My blog is moving and changing direction.  It is no longer just a book review blog, so the name has changed.  The new name is PawLore, and it can be found at www.pawlore.com

Please come visit, and follow the new blog.


Deb

Back Pain in Dogs

Most of us have experienced the pain of a muscle strain in our back - it can be a minor ache from doing a bit too much or it can be a totally debilitating ruptured disk which can cause problems for us the rest of our lives.  Dogs also suffer from back problems.  Breeds with long backs such as  Dachshunds, Corgis, Basset Hounds, Pekingese, Shih Tzus and Lhasa Apsos are especially prone to back issues, though larger breeds can suffer from them as well.

There are many medical treatment options, including  extended crate rest, acupuncture ,laser treatments and surgery.  There are also some health care items which can be of great benefit.  For another option before surgery, as well as a great preventative for after-care is a back brace such as "Lil Back Bracer".  The idea is to hold the dog's back in a correct position to avoid farther harm.    If your dog has gone through medical interventions and has mobility problems, there are wheelchairs made for dogs.  These can be purchased online through sites such as Handicapped Pets.Com 

Dodgers List  is a site dedicated to educating and sharing information regarding Intervertebral disk disease (IVDD) in dogs.  Whether you are just beginning the IVDD journey with your dog, or you are already through the medical treatment, this site can help.

Bottom line is to do as much as possible to protect your dog's back before an issue develops,  get treatment quickly when needed, and if the outcome isn't as good as expected, to realize that doesn't mean the end.  There are ways to mobilize a dog that has been paralyzed so you can enjoy many more years together.

A Little Fun Fact

Fun fact – Cats step with both left legs, then both right legs when walking or running. There are only two other animals that walk like this – the camel and the giraffe.

Health cautions in the Brachycephalic Dog

                           

Brachycephalic.  Big word, but what does it mean, and how does it pertain to dogs?  Brachycephalic comes from the Greek words "Brachy", which means short and "cephalic" which means head.  Thus, Brachycephalic dogs are dogs with a smooshed in face, or more accurately, they are dogs with a normal lower jaw and a compressed upper jaw.

Most people are familiar with these breeds - Boston Terrier, Bulldog, Shih tsu, Pekingese, Boxer, Pug - any breed with that familiar smooshed in face.  There are others, but all have the characteristic head.  These breeds have another thing in common - they can all suffer from ailments that are typical for this type of head.  Some seem funny,  such as the snorting noises the dogs make, but others are very serious, even deadly.  If you own a brachy or are planning on getting one in the future, you should be aware of potential health risks.

Heat Stroke - Brachy's are far more likely to suffer from heat strokes than other dogs.  Panting helps a dog cool off when overheated, and brachy's are not efficient panters.  This can lead to heat stroke or even death if not caught soon enough.  Always protect your brachy from the heat.

Tracheal Stenosis is a fancy way to say narrow windpipe.  Tracheal Stenosis creates an anesthetic risk, so prior to any surgery your brachy should have x-rays so your vet can determine if any extra precautions are in order.

Eye issues - Due to the shape of the head, brachy breeds have very shallow eye sockets which is why their eyes appear to bulge out of their face.  Any sort of blow to the back of the head, or pulling on a leash fastened to their collar can actually make their eyeball pop out of the head and require surgical intervention to replace it.  For this reason, brachy's should wear harnesses rather than collars when on leash.  Occasionally a brachy dog has eyelids that don't completely cover the eyeball, which results in dry eyes.  Your vet can correct this quite easily with surgery.

Skin folds - Many brachy's have skin folds on their face and extra care must be taken.  Clean the skin folds with a damp cloth so irritation and infection doesn't develop.   If you start cleaning the folds at an early age, your dog will sit calmly through the process.

These are a few of the special needs that are common in any brachycephalic breed.  Don't let them deter you; the brachy breeds are delightful, fun-loving dogs with a lot of personality and that cute smooshy face is hard to resist.  With awareness and caution your brachy will be a healthy, valued member of your family for years to come.

Great TV series

If you have Netflix, or you can check online, I believe you can access this series there, take them time to check out McLeod's daughters.  Set in Australia, the series tells the story of the daughters of the McLeod's throughout224 episodes.  The Patriarch is dead, and the girls run the ranch.  It's an enjoyable show, similar to a modern day American western.  You may want to enable closed captioning, as the accent can, at times, be difficult to understand.   It's an awesome series, showing  a wide variety of animals, mostly domestic, but some wildlife, which is always interesting.  I think you'll enjoy it!