Sunday, October 14, 2012

It's good to be Bichon







DUDES! She is working you to death! You need to join a union and get some rights or something.

Just out of curiosity, what kind of treats do you get paid in? I am not saying another word. I am just going to give momma my blinkie eye pose and melt her soul. That's all I have to do.

Fine, I will also give her a tail wag. 

Fine, but no more than a bow play invite. 

All right! I will give her the zampina. I have to get ready for nonna, after all. She is into that "trick" big time... you know, you hand her your paw. She is cute. Makes her happy. 

 'vie

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the suggestions for Tank's knee Silvie. My gut feel is to wait and see... but the VETs warn me that if not fixed surgically, the knee will degenerate and he'll get arthritis in it. It's hard to find any VET who is willing to take a conservative approach. My theory is that all these canine ACL surgeries have turned into a cash cow for them and perhaps they're not always in the dog's best interest. I've been giving Tank a glucosomine and chondroitin tablet every day, but specialist recommended cosomin ASU which is actually for people. What, exactly, was in the "cocktail" that you mentioned? Thanks, Kathy (Tank's Asst.)

silvieon4 said...

1. Secondary arthritis also develops post -op.
2. http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/13_2/features/Canine-Ligament-Injury-Options_16198-1.html -------- the con
3.http://skeptvet.com/Blog/2011/04/is-surgery-really-necessary-for-dogs-with-ruptured-cruciate-ligaments/---- the pro
4.Rest
For dogs with partially-torn ACLs, prolonged rest may be a surgical alternative. According to Dog Channel, one to two months of inactivity may allow the fibers to heal. The dog should be kept crated or confined to a small area with no access to stairs. There should be no chairs or sofas available for them to climb up on and have to jump down from. There should be no activity except for potty breaks, and the dog must be taken out on a leash to attend to its business.

ACL Support Kit
The basic or advanced ACL Support Kits sold by The Natural Canine of Vermont contain supplies for dogs whose ACL ligaments have strained but not torn. Their advice for torn ligaments is surgery. The basic support kit includes a homeopathic joint relief tincture, while the advanced kit contains sea mussel, a supplement for connective tissue support.

The Natural Canine of Vermont

163 Belden Falls Rd.

New Haven, VT 05472

802-388-2137

naturalcanine.com

Nutritional Supplements
Helen McKinnon, in "It's for the Animals," recommends Ester Vitamin C, d-alpha Vitamin E, bovine cartilage, Glucosamine sulfate, licorice tincture, manganese, silica and other supplements for dogs suffering with torn ACLs. These supplements are human-grade and may be found at health-food stores or online. Check with your veterinarian before giving any supplements to your dog and to determine the appropriate dosage for the animal.

Physical Therapy/Massage
Dogs with torn ACLs may benefit from regular massages of the knee area and physical therapy, such as swimming. Consult with a holistic veterinarian for proper massage techniques for the injury, as incorrect methods can cause the dog pain.

Weight Loss
Feed your dog a high-quality diet, and make sure it is not overweight. Additional pounds strain the joints and can affect ACL healing. If the dog is in confinement while recuperating from the injury, it will not need the same amount of food as when active. Consult your veterinarian for the best weight-loss program for your pet.



Read more: Holistic Alternatives for a Torn Canine Cruciate Ligament | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/list_6813793_holistic-torn-canine-cruciate-ligament.html#ixzz29Ia4n5fg

Anonymous said...

Wow - thanks for all the info! Specialist said when x-rays were taken 2 months ago, it was partial tear, but he cautioned that it might be completely torn by now. Dog is doing fine... walking without a limp, doesn't seem to be in pain. We've restricted activity for 2 mos. now and have seen a huge improvement. My gut says leave him alone.