Search Results for: blog hip dysplasia

The Pets Blog Week in Review for March 31 – April 6

I had to take a couple week hiatus from Week in Review duties while I tended to family affairs. However, I’m happy to be back to bring you this recap of what Aimee and I wrote about last week on: Monday, March 31 A client with awesome cats sparked Aimee musing about the awesome one in her life. (An “awesome one” being any pet that just has that everything about them. That soul connection.) Aimee discussed who the awesome one was in her life. (You have to read the blog to find out who.) Tuesday, April 1 I had made … Continue reading →

Surgery for Hip Dysplasia

There are four different surgeries available to treat hip dysplasia. Pectineus tenotomy is now thought of as an obsolete procedure, though it was popular in the 1970s. The surgery cut a section of the pectineus tendon and/or muscle, and seemed to provide relief from pain. However, the relief was only temporary in many patients. Femoral head excision continues to be a popular surgical option, especially in dogs that weigh forty-five pounds or less. In this surgery, the head of the thigh bone (the femora) that fits in the hip socket is removed. A piece of muscle or joint tissue is … Continue reading →

Pets Blog Week in Review: 3/17-3/23

Courtney usually handles the Week in Review duties, so bear with me while I fumble my way through a look back at March 17-23 in the Pets Blog. Monday, March 17 I’m a big fan of mythology, and the story behind the origins of the Pekingese breed is an interesting one. Check it out! The Iditarod was won in just nine days by Lance Mackey — a man who has survived throat cancer and gone on to win numerous dog sled races. Tuesday, March 18 A day late for St. Patty’s Day, I took a look at how you can … Continue reading →

The Pets Blog Week in Review for November 5-11

What did Aimee and I write about during the first full week of November? If you missed a day, check out this installment of the Pets Blog Week in Review. Monday, November 5 Paying Attention When Pets Act Weird Murph was barking like crazy, the cats were acting wary…it was very suspicious behavior, which I try to pay attention to. In this case the animals tipped me off to the cops at the across-the-street neighbor’s house. Out on a Limp Aimee noticed some odd behavior with one of her dogs too. Moose developed a limp during their walks, one that … Continue reading →

An Easier Way to Find Pet Insurance

Posted on by

Are your pets covered by a good pet insurance policy? In some ways, a pet insurance plan is similar to a health insurance plan for humans. It can cover the medical bills that come from the health care that your pet requires. A website called Pet Insurance Quotes makes it easy for you to find a great pet insurance plan. According to the BBC, the amount of money that people spend on their pets has been increasing, even during the years when unemployment was high. Around 65% of the total amount spent on pets is for food and veterinary costs. … Continue reading →

PETA’s Mascot Suggestion and NBC’s Rejection

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) often finds itself in the news and this week is no exception. The University of Georgia’s mascot is a bulldog. The school recently lost mascot Uga the Seventh to a congenital heart condition. Uga the Seventh was only four years old – relatively young for a dog. Last year, Uga the Sixth died of a similar condition and it concerns PETA. After Uga the Sixth died, PETA asked the university to choose a replacement from a shelter. After the most recent death, they have upped their demands. PETA asked Damon M. Evans, … Continue reading →

The Balance

Some friends of mine have a cat who is very ill. The cat first started having health issues around her first birthday, prompting several visits to the vet and emergency vet to get things stabilized. Daily medication managed the condition for a while… but the balance is starting to shift. These friends of mine have done everything in their power to figure out what’s causing the illness and find a way to treat it. They’ve been to the vet many times, had to learn how to give subcutaneous fluids, and more. They really love this cat, and want her to … Continue reading →

Two Legs, Two Wheels

I saw an ad recently (but can’t remember where) about custom wheelchairs for pets. The image was of a small, white dog smiling/panting in a grassy backyard. Instead of front legs, the dog was resting on a wheeled frame. The caption was something like “I know my person loves me because they got me new legs” — that’s not the exact quote, but that’s the feeling I got. In general, pets are very adaptable. They bounce back from accidents and injuries that might be life-altering for a human. Lost a leg? Animals seem to accept it with a sort of … Continue reading →

Calcium for Canines

Strong teeth. Strong bones. Calcium isn’t just good for humans — it can be good for our four-legged friends, too. If you’re making your own dog food, you should be concerned about calcium. Dogs with a calcium deficiency may show signs of lameness or have an increased risk of fractures. And yes, dogs can develop osteoporosis! So how do you make sure your dog gets enough calcium in his or her diet? Raw (uncooked) meaty bones contain lots of calcium. Not feeding raw? That’s okay — try ground/powdered bone meal. You can also cook bones until they’re soft enough to … Continue reading →

Heat for Healing

Heat is a great natural healer. For pets with arthritis, hip dysplasia, and other joint conditions, heat can make the difference between a stiff, painful morning and an easy start to the day. A friend of mine takes her older dog into the sauna in the mornings to help loosen things up! Be careful! Electrical sources of heat like heat lamps and heating pads can be dangerous to your pet. These heat sources can burn the skin — so never apply them directly to your pet. Always supervise your pet when using an electrical heat source. Gentler heating sources are … Continue reading →