I’ve been given a Liebster Award by Corso Mama, another doggy mom with a blog. This award goes to blogs with less than 300 followers. and it’s my job to keep the ball rolling.
In receiving this award, I’ve been asked to answer these questions:
1. Has your vision for your blog changed since you started it?
Not really. This blog started as my customer newsletter which I sent via email and I realized that I could be more efficient by writing blog posts as I thought of them rather than holding back until the beginning of each month. I aim to share all sorts of news involving dogs for other dog parents to enjoy.
2. What have you learned from other bloggers since starting your blog adventure?
I’ve learned about things like Wordless Wednesdays – which I adopted last year – to share interesting graphics or photographs without the need for captions or accompanying stories. And as I have connected to other bloggers, I’ve been able to share their interesting content, too.
3. What do you hope to accomplish with your blog?
To educate and raise awareness about “all things dog”
4. Do you feel you are able to coexist with other bloggers even if they might express opinions that are different from yours?
Yes, absolutely. The world would be a difficult place to live if we were all the same. Bloggers should be able to have professional debate without getting nasty.
5. What is your favorite blog (other than your own) and why?
I like Doggerel because Pyrrha is a rescue with unique issues. Her mom is doing a great job with her.
6. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
I’d probably split my time equally between the northern and southern hemispheres (Christchurch, where I live now and Massachusetts, where I grew up) so that I could miss winter weather year-round. Of course, I would only do this if I was a) rich and able to own a jet that would allow Daisy to travel as a passenger rather than luggage and b) that border controls would mean that Daisy would not be quarantined upon re-entering the country. Sigh. I don’t think this will happen.
7. If you could drop everything right now and do anything you wanted, what would you do?
I’d go for a short nap cuddled up under the covers with Daisy.
8. What is your favorite animal?
The dog, of course!
9. What are your passions in life?
Well, I love everything to do with dogs. Beyond that, I believe in professionalism and honesty in everything I do.
10. Which do you prefer–rainy days or sunny days?
I kind of like rainy days because I’m more likely to stay at home and do some creative thinking.
11. Which do you prefer–city or country life?
Actually, I’m a suburban girl. Not quite the city, but definitely not the country.
And now my nominees for a Liebster:
And for these nominees, please answer these questions:
Sometimes you’re the fire hydrant, sometimes you’re the dog
Have a great weekend!
“There is no such thing as a stupid dog. Each dog has his own genius and it is up to us as humans to find out what it is.”
– Brian Hare, co-author of The Genius of Dogs
I’ve previously reviewed The Genius of Dogs. Click here to read my review.
It’s raining and blowing a gale in Christchurch today. So I thought I’d share this little video to cheer everyone up!
Bogey and his dumb bell. Photo courtesy of Florida State University
Dogs are adding a new twist to exercise classes at the Westminster Oaks Retirement Community in Florida. Three times each week, they accompany two doctoral students to an exercise class that is part of a study to look at whether exercising with dogs can lead to better health outcomes.
“Between each exercise, we try to leave a little bit of time so people can pet the dogs and talk to the handlers,” says Ashley Artese, a first-year doctoral student in exercise science.
Volunteers for the study at Westminster Oaks were split into two groups of seven. One exercises with dogs trained by Tallahassee Memorial Hospital’s pet therapy program. The other group exercises without them.
Walking around the room, biceps curls with light dumb bells and resistance band stretching are all a part of the routine. When the group working with dogs lift their dumb bells, dog Bogey picks up a plastic one. And when the seniors walk around the room, Lola, Stryker and Bogey walk in circles too.
“Exercise classes are not something I call fun, but with the dogs, it is fun,” said Mary Stevenson, a Westminster Oaks resident. When she heard the exercise class would involve dogs, it caught her interest.
In addition to Lola, Stryker and Bogey, there are four other dogs — Cosmo, Casey, Kayla and Zachy.
For now, all of the work is on a volunteer basis, but all of the parties involved hope it will turn into a funded research study in the future. At the end of this program, the professors and doctoral students will review the data to see how it might translate into a large-scale study.
Megaesophagus is a condition where the muscles of the esophagus fail, similar to a limp balloon that has inflated several times and lost its elasticity:
When the condition is present, the esophagus doesn’t contract normally and food can’t make it down into the stomach to be digested. Food can ‘pool’ in the esophagus causing regurgitation. Worse, the undigested food can be inhaled leading to a condition called aspiration pneumonia. Megaesophagus can affect puppies and adult dogs.
Vets normally have to diagnose the condition from its range of symptoms which include:
Megaesophagus is a condition that can be managed, but it does take a dedicated and vigilant dog parent to do this.
Dogs with the condition have to eat and drink in a device called a Bailey Chair. The chair allows the dog to sit in an upright position for an extended period of time. A megaesophagus dog needs to be fed in the chair and kept upright for at least 20 minutes to allow gravity to take the food and water into the stomach.
Dogs with megaesophagus have special nutritional needs, too. Since dogs with this condition can’t drink normally, they often need water added to their meals and to receive high moisture treats that are thickened with gelatin or other ingredients.
A megaesophagus dog needs a diet that is calorie rich and nutritious but without too much fibre. Raw foods are a special risk to these dogs because of their sensitive digestive systems. There’s also a risk of bacterial contamination, particularly if even small amounts of raw food are aspirated.
Prescription medications like Carafate liquid can also help these dogs because it provides a protective coating for the esophagus.
It’s also important to think holistically for these dogs, with support with Bach flower remedies, herbs and supplements. In my practice, I work with the dogs to keep their digestive systems healthy through massage and acupressure and nutrition. The spleen, liver and stomach all need support when a dog has megaesophagus.
In older dogs with arthritis, having to sit in a Bailey Chair presents additional challenges that require holistic veterinary care.
The good news is that megaesophagus doesn’t mean a death sentence. It does mean that your special dog will need special care and attention to maintain its health throughout its lifetime.
Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition, Canine Catering Ltd, Christchurch, New Zealand
Posted in dog care
Tagged acupressure, aspiration pneumonia, Bailey Chair, Carafate, Dog, dogs, massage, megaesophagus, vomiting
