Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Heal Your Dog Naturally

When my wife and I woke at 3 am to find our 8 year old Maltese just standing in the middle of the bedroom not moving, we were perplexed to say the least. When I went to pick him up and he yelped continuously we were down right scared. That is a sound a dog owner never wants to here. We ushered him into his carry bag and were out the door at 3:10 am. Another visit to the vet within the last three months. I fear this may become too familiar as he grows older.

As mentioned a little over a month earlier he had torn the ACL tendon in his hind right leg. This visit it was determined that he slipped a disk in his lower back. This can happen when a dog is compensating for another injury such as... a torn ACL. We were lucky on both counts, these injuries can require surgery and so far we do not need to take this route, as my pup is healing on his own. The doc says this is sometimes the case with small dogs that do not carry the weight of the larger breeds. However being good parents we got a second opinion, oops there goes more money. With both the torn ACL and slipped disk it is of course important to limit the dogs activity, easier said than done with an extremely playful Maltese. Keep it in mind for your dog that any jumping from an elevated surface such as a sofa, bed, auto etc. at a steep incline/decline can jam the back. Our dogs ACL injury was most likely caused by his habit of bolting around the apartment making quick changes in direction like the moves a football player makes on the field, this is why it is sometimes referred to as a football injury. Hardwood floors can add to the risk as well. We are attempting to have him wear little socks with rubber stripes on the sole for better traction, he seems to tolerate them.

As you may be aware, a trip to the vet is EXPENSIVE! But what choice do you have when you love them? After a Thousand dollars in three months (Yikes!) I decided to educate myself on caring for my beloved pooch and learning about natural remedies, and about underlying causes of dog diseases, rather than just treating the symptoms. This will lead to a better quality of life for both my wife and I and our pup. I have recently read "Heal Your Dog Naturally" which is chock full of helpful information on caring for your dog. This is a must read for anyone who thinks of their dogs as their four legged children. We have altered my dogs diet and various environmental aspects that contributed to his allergies and have noticed a marked difference already. I am not here to slam any one product but will recommend, as with humans, foods that are less processed and with more natural ingredient the better. For example one of my dog's allergies is wheat so we immediately found a product with no wheat. Dogs are individuals like us and you as their caretaker will decide what's best. I also want to take the time to express my gratitude to the Veterinary profession, the doctors certainly provide a valued service in caring for our pets. I however believe it is our responsibility to educate ourselves as much as we can on caring for our four legged children. Be kind, be well.

Stephen Provenzano is a devoted animal advocate (he loves 'em) and provides advise on various pet subjects which includes pet care, pet products, and more!

Please visit Heal Your Dog Naturally and decide whether you or your dog should live without this book. I wish you and your dog god speed. Be well.

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