Chance and Claire in a Beverage Basket

Happy 4th of July, America!

Claire & Chance Meet Santa Christmas 2011

"It's Just a Dog"

From time to time, people tell me, "lighten up, it's just a dog, " or, "that's a lot of money for just a dog."

They don't understand the distance traveled, the time spent, or the costs involved for "just a dog."

Some of my proudest moments have come about with "just a dog."

Many hours have passed and my only company was "just a dog," but I did not once feel slighted.

Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by "just a dog," and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of "just a dog" gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.

If you, too think it's "just a dog," then you will probably understand phrases like "just a friend," "just a sunrise," or "just a promise."

"Just a dog" brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy.

"Just a dog" brings out the compassion and patience that make me a better person.

Because of "just a dog," I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future.

So for me and folks like me, it's not "just a dog" but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment.

"Just a dog" brings out what's good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day.

I hope that someday they can understand that it's not "just a dog," but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being "just a man or woman."

So the next time you hear the phrase "just a dog" just smile....because they "just don't understand."

-author unknown

Claire's New Harness

We finally found a harness that seems to work for Claire! Shaped much like a backwards diaper, Claire steps into it. It has a velcro closure at the top with a loop on each side. Hooking the harness to both loops ensures it will not come apart. It's made of fabric and does not seem to be wearing rugburns under her armpits the way the last one did.

The brand is GOOBY. Their website is www.GOOBYfashion.com.

We found and purchased it at C&C pets, who kindly had a donation can out for us for about three months in the summer/fall. It was nice to be able to give them a little bit of business for their generosity.

Custom Harnesses

One thing that's really been an issue for Claire is finding a harness that works for her. She was trained to an extremely lightweight mini prong collar, but I understand collars of any kind are bad for IVDD dogs, and harnesses are generally recommended. The mesh one I got following her diagnosis has consistently caused rugburns and scratches in her armpits. She now refuses to walk in it at all, so I finally returned it.

This company will make a custom harness based on your measurements of your pet. I haven't ordered one yet, so will have to follow up with a review once we've tried them out. I wanted to pass along the source.

http://doxidelight.com/hugadog.htm

New Supplement: Excelerite

I just heard about another supplement that an IVDD dog has been taking, called Excelerite. I looked up the ingredients, and since we have Claire on several supplements I don't think she needs this right now, but I wanted to bookmark it as another alternative in case I change my mind. Again, I have no personal experience with this to recommend it, but here are the links if you want to do your own research:

Info on the powder form:

http://www.originalearthsoils.com/products-page/5lb-excelerite-dog-and-cat

Buy capsules here:

http://www.biomultimin.com/?page_id=4&category=5&product_id=3

Customized Pet Carrier Purse

I attended a pet fair and grand re-opening at our local pet shop, Pet Haven, in Burbank over the weekend. It was a great opportunity to spread the word about Dodgerslist and canine disc injury. I got tons of dog food samples that I'm going to package into gift baskets for the raffle on Claire's facebook page. And, I discovered this easy craft:

This cute little guy has a very inventive mom. She couldn't find a travel/carry pet bag that had the pockets she was looking for, so she bought a regular purse from the gap that was roomy enough for her little pup, cut holes, and hand stitched some plastic canvas of the type used for needlepoint or cross stitch.

The purse was lined, so she was able to insert the plastic canvas in between the layers, leaving the sheet whole for added stability. She made multiple windows on several sides and recycled an insert for the bottom from another bag that she didn't like as well. The purse she used had both handle straps and a shoulder strap, so she's able to loop the bag over one shoulder, or carry it freestyle.

I never thought to alter a purse to make it into a pet carrier. And I love the added pockets in her bag! I'll have to keep my eye out for one that would suit our needs.

New Source for Traumeel

One of Claire's supplements that we've yet to streamline is a holistic liquid anti-inflammatory called Traumeel. I know that what the vet charges for prescriptions and supplements are about double what I could find elsewhere.

Today I spent a solid hour or more calling pharmacies and pet stores to find a better/cheaper source for this, and I think I've found one.

I'll be stopping by Capitol Drugs in Sherman Oaks to check out their prices and sizes.

Valley Drugs on Ventura in Encino near Balboa 818-788-0635 also carries a tablet that dissolves under the tongue--I'm wondering if I can crush this and add it to Claire's food. Each tablet is 300mg.

Of course, I'll consult the vet to make sure I get the proper dosage for Claire's tiny weight. I'm just trying to use our financial resources efficiently so Claire can get the most and best care possible.

Claire's 3rd Hydrotherapy Session 10-28-11

Videos taken at Claire's third hydrotherapy session at CARE in Santa Monica! Her therapy this time was upped to a total of six minutes. It's always divided into three bursts of activity, with two rest periods in between in which she stays in the water but the treadmill is not running. The last video is of the water draining from the tank after her session, so that we could open the door to get her out.

Claire doesn't particularly like baths, which we do in the kitchen sink, so I was surprised at how quickly she took to the water treadmill! Of course, someone is standing at the head of the tank offering her cookies the entire time, so she has a reason to be distracted from the water. In fact, it's quite funny--rather than keeping a nice even pace on the treadmill, she'll run up to me for a treat, then stop walking while she chews it. The treadmill takes her backwards, away from me, so she then has to run up to me for the next treat!

The hand in these videos is the male tech who runs the tank. He kindly left me free to run the camera, and he was better at teasing her with the food to stretch it out. She's only going to CARE once a week, so her progress with the length that they'll give her has been slow. I'll have to start figuring out how to do hydrotherapy in the tub at home as she has just two CARE visits left.

Claire's New Heating Pad

After Claire's latest setback, due to the cold temperatures that day and just the general change of seasons, a friend told me about a thermo heating pad for cats that is reactive to the pet's weight. I had an aha! moment and filed the idea away. The next day, a generous donor sent Claire a $50 check, so I immediately placed an order.

It arrived this weekend, and both dogs have already discovered it! I ordered only one to see how well it would work, but it's obvious we'll need one for the crate and the bed in the bedroom, in addition to the couch in the living room. Chance found it first and nestled in, but as soon as Claire figured out what it did, she laid claim to it, so Chance will have to get his own.

I've always left blankets out in chilly weather, and the pups dug around in them until they were comfortably nestled in. But now Claire seems not to burrow at all due to her back injury, so this will be an invaluable tool in her recovery.