Senior Dog Finds True Love

It's never too late. We're all entitled to fall in love at any age. Even senior dogs that suffer from dog arthritis and other age related ailments may find love at unexpected places. Well, this is exactly what happened to our Linguini, aka Spotted Dog, the dalmatian and german shortaired pointer mix.

We switched her supplements about a week ago. She used to be on K9 liquid health with dog glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM. This particular supplement had worked like a miracle for her. As soon as she was on it, she started to feel better. A few months later, we decided to switch to another formula, just to give her a jolt. After high recommendations and gathering the data, we tried out the Petco Joint Support III Tablets. The formula contains: glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, MSM, cetyl Muristoleate, and hyaluronic acid. Our joint resident expert determined that this was definitely worth a shot and we got out first bottle. Once again, another miracle. Our senior dog did really well with the new supplements and within two days started hopping around like a pup again. The verdict: we'll alternate between the two supplements every few weeks.

  











Now that Linguini's dog arthritis is temporarily under control, now that she's feeling much better, there are two things on her mind, how to jump the fence (yes, again), and how to find a soul mate to keep her company during the last stages of her life. She picked wisely.

Love is in the air . . .

May the two of them live happily ever after!

Twinkie

Himalayan Dog Chew Review

Always on the lookout for the healthiest and safest dog treats, I recently stumbled upon the Himalayan Dog Chew. The Himalayan Dog Chew comes from an ancient recipe of the people of the Himalayas and Nepal, in the mountains surrounding Mt. Everest at more than 15,000 feet. It is made using traditional methods with yak or cow milk. They are all natural with no chemicals or preservatives.
Guaranteed Analysis: crude protein min 52.6%, crude fat min 0.9%, ash max 6.0%, moisture max 10.2%
Ingredients: yak and cow milk, salt, lime juice
NO preservatives and NO additives (Who does not prefer all natural dog treats?)

After reading this, you're probably wondering: Isn't this like hard cheese? Yes it is! What is wrong with that? The milk used in these dog chews is cooked therefore the protein is not in it's raw form and your pooch should have no upset tummy or dog diarrhea.  The salt and fat content is so low that it is negligible. Because of their make up, these dog chews that have been around for 6 years now, are not known to cause any intestinal blockage, unlike other dog chews, as for example rawhide dog chews.

The Himalayan Dog Chew comes in a variety of sizes. I always go up a size. I always give my small dogs larger chews. They are both more economical and safe that way. However, there are many sizes to pick from.

Product list: Himalayan Dog Chew Small (3-5 pieces), Himalayan Dog Chew Medium (1 piece), Himalayan Dog Chew Large (1 piece), and there's the Himalayan Dog Chew Mixed (3 pieces).




I have nothing but positive feedback about the Himalayan Dog Chew. My dogs, that range in size from extra small (teacup chihuahua) to large (dalmatian german shorthaired pointer mix) love it and all spend hours licking and chewing on this pack favorite. Another plus, is that this product is not offensive to the humans. Unlike, bully sticks or pizzle for instance, that reek, the Himalayan Dog Chew does not have an unpleasant odor. It's rather subtle.

I just placed another order for Himalayan Dog Chew treats. I am convinced that it's one of the top choices if not the best dog chew for my pack.

Twinkie

A WARNING AND AN UPDATE (July 2, 2013) Here is a reader's recent comment: just wanted to add, found your site while doing research.. my 7 month old labradoodle is recovering from intestinal blockage surgery after swallowing a chunk of Everest Chew... we have it in a pill bottle as a reminder... I would NEVER feed these to any dog again.. we were very close to losing him... just a warning...

Thank you for your comment! As with all dog treats, chews, toys, even collars, we, your precious pooches NEED supervision. Any and all treats are potential threats if they are the wrong size, or if you do not remove them as they get smaller. Let's use our judgment and get better educated and we can all live happily ever after. Twink!

Dog Obesity

The obesity rate in the U.S. is still growing dramatically. About one third of of american adults are indeed obese. Great news for dogs: get off the couch and walk your pooch. Canine obesity is a serious matter. If you care about dog health, read on.

There are two main actions one can take to curb obesity: Eat less, exercise more. Same exact principal applies to your canine companion. 

1. Adjust the amount of food you give your dog. 

2. Provide your dog with regular physical activities, such as walks (a couple of times a day if there is already an issue), dog hiking, dog parks… 

All dogs are susceptible to obesity, just like humans, however those that are fed high calorie diets (that includes table scraps I'm afraid), and those that do not get adequate amounts of exercise are at risk. There are some breeds, such as doxies, beagles, and labradors that are known to be predisposed. 

Fact: Obesity affects 20-40% of all American dogs

Visible Signs: visible body fat, not visible ribs, from above your dog the belly is bulging out

Clinical consequences: difficulty exercising, walking, getting up or down, difficulty berating, and canine arthritis (in other words, extra stress on the already inflamed joints)

Causes: too much food very little if any exercise

Organs affected: bones and joints, lungs, heart and potential diseases include canine diabetes

Exceptions to the rule: hypothyroidism, insulinoma, intestinal parasites, fluid in the abdomen, pregnancy

The majority of dog obesity can be easily treated at home, cutting back on your dog's caloric intake and increasing the exercise periods. If you have tried this simple solution and see no results, it is a good idea to visit your dog vet for a proper evaluation, including blood tests that can rule out hormonal and thyroid disease. The dog vet is also where you can purchase low calorie kibble, although having checked all the ingredients on those (mainly byproducts and lots of corn meal), I recommend to stay away and instead use a good quality dog food in slightly smaller portions. Some dogs love canned pumpkin, green beans, carrots . . . See if your dog likes those. I personally use all of the above including a small dollop of non fat yogurt for my barely obese senior dog. I know many people who simply cut back by a quarter of a cup per day the food intake on a larger dog and they have no problems. I use both of my suggestions: I substitute some of the reduced kibble with veggies and I cut back a little of the dogs' food. This way, my dogs never know they are on a diet! Do not ever put a dog on a crash diet. That can both shock his system and make him miserable. Long term but steady weightless is the goal. 

Table scraps and treats are generally bad for dogs, but especially bad for overweight dogs. Some dog owners also use a large portion of dog treats, disproportionate to their dog's overall daily caloric intake. Be careful with that. A treat is just a treat, not a meal. The good news for dogs is that nowadays you can find many low calorie dog treats available. You can also substitute store bought treats with boiled chicken cubes, celery with a taste of peanut butter to make it more desirable, and experiment with carrots and other safe vegetables. All our dogs are nuts about carrots. 

Two cases:

1. Our brindle chiweenie is almost two years old and she weights 9 lbs. A week ago, during her physical, the vet recommended she loses one whole pound! That is almost 10% of her body weight. How did we miss it? Because of her age. As she is still growing, she would one day look chubby and the next normal. Now that we heard the dog vet's warning, We're watching her like a hawk and monitoring her food intake more than we did in the past. 

2. Our dalmatian and german shorthaired pointer mix is slightly overweight. Since she's almost 11 years old, a senior dog, she is also suffering from dog arthritis. I have to keep her weight as low as possible.

For both these dogs, I do as I said from the start of this post: healthy diet, regular exercise, and creative low calorie dog treats. My dogs' health is of chief importance. 

Twinkie

Hiking By Our Favorite Creek

We love our hikes. Hiking with dogs is my favorite pastime, even more so than running crazy with my rescue dog friends at the horse barn. So, we left the newborn kittens and their outdoor cat enclosure behind and off we went. My sissies, Frankie the brindle chiweenie, Linguini the spotted dalmatian pointer mix, and I, Twinkie, the teacup chihuahua, met up with the rhodesian ridgeback pair, Hank and Sue.

Our senior dog, that is definitely suffering from dog arthritis, took the lead

Everyone enjoyed drinking the fresh creek water

I enjoyed walking on it

We pressed on and had a blast exploring, smelling, and marking, but we were cautious because one must always be aware when hiking with a senior dog

And did I mention . . .

We love hiking with dogs. It puts a smile on our faces!

For now, we're pretending our senior dog's fatty tumors aren't there. Unless they interfere with her quality of life, we're going to leave them alone. Unfortunately, her aging seems to progress rapidly. She can not get in the car unassisted any longer and her front legs often "give" which leads to some not so pleasant face plants and a look of pure shock on our girl's face. No matter, we're all going to enjoy our dog hikes and life at it's fullest until we can't any longer. As for me, I have apologized profusely for leaving my pack and getting lost the other day. For a while, my apologies were not heard as I found myself hanging for a green retractable leash, but I took care of the problem. I hid the offensive leash (and that's one of my best dog training tips so far). 

Take your dogs for a hike, you'll all benefit.

Twinkie 

Product Review: Ultrasonic Bark Control

Stop Barking Dogs

All dogs are irritating when they bark, but small dogs are notoriously annoying. Because we were looking for ultrasonic pet trainer to suit all breeds, small and large, we decided to try a hand held, inexpensive, bark control device. We ordered the PetZoom Sonic Pet Trainer that costs $20 plus shipping and handling. You get a bonus nail groomer with your order (which they claim is valued at $19.95). Your other option is to buy PetZoom from Amazon for $16.98 a small saving that does not include the nail groomer, but if you're a Prime member you also don't pay shipping. 

The PetZoom Sonic Pet Trainer claims to be safe, harmless, and effective, a 20 ft. range, and to work on all dogs and cats. 

We tested it on the dogs. The word miracle comes to mind. As with all sonic pet trainers, this one is inaudible by the human ear, so it's really shocking to push a button and have all your dogs instantly stop barking, especially because you don't hear a thing. Our dalmatian-shorthaired pointer mix, stops barking, bows her head slightly, and then resumes what she was doing. The little chiweenie only stops barking showing no other signs of acknowledgment, and the tiny teacup chihuahua instantly stops barking and stares quizzically at the person handling the pet training device. 

This ultrasonic bark control device is a bit bulky, yet still small enough to fit in a pocket. We're trying to come up with a smart contraption to keep it on us at all times (perhaps some super glue and sting so that it can be worn over the neck at all times). 

In brief, ultrasonic bark control devices are intended to halt trying barking by emitting an annoying tone that only your dog can hear. The tone is the deterrent. The effectiveness, based on the reviews we read, debatable for some. 

We checked around and discovered one more ultrasonic bark control device similar to the PetZoom and that is the As Seen on TV BarkOff training aid. The BarkOff costs only $10 plus shipping and handling, half the price of the PetZoom. I should also mention, that you can get BarkOff from Amazon for $9.99 plus shipping. Similarly with the PetZoom, the BarkOff gets both raving reviews and disappointment. We lucked out, all our barking dogs instantly seized, but apparently it does not work on all dogs. For the price, I recommend you give it a shot. It's better than losing your mind or upsetting your neighborhood with your barking dogs when there are dog bark control devices such as these in the market.

We love the fact that this type of sonic pet trainers work on all breeds and were terribly relieved to eliminate the high pitched bark small dogs make, as were our neighbors. We will continue our research and we will test our PetZoom on the cats too. Meanwhile, I suggest you don't wait. You don't have much to lose but you have potentially a lot to gain, as it was in our case. Stop barking dogs. 

Twinkie

Hiking With Dogs | Hiking With A Senior Dog

Until recently, I was left behind every time my bigger sissy, Linguini, went hiking with her rhodesian ridgeback friends because M was afraid I'd get crushed. However, since the rhodies are so gentle and since I'm pretty savvy myself, she decided to give it a go. We were all a bit nervous. Here we were, a pack of misfits; one tiny teacup chihuahua, one rather small chiweenie, a senior dalmatian and german shorthaired pointer mix, and two robust powerful rhodesian ridgebacks. Off we went.

At the start of our hike, we needed a pow wow and brief introductions

This gorgeous dude, Hank, the rhodesian ridgeback . . . fell in love with me

I gave him an ear full and told him that I like hiking with dogs, but I'm not interested in a relationship at the moment. Alas! It was too late. 

No matter, I decided to proceed by finding a super cool rock

Linguini to paid her respects too

And so did Sue. Copycats!

We were having a blast, but all the while we minded Linguini, our senior dog. After her recent face plant, we've become even more conservative. We don't take off as far as we used to and we all keep an eye on our girl at all times, in case she needs us.

On rare occasions, she did need our assistance. We don't want to deprive her of her fun, so from now on, this is the way it's going to be. We're going to enjoy hiking with dogs, but we'll be careful and considerate.

"Hey, what's taking you slow pokes so long? I'm a three legged dog and I still have to wait up for you."

As I was saying, I'll be more careful and considerate . . . soon

I was feeling a little crowded in this photo. See how adoringly Hank is looking at me? Is it love or does he think I'm an appetizer? 

Dog hiking is the best and it is also very healthy. It helps keep everyone fit. All you need to do is be well prepared and know the limitations of every pack member. We always try to hike by running water, to avoid risking dehydration, and we are well aware of the natural threats of our surroundings (including rattle snakes, coyotes, etc). We stay by our biped pack leaders and watch out for one another. Also, in our desire to enjoy our hikes, we tend to all get along and develop wonderful relationships that under different circumstances would pause a challenge. 

For those of you who can't hike by running water, there are several options available. There are wonderful and convenient water bowls and water bowl sets available that weigh close to nothing and are easy to take with you. Tons of dog hiking gearto take along and if you don't like carrying stuff, and if your dog isn't too tiny, you can always invest in a dog backpack. 

Take a hike!

Twinkie

Dog Training tips -- With Bonus Whipped Cream

Who stole the dog treats from the cookie jar? Who me? Then who? Well, in a few words, we all did. Thanks to my successful dog training tips, Frankie, the chiweenie, Linguini, the geriatric german shorthaired pointer and dalmatian mix, and I, the tiny three legged teacup chihuahua got to enjoy and devour our favorite human dog treats.

Dog training tip #1

Stoic anticipation

Look pitifully but in a reserved manner at the bipeds' treats

Do not get too close for the humans' comfort

Dog Training Tip #2

While practicing your anticipation technique, try your best to look as pathetic as possible

Dog Training Tip #3

Always wait for your turn

I said, "Wait your turn!"

Now, do you believe me?

Dog training tip #4

Savor every last dollop otherwise next time your bipeds will think you didn't like it much

Every lick counts

Dog Training Tip # 5

Do not gloat!

Follow my tips and you too will be in heaven

Twinkie

Geriatric Dog and a Face Plant

I recently posted about the joys and perils of hiking with dogs and I stand by what I said, that all dogs love it and benefit greatly from dog hiking expeditions. But what do you do if one of your pack is a senior dog? Hmm, this is an issue that should be addressed, and hopefully it'll be of some assistance and consolation to owners of senior dogs when faced with the rapid health decline that affects their beloved canine.

Linguini (dalmatian and german shorthaired pointer mix), Hank and Sue (the rhodesian ridgeback duo) on a hike. The rhodies are only four years old whereas the dalmatian mix is almost eleven

Senior dogs should get regular exercise but not too vigorous. Hikes are great, but watch out for symptoms of fatigue which can hit your senior dog suddenly. Don't ever force geriatric dogs and don't push them any more than they can handle. With that in mind, let me share some pictures of our canine aging dog. 

The beginning of the hike is always exciting and our aging dog well rested

She gets to jump around and enjoy the smells, the fresh water, and the new surroundings

The joy any dog receives from a hike is like medicine, if you don't push them too far

Sometimes, regardless of the owner's good intentions, situations can arise that nobody is prepared for. In this instance, our Linguini, out of sheer joy decided to leap only five feet off a ledge, a situation she's managed easily until now. During our last hike we discovered that jumping from a distance is a thing of the past. As Linguini's front legs touched the ground, they buckled, either due to her arthritis or her dog tumors, and landed on her face.

She was temporarily immobilized because she was in shock

Poor girl, she just lied on her back and took a minute to process

Our hikes are far from over. We'll just have to be even more conservative, cut them short, and keep a better eye on our aging girl. She's doing as well as could be expected. Luckily, for now the term "mast cell tumors" is not part of our vocabulary, or so we like to think. Whatever the case may be, we're going to maintain a positive outlook and hope for the best. 

Caring for a senior dog is difficult, costly, scary at times, but incredibly rewarding. I wanted to end by saying that I not only support all kinds of dog rescue, I particularly appreciate and admire those who are willing to take in and provide a home for the very ill and the aging animals, the ones least likely to be placed.

Twinkie

Chiweenie Friday (15) - Dog Obedience Training

I went to dog obedience training yesterday to learn some new moves and to practice for my AKC Canine Good Citizen test and it went really really well.

This is me, the Chiweenie demonstrating how timid I am generally

Consider this my personal dog training tip

I am rather submissive

This is my furiend, Dexter the Doxie

For a easily frightened dog, like my chiweenie self, the real challenge regarding the Canine Good Citizen test is overcoming my fears (and the fact that for this test mommy is not allowed to use treats). The test is not so hard. I get evaluated on a pass/fail basis. Most items I need to learn are simple. I have to be able to sit/stay, do down/stay, sit politely for petting, allow a stranger to groom me, walk on a loose leash, and sit down on command. No problem. Where dog obedience training gets tough for me is the following training items: walking through a crowd and  reaction to another dog and distractions. Those require a certain amount of bravery I have yet to master. I'll know more next Wednesday the day I take my Canine Good Citizen exam. 

Meanwhile, I have my two sissies to protect me. 

I ask my tiny tea cup chihuahua sissy to fight my battles

btw this is the friendliest blue heeler in the world and her name is Sage

And I hide behind my larger, dalmatian and german shothaired pointer sissy

for protection

Regardless, we all do the best we can in this life and my mommy appreciates it. This is the email we got from my superb and funny and adorable trainer, the fabulous Ms Cyndy Wood.

"Frankie's test is next week but she deserves recognition for completing, and very successfully I might add, the CGC class.  So, with Pomp & Circumstances playing in the background, this is in honor of Frankie's stellar performance as a Canine Good Citizen.

Congratulations to Ms. Frankie and to her able handler!  What a great team you are!"

She even sented me a virtual star!!! I will cherish this email and save it among my most prized possessions. What I haven't mentioned yet is that my trainer is a firm believer in Positive Training for Dogs and Their People. I'm so lucky! Mom loves this philosophy and swears to use it on all dog obedience training from now on. I agree 100%. Thank you Ms Wood and mommy. 

One final word about the Canine Good Citizen exam. There is an automatic failure rule if we, the students, eliminate during testing, we must be marked fail. As you know, chiweenie puppies are not simple to potty train. Puppy potty training is not that easy on most small dogs. If anybody has any potty training tips to share, now is a good time. 

Stay not out of touch and I'll have the exam results next week.

Frankie