Daily Care

Dog euthanasia is an uncomfortable subject for pet owners. As our dog’s parent and guardian, it reminds us that we are tasked with making the decision to let them go when old age or an illness prevents them from having a quality life. Most pets don’t pass away gently while they’re asleep. It’s up to …

This will sound strange, but a quote popped into my head when a pet owner asked me about dog enrichment toys. The quote by Teddy Roosevelt says, “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” In layman terms, it means we should work with the circumstances given to us, rather than wish …

Recently members of the Dog Wheelchair LIFE Group on Facebook were asked this question, “What products make a disabled dog’s life better?” They shared a long list of items they use every day to keep their pet safe and healthy and to simplify life. Most pet owners understand the role a big-ticket item, like a …

When Betty Grosvenor wrote to me about her roller coaster experience finding the right veterinary care for her dog Sandy, I knew it was a story I wanted to share. Sandy went from being a healthy 13-year-Shiba Inu one week, to a dog who couldn’t stand on her own, a few weeks later. Their story …

If you like to think “outside the box” when it comes to solving a problem, you’ve come to the right place. Traditional Chinese medicine for dogs looks at health and disease in a vastly different way than conventional veterinary medicine. Spine problems like Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) and Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) are diagnosed by how …

Spinal walking in dogs with paralysis is a crazy phenomenon that sounds more like the plot of a science-fiction movie than real science. If you’re not familiar with the term, spinal walking is the ability of an animal to walk when they have a permanent spinal cord injury. These pets use their reflexes to move, …

Taking care of a handicapped dog is wildly rewarding and incredibly messy. It requires pet parents to handle every kind of body fluid imaginable. One of the least glamorous, but essential duties, is managing bowel incontinence in dogs. Bowel or fecal incontinence happens when a dog loses part or all of the control over emptying …

Urinary incontinence in dogs is a scary diagnosis. It means your pet has lost control over their bladder and, as their guardian, you have to manage the condition with diapers or learning how to express your dog’s bladder. Most pet parents have no problem diapering a dog, but they can’t imagine manually emptying the bladder. …

As the voice behind Dog Wheelchair LIFE, I’m lucky to learn about the latest groundbreaking mobility products for disabled dogs almost as soon as they’re launched. And believe me when I say, there are wonderful individuals who are creating unique devices to improve the lives of pets with limb weakness, amputation and paralysis. The products …

One of the best reasons for writing about disabled dogs is when I get to share a new idea that will help you in the daily care of your pup. That’s what happened when I heard about the pretty pink legging pictured above. Do you know how this dog compression sleeve is making life safer …

An exciting trend is taking place in the dog bed industry. Manufacturers are offering beds and bedding for incontinent pets. Today there are many choices of waterproof dog beds, blankets and liners that keep your pooch dry all night long. It makes me happy that companies are addressing this need and recognizing that lots of …

Have you shopped for a dog bed lately? The experience is overwhelming. I’ve raised 9 dogs and consider myself to be an experienced pet mom, but I was confused about buying a new mattress. There are so many brands and styles. If you’re in the same boat, there’s one thing I know for sure, the …

Clipping your dog’s nails isn’t just about giving your fur kid a pedicure. Regular dog nail trims and overall paw care are key to their health.    I learned this lesson the hard way. About a year after Sophie became paralyzed, I noticed the pads on her paws looked unusual. Instead of being smooth and …

Are you familiar with acupuncture for dogs? It’s a painless, alternative therapy used by holistic and conventional veterinarians to treat a variety of health problems. Acupuncture was a therapy I explored during the first six months of my dog, Sophie’s, spine disease. In our case, it was beneficial in slowing down the progression of her …

Everyone knows how to give a bath to an able-bodied dog, but do you know the techniques about bathing a paralyzed dog? Placing an animal in a tub of water when they can’t sit or stand on their own, makes the job tricky unless you know the safety techniques. Even if your fur kid goes …

Cleaning up “potty” accidents is an occasional part of life when you have a healthy pet. The task to remove dog urine stains and odors can be an ongoing problem if your fur kid is incontinent. Dogs lose the ability to control their bladder due to paralysis, age, injuries and illness, but it shouldn’t mean …

When the first canine water therapy clinic opened in my city, I knew I had to schedule a tour. Hydrotherapy for dogs is quickly becoming one of the most popular and important physical therapy treatments for pets. I contacted Kathy Carr, who owns Canine Bodywork & Aquatics in NV, and she invited me to follow …

One of the first veterinary specialists I took Sophie to see when her back legs started to give out, was a dog chiropractor. Dr. Nancy Brandt is a holistic veterinarian in my city, who specializes in animal chiropractic care. She had treated two of my other dogs when they became old and arthritic, so I …

Hearing the words that your dog will never walk again is a surreal experience that most of us don’t want to relive. That’s why I was impressed when a pet owner wanted to share the story about the day her dog became paralyzed. Her goal is to tell people about the amazing life her disabled …

Dog massage is a growing field, but you don’t have to be a professional to give a therapeutic massage to your dog at home. The techniques and the theory behind dog massage are easy to learn. It’s a therapy that improves musculoskeletal problems, lessens anxiety and has a real impact on your pet’s quality of …

Did you know that most of the products and medical care your handicapped dog benefits from today, didn’t exist a few years ago? It’s true. Back at the turn of the century (I love saying that), in the year 2000, canines with paralysis were routinely euthanized and veterinarians were taught that a wheelchair would make …

How do I take care of my paralyzed dog while I’m at work? It’s one of the biggest fears pet owners have. We worry about how we’ll manage our dog’s care and how we’ll keep a pet, who can’t walk on their own, safe when we have to be away from home. I have to …

The picture above is my beautiful dog Cody who suffered from pressure sores when he got to be an old boy. If you live with a senior dog or a canine with mobility problems you should know about pressure sores and hygromas in dogs. These common skin injuries can turn into a big problem, if …

There was only one veterinary hospital in my city that offered laser therapy for dogs when Sophie became paralyzed. We were referred by a dear friend whose vet had just added the device to his practice as a means of treating dogs with severe arthritis. In 2010, cold laser therapy was only being used to …