrie "I want a blind dog when I grow up."

Johnny's work is never finished.  If one of his students is hospitalized, they go visit at bedside.  Over summer break, Johnny visits nursing homes, where he's a favorite of older men, perhaps thinking back on the big retriever they had as a child. 

And at the end of the school year, Johnny gets dozens of cards and from his little friends.  They thank him for listening, for being their best friend, for teaching them what it means to overcome disability.

With Carrie always at his side, Johnny's disability turns to ability. Ability to connect with adults and children in a way that few pets can.

Thank you Carrie and Johnny, for sharing your story.

Like this post?  Meet more therapy dogs:
Meet Inara
Meet Andre

Pawz Dog Boots Review

For those of you that followed the story of Lula's physical therapy we've made great progress, but she's still somewhat weak in her rear legs.  My friend at Bella's Pain Relief recommended we try the Pawz Disposable dog boots.  Honestly, I wasn't sure how much good disposable boots would do on a big dog, but after I saw their testimonial videos, I contacted the Pawz company so that we could try them out.

Pawzare small sock-like boots.  They look a bit like a oddly shaped latex balloon, but a bit more durable.  They're bio-degradable, and can be re-used many times.  There's no velcro, straps or other awkwardness to putting them on.  Just stretch the opening a bit, slip it over your dogs foot, and your dog is in Pawz.   

Surprisingly, Lula didn't really mind us putting the Pawz on.  We'll have her wear them for a few hours a day (less than one hour at a time) around the house, just to help her tone up during play time.  Since we're trying to build her rear legs, so she only wears them on the back feet, and she seems to be completely acclimated to them after just the first day.  Pawz come in 7 sizes, and 85 pound Lula is wearing the Large.  They seemed a little tight around the ankle though, so we cut a tiny slit in the top to loosen them up.

If your dog needs Pawz for mobility, post-surgical recovery, or as a protection against chemicals or hot sand, you can find them at Bella's Pain Relief.

Lula and I give them 2 Pawz up!

Trendy Hound Collar meets high expectations

My husband teased me that I spent more time picking out a new collar than I did picking our our new car.  He's totally right.  To be fair, I look at a lot of great collars for this blog, so I have high expectations on style and quality.  But, the bigger factor was personality.  Tahlula's old collar picked out before we knew anything about her.  While VERY durable, her Lupine collar just didn't suit her.

Tahlula is sensitive and affectionate, and I think of her as very feminine, but not in a cutesy sort of way. She's more of an Audrey Hepburn than a Jessica Simpson--classic, elegant.  So, after much deliberation, we picked the Misty Rose Martingale, from TrendyHound.  It's got very classic lines, with an antique color pallet that complements her black and tan fur.  Just perfect.

     From a functional standpoint, it's got a soft black felt backing so it won't itch or rub her.  The martingale style is ideal, so it sits loosely on her neck, which is better for a dog with a spinal condition.  The hardware is durable and not noisy, and it comes with a nice little tag keeper.

So, yes, I had high expectations, but Trendy Hound lived up to all of them, and for only $16! 

Paws for Paw Safety

After our post on Musher's Secret, we heard from a pet parent that spoke very highly of Pawz disposable booties.  I've heard of Pawz before, after our friends at Bella's Pain Relief recommended them to us for Lula's mobility problems.  In addition to providing traction and support, they offer protection against road salt and winter chemicals.  (Check out this video to see just how easily they go on.)

Pawz are very easy to put on and take off, but stay on and don't frustrate most dogs.  They're disposable, inexpensive and don't make your dog feel clompy or awkward.

Bella's has Pawz starting at $11.99, or use the Pawz store locator. 

Fashionable and Functional Raised Feeders

After reading this two part series on the causes and prevention of Bloat I have a new appreciation for the severity of this condition.  Second to cancer, Bloat is the biggest cause of death in dogs.  There are some simple prevention steps we can take, including cutting back on the amount of fat intake, feeding several smaller meals, and avoiding activity for an hour after eating.  But the two biggest, and easiest changes we can make for our pets are to feed using raised feeders, and slow down bowls.

There are lovely raised feeders out now, like these custom mosaic feeders from Pawsitively Elegant.  They're made with stained glass, wood, and steel bowls, to include your pet's name.  So, as one of their pet parents says, "Not only are they functional, but they are visually appealing and the ability to customize the pieces is fantastic!"  These platforms come in three heights, and start as little as $65 for the single bowl version.

There are also lots of bowls to help slow down speedy eaters, like the Brake-Fast Dog Food Bowl ($26).  But, there are a couple of ways a trainer might suggest slowing down an eater, using your existing bowl and raised feeder.  First off, if your dog's bowl has a inverted bottom, like this bowl, just flip it upside down and feed them in the outside ring.  Another quick fix: stick a kong or durable toy in the bowl, so your dog has to eat around it.  Either trick will slow down your dog's rate of intake, aiding digestion.

And, while we can never completely prevent bloat, it's a good idea to consider an Embrace Pet Insurance policy, just in case.  As Bloat is always an emergency, it often requires ER visits and surgeries, starting at $2000.  Read how Embrace's accident coverage helped Kylie (shown left.)

 

 

Fish Oil-coat care for canines

After meeting this handsome black Labrador recently, I had to know what was making his coat look so shiny.  His dad let me in on the secret: Fish Oil.  I had heard that fish oil helped to reduce shedding, but after further investigationit does much more than that.  In addition to cutting down on dander and itchy skin, it reduces inflammation associated with arthritis, and even improves brain function.   It seems that dosage does depend on the pet's specific size and needs, so check with your vet.

And as with most products that are produced for both pets and people, the "people product" is cheaper, but is just fine for dogs.  I found some bottles of fish oil tablets at a pet store chain for about $25, but you can also find them "buy one get one" at Puritan's Pride for about $8. 

Do any of you (or your pets) use Fish Oil-and what do you think?

All Pet Naturals-for all pets

All of Embrace Pet Insurance's policies cover alternative and homeopathic treatments, (when performed by a licensed vet) but All Pet Naturals has an excellent argument in favor of the benefits for holistic supplements for your pets.   From their site:

"In the wild, animals medicated themselves for thousands of years. But today, with the advent of mass produced commercial pet foods that are superbly marketed what's tended to happened is these products have, through the refining process, lost many of their essential nutrients and vitamins...Used properly, and in consultation with your veterinarian, herbal products can stimulate the body's natural biological defenses in fighting illness allowing the animal to heal itself thus improving the holistic health of your pet in a softer, less physically taxing and more natural way."

I'm really quite surprised by the number of remedies available.  They offer treatments to aid in allergies, kidney and liver function, joint and muscle support, and even anxiety, among other things.  They have treatments for both canine and feline, and offer free shipping on all orders over $75.  What remedies can your pet use?

ADOPTABLE ALERT!: The cute doggie left above is Ginger.  She is one of the many darling pups available for adoption from A New Leash on Life in Olmsted Falls, Ohio.

 

Guest Blogger @ Paw-Talk

Ava at Paw-Talk invited us to do a guest feature on their new blog, and we were glad to do so.  (Far be it from me to pass up a chance to discuss my Rottie rescue girl elsewhere on the web.)  Just a bit of the post on her ongoing recovery from disc disease:

"Though steroids and rehabilitation have been helpful, we were looking for some supportive gear to improve her mobility around the house.   It was our friends at Bella’s Pain Relief that helped me select a pair of  Neo-Paws™ orthopedic shoes to help her keep her feet stable, and prevent “knuckling”... "

Read the rest at Paw-Talk here.

Penny Pinching for Pets in 2009!

With the economic state being what it is, many pet parents are cutting back on pet spending.  (Everywhere our four legged readers are hoping we don't mean skimp on the treats!)  Our kitties need a warm place to snuggle up during this awful freeze, so we thought we'd share a few fun ideas for alternative or recycled cat beds, and perhaps it will inspire your own creative solutions...

CraftyCrafty posted a geeky cat hideout (notice the converted "mouse")  in this converted monitor and ThreadBanger included this charming recycled suitcase cat bed.

You canfind the instructions for this cardboard cat chaise at Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories.  Or put a little money back into the economy, and check out the great recycled pet rugs from Emily Kircher at Etsy.