The mystery illness that has affected dogs across the country recently, has spread to at least 14 states. The respiratory condition, which is yet to be identified, can be fatal.
We don’t want to spread panic but we think awareness and advice are important under the circumstances. So here is what we know so far and what dog parents can do to help protect their dogs.
What is the mystery dog illness?
Veterinarians and scientists have yet to identify for certain the cause of the pneumonia-like illness but there are common conditions, signs and symptoms for which you should be on the lookout. According to the AVMA they are:
Chronic mild-moderate tracheobronchitis − a sudden or long-term inflammation of the trachea and bronchial airways that is barely or non-responsive to antibiotics.
Chronic pneumonia not responsive to antibiotics.
Acute pneumonia that quickly turns severe (can be as short as 24 hours).
Difficulty or rapid breathing, wheezing, dehydration, fever, nasal or eye discharge, weight loss, loss of appetite and lethargy.
Where is the mystery dog illness?
The illness has been detected, currently, in 14 states. They are:
California
Colorado
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Maryland
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
Oregon
Rhode Island
Vermont
Washington
These are just the states where cases have been reported. The illness appears to be transmissible and our guess is it’s likely to affect more of the country if it hasn’t already.
I am cancelling the Holiday Party but I am keeping Santa on December 16 from 1:00pm to 2:30pm. Dogs will meet Santa individually. You will come in by the front door of the daycare, take a picture with Santa and exit by the back door. There won’t be any interaction with dogs. Water will be dispensed to the pups if needed in disposable bowls.
I will ask that you not bring your dog to the open house if any of the following have occurred in the past ten days:
. You have taken your dog to the veterinarian for routine stuff (shots, etc.) • You have taken your dog to a dog park, • You have taken your dog to a training class with other dogs, • You have taken your dog to another daycare or boarding facility, • You have allowed your dog to say hello to other dogs on your walks.
If any dog coughs or sneezes or has runny nose or runny eyes, its owner will be asked to immediately remove him/her.
This is the best I can do. Sorry guys…. There is still next year!
ON THE DAYCARE SIDE:
We will only accept campers who had no intereaction with other dogs at any place (veterinarian, dog park, groomer, training classes, another daycare or another boarding facility or if you allow your dog to say hello to other dogs during your daily walks.
No more sharing water at the pools or at daycare. Disposable bowls only. Daycare has air purifiers, we disinfect toys and floors in our regular protocol.
http://dgdarcis.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/k9-horizontal_261px.png00Dominique Darcishttp://dgdarcis.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/k9-horizontal_261px.pngDominique Darcis2023-11-27 15:14:362023-11-30 15:40:25Current mystery illness impacting dogs in the U.S.
Sophie is gone after 14 years and 42 days together. She is gone. I let her go while she was still Sophie. I did not cry until she was gone because the last thing I wanted was for her to leave worried about me.
I am still smiling at a comment that Adrienne, at my vet, made two weeks ago when we arrived for acupuncture. You see, Sophie hated waiting. When she was going someone, she was going through the door with no desire to wait in the waiting room. She was always ready to go to the specific room, rehab, acupuncture, echocardiogram or ozone treatment. Everywhere she went, patience was not her forte. So, that day, two weeks ago or so, Sophie rushed to “her room”. Adrienne managed to open the door for Sophie and then went on the other side and told our vet “The Queen has arrived!” It was so perfectly said! Still smile about it.
Sophie was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy in 2017 and had an echocardiogram every six months. I was always taking the earliest appointment at CVCA because she was SO diva and I always thought “how could her cardiologist have my Sophie at 4;00pm if he had ten Sophies before her? But Dr. Cain was so patient. The last two times, Sophie refused to go to the exam table for the echo. She was standing up in the room like telling him “I can do that. I will stand up on the floor and you do your thing, but the table is off limits!” and he did. I hope that every single dog with heart issues has a Dr. Cain in their lives. And amazingly, the heart did not fail her. She kept rebounding, and yes, she was my rebound girl.
Sophie was part of the only litter I ever had. She was born on March 21st, 2009, the fourth to come. Before her came George, then Jackson, Zoe, Sophie and the day after, March 22nd at 2:00am my sweet Max.
Ms. Piggy
From the beginning her nickname was Ms. Piggy. That girl was on the milk bar nonstop!
She was my smarty pants gal! Half lab, half monkey. I called those kids my “mutts” (they were purebred labs with an amazing pedigree!) but it was my nickname for them because they were so different from each other even with the same upbringing. They were going in every direction. It was muttstown at home.
When young, the five of them were sleeping in a big playpen at night, and Sophie was out of it as soon as I was closing the door on them, climbing out of that playpen in one second. She was not doing playpen at night, only the couch!
The infamous Playpen
Her best friend was George. Those two bonded from the minute they were together. She could argue with Zoe, ignore Jackson, scare the crap out of Max that she loved to bully, but George was her partner in crime. Where one was, you could be sure that the other one was there too, somewhere.
Sophie and George
When George died suddenly at the age of 3 from asymptomatic Lyme nephritis, she waited for him forever at the door. Years later, if I said George? (And I might have done it a few times), she was rushing to the front door even in the houses where he did not live. She waited for George to return her whole life.
Max was another story. Max was very sweet, and she loved to bully him. Every time, he was going to the yard, she was having so much fun, dragging him around the yard by his collar. It went to a point where Max refused to go outside if Sophie was in the yard. So, smarty pants Sophie went hiding behind the only tree in the yard. Max thinking the yard was Sophie free was going there and as soon as his four paws were on the grass, here was coming Sophie at full speed! But they loved each other. She was very, very close to him later in life until he died in September 2021 from nasal cancer.
Zeke, Sophie and Max
Sophie being Sophie hated swimming with a vengeance! The only time, she managed to do a decent job was when I was bringing Max as well. She hated the fact that Max was having fun in the water so at that time, she was faking liking swimming like in the picture below!
Max and Sophie
This is exactly why Ziggy happened in our lives! Max’s best friend was Zeke, and when Max died, Zeke stopped having fun. Refusing to walk, to go to my truck and even to swim. When I was taking him to the pools, he was going to pick up a fish, and then go back to the door to go home. For over a month, he was not Zeke anymore. There is a Zeke with Max and there was the Zeke after Max who suddenly grew up and became a very serious dog.
My thoughts were that he could not be an only child when Sophie was gone, and Ziggy happened, my tornado Ziggy, happy, loving and a real tornado. But what I did not anticipate was that Ziggy bonded with Sophie and Sophie bonded with him. She never bonded with anyone besides George. As always, she surprised me. She was a mother hen for him.
Even today, with Sophie gone, we have a ritual every morning. Before we go for a walk, Ziggy has to stay still and quiet, because you see he has a lot to talk about, but I do not put his harness until he shuts up, and every morning when he stops talking, and stands still, Sophie barks like “Nobody tells baby to shut up!” and this morning again, Ziggy got startled by the silence while I was putting the harness on.
I am not sure scientists have discovered this but I can tell you, after living with dogs for over 35 years, dogs mourn, and my Ziggy is in mourning. He is waiting for Sophie to come back. As soon as I open the front door, he rushes to the gate and waits, waits and waits for Sophie to return.
Day 5: Waiting for Sophie
Sophie was named Sophie because of children books that I loved as a kid by the Comtesse of Segur. One of the characters was Sophie, a free spirited gal, and mission accomplished the name fitted my Sophie as a glove.
Sophie after an encounter with barbed wire and surgery
Sophie was a lot like her Mom on the tennis ball side. Both girls never said no to a tennis ball. I remember Lola waking me up in the middle of the night with her tennis ball and her big eyes telling me “Come on Mom, let’s go play!” and very often I was grabbing a flashlight and we were going to play ball in the middle of the night while the mutts were sound asleep. Next to Lola’s ashes, her tennis ball is there by her side.
Lola, Sophie’s Mom
And do not get me started with squirrels. Any squirrel coming to our yard had a death wish. She was like a patient cat, lying in the grass, waiting for a mistake, any mistake, then lunging at that squirrel. I know it’s gonna sound pretty gross, but she was only eating the head, then running around in the yard with the body, and bringing it back home to her siblings triumphantly. She then acted like a Diva for a few hours!
Sophie and her brother Jackson
Labs have a great sense of humor. I think that’s why I love that breed so much. Count on Sophie to make life interesting. One day she brought back to my bedroom a black snake which escaped at one point and disappeared in my bedroom in the attic. This was the time where I slept on the couch downstairs for at least 3 months until I decided the chance to meet that snake again was pretty slim.
The last year of her life was tough. I despised as much as she did the Help’em up harness which became a necessity at one point when it was hard for to get up on her own. The first time I put the harness, she looked at me like “in your wildest dreams woman!” but little by little she kind of liked the help it provided to her.
Sophie being Sophie, she could bark in the middle of the night to go out. To do any business? Absolutely not! She just had the impulse to smell the roses or whatever was in the grass that night. Scents might just be enhanced. Not sure, I did not google it, but I could see my girl going slowly around at 2:00am trying to get every scent around.
Opposite to three of her siblings and her Mom who all died from cancer, different one each but cancer it was, Sophie wanted choices in her life: cardiomyopathy, two torn cruciate with yes of course two TPLO surgeries, IBD, hip dysplasia, arthritis like everywhere, fibrosarcoma and then added last year seizures in her menu Seizure which disappeared for ten months until they started to come back with a vengeance.
I am not sure Sophie would have ever wanted to go, so I had to make the choice for her, and let her go while she was still Sophie. She gulped down ice cream cookie, chicken treats (screw the IBD!) and a KitKat before crossing over the Rainbow Bridge.
The “mutts” are back together
On the other side, she was welcomed by her mom, Lola, her siblings, George, Jackson, Zoe and Max, and hopefully her Dad too, the amazing FC Honor.
Every time I see a picture of FC Honor, my heart skips a beat!
Heaven get ready! The Queen has arrived!
Run free my sweet girl. You left so many paw prints in my heart.
Don’t get me wrong on this title. Good quality food is LOVE. But do not confuse love and food!
I have labs. They would eat 24/7, okay maybe not Zeke who cares more about playing than eating, but my other two? Seriously? They would! And yes, I am sure they would love pizza and ice creams, but they are not going to get those! Because it’s not HEALTHY!
Every 52 days your pup celebrate a year in two-legged year. Make him/her have many of those, and you can start with his diet!
At the beginning of the Pandemic and the shutdown, I thought that we were only going to see fit dogs from now on. There were even cartoons showing dogs being fed up with going on walks ten times a day! I was totally wrong!
Most dogs gained weight. I am not a psychologist so what’s up with the feeding? Not sure I totally get it. These days, I see people feeding geese and ducks bread when you have signs everywhere saying to not feed them, especially bread which is not something they should eat. Do people care? Nope! Because it’s not about the ducks or the geese, it’s about the human!
We now go feed the sharks! Not sure I get that one either.
Food is not love! Love is taking your pup on a walk, it’s playing fetch with him/her, it’s spending time with your pup and then yes, giving your dog good food. Give them the best food you can afford.
CALORIES
You should ask your veterinarian how many calories your dog should have on a daily basis. For instance, my Sophie, 70lbs, who is 12.5 only need 870 calories a day vs my four year old Zeke, 70lbs, who needs 1,150 calories a day.
It’s not really a matter of how many cups. Food calories vary from one brand to another. You just have to check the calories on the bag. Ask your vet to do the math for you, and you can go to this site which explains how to do it: Basic Calorie Calculator | Veterinary Medical Center (osu.edu)
Breaking news: treats have calories too! See below for all the healthy treats that you can give to your pup!
You have your pup’s life in your hands. They don’t know better. They trust you whatever you will be giving them. Choose the healthy way for their sake.
LET’S TALK ABOUT FOOD!
I am sure when you buy products for yourself, you look at the ingredients. Do the same for your pup. Corn should not be the first ingredient! Dogs are not deer! Meat should be the first one on the list. And yes, the variety of dog food you can find on the market can be overwhelming. The site dogfoodadvisor.com is pretty good and thorough. If you sign up, you also get alerts if there is any recall.
Grain free food: I used to give that one because it did make sense, right? And I did not know. I did not know that grain free food could cause cardiomyopathy in large breed dogs. Sophie, my Sophie was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy four and half years ago and is checked out by a cardiologist every six months. Her heart is stable and has been since the first appointment, and I am a lucky one. I asked Sophie’s cardiologist why for the grain free? His answer was that it’s not the grain free itself, it’s some ingredients in it which seem to be causing the issue: peas, chickpeas, potatoes, sweet potatoes. So, we stay away from all of these.
I am working on not blaming myself for the stuff I did not know until I knew it, and it’s not an easy task! You just have to get the best food you can afford: kibbles, cans, raw or the cooked meals like Farmer’s or Nomnomnow.
Kibbles: a few tips.
Buy small bags. You have to realize that the second you open the bag, oxidation happens. It occurs when oxygen gets to the fats on the surface of kibble. It causes the fat cells to degrade, and your dog food starts to lose lots of its nutrients. It can even become toxic. Steve Brown, a dog food nutrition author, and dog food developer believes that kibbles last just seven days, maybe fourteen tops.
And then storing your food: I have an airtight plastic container, and that’s where I keep the bag. Do not dump the food into the container. Keep your food in the bag. Many of them have Velcro. Get the air out, and close your bag. One of the other reasons to keep the bag is that if your pet food has a recall, you will know right away if your bag is involved in that specific recall.
I, personally, got rid of the kibbles. Having had 11 labs in the last 20 years, 10 died of cancer, and the only thing I was not in control of was the food. There are no regulations in this country for pet food. Don’t get me wrong a vast majority of dogs will eat kibbles and have long lives. It just did not happen with mine.
RAISING A PUPPY IS LIKE RAISING A CHILD
Child or dog, they don’t know what’s good or not for them. You are the one in CHARGE. They are not.
TOXIC FOOD:
Before I go further, here is a list of what you should NEVER give to your pup, like EVER.
Xylitol is now causing more deaths in dogs than chocolate. It’s called various names just to be a bit more confusing among them birch sugar, Xylitol is found in candies, peanut butter, face cream, baby wipes and so many other products. Read, read, read the labels.
Chocolate.
Grapes and raisins,
Apple seeds,
Avocado,
Alcohol obviously,
Caffeine products,
Macadamia nuts
Yeast dough
VEGGIES AND FRUITS
This is a fun time to make them discover fruits or veggies! It is as fun to see your pup discover a berry or a piece of watermelon than your baby tasting new food. My own Zeke is a drama king regarding new stuff. The first raspberry he got, he was not sure if that thing was alive or not, it took him a few minutes to decide it was safe to eat.
Apples. These are a great source of Vitamins A & C, and packed full of fiber to keep your dog’s digestive system working effectively. Just be sure to remove the core and seeds before feeding an apple to your pet.
Bananas. Rich in potassium, vitamins, and copper, bananas are exceptionally sweet, and they’re also safe for your furbaby to eat. Due to their high sugar content, bananas should only be given occasionally and regarded firmly as a treat.
Blueberries. Blueberries are full of antioxidants and fiber, which can help defend your pet from cancer.
Broccoli. This dark green vegetable is safe for your pet to eat, but only in very small quantities, as broccoli is fibrous and can lead to diarrhea.
Brussel sprouts. Beware – the gassy effects of these vegetables are just as prevalent in dogs as they are in humans!
Cantaloupe. Feed this delicious melon sparingly, as it is high in natural sugar.
Carrots. Carrots are high in vitamins and fiber, and their fibrous nature can brush away tartar, making them good for your dog’s teeth! The only issue with carrots for my crew: they only eat the organic ones. If I make a mistake and take the regular ones, the carrots will stay lying on the floor and they will look at me like “You failed us! How could you do that to us?”
Celery. Similar to carrots, celery is another low-calorie vegetable that will naturally scrub your dog’s teeth.
Cucumbers. Cucumbers are safe another safe low-calorie snack for dogs. However, don’t feed your pup too much, since it can cause an upset stomach.
Green beans. Fresh green beans are chock full of iron and vitamins, making them a healthy option for your dog. Remember to only feed your pup fresh green beans, as canned ones usually have added salt.
Mango. Don’t forget to remove the stone before feeding as it contains a small amount of toxic cyanide and could potentially cause your dog to choke. Like bananas, mangoes can be fed as a sweet treat.
Oranges. These should be peeled, and all seeds removed before feeding to your canine pal to avoid choking hazards.
Peaches. Again, cut around the pit and remove it before offering it to your furbaby.
Pears. Don’t forget to remove the pit and stones from pears too!
A FEW IDEAS FOR HEALTHY SUMMER TREATS FOR THE PUPS:
a frozen carrot (most dogs love carrots, freeze it for a few hours)
Frozen baby food like Gerber pumpkin
Frozen chicken broth
Frozen Kong with peanut butter
I dehydrate a ton of stuff for my crew: strawberries, carrots, green beans, chicken, salmon (the best purchase I ever made was a dehydrator!)
AND NOW LET’S TALK ABOUT HUMAN FOOD….
I never fed my dogs from the table for one single reason: I had seven Labrador retrievers, yes 7 at one time. So, you can forget about giving them a piece of bread or a piece of fish or whatever. It never happened; I did not raise beggars. Don’t get me wrong here. I did not raise beggars, but I had a thief, and he had no excuse. He never missed a meal in his whole life. I know this for a fact since he was born at home, but he was the thief of all thieves, the one who managed to open anything and everything if there was anything eatable there. It took me over six months after his death to not stop outside when I was leaving home and wondered if I had left anything that Jackson would be able to get.
This is just a funny video of Jackson. I came into the house when he had just opened the fridge (I had to put a lock on the darn fridge!) and was checking what he was going to get. He absolutely did not care that I had just arrived. That was my boy.
He was an exception in many ways, but if you give your dog food from the table, from the counter, from wherever you are, he will believe that he can surf all those places since he/she got some from there.
And then the people food. Human ice creams or pizzas are not good for your pup. Years ago, I met a beautiful, sweet lab who was obese, and I told his Mom that if she worked with us with the food, then with the regular swimming he would lose weight. Her answer was “XXXX loves pizza. He gets pizza every day, and I will not change that.” He died some time ago. He was not able to stand up anymore. This is dog abuse in my book
Every dog parent knows that dogs are the most amazing creatures, and they have such a short life. Don’t shorten it by making them fat. It’s just not fair. When we start to feed our pets from our plate, counter, anywhere not in their own food bowl, or food that is anything other than their normal dog food, we start to introduce bad habits that can be difficult to break. Not only are we setting up our pets to behave badly, but we are also introducing the possibility of eating toxic foods, as well as an increase in daily calories.
OBSESITY IN DOGS
The most recent statistics classify the majority of dogs in the U.S.—56%—as overweight or obese. While that makes obesity a major health crisis for dogs, it’s a problem that’s often overlooked, as many pet owners may not even realize their pets are overweight.
A lifetime study on Labrador retrievers found that slim dogs lived an average of two more years than the ones who were overweight.
Too much weight causes so many health issues:
Joint problems
Back problems
Some types of cancers
Heart issues.
It’s never too late to get your dog to shed a few pounds. It will make a huge difference for the joints and for quality of life. Check out that chart to figure out if your pup needs to work on his body figure!
Let’s just try to keep our fur babies healthy. There is nothing I want more than having my dogs grow old by my side. Isn’t that we all want?
http://k9aquaticcenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/iStock-131612352-1-scaled.jpg17042560Dominique Darcishttp://dgdarcis.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/k9-horizontal_261px.pngDominique Darcis2021-08-14 18:27:212021-08-17 12:21:34Food is not love!
I would like to take a moment to thank you for your patronage and trusting us with your beloved fur babies. Some of you have been with us from the beginning five years ago, but regardless of how long you have been coming to the pools we have all made long lasting memories together.
Our prices will increase from February 1st onwards to cover the rise in our expenses. The swim packages have been at the same price since we opened the pools 5 years ago.
New prices:
SWIMMING
Regular swim session: $53.00
Regular swim session – additional dog: $45.00
Wild Wednesday swim session: $42.00
Package of 10 swims: $450.00
DAYCARE:
The only increase is for half day daycare with swimming which will be $42.00
Remaining of the prices for day care do not change.
In the midst of recent
developments with COVID-19 (The Corona Virus), we are implementing a plan to
help protect our clients and our team. These may be updated with the changing
environment surrounding the Corona Virus. Please watch your email for further
developments.
So far, there has not been evidence that pets are able to transmit the virus
back and forth with humans and we are not concerned about handling and treating
patients. Our concern is human to human transmission. The
greatest risks for transmission are through airborne particles. Surface
contamination is another mode of transmission and is something we already
manage in our routine operations. We routinely disinfect surfaces and wash our
hands. We are adjusting our practices to focus more on limiting exposure
between humans.
Our
Internal Cleaning Plan
We have medical grade
disinfectant that we will now use to clean the front desk surfaces and the
credit card machine after each user.
Our credit card machine is on
the desk for you to operate yourself.
We will use the same
disinfectant to clean the outside door handle as much as possible
throughout the day. The front door can be pushed open on the way out
without touching it.
If you need to wash your hands
during or at the end of your visit with us, please don’t hesitate to ask
and we’ll guide you to the bathroom.
We will disinfect the faucet
handles on the bathroom sink after each use.
We will be disinfecting our
phones and desk, keyboards and mouse surfaces at least once daily.
Non-Traditional
Appointment Option
We don’t want a pet who could benefit from swims in our pools to lose the
opportunity to do so. If you are concerned about limiting your exposure, have
possibly been exposed yourself or have undiagnosed symptoms please ask for one
of these special options. If you think you may have symptoms, please don’t be
shy about telling us, we all want to be as safe as possible.
We
will meet you outside the front door and take your dog inside for a swim. You
can remain in your car during the appointment and the coach will speak with you
on the phone about your pup’s session. We will also check you out over the
phone before you leave. Then we will meet you outside the front door with your dog.
Our goal is for the K9 Aquatic Center to be the least risky place you visit
outside of home so your pets can still get the exercise, therapy and enjoyment
they need without risking your own health. We also want our team members to
stay healthy so we can continue to provide you with the thoughtful care you
have come to know with us. As always, feel free to call or email us with any
questions.
http://dgdarcis.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/k9-horizontal_261px.png00Dominique Darcishttp://dgdarcis.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/k9-horizontal_261px.pngDominique Darcis2020-03-14 16:40:562020-03-14 16:40:58K9 Aquatic Center Corona virus plan
This is a great article with precious advices from Laurie Duperier that she wrote for the NoVa Dog Magazine.
Laurie Plessala Duperier is an author and expert on caring for aging dogs. Living with Gunny, her soul mate, changed her life and taught her almost everything she knows about everything. Before devoting herself to dogs, she was an international lawyer. Later she ran Gunny’s Rainbow, a warm water healing facility in Bethesda, for 8 years. You can learn about The Endless Path, the book she wrote with Gunny, at theendlesspath.com. It is widely available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other online retailers.
These days, our animal companions are living longer than ever. But many of those last years can prove quite challenging given the rate of cancer, heart problems, degenerative diseases, and orthopedic ailments that our older dogs face—just like the aging human population. The tests, treatment options, and supportive therapies can seem overwhelming when your dog experiences a significant health problem. The costs can be staggering. And while we all want our animal companions to stay with us as long as possible, what most of us really want is for them to be happy and have quality of life all the days that they are here.
I spent the better part of the last 12 years tending to elderly and dying dogs, both my own and others’. For eight years I ran Gunny’s Rainbow, a warm water healing facility in Bethesda, and specialized in supporting geriatric dogs and their people. While I started out swimming with all kinds of dogs, from young ones looking for exercise to surgical rehabbers to geriatrics, over time I focused exclusively on the seniors, knowing there were other swim options for the younger pups.
Fundamentally, old dogs are my calling and my passion. I love them—they are my life coaches! In fact, I first built Gunny’s Rainbow for my elderly dog, Gunny, who you can probably guess I named the place after.
I could write a book about all that I learned from the dogs, their humans, and some very committed and knowledgeable specialists and holistic practitioners. In fact, I am going to write that book! But for now, I want to share some of what I learned about supporting an older dog with significant spinal or orthopedic issues, which is more common among large breeds than small, although they can affect any canine.
Sometimes Less is More
When your dog starts to limp or acts tired during or after playtime or retrieving, rein in the activity. This is a sign of discomfort—not just being older. Their big canine hearts sometimes want to do more than their aging bodies can handle. Consider several 15-minute walks instead of one or two 20- to 30-minute ones. After all, for most dogs, the only thing better than two walks is three!
You may also need to limit retrieving the ball for extended periods, even when the drive is there and they want to go go go. Just like people who have arthritis, moderate exercise several times a day is much better than a long marathon session that over-stresses their muscles and joints.
Last but not least, do not ask your elderly dog to be a “weekend warrior.” Asking them to go for a long 45-minute walk on a nice day when they are only accustomed to short ones can do more harm than good.
Water is Magic
While weight-bearing exercise has its place, for an old dog with disk disease, degenerative myelopathy, or arthritis, it is weightless aerobic exercise that can really make the difference.
The benefits of water exercise are well-documented and numerous. Swimming or walking on an underwater treadmill allows your dog to work his muscles and joints without the concussive impact of paws on pavement, which can be painful. The hydrostatic pressure of the water helps with joint pain if they stay in the water long enough. If you can find a facility with water upwards of 87 degrees, your dog can get a lot of pain relief from the heat penetrating his joints. When you reduce their pain, dogs can use their muscles and joints more easily, which of course helps them walk better. Even if your dog was not a water fan earlier in life, consider giving it a try. The ability to move without pain can make almost any old dog a fan of water exercise.
As important as those physical benefits are, the mental and emotional benefits are no less impressive. I cannot count the number of retrievers I saw who literally “came back to life” at being able to retrieve a ball for their mom or dad, often for the first time in years. They are proud and happy to feel like a “big young dog” again. One of the reasons for that is biochemical: just like us, when dogs get their heartrates up, they release endorphins, dopamine, seratonin, and other feel-good chemicals that lift negative feelings and improve their mood. Think about it. Your 13-year-old dog likely doesn’t run anymore or really get her heart rate up, and that means she’s not getting good aerobic exercise. Exercising in water allows a dog to do that safely (assuming they have no underlying heart condition), so it is both a physical and psychological win.
Do Not Wait to Address Aging Issues
Many times I silently lamented that someone waited so long to bring their dog to swim. If only they had come 6 months or a year earlier, when their dog had more muscle, I could have helped more. Just like your grandmother no longer builds significant muscle, your 13-year-old dog is unlikely to bulk up again once that strength is gone. The name of the game, especially for degenerative conditions like disk disease and arthritis, is to maintain muscle mass for as long as you can. You can do that in two ways: by easing their physical pain so they can comfortably exercise, and by getting the right kind of exercise.
These days there are so many options, both holistic and traditional, to help your senior dog. Explore them all, and don’t be discouraged if a particular treatment doesn’t work, since medical care is not “one size fits all.” Try something else! Some options cost very little, like making Golden Paste (a natural anti-inflammatory made from turmeric). Some are relatively expensive, like regular acupuncture or chiropractic care. And there are exciting new things out there like CBD oil made from hemp or cannabis, which can help ease pain. Be aware of what’s out there!
Also, talk to your vet. Go see a neurologist, orthopedic surgeon, or rehabilitation therapist. Consult a holistic practitioner. But definitely don’t postpone the issue until your dog can no longer get up on his own, or falls down constantly. Generally, these issues will not get better with time—only worse. However, with patience and determination, my experience is that you can find a combination of therapies that helps your dog.
The Small Stuff Matters
Be mindful of details when it comes to your elderly dog. Here are a few points to keep in mind.
1. Keep your dog’s nails trimmed short so they can get all the way up on their paws and are not shifting their weight back to the weaker hind end.
2. Cut the hair in between the paws on their feet. When they’re walking around with hair covering their paw pads, it is like being on ice skates on a slippery hardwood floor. Paw pad traction helps their stability.
3. Invest in carpet squares, runners, or yoga mats and put them on stairs and on slick surfaces where your dog walks. It is easy to strain a groin muscle if they go splat with their hind legs out, and very tough to fully recover from that.
4. Get a harness to help them off the floor and/or a sling to support them going up and down stairs. Going down stairs is very dangerous for a dog with hind end weakness because they end up descending like a runaway train and can really injure themselves. Fall prevention is obviously preferable to recovering from a fall.
5. Be sure that your dog is eating a low to no carbohydrate diet and getting appropriate supplements like fish oil, Vitamin E, and Vitamin B if appropriate.
6. Learn some basic massage, stretching, and passive range of motion techniques to help keep your dog limber and her muscles more supple and comfortable.
Do not confuse incontinence with end of life. Many dogs with disk disease become fecal incontinent and sometimes urinary incontinent. It is a nerve conduction issue. It is not painful, nor is it a quality of life issue if you keep your dog clean, use diapers as necessary, or (even better) learn how to stimulate them to poop so they don’t have accidents when left unattended. It isn’t hard, and your vet can show you how. We think nothing of buying grandma Depends diapers at the grocery store, and we generally don’t ever talk about euthanizing her. So please learn the same caretaking skills and invest in the same types of products for your dog. He doesn’t want to poop in the house any more than you want him to. And remember that your fuzzy companion is often sensitive, so not making a fuss about an accident goes a long way to making them feel okay about what’s happening.
My beloved Gunny lived for 14 years, 9 months, and 5 days. I treasure each and every one of them, even the really hard days. Unfortunately, I learned a lot of things the hard way, so I want to make it easier for you to enjoy the time with your elderly dog. It is in that spirit I hope to share what I learned from all the dogs in my life and the people who came with them! ND
http://k9aquaticcenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/gabriel.jpg960720Dominique Darcishttp://dgdarcis.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/k9-horizontal_261px.pngDominique Darcis2018-10-22 16:27:162018-10-22 16:58:36Gracefully Walking Your Dog Through the Aging Process by Laurie Duperier
Doctors and physical therapists often recommend swimming as a low-impact exercise for people recovering from injuries or as a way for older individuals to stay active. Swimming is said to be easy on our joints, while building up endurance and muscle strength. In fact, you work almost every muscle in your body when you swim, making it a wonderful workout. But, does swimming provide similar benefits for dogs? According to Dr. Stephanie Liff, a practicing veterinarian and owner of Pure Paws Veterinary Care in Brooklyn, N.Y., the answer is yes.
“Just like for people, swimming is a low-impact form of exercise that can be very useful to pets,” says Dr. Liff. “It can help with healing and rehabilitation post-orthopedic or neurological surgery, or can be used for weight loss in pets that have arthritis or other limitations that make exercise difficult.”
Almost any dog can benefit from the exercise swimming provides, but Dr. Liff says it’s especially useful for senior canines or younger pets with disabilities.
It’s important to note that if your dog is healing from an injury or illness, you should definitely check with your vet to make sure it’s safe for him to swim. “There is an appropriate time postoperatively to start swimming, which is after all wounds and incisions have healed, and the sutures or staples are removed,” Dr. Liff explains. And in some cases, swimming might not be the best option. “Many pets with a dermatologic disease should avoid public water sources, or in some cases, should not be exposed to swimming due to open sores, etc.,” she adds. “Also, dogs with ear infections should not swim while being treated.”
For dogs that get the go-ahead to swim, make sure they don’t overdo it. Some canine companions don’t know when to stop. Dr. Liff says it’s important to start slowly and watch your dog for signs of overexertion. “Just like with any exercise, it is important to consult your veterinarian before starting a new program,” she advises. “Also, since it is exercise and can lead to muscle exertion, you can see soreness after swimming, so monitor your pet and adjust the duration of the exercise as needed.”
Depending on where you live, you may have several choices when it comes to where your dog swims: creeks, lakes, the ocean, a dog swim center, or even your own backyard pool. All of these vary in depth, strength, temperature, and, of course, water quality. There’s always a chance with public bodies of water that your dog could pick up an infection, such as giardia (an intestinal infection that spreads through contaminated food or water). If your dog has a compromised immune system, it might be best to avoid letting him swim in public bodies of water. “In terms of therapy, the location does not matter, but, of course, safety is maximized by a controlled environment, which the river or ocean may not provide, depending on other factors,” Dr. Liff explains.
If your dog goes swimming in a pool, make sure there is an easy way for him to get out, such as stairs, to prevent possible drowning. If there’s a risk that your pup could venture into deeper water, like in an ocean or lake, have him wear a dog life jacket.
Keep in mind that all dogs are not natural swimmers, and some really do not like water, so introduce your canine companion to swimming slowly and safely to avoid accidents. Dr. Liff cautions that no dog should swim without a human closely observing him.
I used to be really good at being funny and write about funny stuff. For as long as I remember, I always had sentences dancing in my head that I could not wait to write down. I remember a long time ago, like a century ago, when my 2nd grade teacher kept me in the classroom alone to write what was called in French “a redaction”, like a short essay because she thought my parents were writing it for me. They did not.
Anyway, my brain has always been very busy with words, and then Jackson died in September 2016 my brain went MIA, like frozen. And then, I was only able to write when something bad was happening. I love to be funny, and where was my darn sense of humor? MIA? Hello, I want it back.
So this post is not sad. Some could think it is, but it’s really not. I am GOOD!
This is just what I experienced in the last three months. I always had kind of a sixth sense. Knowing things before they happened or feeling things which were not tangible.
Years ago I remember having a dream about a dog and seeing her sleeping under one of my trees in my yard, and leaves falling over her body – except that it was Spring and as far as I know leaves don’t fall in Spring, right? – I emailed my friend who was in France and he answered me back the same day to let me know that his girl has passed away the day before. That’s me… I can’t give you the lottery numbers but I feel things before they happen.
So, yes if you read previous posts, you must know that at least one of my dogs came back after he crossed the Rainbow Bridge. His name was Zeus, and then I fell in love with another black lab. His name was Jackson. His death at 6 and half destroyed me for a long time.
And then, there was Maia. Maia has never been my heart dog. We were girlfriends but we got so close. Three years of chemotherapy and cancer will do that to you.
I deliberately chose to put Maia to sleep on December 18, 2017 because I wanted her to leave before cancer took over her body and I was okay with it. It was my choice.
And that’s when the story started…. Last January, I went to pick up her ashes in Virginia, and I was okay.
I was driving on the beltway, listening to some French music, and then the music stopped, and Maia started barking through the radio, and it was not a happy bark, like Zeus years ago. I almost got into an accident, because she did freak me out!
Maia was not my heart dog, but she sure is around even though she is not here physically! Every morning, when she was alive, she was by my front door waiting to go to the pool with me. When she passed, she was still by my front door. Every morning, she was there. It was just like a black cloud by my door. I can’t describe it better than that. A foggy black shape by my front door.
But it did not stop there. If you know me, you know that I have a Zeke in my life, and my Zeke is contained to my kitchen when I am not around, with a live cam monitoring him. I check on him on a regular basis. Hey, one day, I was having a manicure, and when I checked on him, I saw him ripping off one of my kitchen cabinet doors. I never screamed so much at him, but he did not care. I never left a nails salon so fast with only one hand done. When I got home, he was still chewing on my cabinet door….
So, that day, I saw something on his dog bed, and I could not figure out what it was, so when I don’t know…. I rush home. It was Maia’s ashes. Her box stays in my bedroom on a shelf, and it’s heavy…. Another day, I came home, and when I went to my bedroom, all the cards and notes that friends wrote to me when she passed were all over my floor. Those cards were safely stored under her ashes at all time. And I am not even talking about Maia’s barking at the pools. Kelly heard her too. Frustrating bark when we were in the pools area.
What was she upset about?
I was at loss and emailed the animal communicator I used on Maia a year earlier and who was amazing. At the same time, I talked about it with one of my clients, Zoey’s Mom, and she gave me a suggestion, and yes, Maia, I am so sorry for being so thick! She told me “Maybe Maia wants to be with you the way she was before. Maybe she doesn’t want to stay home when you go to the pools.”
The same day, I went home and got an email from the animal communicator telling me: “Maia wants you to take her to the pools every day the way you did it when she was alive. She belongs there.”
So…. every day, I take my girl to the pools. She stays on my desk by the computer. Every night, she goes home with me, and goes back to my bedroom. Since I have been doing this, she has been quiet, so I do believe she is now at peace. What she did not get was that location did not matter, it was just geography… Wherever I was, she was with me. How could she have missed that? It’s just geography. But every morning, I carry her in a bag, and every night I take her home in the same bag. Maia’s wishes….
I am finishing writing this post today, March 31st. It was the day she was diagnosed with Lymphoma 3 years ago. It was a long journey…. And the journey goes on.
Maia died a month ago yesterday. It seems like an eternity as well as yesterday. I managed to let her go the best possible way: when she was still feeling good and surrounded by her oncologist, Dr. Beck, who had been like a lighthouse in the middle of a storm, storm meaning Lymphoma. She left quietly, and yes, I realized, thanks to a wise friend, that cancer did not win. Maia did. Maia left before cancer crippled her, before it was too late. and I am so relieved to have been able to do that for her.
I lost four of my labs from cancer in a year and half, and it has always been emergencies, and emergencies suck big time. Tidal waves that left you all bruised, broken and not sure you can still breathe on your own. Maia gave me some peace. Don’t get me wrong. If someone talks to me about her when I don’t expect it, tears can still run uncontrolled, but when it’s my choice, I can now talk about her with words without breaking down.
I started a journal when she was diagnosed with Lymphoma on March 31, 2015 until December 18, 2017. There are many gaps in it, mostly while she was twice in remission and when I wanted to believe that she will be in the 5% who got into remission like forever. Gaps meaning quiet time, enjoying every minute with her.
With Maia, I learned to live life like there was no tomorrow, enjoying every minute of every day. I read that poem a long time ago, but until Maia, I did not realize it was written for us.
My Heart Has A Tail
I made a discovery, just today;
something so amazing in every way.
It was when you bounded towards my face,
kissing and wriggling all over the place.
And I held you very, very close to me,
experiencing euphoria, endlessly.
It seemed that all at once, our hearts became one
and together we were having so much fun.
I could no longer keep my perspective;
the two of us became almost reflexive.
Yet when I see you running around,
you don’t need words to make a sound.
I know that you love me very much
with a loyalty no human can touch.
That’s why I believe you’ve become my heart
and no one earthly force can keep us apart.
We understand each other so very well;
Surely my heart has a tail, or can’t you tell?
While I was driving to the Hope Center in Vienna that morning of December 18th, she was quietly in the back of my truck, happy. Now and then, I was scratching her head. That morning, I knew I was driving there for the last time. I knew it was the day, and I was silently crying in order not to worry her. She was always as worried about me that I was worried about her. We were quite a pair. Amazingly, there were no regrets, not thinking of the last walk around the lake that we would not take or the last swim she would not get at the pool. We had a very long goodbye, and I had no regrets. And she did not have either. I do believe she knew. As a matter of fact, I believe she was to one to tell me it was time.
Maia had two faces: Before and After cancer. Don’t get me wrong I am not going to thank cancer to have revealed the second face of Maia, but yes, if cancer had not crossed our path, the ride would have been smooth, sweet, but not memorable. Cancer woke up Maia, and she become that other being who knew what she wanted and was asking for it. From the dog who never barked, she became the barker in chief, and you know what? It was a promotion. She finally knew what she wanted and she was letting me know. She could get mad. She had feelings and she was showing them. You go girl!
BC (Before cancer), Maia hated the water. It was too wet for her. Seriously. She was also the dog who never retrieved. Not completely true. Even BC, there was some competition in my girl. If I were throwing a ball (safest thing for me to throw. I suck with Frisbees! Like you have no idea…. no idea except if you check out my roof, then you will see the story of the Frisbees and me.), so yes if I were throwing a ball, she wanted to get it before anyone else, but once she had it, she had no more interest in it, and was dropping it wherever…. like saying to the others “now you can have it, I don’t care. I was the one to have it FIRST!”
AC was another story. Maia loved to swim, and totally hated if one of my crew was coming for a swim. Gosh, she was letting me know loudly how disapproving she was about the whole thing. The pool was her place. Every morning, she was waiting by the front door by 8:30 like I could forget to take her with me? Cancer made us so close that yes, my heart has a tail. With the remaining of my pack, we had special time one on one, but Maia became the shadow of my shadow or did I become the shadow of her shadow?
I just realized this past month what was the most amazing part of our relationship and silly of me not to realize it until she was gone. We were communicating. Animal communication? I don’t think I am communicating with the remaining of my pack but with Maia what was it? You could call it telepathy. I knew what she wanted. I knew if she wanted to go for a walk, or what she would want to eat that specific day. (Maia developed anorexia during cancer, and it was a challenge sometime to figure out what would be the food of the day), but in the last months of her life, it became crystal clear.
The last few weeks of her life, it just did not feel right to leave her at the pool like I used to when I was running errands, so everywhere I went, she went as well. She became picky with her food, but I always knew what she would eat or not eat that day. I would pick random stuff knowing that it would be the only thing she would want to eat, and she did. I knew what she wanted at any minute of the day. Until now, I did not realize how deep our connection was. She was making me feel what she was feeling. That’s how deep we connected.
She was not my heart dog. Jackson was. At the same time she was so much more. She was my best friend.
When I came back home that Monday (note for myself: Mondays are not good dog days. Three of my dogs and Maia died on a Monday.), my dogs did not really care, but why would they have? Maia never really interfered with them. She was always with me. But Milou, the evil cat, did. Maia was the only living being that he loved. When Maia was home, Milou was always, absolutely always with her. Sleeping on the same bed, hanging out on the couch, Milou was always there. He took it badly. He was looking for her everywhere, meowing around the house, not eating (and when we knew Milou, you knew that starvation was not really his thing!) and then we had a talk: I made him smell Maia’s collar, and some of her hair. I told him she was gone but was she?
Zeus, one of my labs from the past, came back to me twice after his death, and each time, I did not expect it. He just came back. I wrote a column about it, so I won’t bore you with it here, but the thing with Maia is that she is around. Her dog bed by the fireplace stays untouched. Milou the cat who used to love to be on that bed with her, lies down by the bed but not on her bed. Yesterday, I gave a chew to Zeke and he went straight to Maia’s bed to savor it, and stopped right there before jumping on it, and made a fast U turn and crashed on the rug. I do believe she is still on the bed, and they know it.
A few mornings ago, I saw her by the front door, the way she used to wait to go to the pool. It was a blurry black shape for a few seconds. It came and went, and came back, and was gone again. Same at the pool, when I go to the pool area, a few times, I heard her bark, and rushed back to the store front. You can also call me crazy. It’s okay. I believe that I reached a degree of communication with her that I have never reached with anyone else. So yes, my heart has a tail or can’t you tell?
http://dgdarcis.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/k9-horizontal_261px.png00Dominique Darcishttp://dgdarcis.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/k9-horizontal_261px.pngDominique Darcis2018-01-20 03:40:222018-01-20 21:39:16The two faces of Maia
Maia was diagnosed with Lymphoma on March 31st, 2015. I do remember the date because this is the day where I went to sign the lease for the store. I thought she had an ear infection because she was shaking her head so much. I will remember that morning forever. I took her out of my truck and went back for Sophie who was limping. I had one step inside my vet’s office with Sophie and I knew right away something was dead wrong. Maia’s lymph nodes were swollen and he thought it was Lymphoma. I do not want to give Lymphoma a capital L but my auto speller doesn’t want to hear about it. It doesn’t deserve a capital L that’s the least I can say.
From the minute I got her, I loved her. She was 8 weeks old and she was perfect from the beginning. Taking her out of a pretty cold garage a day before a snow storm, she never ever did anything wrong in her life. NEVER. She never chewed anything which was inappropriate (right Zeke?). She never had an accident in the house. Maia has just been my perfect pup from 8 weeks old until that March 31 of 2015 where cancer had the bad taste of invading her body.
If I had done nothing she would have been gone within 6 weeks. So we did something. I learned a lot about Lymphoma. There are two types: B cells and T cells. The B cells respond the best to chemotherapy. So 2 days later, we started chemotherapy. When I said we, she was the one to take the crap, but going every week for six months takes a toll on the parent too. This is when we developed that bond. I knew her so well. Maia is a very sensitive girl, and when she felt crappy, at one point, she stopped eating. Yes, she became anorexic. The oncologist I was seeing at the first place told me: “Put a bowl of kibbles on the floor and she will eat when she will be hungry.” All wrong. I knew my girl. I knew how sensitive she was, and that’s one of the messages I want to send tonight: Trust your feelings about your dog. The vet or oncologist or any other specialist doesn’t know your pup like you do.
We left fast that place where they were treating every single dog with Lymphoma the same way, and as a matter of fact, they almost killed my girl after giving her a sulfa antibiotics which made her temperature rise to 105 and became totally lethargic. Who would not be when you have such a colossal fever? I was the one, not the vet, to figure it out. That was the week where I took her away from that place, and found Dr. Beck, an oncologist at the Hope Center in Vienna, Va.
She got us right away. Right away she treated Maia as Maia and not as a dog with Lymphoma. She saved my girl. And after six long months of chemotherapy, Maia went into remission. It was in October of 2015. Cancer came back in July of 2016 and I do believe that it came back because of me. Maia and I are like two peas in a pod. I have to stay Zen for her or she starts worrying about me as much as I worry about her. In June 2016, one my other girls, Lola died of liver cancer a month after being diagnosed, and it took my Zen thing kind of away from me.
So we started chemotherapy again for six months every single week…. And in January of this year, she was in remission again, and sue me, but 5% of the dogs with Lymphoma get into remission like forever, and that was the plan. Why would not she be in those 5%? She was my mighty girl, and we had such a streak of bad luck between the Lymphoma, a torn cruciate and then the Vestibular Disease, my girl deserved a break…. and we got that break until yesterday.
At her last monthly oncology recheck, they found a swollen Lymph node, but Maia had allergies, an ear infection, so it had to be that, right? They gave her antibiotics but at one point when I went to my regular vet, he decided to do an aspiration to see what was in that swollen node. I was not worried. She had an ear infection and those lymph nodes are supposed to do their jobs when there is an infection lingering around right? Then it was Labor Day weekend (Reminder for me, and only me: don’t trust anything happening on Labor Day weekend!), and I noticed the node was getting smaller, so I was totally at ease when my vet called me yesterday to break the news. The pathologist was 100% sure that cancer came back with a vengeance: “high grade Lymphoma”. It took me a second to google it to see that it was the most aggressive form of Lymphoma striking as many internal organs that it could. Lymphoma is like a snake. You never see it coming. It goes so slow…. But then it attacks and you don’t even realize where it was coming from.
The thing is my girl is happy. She eats pretty well, goes for walk, swims (it just took her ten years to enjoy it), barks at me if I stay too long in the pool area while another dog is swimming. So tomorrow, we are going to see the oncologist, not Dr. Beck who is unfortunately on vacation this week, but the other one. I know one thing, and one thing only: I want her to stay happy. I want her to leave on a good day. So I have no clue what is going to be said tomorrow. I just know that I do not, it’s not I do not, it’s just that I cannot make her miserable to have her a few more weeks with me. It would be so unfair to her. And at the end of the journey, it’s all that matters. A very wise friend told me some time ago “Dogs are not afraid of death.” Today is a no man’s land since I don’t know what tomorrow will be made of. I just know one thing: my girl is going to leave after having a very good day because that’s what she deserves, and I will not cry because I just don’t want her to worry about me. It breaks my heart. For a year and half, every day, she went to the pool with me. She is so paranoid that I could forget her (how could I? Seriously?) that by 7;30am she is by the front door, making sure that I will not go anywhere without her. How do you go on after that?
I have no clue…. The ironic thing is that I stopped writing a year ago after Jackson died. It was like my brain was frozen as well as my fingers. How ironic that I start writing again when another death is going to hit me. A year ago, I had an animal communicator come to my house because you see I was worried about Maia. She was refusing to drink except if I were giving her a glass with fresh water. The first thing that animal communicator told me when I said I was worried about her, she smiled, and she told me “that’s the first thing Maia told me: that she was so worried about you.” Life after Maia? I have no clue how it will be. I have no clue how many times a heart can be broken. The only thing I now for sure is that I will deal with myself after she is gone, because for the time being, it’s all about Maia.
http://k9aquaticcenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/maia.jpg960720Dominique Darcishttp://dgdarcis.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/k9-horizontal_261px.pngDominique Darcis2017-09-07 00:22:132017-09-07 10:50:20It was just a small lymph node...
