Most of us would like to think that our dogs will never get sick or grow old, however, it is inevitable. The majority of dog owners sincerely care for the well-being and quality of life of their furry friend, but unfortunately, some of them are unaware of the future needs their pets may have.

Dog owners need to gain some background information on some of the diseases that may affect their pets as they get older. The most common geriatric pet disease is dog arthritis. It is important to be properly educated about dog arthritis as there are many misconceptions about it. Here are some of the popular myths around regarding dog arthritis:

1. Dog arthritis is just an old dog’s disease. This is partially true. Older dogs are more susceptible to the disease, but thinking that only old dogs can have dog arthritis is dangerous. Take note that research has yet to fully uncover the mechanisms behind this debilitating disease and all we know are some of the factors that can hasten its progress. With this in mind, dogs with hip dysplasia, overweight dogs and even dogs that compete in dog sports events can develop the disease earlier than expected.
2. Dog arthritis is easy to diagnose. Human arthritis is easy to diagnose since a person can always complain to the doctor that he or she is experiencing pain when using a certain joint. For dogs, it is a bit more complicated.  Dog arthritis is hard to catch in its early stages because dogs instinctively hide their pain. For this reason, dog owners must keep a close eye on any subtle changes in their dog’s mobility. Small modifications in their movement or behavior could mean something is wrong.
3. Exercise makes dog arthritis worse. The logic to this myth is simple; dog arthritis affects the joints and when the dog exercises, the joints are used, resulting in more damage to the joints and more pain for the arthritic dog. Now, although exercise can be painful for the arthritic dog, doing nothing will only aid in the progression of the disease. Without exercise, the joints become stiffer, the nutrient flow is decreased and blood flow to the joint significantly drops. Obesity can also set in, which brings a lot of unwanted complications, including an increased amount of pressure of the joints.
4. Dog arthritis is part of getting old. There is some truth to this statement. However, harboring such an idea brings the mentality that you can’t do anything about it since it’s just a part of the natural ageing process. Realistically, it is a fate that many dogs will share, but dog arthritis can be effectively managed so that your dog can still enjoy a relatively pain-free life even with the disease.
5. Dog arthritis does not need treatment. Dog arthritis does not have a cure. Nonetheless, doing nothing about it is a welfare concern. Dog arthritis causes chronic pain, which can in some cases lead to a poor quality of life.  Veterinary medicine has advanced in leaps and bounds in the past decade and now there are many treatment options that can help alleviate the pain and manage the disease’s progress. You should always consult with your veterinarian to confirm the correct diagnosis of dog arthritis and to rule out anything more sinister before pursuing treatment.

Overall, it is recommended that dog owners be well informed and up-to-date with the recommended treatment options for dog arthritis so that your dog can stay happier for longer. You can visit my blog www.dogarthritisblog.info for much more information on this very important dog disease.

Dr. Christoper Durin is a veterinarian and creator of Dog Arthritis Blog, the authority site for dog arthritis.

DogQuality was recently featured on Shaw TV’s ‘The Express’ and I am super hyper about how it all turned out. A big part of our mission is to raise awareness so that dog owners know that they have options for their older dog and coverage like this goes such a long way in accomplishing that. With so many amazing products available and more to come I wish I could be on every TV  program in every region telling people all about it.

I have to also admit that I really enjoyed the whole process and the experience has my brain moving at a rate – how cool would it be to have a regular show on senior dog care?

In the meantime here is the show for you to watch – we are the first story up:

What did you think?

Ann-Marie Fleming is the Founder of DogQuality.com, a site focused on products that help older dogs enjoy life.

Churchill was my protector, my confidant and my best friend. I first decided that I wanted a French Bulldog around 15 years ago when one used to follow me to work. Every day I would walk to work, and every day this stalky little guy, who was allowed for some reason to wander off unattended, would find me and accompany me along my route. (I did eventually meet his owner and realized he was well-taken care of). I had never seen a French Bulldog before and every time my little companion would arrive, I would laugh – he was like a cartoon character with all the sounds and personality that could turn a bad day into a great day. I knew I had to have one.

I met Churchill when he was 5 weeks old, when he was more pink than white. He had dark brindle patches across his body including one over his left eye. He was the cutest thing I’d ever seen and we were bonded for life within moments. At the time I also had my wonderful Mackenzie, a puppy himself, and I knew at once that Churchill would make the perfect brother for him. I was right because they became best friends from the minute they met and were inseparable from then on.

Churchill, Mackenzie and I were together for 12 wonderful years. We traveled all over Canada and the U.S., one adventure after another. I thought Churchill would live forever, he was so strong, and energetic and full of life.  When he was about 11 1/2 yrs his health started to decline. It seemed like overnight that he became old. He had been struggling with rear leg issues, but that didn’t slow him down; however the heart tumor did. He hung on as long as he could, I think in large part because of his overwhelming need to take care of me, but on July 10th, 2008 he died in my arms. I was devastated and a day still doesn’t go by where I don’t think about him and miss him in my life.

When I was given the opportunity to review John Woestendiek’s book titled “Dog, Inc – The Uncanny Inside Story of Cloning Man’s Best Friend” I was instantly flooded with all the feelings I had when I lost Churchie. The concept of cloning immediately had me thinking of sci-fi movies where the clone retains not just looks, but also personality and memories. What if someone could offer me the chance to bring my Churchie back? Well to be honest, I would do it in a second. In reality however, cloning is far from that seen in sci-fi movies. Still, when you have experienced grief and loss, the idea can be overwhelming. So yes I agreed to review this book.

I wasn’t sure what to expect with Dog, Inc. Would I be able to connect with the story or would it be like reading a scientific journal? I was pleasantly surprised.

While this book provides a detailed account on the history of cloning efforts around the world, it is more about the connections people make with their pets and the lengths they will go to preserve their memories, than a scientific recap.

The book recounts the stories of several unrelated people who turned to cloning as a way to recapture and extend their time with their four-legged loved ones. There was James Symington and Trackr the hero police dog and loyal companion, Bernann McKinney with Booger who became an indispensible service dog and family member, Ralph Fisher’s Texas longhorn named Chance, and of course Missy the dog that in many ways started it all. Why did they all go to such great lengths and costs to hang on to their loved ones even after they were gone? Each touching story, recounted in great detail by the author, brings us into the hearts and minds of each of these people as they explore the mystery of cloning.

You can’t help but become engrossed in the emotional struggle that these pet owners went through and at times empathy turns to pity as the line between resurrection and reproduction becomes quite blurred. Expectations that are more based in science fiction than in science create confusion, denial and disappointment.

Wrapped within these touching stories is an incredible amount of journalistic detail, taking the reader step by step through the efforts that researchers went through all over the world as they pursued the first cloned dog – a task that proved much more difficult than first imagined.

It was hard to miss the underlying current of capitalism and greed when you find out that for some, the motivation was more than science, more than the long term benefits of cloning in the form of stem cell therapy, but rather the commercialization of cloning.

The race to clone the first dog, was really the race to launch what was believed to be a multi-million dollar business based on a promise to bring back loved ones. Sometimes people and often science got in the way and Woestendiek’s book takes us through the roller coaster ride often disguised as progress.

I recommend this book for anyone that has ever lost a pet or thought about the possibilities that stem cell research can bring to the animal world. This unique story combines the cold reality of science with a softer, human side where decisions are made with the heart and lives are changed forever.

Mackenzie is still with me and will be turning 15 in March and I can’t help but think of the inevitable. So I cherish every minute of every day that I have with him, and I put thoughts of losing him aside so I can enjoy the time we have left. Part of me thinks how amazing it would be to bring more Mackenzies into the world through cloning, but then again it wouldn’t really be him now would it?

So now I have to ask; would you ever clone your pet?

Ann-Marie Fleming is the Founder of DogQuality.com, a site focused on products that help older dogs enjoy life.

It is never easy to watch your dog get older and often times people feel powerless because they are not sure how to help. In the past when a dog lost their mobility the common decision was to euthanize. People felt that the quality of life for their dog was so compromised that letting them go was the only way to provide them with relief. Now there are options. You can help your dog re-gain their mobility AND improve the quality of their life.

Despite their existence for the past 40 years or more many people are still in the dark about the life changing power that comes with a dog wheelchair. While there are dog wheelchairs (also called dog carts) for just about every type of mobility issue, the most common type is the 2 wheel cart for dogs suffering from rear legs problems. The extent of the rear leg issues can range from some mobility to complete rear leg paralysis.

But how do you know if a dog wheelchair is right for your dog? Here are some tips to help you in making your decision:

1. Your dog must be able to walk strongly on its front legs, with its back held in a level position. You can test this out with a simple “towel test” to make sure your dog is comfortable propelling him or herself with their front legs. If you have a small dog you can take an old towel, cut two holes in it, and place the legs through the holes. Remembering to keep the back level, see if your dog will walk normally. This action simulates the cart support system. If you have a large dog, a towel under each hind leg is an easier way to do the “towel test”.
2. Your dog needs to have enough spirit to want to be mobile again. Attitude is a huge factor in the success of a dog and their wheelchair. Is your dog bright, alert and full of life despite their mobility challenges?  If your dog has the will then you are halfway there.
3. While a dog wheelchair can be used indoors, it is more practical for outdoor use, so it is important to assess your location to determine whether you will have enough space to accommodate a dog wheelchair. These carts are quite rugged and can be used over most terrains, but the bigger the dog the wider the wheelchair, so availability of space should be a factor.

There are several medical conditions where a dog wheelchair can offer significant mobility, relief and at times, recovery.

Thoracolumbar Disc Degenerative Disease: This is the most common medical condition for which a dog may need a dog wheelchair. A dog wheelchair can aid in a dog’s rehabilitation whether he or she has had IVDD surgery or not.

Degenerative Myelopathy: This is the second most common condition for which dogs need a wheelchair. It generally starts off with knuckling of one hind paw, leading to both paws, and a swaying gait in the rear, very often with legs crossing. There is no pain associated with this condition. Unfortunately, it usually travels up the spinal cord and affects the front legs. A dog wheelchair can help to delay this process as this will take stress and strain off both the rear and front legs and keep your dog active and happy. Your dog can still use its rear legs as long as he or she is able.

Knee: Dogs with knee, or ACL, problems generally have surgery to correct this. Post surgery, a dog wheelchair will aid in taking stress off the surgically repaired limb, while preventing breakdown of the other leg. This is particularly applicable to overweight dogs.

Arithritis: If the arthritis is controlled with medication, and is in the rear limbs, then a dog wheelchair will aid mobility by taking stress off the hind limbs.

Ophilia gets her life back again

Paralysis: Whether it is due to injury or other spinal difficulties, a dog with rear leg paralysis can find mobility again with a dog wheelchair. Their rear legs can be suspended above ground with rear slings allowing the wheels to do what their legs can no longer provide. Just because your dog has lost the use of his or her rear legs, it doesn’t mean that they can’t enjoy life.

It doesn’t matter how tiny or how big your dog is, or whether you go with a custom cart or prefer something adjustable, there is a dog wheelchair to suit your needs.

Do you have a life changing story to share?

Ann-Marie Fleming is the Founder of www.DogQuality.com, a site focused on products that help older dogs enjoy life.

If your family is like mine then Christmas is a time where the dogs make out way better than the humans Our Christmas tree is usually filled with more gifts for our family dogs than for any of the two-legged members and I couldn’t be happier.

I am often asked for suggestions on the perfect gift to get an older dog so I thought I would write a post that summarized my top 5 picks for Christmas gifts this year.

1) If your dog is like mine then food is the number one favourite gift. For senior dogs I have started to give Greenies for seniors. For those of you not familiar with Greenies, they are treats that also act as a dental aid and breath freshener. The type especially made for senior dogs have the added bonus of ingredients that help promote healthy  joints, bones, skin, and coat health. They are also rich in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Dogs seem to love these and they are just soft enough that even our older dogs can enjoy this healthy treat. All of my dogs are getting some of these in their stockings.

2) Another great gift for an older dog, especially one that struggles with mobility, is a dog stroller. I know there is likely snow outside but winter is not forever and before you know it the roads will be clear and your dog will be ready to feel the wind beneath their wings. Or you could plow through the snow with our very own product, the Dogger dog stroller. It has 12 inch air-filled tires that have proven to do quite well on snow covered roads and sidewalks.                                                                       

3) If your dog is suffering from arthritis then they may appreciate the therapeutic help that an orthopedic dog bed can bring. I recommend going with a bed that is made of memory foam because this helps to evenly distribute their weight and reduce the pressure on sore joints. I tested these against a regular fluffy bed and the difference was significant. Mackenzie, my 14 3/4 years old pug used to get up limping and at times would even fall over and now that he only uses orthopedic beds, he gets up without any difficulty. I was so happy with the results that I filled my house with these beds.

4) Outside of the product world another terrific gift to give your senior dog is a canine massage. There is a growing number of professional dog massage therapists popping up to address the growing demand for this alternative treatment. If you have ever had a massage yourself you should understand just how great it can feel, not to mention the therapeutic benefits for your dog.

5) My fifth pick for the top Christmas gift for your older dog borders on controversial, but I am becoming a believer. Stem cell therapy is a fast growing treatment that is showing some tremendous results in the treatment of dog arthritis. I am confident that before too long this form of treatment will become much more mainstream as the number of vets that are offering this type of treatment continues to escalate. Keep in mind that this is an expensive treatment, but from what I have seen so far in terms of results, it seems to be worth it.

This of course is not an extensive list, but hopefully I have given you a few things to consider this Christmas for your older dog.

What are you giving your senior dog this year? Please feel free to share you Christmas gift ideas.