Dog Wheelchair Life
Teaching people to care for a paralyzed dog
Have you ever wondered how a veterinarian makes a diagnosis when a dog’s symptoms look like several different diseases? I got some insight into the process from a veterinary neurologist, when we discussed Discospondylitis and Immune-Mediated Polyarthritis (IMPA). These are two spine diseases that are common in dogs, but hard to diagnose. Discospondylitis is an …
An event took place several years ago that made me realize how easy it is for dog birth defects to happen. A puppy’s body is complicated and fragile. It only takes one small anomaly to change their future, forever. The incident started with a call about a 9-week-old Labrador retriever who was being considered for …
Spinal cord tumors in dogs aren’t an everyday occurrence, but they’re more common than you think. That’s what I learned from my vet when she shared how her dog had an inoperable tumor. She told me this information because she wanted to test my dog. Sophie’s hind legs were slowly becoming weak and wobbly. Our …
Cerebellar Hypoplasia (CH) in dogs is a neurologic condition that puppies can develop during gestation. It’s a relatively uncommon disorder, but an important one to know because the symptoms mimic other puppy diseases. CH happens when a part of the brain, called the cerebellum, doesn’t fully develop. It causes dogs to have mobility problems. Puppies …
Syringomyelia in dogs is a rare neurologic disorder that targets only a handful of breeds. Its primary victims are Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and according to experts if you have a Cavalier, they’re likely to have some level of the condition. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are special dogs and it’s hard not to fall in …
Recently a pet owner wrote to me with a question about Beagle Pain Syndrome. It’s a rare disease that strikes Beagle puppies and can cause a host of symptoms that range from neck and muscle pain to paralysis. I wasn’t very familiar with the condition, but it piqued my interest to learn more. You see, …
Ginger is a sweet Shih Tzu who weighs 4lbs fully grown. Her small size makes her at least 5lbs under the normal weight of 9-16lbs for her breed. Ginger wasn’t the runt of her litter; she was bred to be a teacup dog. It’s a popular trend that mates toy dog breeds to be unusually …
Do you know 7 of the most common spinal cord diseases in dogs? Most pet owners have heard about Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) and Degenerative Myelopathy (DM), but that’s not what I’m talking about. There’s also a group of less-known spine conditions that canines develop every day and at every stage of life. These diseases …
