Author Archives: DoggyMom.com

Daisy’s crystals

Posted on October 6, 2013 | 1 comment

Daisy hasn’t been her usual self for the last 8 weeks or so and, in consultation with her acupuncture vet and her regular vet, we’ve decided that she is showing signs of dementia. Things like wandering around at night unable to settle and waking me (Mum) about every two hours….and having trouble negotiating doorways.

I’ve made changes in our healthcare regime which include introducing a new supplement and changing her diet. The good news is that I have seen some improvement over the last week and I hope it continues.

Given that time is precious and every day over age 13 is a blessing, I have also decided to try crystal healing for the first time. My opinion is that even if it doesn’t do a thing, she looks really cute wearing her crystals around her neck!

I hope you agree.

Have you ever used crystal healing on your dog?

Daisy is wearing an amethyst for clearing negative energy and as an all-around healer. Her clear quartz is a master healer for all conditions and is meant to strengthen her immune system and offer protection.

Daisy is very relaxed about having her crystals around her neck.

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Posted in dog care

Tagged amethyst, clear quartz, crystal healing, crystals, Daisy, dementia, immune system, protection, signs of dementia

Sister Gracie

Posted on October 5, 2013 | Leave a comment

It’s been a bit busy this week, so I haven’t had time to post until now. One reason for the busy week has been that I have appeared in The Press, the Christchurch region’s newspaper. The reporter wanted to know more about dog massage (which of course is a favorite subject of mine). Both Daisy and I are very grateful for the free publicity, which came out of the blue in the form of a phone interview.

The article generated a very special enquiry in the form of an email:

May I ask if Daisy is a Pinerock pointer? I lost my beautiful old lady Gracie in May and this morning I almost fell off my chair to see that face. Even friends have asked how I found the massage worked with Grace. That’s how alike they are – my girl had just turned 13 so they could conceivably be a similar age. Happy to send you a picture if you like.

And so it transpired that I learned more about Daisy’s sister, who lived with another dog named Shamus, who still grieves for her. Indeed, it is eerie to see how much Daisy and Gracie resembled one another. The bloodlines are clearly apparent…

“I will take her ashes to the Pointer Memorial Garden at Pinerock where Pluto the Pointer watches over their souls.”

Gracie’s mum may come for a visit to meet Daisy one day. I’m sure Daisy would be as welcoming as always and we will share more stories of Gracie.

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Posted in Dogs, dogs and mourning

Tagged Christchurch, Daisy, dog massage, Gracie, Pinerock, pointer, The Press

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Wordless Wednesday, part 4

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Posted on October 1, 2013 in Dogs

Tagged Boston Red Sox, bulldog, Red Sox

Doggy quote of the month for October

Posted on September 30, 2013 | 1 comment

“I am in favor of animal rights as well as human rights. That is the way of the whole human being.”

– Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln and his dog, Fido

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Posted in dog quotes

Tagged Abraham Lincoln, animal rights, Fido, human rights

Dwarfism in dogs

Posted on September 29, 2013 | 1 comment

Researchers at the University of Helsinki and Folkhälsan Research Center led by Professor Hannes Lohi have found a gene mutation that causes chondrodysplasia (dwarfism) in the Norwegian Elkhound and the Karelian Bear Dog. They have published their results in the journal PLoS One.

A dwarf Norwegian Elkhound, photo by Saija Nieminen

When affected by the condition, dogs have considerably shorter limbs than normal dogs. Other skeletal abnormalities may follow which include bowed forearms, abnormal digits (toes), and malformed femoral heads.

The mutation affects the collagen receptors during bone growth.

“Both breeds have now benefited from a genetic test that is available for dog owners”, says Professor Lohi. There is hope that the mutation can be eradicated from the breeding population through use of the test.

Source: University of Helsinki press statement

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Posted in dog breeds, research

Tagged chondrodysplasia, dwarf, dwarfism, gene mutation, genetic test, Karelian Bear Dog, Norwegian Elkhound, PLoS ONE, skeletal abnormalities, University of Helsinki

Tell me where it hurts

Posted on September 28, 2013 | 2 comments

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading Tell Me Where It Hurts by Dr Nick Trout. Appropriately subtitled “A Day of Humor, Healing and Hope in My Life as an Animal Surgeon,” this book tells the story of one very long day in Dr Trout’s professional life. As the day unfolds, a range of human-animal stories are revealed with wit and compassion.

The book opens in the wee hours of the morning with the story of Sage, a German Shepherd who requires emergency surgery on her stomach. We later meet her devoted elderly owner whose daughter isn’t so impressed with Dr Trout’s efforts to save ‘just a dog.’

There’s also the owner of Belle who, as a demonstration of how much the dog means to him, has legally changed his middle name to Belle. (You read that right, a man with the middle name of Belle.)

This book reads a little like the veterinary version of ER, since the Angell Memorial Animal Center where Trout works is a teaching hospital. If you liked the television show ER and you love animals, you’ll like this book.

Appropriately, the cover of the book features a Boston Terrier. The Angell Memorial Animal Center is located in Boston.

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Posted in dog books

Tagged Angell Memorial Animal Hospital, Angell Memorial Medical Center, animal surgeon, Boston, boston terrier, Dr Nick Trout, german shepherd, new york times bestseller, sage

Saving Cadence

Posted on September 27, 2013 | Leave a comment

Rescue groups often put photos and videos online to showcase key cases and the good work they do. Every now and then, though, there will be a video that is particularly well done and with a success at the end.

As we reach the end of another week (yes, it’s Friday!)…here’s a story of a Pit Bull and her chance at a better life thanks to Hope for Paws:

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Posted in animal welfare

Tagged Hope for Paws, Pit Bull, rescue, Saving Cadence

Animal Strike

Posted on September 25, 2013 | 2 comments

No postings today. We’re on strike. Please sign the petition and help us to stop the testing of party pills on dogs in New Zealand – once and for all!

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Posted in animal welfare

Tagged Animal Strike, animal testing, party pills, Paw Justice, petition

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Wordless Wednesday, part 3

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Posted on September 25, 2013 in Dogs

Tagged boats, captain, dogs, german shepherd, motorboats

FIDO Cam

Posted on September 24, 2013 | Leave a comment

Watch out criminals. You’re on FIDO Cam!

Made in the UK by the Military and Law Enforcement Division of Industrial Television Ltd, FIDO Cam was developed to assist police SWAT units which needed to check inside buildings before their teams entered. The apparatus has also been used in drug busts and in search and rescue operations.

FIDO Cam is mounted on trained police and rescue dogs as seen here:

The company estimates that 70% of the police units in the UK own the gear; when activated, the camera sends a live feed of what ever the dog is seeing back to the handler.

Camera footage can also be used in court as evidence.

I wonder how long even a highly trained dog will wear the device (because it doesn’t look very comfortable).

At over £10,000 per unit, one thing is for sure: it’s unlikely that these cameras will be purchased by dog owners who want to know what their dog gets up to when they are not at home!

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Posted in special dogs and awards

Tagged drug busts, FIDO Cam, Industrial Television, military, Military and Law Enforcement Division, police dogs, police swat, search and rescue, SWAT, swat units, USAR