Daily Care

If you think you can spot the signs that your dog is in pain, you should know that I missed them, when one of my dogs was sick. Bear was my big, lovable, smart as a whip, 106lb. German shepherd. One evening after dinner, he sat down next to the sofa where I was sitting …

One of the strange things about writing a blog, is that I never know how my advice impacts a reader. That’s why I was grateful when a pet owner wrote to share her story, nearly six years after her dog Lily’s sudden paralysis.  Her goal was to let me know how she used my information …

The first time I heard about phantom pain in dogs was in an online support group for pet owners. My dog Sophie was suspected of having Degenerative Myelopathy, and I had joined the group to learn how to manage her symptoms. During one of our meetings, a pet mom described how she came home and …

When a member of my Dog Wheelchair LIFE Facebook Group posted information about healing a dog wound with honey, interest in the topic went wild. Scrapes and cuts are a common problem for dogs with mobility problems and so are open wounds.   Dogs who have trouble walking, drag their legs on the floor and …

To say that Dr. Jenny Moe has had an interesting career, is an understatement. She went from a 7-year career as a pediatric physical therapist (PT), to a myofascial release specialist to owner of Doggon’ Wheels, one of the most highly regarded dog wheelchair companies. I had the opportunity to interview Dr. Moe about her …

Have you heard about at-home light therapy for dogs? It’s a treatment that uses LED (light-emitting diodes) and LLLT (low level light therapy) to relieve pain and inflammation naturally, while helping a dog heal. The treatment is painless, non-invasive and it’s done in your own home. I first learned about light therapy at a pet …

I’ve come to believe that just like humans, dogs grieve the loss of a pet. A few years ago, I would’ve described the reaction my dogs had to the passing of a housemate as, confusion. They would search for the deceased dog and be clingy the first couple of days, but I wouldn’t say they …

Have you ever started to fall in love with a dog you saw online, only to find out the pup lives hundreds of miles away, in another country?  That’s what happened to Christina Powell when she saw the photo of Timber, a female German shepherd mix who was born with a birth defect called Cerebellar …

This is an important story. It’s about pet strollers vs. dog wheelchairs and which is the best choice for a paralyzed animal. Most of us have learned that when a dog has a mobility problem, the answer is to get them into a cart as soon as possible. We’ve been taught that’s how life should …

How do I keep a dog diaper in place? This is one of two questions I get asked most often by pet owners with an incontinent animal. The second question is, “How do I prevent poop from leaking out of a diaper?” If these are concerns that have added hours of frustration to your life, …

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 …

Toe’sUP Walkaboot is the latest mobility device from one of my favorite companies, Walkabout Harnesses. It assists dogs who knuckle their paws by placing the foot in a natural position so pets can move without injuring themselves. When dogs have a problem with knuckling, they curl their toes under and walk on the top part …

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 for a dog to walk when there is 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. It’s called a dog compression sleeve and it’s making life safer for …

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 …