Celebrating 5 Years With Greta!

Five years ago this week, our beautiful Dachshund Greta joined our family in the fall of 2005. Here are some pictures of her over the past five years, including some from her pre-paralysis days. Even though Greta has lost her sight and mobility since we first adopted her, we will never give up on her. She is a cherished member of our pack and her precious spirit has made an impact that will grace our lives forever. Click here to read Greta's full story!

Billie Valentine Is A Spokesdog Extraordinaire For Chihuahuas Everywhere!

Billie Valentine is a Chihuahua on a mission. As a rescue dog himself, Billie works tirelessly with his human, Debbie, to raise awareness about dog adoption. Billie knows what it's like to be an underdog. He wound up in a Texas animal shelter after hurricane Katrina, and faced an uncertain future until he was adopted by Debbie.

Once he was comfortably settled into his new family, it became apparent that Billie was exceptionally photogenic. Debbie was inspired to use her pup's special knack for modeling to create a spectacular calendar in order to support rescue groups and promote pet adoption.

We discovered Billie's calendar as volunteers for Oakland Animal Services, and now it has become a monthly ritual for us to gather together to unveil the new page. It's always exciting to see what Billie has in store since his modeling knows no bounds: he has posed as a cowboy, an elf, a diva, and even a plate of salad!

The 2011 calendar is available now and proceeds will benefit Chihuahua Rescue of San Diego and Furbaby Rescue in Washington state. I know that we will be ordering Billie's 2011 calendar and I hope you will too!

P.S.

Don't forget that October is ADOPT A DOG MONTH and there are thousands upon thousands of wonderful pooches waiting for families in shelters across the U.S. In the San Francisco Bay Area there are a truly astonishing number of homeless Chihuahuas and small breed dogs in particular. During my recent volunteer shifts at Oakland Animal Services, I have come across a Dachshund, a Yorkie, several Mini Poodles and Rat Terriers, and dozens of adorable Chihuahuas just like Billie Valentine. Visit www.petfinder.com for a nationwide listing of adoptable dogs and help spread the word about our deserving shelter friends!

The Odds Are Improving For Disabled Pets

This article has great news for those of us who love special needs pets since it affirms that disabilities among our furry friends are becoming increasingly accepted by US society at large.

Show Off Your Love For Tripod Dogs!

When Sonia Zjawinski's beloved dog, Lulu, was diagnosed with cancer and needed an expensive amputation, she developed a creative way to raise the necessary funds. Sonia and her friends created a line of "I Heart Tripods" t-shirts and tote bags and used the proceeds to help pay her vet bills. Although Lulu has since passed away, Sonia still sells the tripods line on Etsy as a way to help others with "vet debt."

Paralyzed Lucy Rolls To The Top

Here's a happy tail that is sure to warm your heart: Back in August, a four year old rescue pooch named Lucy became the very first paralyzed dog in New Hampshire history to ascend Mt. Washington. It took six hours, but Lucy had plenty of support and encouragement along the way - her humans, Courtney and Justin, and her best canine pal, Topper, were on hand to help her complete the journey. Lucy was outfitted in a Walkin' Wheels doggie wheelchair from Handicapped Pets with her own custom licence plate. Have a look at the inspiring video of Lucy's climb:

Dogs With Disabilities

The dog lovers behind www.dogswithdisabilities.com have unique insights to share about disabled pooches; they have cared for several dogs with neurological disorders and can attest that special needs pups are able to enjoy a top-notch quality of life. Here's an excerpt from the homepage:

Dogs with disabilities:

• Don't feel sorry for themselves
• Don't know they're disabled
• Are accepting of what life has to offer
• Accept as much help as their pride can take
• Take each day as it comes
• Don't worry if we love them, they know we do
• Enjoy life just like other dogs (just not as rambunctiously)
• Don't fear the future or worry about the past
• Make every effort to do what they can to their maximum potential
• Are not a burden, but a joy and a reason to slow down our own hectic lives
  

Check out www.dogswithdisabilities.com for more encouragement and resources!

Caring For A Paralyzed Dog

Since my own family includes a special needs Dachshund, Greta, I know firsthand that paralyzed dogs can enjoy fantastic, fulfilling lives, so don't let anyone try to tell you otherwise! Dogs with impaired mobility do require some extra care, however. Here are some tips to help keep your paralyzed dog happy, healthy, and comfortable:

Hydrotherapy

Warm baths can be wonderfully therapeutic for paralyzed dogs. If your pooch is small (like our paralyzed Dachshund, Greta), you can easily do hydrotherapy at home in the bathtub. Greta takes baths several times a week for about 30 minutes at a time. These soaking sessions help to stimulate her circulation and diminish joint strain by making her back legs buoyant. For large dogs, there are an increasing number of hydrotherapy centers around the country. Click here for a list of providers who are registered with the Association of Canine Water Therapy.

Skin Care

When a dog's back legs are immobilized and they sit/lay in the same position for long periods of time, they become susceptible to sores and skin ulcers. Therefore, it's essential to provide plenty of padding for your pooch. Our paralyzed Dachshund Greta has a number of different beds in order to keep her comfortably cushioned throughout the day and night. Click here for more information about preventing bed sores and skin ulcers.

Bladder Expression

Paralyzed dogs typically don't have bladder control, so it's necessary to manually empty their bladders by expressing them. The thought of doing this several times a day can be incredibly daunting to those with newly paralyzed pets, but I can assure you that it becomes very easy over time and it's really no big deal! Handicapped Pets has step-by-step instructions for expressing a dog's bladder and you can also click here for a previous post that details my own method for Greta.

Assisted Mobility

Many paralyzed dogs are great candidates for wheelchairs and there are a number of excellent companies that specialize in creating carts for dogs with disabilities. Since no one knows your pooch better than you do, you can also build a custom set of wheels for your best friend. Check out Handicapped Pets' DIY dog wheels page for instructions and templates.