gimpydogs

Blogs With Gimpy Dogs

2012-01-22T15:57:00.001-05:00

A lot of times people want to read about other people's experiences with a disability and also to see that other disabled dogs can live quite happily with that disability.

There are tricks and tips on these blogs to help others with their experiences, and so we've decided to include a listing of blogs that people may want to go read for themselves.

Sometimes the blogs are people starting out with a disabled dog, and your experience may help them as well.

Below is a listing of Blogs with Gimpy Dogs. If you have a blog that you want listed, by all means, please either contact us (upper right hand side) or leave a comment with your blog URL and we'll list it here!

Blu on Wheels - dachshund with a recent back injury

My Dog Sam - Another wheelie pup's adventures

Calling All Gimpies!

2012-01-08T17:14:00.003-05:00

American Dog Magazine is holding a casting call!

The magazine needs special needs dog models for its Public Service Announcement for their spring 2012 issue.

They are asking people to post a picture of your disabled, handicapped, blind, deaf, tripawd or wheelchair gimpy on their facebook wall along with the pet's name, age, and information. They also want you to e-mail a high resolution picture (300 dpi+) and information to the following e-mail address:

info@theamericandogmag.com

Maybe your pup will be featured in their PSA and bring awareness to the world about the joys of gimpy dog ownership!

Good luck!

Buddy The Christmas Husky

2012-01-07T18:44:00.000-05:00

This is Buddy.

They don't know what his real name is because he was found on the streets by a kind soul in Arkansas.

Word got around and Shay Bee took it upon herself to offer to foster and nurture this poor baby back to health.

A transport was arranged, and Shay took poor Buddy to the vet where he was diagnosed with:

Heartworms
Demodex Mites
Bad skin infection
mites
worms
fleas
fractured teeth

Although they think he's in early stage of heartworm, he'll need a chest x-ray to make sure there is no heart or lung damage.

Despite all this, everyone is impressed at how well he behaves. he knows basic commands, takes treats very easy, and is great on a leash.

As Sherri had some funds left over from Reesie's ChipIn, she donated the rest of the unused funds to help this poor baby through treatment. Gimpy Dogs has matched her donation.

If you can, please consider donating to help Buddy through this crisis and find a loving home to call his own, where he will be cared for and never have to experience this amount of discomfort ever again.

thank you

Parvo Puppy Needs Some Help - update 1/7/2012

2012-01-03T18:47:00.002-05:00

Update at bottom

We received a prayer request for a puppy with Parvo. Her owner, Sherri, had taken what money she had, and without a vehicle, paid a cab to take 4 month old lab Reesie to the vet.

Once there, Reesie was diagnosed with Parvo, a very nasty virus. The vet was unwilling to consider a payment plan, and told Sherri that unless she could make an immediate deposit of $500 of the estimated $900 cost of the treatment, there was nothing they would do to help little Reesie.

Sherri came home and did the only thing she knew to do... post on Facebook asking for prayers.

Fortunately, Reesie's story pretty much went viral, her friends told her to start a ChipIn, gave her links to resources about home Parvo treatments, and offered to mail her whatever supplies she needed. A good Samaritan, touched by the plea for prayers contacted Sherri and got the name and phone number of the vet, and offered to pay $350 if they would start treatment.

The vet said no. They were concerned that Sherri would not be able to afford the rest of the payment, and also suspected that she was duping people into calling their office and offering to pay them for treatment... they called Sherri and told her they wanted nothing else to do with her or Reesie.

Its unfortunate that this vet, who we will not name, does not know the kindness of strangers, or the viral capacity of Facebook, the Internet, and Blogs.

More friends told her to call every vet in her Georgia town and find one that actually cared about the life of a little puppy.

Sherri found a vet willing to take payments and will treat Reesie. We only hope that the delay in care will not affect her survival.

Gimpy Dogs is vouching for Sherri, and will put you in contact with the new vet if you require further validation.

If you are able, won't you pitch in, even a little bit, to make sure Reesie lives a happy and loved life.

Sometimes we all get in trouble and can use a little help, consider helping Sherri and Reesie.

To donate, use the ChipIn button below:

(The ChipIn widget has been removed because Reesie has been treated, is now home... please consider donating to other worthy pups in need)

Penny
Gimpy Dogs

1/4/2012 - Update

Thanks to a wonderful Dog With Blogs member who picked up and drove Sherri and Reesie to the new vet, Reesie is now being treated. The vet says the next few days will tell, so we are cautiously optimistic and will keep our fingers crossed. We will also post updates as we get news.

We are humbled and thankful for all of the generous people who have, so far, donated over the requested ChipIn amount. There are some amazing and generous people in this world.

1/5/2012 - Update

Update from Sherri: "Reesie Update: The vet said he is "cautiously" optimistic about her recovery, but he said she is not out of the woods just yet. She has not vomited or had diarrhea, but is still not eating on her own. He did say she wags her tail when anyone comes near her. So, please just keep praying for my girl!"

We also want to send out an official THANK YOU to Stephanie of the River The Beagle Blog, who despite dealing with old gimpy dogs, and River's mast cell tumor, took the time to drive Sherri and Reesie to the vet so Reesie could get treatment. Go visit River's blog and give out a big thank you!

If you aren't familiar with the generosity and camaraderie of the dog blogging community, you should check out Dogs with Blogs. There are thousands of dog bloggers out there that have experienced a lot in their lives, are a fountain of information for dog owners, and have ultra big hearts.

1/7/2012 - Update

Reesie is HOME! She was eating and keeping down food and water at the vet, so they allowed her to come home. So far she's doing well, and we are keeping our fingers crossed for continued good health and a full recovery.

All of this was because of a lot of caring people who reached across the world to help an adorable puppy and a person who had fallen on some hard times. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your compassion and generosity. We will post an update picture of little Reesie when she's back to her usual puppiness!

Thank you all!

Need Your Help With Drug Shortage Information

2012-01-02T11:37:00.000-05:00

A lot of us have been shocked by a recent spate of drug shortages for both our dogs and ourselves.

Recently a report came out that Immiticide (the drug used to treat advanced cases of heartworm) is in very short supply, causing veterinarians, shelters, and rescues to rethink heartworm treatment.

The FDA has Web pages exclusively for drug shortage notifications. Click here for the animal drug shortages, and click here for the human drug shortages.

A friend of mine is a free-lance writer, and recently she asked for story ideas to submit to magazines, and I mentioned to her the concern that pet owners had with recent shortages in drugs to treat diabetes, seizures, and the recent heartworm treatment shortage. Additionally, some drugs used for humans are also used in animals, so I asked her to check up on human drug shortages as well.

The biggest concern is WHY, and what can we, as pet owners, do to prepare for shortages if the cause is something common and known. For instance, what if the cause is a shortage in an ingredient to prepare a vaccine or drug. Can we anticipate that something down the road will be affected so that we can make arrangements for switching to another type of treatment, or even stockpiling that drug in case of shortage later on.

Is the cause from Federal Drug Administration (FDA) bureaucracy, massive rules, regulations, and restrictions that are causing drug companies to change the way the make, distribute, and approve new drugs? If so, can we raise our individual voices as one to keep an agency from endangering our pets and ourselves with their red tape?

This is where we need your help.

Have you experienced a drug shortage either for your pet, or for yourself?
How did that affect you and/or your pet?
Did it endanger yourself or your pet?
Did it cause a set back in treatment?
How much money did it cost you (seeking alternative treatment, or because a drug was not available a trip to the ER/ER vet)?
Did you learn about the shortage or discontinuation from your vet or doctor, and if so, did your vet or doctor know why there was a shortage or discontinuation?
Did your vet or doctor receive notice of the shortage or discontinuation well in advance?
If you didn't learn it from your vet or doctor, where did you learn of the shortage or discontinuation?

If you have experienced a drug shortage for yourself or your pet, please e-mail us at Gimpy Dogs (gimpydogscom@gmail.com) and try to answer the questions above to the best of your knowledge, including the type of drug that was either discontinued, or in short supply. Please use the subject line: Drug Shortage

We will forward your responses to the free-lance writer who may or may not contact your for further information. If her article is posted online, we will post a link to that article and also follow up on what she finds as the cause for the shortages.

Please forward this link to anyone that you know that might have experienced a drug shortage of any kind and spread the word so that we get as much information as possible to try to find a cause for this very serious issue.

thank you!

Penny
Gimpy Dogs

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T11:53:00.002-05:00

Everyone at Gimpy Dogs wishes everyone a very Happy and prosperous New Year, and we want to remind everyone that New Year's Eve festivities can be as loud and frightening as the 4th of July.

We'd like everyone to be prepared so that all members of your family can ring in the New Year safely by following these tips, courtesy of the Houston SPCA:

Make sure your pet is wearing a collar with identification tags with current information. Cats should wear break away / safety collars. Microchipping your pet is always advised.
Keep your pets indoors in a quiet area that is familiar to him / her with plenty of fresh water and give dogs several safe chew toys. Dogs who are crate trained may feel safest in their kennels. Cats will do best in a bathroom or utility room with food, water and their litter box.
Resist the urge to soothe and comfort your agitated pet as this can actually reinforce his / her stressed behavior. Instead, stay calm and “matter of fact” when dealing with a pet who is upset by loud noises.
Frightened outdoor dogs have been known to jump high fences and dig holes to escape the sound of fireworks. Indoor animals should be kept away from large glass windows or doors because when scared they are capable of crashing right through.
Make sure to keep all alcohol, festive foods / chocolates, floral arrangements and party decorations away from your pets. Alcohol can be dangerous and deadly while balloons, streamers, party hats and confetti can become lodged in your pet’s intestines, causing an intestinal blockage. Chocolate is especially toxic to both canines and felines.

Need Your Help to Complete this Journey

2011-12-24T19:10:00.003-05:00

Found running scared in Kentucky, there's no way of knowing what horror this poor boy has been through.

Underneath the scabs, sores, and fear is an elegant and fluffy Malamute. His rescuers saw the beauty and need for love underneath it all, especially when, despite all he's been through... he wags his tail at the slightest show of affection.

Word is getting around and help has been flowing in, but he's got a long way to go in his Journey.

Suffering from lice, two types of mange and malnourished, he has 4-6 weeks of recovery, and probably more to gain the trust of humans once again.

Journey is in foster care of the Illinois Alaskan Malamute Rescue Association and under the care of the Yorkville Animal Hospital until he's back to being a fluffy, lovable Malamute and will then be up for adoption.

If you would like to help Journey get well and find a loving home to care for him, visit his Petfinder page and donate.

To see his story and videos, check out the NBC Chicago story on the first steps of his Journey back to love.

Rescuer Needs Your Help - updated

2011-12-16T13:11:00.000-05:00

On 15 December 2011, a dedicated rescuer faced the biggest fear of most pet owners: a fire in her home.

The house is a total loss, but that's not important to her... she is utterly devastated that she was only able to save 2 of the 7 rescues in her care.

The Houston Pittie Pack is not only a champion of the Pittie breed, but a savior to abused, injured, and gimpy pitties that have experienced the worst in mankind.

The Dogs With Blogs community, and rescue communities are joining together to get her the help she needs to care for herself, her family, and the two survivors.

A ChipIn has been started by reliable resources to make sure she gets the basics of life for her and the pups. Once we get a mailing address you will be able to send gift cards to help her rebuild her life and her heart.

From everyone at Gimpy Dogs, our heart goes out to Houston Pittie Pack, and we mourn the loss of the pups and wish them safe passage across the Rainbow Bridge.

To learn more about those who were lost, visit The Brat Pack blog where you can also donate, or simply donate below.

UPDATED 12/18/2011
Your generosity knows no bounds, and we are humbled by the response to the Houston Pittie Pack! As of 1:04pm, over $5,000 has been donated through ChipIn to help them. There have been people asking to send them things, so we're linking directly to instructions on what they need and how you can help, as well and straight to the ChipIn link for them (since our widget wasn't updating).

To find out how else to help, go to Mayzie's blog for details.

To donate money through ChipIn, go to the direct link to ChipIn for Sandra's Fire Recovery

Penny
Gimpy Dogs

Here's Johnny!

2011-10-18T21:27:00.000-04:00

Thanks to social networking, a friend of mine posted the link to The Crooked Dog Blog along with an image of an adorable little puppy holding up a thank you sign.

The posting contained everything required to suck me into it: a cute puppy who is apparently crooked, therefore gimpy. I couldn’t resist.

That is where I first “met” Jessica (mom), Sam (daughter), Shelbie (daughter) ,Jason (dad), Jackson (son), Cole (son), Bella (a tripod pit bull), and Johnny the crooked dog.

The blog started in July 2011, and is pretty sparse on details, but rich and full of pictures and text blurbs that just draw you into the family, compel you to read further, and want nothing more than to reach through the screen and cuddle with cute Johnny!

I noticed they are fundraising for Johnny’s care, but there were a lot of questions that needed answering that would help myself and others freely donate to the cause of making Johnny less crooked, and so I reached out to Jessica, who gladly accepted my interview offer!

Gimpydogs: Before we get into Johnny, tell us a little about yourself and your family.

Jessica: Well, I always say I’m a blessed girl and there’s really no other way to describe my life other than blessed. I’m married to my best friend, life is so sweet when you’re going through it with your best friend. I have four kids…four hilarious, warm, incredible, beautiful kids. My four dogs are Toby (he’s about 15) he’s my “old man” he’s going deaf on top of other problems but he’s my shadow. This old dog loves me more than my husband and kids put together (really), Reggie our little crooked legged terrier is the smartest thing ever! He sneezes when you tell him “God bless you”. Bella our 3 legged pit who melts my heart everyday when she begs for apples (her favorite). And of course, Johnny who drags my heart around with him everywhere he goes. I have my own grooming salon here at home so I’m one of the lucky people who gets to bring their dogs to work (which I think should be allowed everywhere, people would be happier and more efficient!) So my dogs spend most mornings under my table watching me groom other dogs. I really wouldn’t change a thing!

Gimpydogs: Bella is a a tri-pawd and from your blog we learn that she fell out of the back of a pickup truck and lost her leg. I’m guessing that you adopted her after the amputation, what compelled you to adopt an amputee?

Jessica: Shelbie, my 16 year old daughter, said to me a few years ago, that she wanted a pit bull. We watched Caesar Milan often and she fell in love with “Daddy” his pit. So we did our research, talked about and thought about it for several months and finally agreed. We took our time searching for “our dog”. One day I was at The Sula foundation’s site (a New Orleans pit bull rescue) and saw a video clip of this beautiful dog with this huge, happy smile across her big goofy face. Yes, she had a leg missing but it made no difference to us. We had to meet her, they drove her over and it was instantly love with the whole family, dogs, kids, everyone! She made herself at home in my daughter’s bed that evening and has been nothing but perfect ever since.

Gimpydogs: Its also clear that your entire family is pet-friendly, were you the type of family that took in strays and lost birds and yes, I have to ask why is your mother’s dog named “Liver”?
Jessica: Ha ha! Liver, Liver, Liver…I’ll start with him. One day many years ago this little ugly stray dog came running down the road and into my mom’s yard (next door to us). He wasn’t neutered and my sister-in-law Tanja and I were discussing how large “those” were for such a tiny dog. So at that moment Tanja tells me a story about when she was little and how their dog was not neutered either and one day she asked her daddy what “that” was and his response was,” Well, honey… that’s his liver” So as a joke we started calling the little stray dog “Liver”. Then one day he decided my mom was going to be his momma too and he never left. Well she had his “liver” removed since then but the name stuck. And yes, it seems like we are always rescuing animals of all sorts. We don’t go looking for them, they manage to find us. Lucy (the cat in one of my posts) was found under my deck one cold Easter morning with her umbilical cord attached along with 3 others. After many days and nights of Shelbie and I nursing them and caring for them Lucy is the only one that made it. We’ve found baby possums, mice, birds, kittens, turtles, oh the list goes on and on. I’ve trapped feral cats, drugged them with kitty valium and brought them in to be fixed and sewn up (one had his thigh sliced open). Some people think I’m crazy (and I am) but it’s so worth it when they look at you and you know, that they know, that you helped them.

Gimpydogs: Are you active in the rescue world or was Johnny brought to you by your friend because she knew a sucker for special needs pups when she saw one?

Jessica: I am friends with rescue groups in the area. So Nichole (his rescuer) posted a picture of him on Facebook and asked everyone to say a prayer for him because it appeared as though his legs were not functioning correctly. What she didn’t realize was just a few months before this I had told Jason that I wanted another pit (they are addictive) waaaay down the road. I said I would like a male, perhaps even another “gimpy” pit because like I said in my blog, so many pit bulls are unwanted especially handicapped ones (I tend to go for the underdog). I told the kids who naturally wanted to hit the shelters that day and bring them all home that we were not going to be looking for a new dog, we would wait and pray about it, then when the time was right our dog would find his way home to us…and he sure did. As for rescuing I’d love to say “Oh yeah, I’m saving them all!” but I can’t say that. My friend Nichole and Jamie can both say that, but I can’t. I do what I can. I have fostered in the past but I just don’t have time or space to foster (4 kids/4dogs). I do offer my grooming and photography services to the local shelters here in town and I also help shoot the annual calendar for the Sula Foundation in New Orleans. So I guess you could say I am somewhat active in volunteering for the rescue world, but I always feel I could do more.

Gimpydogs: What were your experiences at LSU? A lot of people think that students tend to your pets at teaching hospitals, when that’s not true, teaching hospitals provide pets with some of the best care you can find for a reasonable price. How did they diagnose Johnny’s issues?

Jessica: My experience at LSU was fantastic! I had heard great things but had no idea they would be so warm and caring. The vet that had previously examined Johnny was in a hurry and very disconnected. It was very evident that Johnny was just a number. When we walked through the doors for the first time at LSU the ladies that I had spoke to over the phone greeted us “Johhny!” It was like when Norm walked into Cheers! He saw the orthopedic surgeon, physical therapist and several students. The bill was extremely reasonable as well. I travel 2 hours round trip and it’s so worth it!

Gimpydogs: What was their final diagnosis, and what is their recommended path of treatment?
Jessica: At the time of his first visit he was a few weeks old. The surgeon told me that he could get progressively worse as his spine grows or get better and better. If he gets worse I would have to bring him to either Mississippi state or Houston for surgery. If he improves on his own he could live without surgery and will just need physical therapy and a wheelchair to live a very happy life. He will soon have X-rays taken to see what’s going on in his spine. He has been doing great in rehab and the therapist thinks he might even walk on his strong hind leg one day! The other leg just gets peed on and is in the way, so we will discuss amputation down the road if thats what the surgeon suggests. For now he is working hard in rehab and we are saving for his big boy wheelchair once he’s full grown.

Gimpydogs: One of the big factors I try to tell people is to follow your instincts, no matter what your vet tells you. You need to trust your vet, but educating yourself on what is wrong with your pup is key to having a good relationship with your vet and understanding what is going on, have you done any research on Johnny’s issues, and if so, have you run into difficulty finding reliable information?

Jessica: I am the Google queen! I read everything I could find about tripawds when we got Bella, so I went back and read more on paralyzed pups with Johnny. I also met an amazing woman Amy, who had a gimpy pup herself. His name was Buddy and he was paralyzed just like Johnny. Amy has sent me so much info, links, even a box of Buddy’s rugs to help Johnny out on my hardwood floors (my latest post). She has been a HUGE help being that I was so lost. So yes it’s out there, it’s just a matter of knowing where to look. I really live by Websites like yours. I need real advice from real people, not just medical advice full of big words. I need to know how to keep that darn belly band on, how to prevent sores on his poor little legs that drag around. I want to know what a drag bag is and how to keep his kneehighs on, lol!

Gimpydogs: I hate using the word “special needs” dog because it gives people the impression that dogs with disabilities take up more time and resources than healthy dogs, what does an average day of caring for Johnny entail?

Jessica: First thing in the morning I get him up out of his kennel, he most likely pooped or peed (he’s still a young pup) so he gets a bath right off the bat. Then he and the other dogs get breakfast. He’s learning the sit and wait command…though it kills me, I know it’s for the best (he’s got me so wrapped, lol!) About 20mins later I take him out and he poops, like clock work. The rest of the day he lays around and naps a lot, wakes and plays with Bella or Reggie, then he goes out for walks with the others. If I am sitting down he comes crawling up and stares at me until I pick him up, he wants to lay on my chest and sleep. At that point he just melts into me. Sometimes I won’t see him and he will be in his kennel asleep with his stuffed animals with the door wide open. He’s no different from a “healthy” puppy except that he doesn’t jump on us or the furniture (that’s a plus). He needs a little help when he goes out (either his wheels or hip leash) but nothing major. I have had puppies in the past and I am a huge “adopt an older dog advocate” because puppies can be hard to handle but honestly Johnny is easier than any other puppy I’ve ever had because he’s not into everything, he’s happy with a toy next to my feet, and there is just something special about a dog that depends on and needs you physically. The bond is stronger, until you have one you can’t understand. And he inspires us all each day. He works so hard to make up it and over the little edge of his kennel, then when he finally makes it he turns and looks at me like,”did you see that?! I did it!” He is just so full of life and positive energy. He is the happiest dog! I saw that in his sick little eyes, even when he was literally dying from a worm blockage and when the vet said put him down with his skinny, crooked, little back. I could see what was inside his sick body…a very happy puppy who just needed a chance. Have I mentioned how much I love this dog?

Gimpydogs: Before I reached out to you, were you aware that there was a whole community of Dog Bloggers, resources for handicapped pets, specialty pet support groups, canine wheelchair resources, and even organizations that place special needs dogs, helps people pay for special needs dog treatment, etc.?

Jessica: I knew of some, but I had only chipped that iceberg. I’m so excited and grateful that you reached out to me…thank you!

Johnny may need spine surgery in the future, and his orthopedic surgeon will also make a determination on his broken leg and whether amputation is warranted.

Since Johnny was getting around using the PVC cart his family carefully crafted for him, we reached out to Eddie's Wheels to let them know about Johnny's special needs and see what type of cart would be best for a growing puppy, especially for his spine and leg issues. Leslie, President of Eddie's Wheels got into contact with Jessica, and we're excited to report that they will be donating a cart for Johnny to use until he finishes growing and can be fitted for his permanent cart! We want to give a heartfelt thank you to Leslie and her wonderful company for their compassion and generosity!

Johnny may still need surgery for his spine and possibly a leg amputation, as well as permanent wheels. If you would like to help Johnny get his special wheels, please consider donating to his cause! Any money collected over the amount of the wheelchair will be used toward his future surgeries, and any money over that amount will be donated to the Sula Foundation and the Lake Charles Pit Bull Rescue.

To donate through Paypal, visit Crooked Dog Blog and click on the Paypal button on the left hand side.

You can also make donations directly to his account at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine:
(225) 578-9559
Ask that the funds be applied to Jessica Funderburk

Donations are not tax deductible, but will make you feel great :)

Special Needs Dog Needs Foster home or New Home Quickly

2011-10-16T13:13:00.002-04:00

In order to be considered "gimpy" a dog doesn't have to have a physical issue. There are dogs out there that have mental issues and only need time, patience, and love to heal. There can't be stronger proof that sometimes environment causes issues that can be solved through caring than the Michael Vick Pit Bulls.

Such is the case of Schatzi and Ari. Two husky/jindo mix puppies from the same litter who ended up at a shelter.

Ari was adopted by Kate's family, who provided her with training and a loving home. She grew into a wonderful, confident dog whose adventures are chronicled in a book.

Schatzi was not so lucky, his life has been filled with uncertainty and abuse, and is now fearful of other dogs. His anxieties and fear of other dogs landed him back at the shelter, this time not as an adorable ball of fluff, but an adult full of complexity and uncertainty. He was on the short list to be killed.

When Kate found out, she reached out to friends and everyone she knew for help. When it came time for a decision and nobody could take Schatzi in, she made accommodations at her home temporarily to save his life.

Read Kate's letter below. If you can help in ANY way, or if you want to take the chance that Schatzi can become the dog he's suppose to be, the one he should have been all along, and give him the benefit of the doubt, please contact Kate as soon as possible.

We'd like to give Schatzi a chance to see life through the eyes of love. Will you give him that chance?

Contact Kate at: kate.miles.1@gmail.com

Dear Friends,

Meet Schatzi.

He is a littermate of Ari’s and a real sweetheart. I rescued him yesterday from euthanasia and am now working hard to find him a home.

Schatzi is almost six and a husky-jindo mix. He’s a real doggy-dog: he loves to play with toys and interact with people, he likes affection, and is incredibly content hanging out with a paw on your foot, curled up in bed with you, or just lying nearby. He seems well trained and has both visual and voice commands. He’s great on a leash and very voice driven in terms of direction when out in the world (a great husky attribute, which also would probably make him a good skijorer as well).

Schatzi’s life prior to coming here has been an unstable one and has included abuse. As a result, he does have special needs and will require a home that is accommodating of those needs. His life has included some pretty bad pummelings in a pack of dogs known locally for their aggression. As a result, he is fearful of other dogs, and I’m told he may act aggressively towards them. In the time that we have been together, we have encountered other dogs on walks around town, and he has behaved politely. Even still, he needs to be the only pet in a house – at least for now (this also makes him not a good candidate for a traditional shelter).

Earlier in the year, he was left chained to a tree for several weeks, which resulted in some separation anxiety as well. I’m working right now on crate training him. He’s fine by himself in a car, so I’m optimistic that this too can be dealt with, provided someone is willing to put in some patient time teaching him it’s okay to be in the world – and to be alone at home.

In just 24 hours, I’ve already fallen in love with this dog. I’d keep him in a heartbeat if I thought that he and Ari could live together. But because he really needs to be the only dog for a while, that’s not possible.

I’ve boarded Ari for a few days in order to buy Schatzi some time, but we don’t have much of that.

Please let me know if there is any way at all that you can help, or if you know anyone who could provide a home for this really wonderful guy. Thanks to the very caring work of rescue transport teams, geography need not be a major hurdle: so long as we’re sure we’ve found a good match for Schatzi and his new humans, we can get him most anywhere.

Kate

Kidney Issues - A Review

2011-09-23T10:05:00.000-04:00

Its strange how sometimes things will come in groups. A friend or someone on the mail list will ask a question about some obscure illness, and the next thing I know I have other people coming out of the woodwork asking or going through the same thing.

I like to take these clusters and refresh the blog to cover whatever topic happens to be "trending" and this month it seems to be kidney issues. While typically an "old dog" issue, I wanted everyone to know that kidney issues aren't solely a price of old age, and can be sort of a ticking time bomb that takes you by surprise.

Sometimes hereditary, sometimes caused by your pup eating something bad, or catching an illness, its good to know its signs so you can catch it early and start treatment. I know a good amount of you out there have adopted dogs from rescues and shelters and have absolutely NO IDEA of your beloved pup's lineage, so there's no way of knowing if kidney issues run in the family or not. Its also possible that a perfectly good lineage may throw out a kidney issue, so its very important to know what to look for.

Because of that, I want everyone to read up on kidney issues!

First off, start at Holly's House blog. Khady Lynn is young (3-years old) from a reputable breeder with no real history of kidney issues, and yet she's been at the hospital receiving kidney therapy to stop and hopefully reverse an as yet unknown cause to kidney malfunction. The symptoms were as benign as "lack of appetite" but her owner knew something was up and took her to the vet to find out what was going on.

I wanted to throw in there for all people that free feed their pups and have more than one dog, you may want to rethink that setup for this reason: Lack of appetite is generally a very tell-all symptom of something not being right. If you have more than one dog and leave food out all the time, you can never really gauge who is eating what, and how much. It may delay you noticing that one dog is off their feed.

I cannot say this enough times: If you think something is wrong, have it checked out. If your vet thinks you are over-protective and doesn't run the tests you want, insist on the tests or find another vet! You never want to be in the position of "I wish I had..." Better safe than sorry, better get it early than wait. You know your pups better than the vet and if something is wrong, YOU KNOW IT.

So, visit the kidney resource page.

Read one pup's journey through kidney failure

On the Kidney resource page, there is an excellent support group of people who are going through, have gone through, and know what its like caring for a pup in renal failure. I highly recommend them.

Help For A Good Friend

2011-09-06T19:55:00.001-04:00

At Gimpydogs, we do our best to ensure that donations go to either a reputable rescue, or straight to a vet who is treating a gimpy in need. We check the source to make sure that it isn't a scam, and that a pup needs the treatment, and the owner is providing that pup with care. We typically don't ask for donations that go straight to a person... but this one is personal.

Montana

My friend Beth's pup Montana had a reoccurring benign tumor on his tail that required removal. In order to get the tumor, they had to amputate his beautiful tail. With help from some friends, she was able to afford the surgery, had the surgery performed on him about a week ago.

He seemed to be healing well from the amputation initially.

Things were progressing well, and he was acting normal. To help pay her friends back from the surgery, a raffle was started with some pretty cool prizes. She was relieved that Montana wouldn't suffer from the tumors any more, and things looked great for his future.

Montana took a turn for the worse, and although it just seemed like he was having some post surgery stomach issues (lack of appetite, some vomiting), things got progressively worse through the night and he was rushed to the Emergency Vet with a 106 degree temperature and listless.

It turns out that Montana had a perforated intestine, septicemia, and most likely wouldn't survive the surgery to repair the problem. Beth let Montana go.

Beth is now faced with the surgery costs, and the costs from the Emergency Vet, on top of losing her best friend in the world.

Some friends have started the Furry Friends Foundation on Facebook, the goal is to raise money for pups in need. They are trying to raise money to help pay for Montana's vet bills and are holding a raffle:

click picture to enlarge

Raffle tickets are $5 each and give a chance to win any of the prizes. You can purchase tickets via Paypal to Val (vlorenz64@gmail.com). Please include your name, address, email, & phone number. None of the information will be shared and will only be used to notify you and send the prize(s) to you. Please share.

You can also just donate to Val, she is also a good friend of mine who I trust, and who helped pay for Montana's vet bills. All money above Montana's vet costs (nearly $2,000) will be put into a pool and used for another dog in need.

Thank you

Penny
Gimpy dogs

Spleen Issues

2011-08-19T12:49:00.001-04:00

Recently a member of the gimpydog mail list had a question regarding cancer of the spleen and what were the prognosis and treatments.

The following links will provide you with reputable information about masses in the spleen and other spleen issues to help you learn more about the condition and treatment.

Splenic Masses in dogs

Tumors of the Spleen in Dogs

Splenomegaly and Splenic Torsion: Tucker's Story

Video of Splenic Tumor Ultrasound Diagnosis from Tripawds

Visceral Hemangiosarcoma in dogs (specifically spleen)

Splenic Diseases

ACVS resource for Splenic Masses

Canine Cancer Awareness Org Vicsceral Hemangiosarcoma page

Canine Cancer Awareness Org support groups

Support groups are a fantastic way to not only learn about diseases that may affect your dog, but will also provide you with first hand experience with what you are also going through, and sympathetic members who can help you through the process.

A Husky Wannabe Needs a Loving Home

2011-07-29T09:30:00.002-04:00

This is posted on behalf of Northern California Sled Dog Rescue. For information on Miranda, or to adopt, please use the links below to contact the foster home

Meet our newest husky wannabe! At only 7 pounds, Miranda is beating all the odds stacked against her! Paraplegic and in heat, someone dumped her on a highway, where she was hit by a car, but seems to have suffered minor injuries. A Good Samaritan saw her, pulled her out of the highway, and took her to a vet. And the next day to the local shelter, where I met her.

Scared out of her mind, but still sweet to everyone... I just couldn't leave her to her fate, which was the euthanasia list when her owners never came to claim her. Everyone at the shelter loved her; another Good Samaritan donated her little cart, which she loves!

Miranda is incontinent and needs to wear a diaper and be cleaned a few times a day. My vet and acupuncturist thinks we may be able to improve her bladder control, and possibly get more use in her legs; she can feel as far down as her knees, and she is only 2 years old!

One look into those eyes and you will give her your heart.

Miranda loves everyone with a kind word or touch, but she really wants a human of her own to love and give her whole heart to.

She is a quiet girl, and mostly wants to lie in your lap and be with you. She will cuddle forever! Miranda believes, as do I, that there is someone out there with a heart big enough for a tiny girl with a big spirit. She would be an amazing Therapy dog!

Miranda is spayed, microchipped, and up to date on all shots now.

We are looking for:

a temporary foster home
a sponsor for her acupuncture treatments.

For more info, or to sponsor or adopt her, please email sedna101@aol.com

Sheba Needs Your Help

2011-07-24T10:31:00.001-04:00

This is a courtesy cross post for Harnessed to Hope Northern Breed Rescue (HTHNBR). Please contact HTHNBR with questions. All links in this post will go directly to HTHNBR. Gimpy Dogs does not collect money to forward to rescues or shelters, we want everyone to donate directly to the cause.

Sheba update below

Sheba is very sweet girl who came into our rescue a little over a week ago. Our volunteers were only told that she had an excellent temperament. When they picked her up from the shelter, they saw the large abscess on her forehead between her eyes. Sheba is a very sweet, happy, laid back girl who doesn't ask for much - just affection and companionship. She is just as good as gold and a very easy foster dog.

Sheba's paperwork from her previous owners shows that the abscess has been treated with medication before, and it does improve, but never completely heals. Our volunteer took Sheba to the vet, who recommended a specialist. Since this is a recurring abscess, and it is near her eyes, the specialist recommended surgery since Sheba is otherwise very healthy.

We want to get Sheba the care she needs, but it will be quite costly. Any donations at all will help to defray the cost of Sheba's surgery, vet appointments, medication and treatment.

Donations can be made online at www.nbrescue.com, you will see the information on the home page. HTHNBR is a non-profit organization as recognized by the Internal Revenue Service pursuant to Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code. For a copy of our registry documents send an email to hthnbr@gmail.com stating your reasons for the request and giving a mailing address, and a copy will be sent to you.

UPDATE:

Sheeba had surgery on August 3rd. There was some bone and tissue preventing a severe sinus infection from draining. The vet removed some tissue and bone and cleaned out the sinus cavity. This should resolve the problem long term, and prevent a similar problem from occurring if she develops a sinus infection in the future.
Sheeba needs to recover from her surgery before she can go to a new home, but we will be glad to take applications for her. Contact HTHNBR for more information on Sheba.

Dogs In Need of Loving Homes (22 July 2011)

2011-07-22T19:55:00.000-04:00

I just wanted to post some special gimpies that need loving homes.

These posts are on behalf of Northern California Sled Dog Rescue If you have any questions, or want to adopt, please contact them, not gimpydogs.

If you have room in your home and heart, please consider these two special pups

SKKY -

rescued on her last days from an LA shelter, where she was dumped there due to glaucoma, she came to Norsled and had surgery to remove both her diseased and very painful eyes.

Now in recovery with her fur growing back, this dog is a role model for dealing with disability, exhibiting strength and calm under adversity, and generally loving to everyone she comes in contact with. She is remarkable at finding her way around, learning "gee" and "haw" and "left" and "right" as well as "step." She's able to navigate very well in a crowded home, and would appreciate NOT being helped into the car thank you very much!

She will need to be in a home where someone is there a lot, as she has separation distress (understandable considering her disability) and where there are no steps and hopefully an open layout. A home with no more than one other dog is ideal for Skky. The right person will meet this amazing girl, recognize her specialness, be in awe of her capabilities, and bond with her immediately. A blind dog still has the two most important senses accentuated - smell and hearing; Skky is extremely alert in all respects, very very smart and calm.

She is up to date on shots, microchipped, and all her medical records will be shared with new owner. Until the best home comes along, she is safe in a loving foster situation. To meet Skky, contact her foster mom at junosmom1@yahoo.com

Carson

Do you have in your heart to offer Carson a home?

Carson, a beautiful bi-eyed 2 year old grey and white husky came into rescue with a badly damaged leg (we don't know what happened) - hand shy - and afraid of people. The leg had to be amputated, and his foster mom has been working on trying to gain his trust.

He is walking well on 3 legs, but continued to be afraid of people - sweet, no mouthyness or barking, just scared. Today, for the first time in 5 weeks, he came up to his foster mom while she was working on the computer and put his head in her lap. So she thinks he is started to trust humans - and it is time for him to find his "fur"ever home.

Would you be interested in adopting this sweet boy? Gets along well with the other 3 dogs - boys and girls - at his foster home. Housebroken, good in a crate. Loves rawhide chews, chicken, hamburger. chedder cheese and pita chips.

Email rescue@norsled.org for information on adopting Carson. He is in the San Francisco/San Jose area.

Blind Dog Rescue Alliance Needs Your Help

2011-07-02T20:52:00.001-04:00

Brody is also a Tripawd!

Formed in August 2009, the Blind Dog Rescue Alliance has been saving blind dogs and educating the public on what its like to own a blind dog.

Having been owned by a semi-blind dog (cataracts) for 17 years, I can tell you that owning a blind dog is pretty much like owning a sighted dog (once they know their surroundings) with a few modifications.

These special dogs only need the same amount of love as any other dog, and a bit of help getting around.

The Alliance has rescued over 160 dogs so far, and has found homes for over 70 so far, but they need some help! They have several dogs on “Medical Hold” for treatment and care, and the vet bills are piling up. Some of these dogs come from homes that didn’t take care of them, or could no longer care for those with other medical conditions other than their blindness.

Irish Kiss needs a loving home

The Alliance takes in what they can, cares for who they can, but if they can’t get more donations, they won’t be able to save some of the wonderful dogs out there that need homes.
Won’t you consider donating. Even a few dollars will go a long way to helping dogs who may not be able to see with their eyes, but still see with their hearts.

If you are interested in learning more about Brody, Irish Kiss, or any of the other dogs who need homes, just click here.

Sebastian Needs A Helping Paw - PUPdate

2011-06-28T19:33:00.005-04:00

Update (7/10/11)

From my friend:

Sebastian did really well with his surgery and he is starting to put weight on his little leg. The bone was not a clean break but a really rough edged break which made putting the plate in a little more difficult - especially since he is such a tiny tiny little guy! He will get an xray in 4 weeks to see how it's healing - and hopefully he will have a great xray.

We have several people interested in him - so hopefully he will find his forever home soon!

I CAN'T THANK YOU ALL ENOUGH FOR YOUR SUPPORT. Between this group and some of my family and animal friends we collect enough to pay for his surgery with a little extra that will help other animals at New Leash on Life!

Sebastian says "Thank You!"

Thanks everyone!!!

I received this request from a friend of mine who is on the staff of New Leash On Life, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that helps gimpy dogs (and cats) get treatment and find loving homes.

She asked me to spread the word about a very special pup in their care that had an accident and broke his leg. After looking at the picture... who can resist.

The links in this post go straight to New Leash On Life where you can donate straight to Sebastian's surgery. If you have any questions, please contact New Leash On Life, as we are just spreading the word to help a gimpy in need:

Sweet Sebastian broke his leg when he opened his cage (or was left open by a visitor) and he jumped down onto the concrete floor, completely breaking both bones in his front left leg. He is such a wonderful dog - 2 year old Pom that was raised in a puppy mill/breeder facility. We were given the option to amputate since that is cheaper, but we opted to have a plate put in and save his leg. He should recovery fully after this surgery.

The surgery is going to cost us around $1000. I am reaching out to my friends - especially the animal lovers in my life and asking them to help me raise the money to pay for Sebastian's surgery.

You can donate online or mail a check. To donate click this link New Leash On Life site Angel Fund donation section In the comment section please write the word "Sebastian" - so we know to ear mark the money for his surgery.

Or you can mail a check to:

New Leash on Life Adoption Center,
attention Ann Shapiro.
507 Jim Draper Blvd.
Lebanon, TN 37088.

Make check payable to New Leash on Life.

This little guy is very special to me and all the staff at New Leash and the surgery is expensive for us.
We take in and adopt out more than 1,000 dogs and cats each year and we are a no-kill organization. As you all know I have volunteered for this wonderful organization for 5 years and am now honored to be on staff - a dream come true for me.

Again - thank you for considering my request and feel free to share his story with others - the more we raise the more we can do. If we raise more than the $1,000 needed for his surgery it will remain in the Angel Fund which is used to treat animals with medical conditions that would otherwise have to be euthanized. Because of the Angel Fund we are able to treat heartworm positive dogs and FIV cats, dogs with injuries, skin conditions and more.

4th of July Pet Safety

2011-06-25T09:54:00.000-04:00

The 4th of July is right around the corner, and while you may be excited about the gallantry and excitement of fireworks display, your pet doesn't have that same feeling.

The 4th of July is one of the busiest times for animal shelters, taking in dogs that have escaped their yards, homes, and leashes when scared by fireworks.

In my home, I have two dogs that totally freak out over fireworks (and one with thunder as well). Meeshka pants, paces, claws, pees on the carpet, and generally goes nuts if one of us aren't around to be with. During one rather active 4th of July in our neighborhood (it sounded like a war, despite the fact that most fireworks are illegal in the state of Maryland), Meeshka clawed up the carpet trying to get into a closed bedroom door.

If you know that any of your pets are afraid of fireworks, here are some common sense tips, and tricks that have worked with us:

1.) NEVER take your pet to a fireworks display. If your dog is totally oblivious to fireworks, then viewing them from afar is just fine, but don't bring your dog to a display where they are shooting them off close to the crowd. The proximity of the explosions, sparks, embers, and spent materials are hazardous to your dog. Even seasoned dogs may have a reaction to the noise, sound, and smell, so make sure they are securely leashed.

2.) Don't let your dog in a yard, even if it is securely fenced. If panicked, your dog may try to climb the fence or break through the fence and hurt itself. Additionally, if your neighbors are shooting off fireworks, if material from the rockets falls into your yard, that debris is dangerous if still hot, and toxic if eaten.

3.) Walk your dog before the fireworks starts. Sometimes dogs will refuse to go outside when the fun begins and will void in your house. A nice long walk will also wear them out a bit so their exhaustion may help with their anxiety.

4.) Make sure your pets are wearing identification tags that have up to date contact information. In case they do get lose, you'll want the finder to be able to contact you easily and quickly.

If you know that your dog is afraid of fireworks, here are some tricks to help ease their anxiety.

1.) If your dog has severe anxiety about fireworks, visit your vet and see if they can't prescribe a sedative that you can give prior to the fireworks.

2.) If your dog has some anxiety, there are several over-the-counter anti-anxiety supplements you can give (check with your vet if your dog has a medical condition or is on medication to make sure the supplements do not interfere or cause an adverse reaction) that may take the edge off.

3.) Create a "safe room" in your house. During peak fireworks time, we have a downstairs room that is fairly sheltered from the outside noises. We turn on every piece of noise making equipment there is, from computers playing loud music to tv blaring to help drown out the explosions. We also provide a "denning" places for them to go that are dark and secure, such as under a covered coffee table, or under my computer desk.

4.) You can try putting a shirt on them. Sometimes that helps, sometimes it doesn't. Before you spend money on one of those expensive "thunder shirts" for your dog, see if a tight fitting t-shirt calms them down during anxiety times. If it doesn't work, don't waste your money buying the "real thing" from vendors.

5.) Try to be comforting, but don't encourage their behavior. Its a tough line to toe, but you don't want encourage their behavior. Try to act like nothing is going on, and by all means DO NOT punish them or seclude them away from you, it will only make matters worse for them and maybe make the behavior worse.

Make sure that you have a plan BEFORE the fireworks show starts, and keep your dog safe and happy during this holiday season. For more tips on fireworks, parties, and general summer-time safety tips for pets, visit the ASPCA site or Google "4th of July pet safety tips" for other informative resources.

Stay safe out there!

Heartgard Plus Effectiveness Questioned

2011-06-12T13:59:00.000-04:00

I had heard of the class action suit against Merial, the makers of Heartgard Plus, and apparently more is leaking out in regard to claims made by the company that could put dogs in danger.

A recent article from the Courthouse News Service (1) discusses the dismissal of its “global head of pharmacovigilance” because she claims the company was trying to hide evidence that the tests Merial gave to the FDA were suspect, and that they didn’t heed or follow the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirement to change their packaging to reflect that their product was not 100% as it claimed.

Its ironic how things work out, as I was just having a Facebook discussion with another friend who expressed dissatisfaction over having to have her dogs undergo annual heartworm testing, when they were on heartworm product year round. I explained that no heartworm preventative was 100%, that owners may have missed a month or two, and it was just good medicine to ensure that the dog was heartworm free prior to dispensing medication... as some heartworm preventatives could kill a dog that was heartworm positive.

I want to state for the record, that if Merial had, indeed, falsified their initial findings in order to get FDA approval, and/or knew that their product was not 100%, and/or fired someone who was trying to make things right, then they should face the full force of the law. I’ve never been crazy about the whole FDA approval process that allows the company making the drug to submit testing data to earn approval. As we’ve seen with the slew of ambulance chaser e-mails about faulty drugs on the market, allowing the maker to prove efficacy is reckless, stupid, and lazy on the part of the very Government Agency that exists to save us from corrupt and irresponsible drug makers.

That being said, I just want to pass on a tidbit of information to everyone in regard to everything in general: nothing in life is 100% (except death and taxes, of course). You shouldn’t rely on a label to tell you the truth (it won’t, it’s called “marketing”, which is a nice way to say “lie to get you to buy”), or even convince you that what is good for one dog is good for all dogs (its not, everyone and everything reacts differently to everything).

The problem with Merial is the 100% claim, which you won’t find on any of their competitor’s products or web sites (I found one site that claimed that Interceptor was 100%, but it was a write up by a shady fly-by-night pet meds place), which would give them an unfair, and incorrect advantage over their competition, which knows better than to make such a claim when no data exists to back it up, and real-world experience show it not to be 100%. Instead, Merial apparently chose to blame owners for not following the directions, and point their fingers everywhere but at themselves.

Buyer beware, and buyer be informed. The more you know about subjects, the more prepared you are to ask your vet, drug manufacturers, and everyone involved questions about your pet and its health.

I would suggest that those using Heartgard Plus, print out the article, take it into your vet and make them aware of the situation if they already are not aware, and discuss your options in regard to heartworm medication that is best for your dog... not what the labels claim.

Learn more about heartworms with the informative links we’ve provided

Heartworms

2011-06-12T13:57:00.000-04:00

WebMD Pets: Heartworms Facts and FAQ

American Heartworm Society

Surgical removal of heartworms (video, probably not for squeamish)

Marvistavet Heartworm resources

Video on heartworms

Canine Stroke

2011-06-10T12:31:00.000-04:00

Recently a friend Facebooked that her dog had a stroke and was looking for information. Sometimes vestibular disease can be mistaken for stroke, so check out the vestibular disease section as well (in the links to the right)

Here is some reputable information regarding strokes in dogs:

From the Daily Puppy - Canine Stroke Symptoms and other resources

Dogs 101 - Understanding Stroke

Video of seizure stroke from ehow (you'll have to suffer through a commercial first, but worth it)

Another video from a vet explaining stroke (suffer through the commercial, its worth it)

Fun Events to Benefit NORSLED

2011-05-30T11:03:00.000-04:00

Northern California Sled Dog Rescue (NORSLED) is a fantastic rescue that doesn't just pick the healthy to foster, they pull even the most desperate gimpy dogs, rehabilitates them, and finds them loving homes.

Gimpy Dogs is pleased to call NORSLED a friend and want to let you know about some fundraisers they are having to help them save more dogs in need.

The first on 17 June 2011 is a wine tasting, dinner, and presentation by Iditarod musher Karen Ramstead

To purchase advance tickets, go to the NORSLED Website and scroll down to the "An Evening with Karen Ramstead". You can also download the flyer and get more information.

The second event is a fun match on 19 June 2011 at the Oak Hill Park in Danville. Karen Ramstead will be judging, but even if you don't want to enter the match, there will be plenty of fun activities for you and your dog in the beautiful park. There will be carting demonstrations and rescue booths.

Go to the NORSLED site for the entry form and more information!

Alabama Rescue Needs Your Help

2011-05-03T19:02:00.000-04:00

While we normally limit posts to helping Gimpy Dogs, we're making an exception for this case.

As you all know, tornadoes devastated several states, Alabama was hit the hardest. There are a lot of good agencies down there helping, but as a member of the dog community we all know that sometimes the animals are the last to get help.

I received a forwarded e-mail from a friend in regard to a foster home for Smiling Pitbull Rescue. This foster home was in the path of the tornado and was destroyed with all of the foster dogs inside. Luckily all but 3 were recovered safe, but she has lost everything. Her first and only concern was for the safety of her dogs. The link above is to the video that was taking right after the tornado and while they were trying to recover the foster dogs.

Rescues and shelters in the area are in desperate need of volunteers, foster homes, and donations. As people lose their homes, they have no place to keep their pets, so we need to step up as a community and help any way we can to help those who lost everything.

If you would like to make a donation to the rescue, please use this link to their homepage, the donate link is at the bottom. They are a 501c3 rescue, so all donations are tax deductible.

If you would like to help Shannon, the foster home that lost everything she had, the rescue is asking for donations of Walmart cards so that she can start replacing some of her belongings. The Walmart card is not tax deductible, but giving a little to a woman that put her own life ahead of her foster dogs is worth it.

Please send the Walmart gift cards to:

Suzanne Young, Breed Liaison
Southeast Shelters and Rescues
P. O. Box 1818
Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35403

Thank you

Gimpy Dogs

Phenobarbital Recall!

2011-03-12T06:48:00.000-05:00

Spread the word that there is a recall on a certain type of Phenobarbital because the wrong drugs were put in the wrong bottle.

Read the article, make sure you don't have these pills (the bottle and label will say Phenobarbital, but the pills inside may NOT be). If you even suspect you have the wrong pills, don't give the pills to your dog because acetaminophen will cause all sorts of internal damage and possibly death.

Here's the link to the article, go read it, spread the word

Phenobarbital recall

A Note From the President Of Eddie's Wheels

2011-02-20T17:07:00.001-05:00

Hi – I just discovered your blog and wanted to add information about what Eddie’s Wheels is doing to help dogs with missing or deformed front legs.

We make the only two-wheeled front wheel cart that allows animals to sit, sniff and play in their carts. Our design supports animals under the chest and ribcage with a breathable mesh harness that can be adjusted to conform to the shape of the animal’s body.

I’d like to invite you to visit our website, and click on front wheel carts. There you’ll find several videos of dogs in their front wheel carts.

Since we also live with four disabled dogs ourselves, we are aware of the challenges involving adjustment, training and physical issues that impact a pet’s ability to use a cart well.

Our customer service team is well versed in these issues.

Signed
Leslie Grinnell
Pres. Eddie’’s Wheels

We, at gimpydogs, don't take donations, we don't accept products or payment for anything we post, and all of our information is provided for free to whoever needs it. We just want to be a one-stop place where people with "special" dogs can go to find good, reliable, and accurate information without being sold a bill of goods or snake oil. We'll post anything reputable and reliable that helps the gimpy dogs in this world.

The Passing of a Great Man

2011-02-04T18:18:00.000-05:00

It is with a heavy heart that I report the passing of a kind and wonderful man, Dr. Thomas E. Sooy.

Dr. Sooy was Sam's orthopedic surgeon. He performed a total hip replacement and a Fascial Graft/Lateral Suture Stabilization (LSS) procedure on Sam's left knee when he blew his ACL. Dr. Sooy also provided us with a free consultation when we adopted Loki, who was born with a severely deformed foot, and advised us to let him be the puppy he was and not pursue painful surgical reconstruction. Loki continues to run like the wind despite his deformity, and lives a pain free and happy life, as does our Sam.

In 1988, Dr. Sooy founded and operated Maryland Veterinary Surgical Services in Catonsville, Maryland and cared for a lot of animals despite battling Hodgin's Lymphoma. You would never guess from his patience, and caring that he was even sick. He cared for his patients like they were his own pets, and even provided pro bono surgical services to the Whippet Rescue group, a breed he owned and loved.

I, personally, recommended him to all of my pet friends and even to rescues and to the readers of Gimpy Dogs, and heard nothing back but the best from those I sent to him.

In July 2010 he retired and sold his practice to Dr. Honor A. Walesby, DVM. In October he was in Seattle to receive a bone marrow stem cell transplant and died of complications following that procedure.

It was always comforting to know that he would be there in case one of our pups hurt themselves, or knowing that I could send a pup in need to him for care. He will be missed.

Penny
gimpy dogs

Physical Therapy Resources

2011-01-30T12:10:00.000-05:00

During Sam's spine surgery recovery, we found that swim therapy helped him develop back his atrophied muscles without putting a strain on his back and limbs. Swim therapy is also great for low impact exercise for older dogs, for taking off some pounds on an overweight dog, and just for a good, fun cardio workout.

I have to admit, Sam HATED swimming. Apparently some huskies don't swim well, and Sam was terrified of the bubbles in the swimming pool, so he'd swim in a circle and try to escape as much as possible. He did LOVE the rinse off, blow dry and rough towel time after his swim, and when we'd take him to the pool, he'd try to make a dash for the rinse off room, hoping he could do that instead of swimming.

Here are a list of resources to help you find physical therapy and swim therapy for your gimpy dog, if you should ever need it.

NOTE: Please work with your vet to ensure that swim or any other type of therapy is suitable to your dog's recovery.

Land of Pure Gold Foundation list of physical therapy and rehab assistance in the US and Canada

International Association of Animal Massage & Bodywork/ Association of Canine Water Therapy

The Canine Rehabilitation Center (good links)

Skin Conditions

2011-01-07T11:38:00.000-05:00

The following links will help provide some insight and treatment into some of the more common skin conditions that you may encounter.

Alopecia - great list of common causes and treatments

Alopecia X - Marvistavet information

Coat Funk - AKA Alopecia X specific to Malamutes

More on Coat Funk - Alaska Malamute Research Foundation

Color Dilution Alopecia

AKC Canine Health Foundation on Alopecia

Support Groups:

Canine Cushings Support Group (Alopecia can be caused by Cushings)

Pom Forum (Poms are susceptible to alopecia)

Pom BSD Forum

General dog hair loss support group

Gimpy Dog with Breast Cancer needs your help!

2010-12-22T17:44:00.000-05:00

This message is on behalf of a friend of mine:

I would like to introduce Everyone to Fel, She is a rescue I am trying to help. She has Breast Cancer and needs a Radical Masectomy immediately.

I have found a doctor that is willing to donate some of his time and effort and only charge 897.00 for the procedure which usually costs thousands.

Without the surgery she has been diagnosed with six months to live, But with it she has a fighting chance. If you have in in your heart and you love dogs as much as i do please help me help her have that chance of survival:)

If you would like to help her please put the link below in your browser it will take you to Chipin.com and you can donate securely through paypal.
and remember every dollar counts!

http://widget.chipin.com/widget/id/8418e431188c6643

Thanksgiving Tips for Pet Owners

2010-11-24T17:10:00.001-05:00

Every year the ASPCA puts out some very wise guidance for the holidays. Check it out so your Thanksgiving doesn't include a trip to the ER.

I'd also like to remind people to be cautious and mindful of your pets during the holidays. Its a busy time of the year, and you may have guests coming into and going out of your home that may not be mindful of your pet.

Make sure your guests know the pet rules
Make sure your guests are careful that no pets escape when they are going into or leaving your home
Sometimes, if your pet is the nervous type, putting them in a quiet room or crated while your guests are around will help them feel more comfortable
Make sure you are aware of all of the holiday decorations and other items that may be harmful or poisonous to your pet are out of their reach (the ASPCA has a great list here)
Have your Emergency Vet number in a place where you can reach it quickly if you have to use it.
The ASPCA poison control number should also be handy (remember, there may be a charge for using their service, but having used it in the past... its worth it, even if you just need it for peace of mind). The Poison control Web site also has a great list of bad items that may cause your pet distress.

Most of all, have a safe, and Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Gimpy Dogs!

New Book About Amputation

2010-11-14T15:06:00.002-05:00

The Tripawds gang has been very helpful to the Gimpy Dogs gang and their friends, helping people understand that amputation is NOT a death sentence, actually for most dogs its a new leash on a pain free life.

Tripawds has just introduced their new book: "Three Legs & A Spare – a Canine Amputation Handbook" The new e-book is for anyone facing amputation for their canine companion. The interactive PDF is a comprehensive collection of the best tips and advice for a successful recovery and life on three legs.

I highly encourage anyone who is facing, has faced, or is just interested in reading about how a procedure that seems so radically intrusive can give your dog life!

Thanks Rene and Jim for your tireless efforts to educate the pet community on amputation, and for your good work!

The gimpy dogs gang!

Oakie Needs Some Help

2010-11-07T09:54:00.000-05:00

This is cross posted with permission from Furry Friends. Please contact them if you have any questions:

Some of you may remember that Rose Morrison stepped up to help Oakie the peke/pom mix at our local shelter. For the past few weeks Oakie has had some blood in her urine which was being treated conservatively with antibiotics as it was though she had a UTI.

Friday Oakie had surgery for pyometra as well as having a kidney stone removed ( the size of which I might add would bring a grown man to his knees). I am happy to report Oakie is doing well but we are in need of some help for Oakies vet bill for Friday which was 258.00 ( this on top of Alvins 150.00 vet bill for the same day) I will post photos as soon as Rose is able to get them to me. Thanks~

We have established a chipin for Oakie for those who wish to make a tax deductible donation for her care:

http://savingfurryfriends.chipin.com/oakies-surgery

For those who wish to donate directly to the veterinarian his info is as follows:
Fisher Hollow Veterinary Clinic
Dr Mathew Garrett
(276) 475-5397
21928 Jeb Stuart Hwy, Damascus, VA 24236

Oakie was waivered today by her owner ( as you can see by the photo she is not is a kennel yet, he brought her in just as I was leaving) who sighted her nipping at his children for the reason he was giving her up. This little gal is approx 10 lbs, I cant help but wonder what the children were doing to her to make her nip, after all they have had her for ten yrs so why an issue all of a sudden??I have no further information on Rina at the moment but will find out more in the am.

If you would like more info on Oakie or are interested in adopting her please email savingfurryfriends@yahoo.com

Halloween Tips to Keep your pup safe

2010-10-29T17:44:00.000-04:00

The ASPCA always provides a great list of what to do over Halloween to keep your pets safe.

Another good tip is to have your pet's emergency vet phone number handy (like on your fridge) in case of emergencies.

Dog Carts - The Answer to Mobility

2010-10-22T19:42:00.001-04:00

On Christmas day 2006, my husband and I were driving our 6 year old Siberian Husky, Sam, to the emergency vet. Minutes earlier, Sam was being his usual playful self in our backyard, reared up on his back legs, twisted, then fell to the ground with a scream, having ruptured a disc in his back.

Sam was lucky. After emergency treatment, then spine surgery, he regained the use of his legs, and even though he's not 100%, has full mobility. During his injury and recovery, we blogged our experience, hoping that our lessons learned and experience would help others going through such a traumatic time. We fully expect that as he gets older, we'll most likely see his mobility diminish, and a need for a method to allow him mobility. To us, the solution is easy: we'll get him a cart.

I was actually surprised that a lot more dog owners didn't know about the use of carts for dogs with mobility issues. I often get owners who are very distraught when their dog may be facing amputation, or has suffered from a spinal injury, or has a neurological condition that keeps them from being mobile. Paralysis is not the death sentence it use to be for dogs. The use of carts (doggie wheelchairs) has proven that although a dog may not have the use of their hind (or even front) limbs, their spirit still wants to run and play.

You can teach an old dog new tricks, and typically a dog will just adapt to their situation and do some surprising things. There are so many examples of dogs that have adapted, but Faith, the two-legged dog usually comes to mind. Faith proves that will figure out a way to do what they want if they really want to. Even if Faith's rear legs eventually give out, there are front leg carts that will allow her to continue going where she needs to go.

Dogs facing amputation to save their lives from bone cancer can live full and happy lives in a cart. Even if their remaining rear leg isn't strong enough to support them, carts are made for all types of disability and some manufacturers will work with the dog to ensure the right cart is made to fit that disability.

A recent Wall Street Journal article discusses dog carts, and even highlights carts for cats, and even a chicken. There are different types of carts, depending on who makes them, for different types of disabilities, including a full body cart for dogs who have absolutely no mobility. Some people may think that cruel, but if a dog is of sound mind and spirit, is in no pain, and the only thing missing is a set of legs that allows them fun time with the family, seems only fair to give them a way to be a part of the family outside of the house.

While more expensive than... euthanasia, which use to be the only alternative for pet owners who couldn't or wouldn't assist their handicapped dog, a cart is built to last the rough and tumble new life of the dog, and some are even built so that the owner can modify it while a young dog grows. Some cart manufacturers will either buy back the cart (for less than the purchase price) or accept used donated carts to sell (at a much cheaper price) to other owners in need if no longer needed by the original purchaser.

As you can see here, Popeye gets around just fine on his wheels:

Dog Cart Resources

2010-10-22T19:26:00.000-04:00

The following is a list of known reputable Dog Cart manufacturers.

If you know of any other reputable dealers, or are a dealer that would like to be listed, send an e-mail to:
gimpydogscom@gmail.com

Walkin Wheels

Eddie's Wheels

Dewey's Wheelchairs for dogs

K9 Carts West

K9 Carts East

Walk to Cure Canine Cancer

2010-10-16T09:17:00.002-04:00

Here's a fun way to get involved with your dog and help find a cure for Canine Cancer!

Hospice Resources

2010-09-20T19:23:00.000-04:00

This is a pretty informative and helpful web site, even if you aren't in the Seattle Washington area for those with special needs animals that may be in their last phase of life.

In Home Hospice Care

Another resource that provides seminars and online learning about hospice care for your pets, they also provide e-mail support and some telephonic support.

SPIRITS in Transition

BrightHaven is a sanctuary, Holistic Education Center, and Rescue

BrightHaven

Laryngeal Paralysis

2010-08-29T08:57:00.000-04:00

Although we have links to resources to learn about Laryngeal Paralysis, its always better when someone writes about their own personal experiences and questions they've asked their own specialist.

This link may be helpful for those whose own pups are experiencing this inherited disorder, and we reach out and give snooter kisses to sweet Pooka for good luck.

Insulin Alert

2010-06-10T18:58:00.000-04:00

While talking to a co-worker this morning, she told me that her vet is having her switch her dog's insulin from vetsulin to a human variety of insulin because (from what my co-worker understood) the manufacturer would not be making it any more.

I did some quick looking around and found this notice on the Vetsulin Web site in regard to the company and the FDA stopping production because there was an issue with the insulin that could cause issues. The company and FDA is trying to rectify the issue, but don't have a timeframe, therefore they are asking people to work with their vets to transition their dogs from Vetsulin to another form of insulin until they can get back in production.

Here is the link the notice.

If anyone has any more information or suggestions for other diabetic dogs, please leave them in the comments or e-mail me (click link on the right hand side) and I'll make sure to post it for everyone to see.

Home Needed for Special Needs Pup

2010-04-25T12:33:00.000-04:00

The following plea is posted on the behalf of the current owner. Do not contact gimpydogs if you can help, or want to adopt April, please contact the owner, whose information is listed at the bottom.

April is a 2-1/2 year-old special needs dog. She is one of 3 surviving pups from a litter of seven. She
was rescued when she was 6 weeks old.

April has luxating patellas on both of her back knees and has had 4 surgeries. To help control pain, she will be on medication (inexpensive) for the rest of her life.

I am a college student and unable to take care of April any longer. Our living situation has been very
difficult for April, as there are two other dogs in the household who do not like her. Because of this, it
was demanded that I find another place for April to live. With no place for her to go, I had to board
April, but unfortunately, I can no longer afford the boarding fees.

At the very most, I can only extend boarding another week, until April. 27th.

April must find a permanent or foster home by then!

April is a love bug! She gives nonstop kisses, and loves to sleep under the covers on her back. Her
favorite activities are sun bathing, lounging around the house and showing off her toys to whoever is
around! She is fully house and crate trained, and walks well on a leash.

She has worked with special needs children while training to be a therapy dog (she is not certified).
April would do best as an only dog.

To help April, please contact: Rebecca Robinson
By telephone: 949-632-5851
or
By email to: rebeccalrobin@gmail.com

April lives in Lake Forest, CA

New Warning For Dog Owners

2010-04-03T11:30:00.000-04:00

As some of you may have heard, for quite some time there has been a warning about the sugar additive Xylitol being poisonous to dogs. This is a very true warning and numerous, heartbreaking stories of dogs getting into sugar free gums or other sweets that contain Xylitol and dying.

This weekend I had the opportunity to go to Dairy Queen and partake of a very tasty Dilly Bar. I was somewhat shocked to read that eating too many Dilly Bars could have a laxative effect and decided to do a little research as to why this warning was on a Dilly Bar.

One of the ingredients of a Dilly Bar is “sugar alcohol”. Digging further, I discovered that “sugar alcohol” is a code word for a list of various artificial sweeteners INCLUDING Xylitol!

I know a LOT of dog owners who go to various places and get ice cream for their dogs. Most of them know of the dangers of chocolate (theobromine poisoning) but think nothing of getting their pooch pal a vanilla cone to chow down on... but are they now risking Xylitol poisoning by not know the EXACT ingredients of their ice cream cone?

The U.S. is constantly shifting toward more “healthy” lifestyles and battling obesity, but at what price to our dogs and actually to ourselves when it comes to adding ingredients that aren’t all natural and have (or could have, in the case of our four footed friends) adverse to deadly consequences.

Be aware of the ingredients and what they actually mean to your pet before feeding it to them... it could be a matter of life and death.

Canine Renal Failure (A Personal Story) July

2010-02-26T09:45:00.002-05:00

July 6 (originally posted by Mary)

Late last month, Gracie had another blood test to see how she’s doing. Her numbers indicate that she’s stabile:

creatinine at 3.5, down from 5 at the last test;
BUN at 82, which is a little high but acceptable; and
her calcium level is at 11.7, 1.2 for the ionized test.

This is all very good news. The vet said to do a retest in three months unless she seems to be declining. We have our fingers-crossed that she will meet this milestone. 

Gracie remains alert and interested in her toys and walks. She gets a little sleepy from both the arthritis medicine and the blood pressure medication but is still willing to roll the fuzzy soccer ball for a little game of easy fetch. Meal times are still trying – she needs incentives in her food and she has a tendency to spit out the rice as she walks away from her bowl. Grains of rice can be found all over the house.  

Mealtimes are time-consuming. She gets her pills first thing, then her food, but she can’t be fed too close to the time she has her pills because the AlternaGel she must receive shortly after eating to coat her stomach must be given at least an hour after she receives her meds. Warming the subQ fluids, then administering them to her takes another 20 minutes or so in the morning every other day. So, her morning meds-meal-and fluids routine can take about 90 minutes to complete. She needs a mid-day dose of AlternaGel with some food, again to coat her stomach and protect against ulcers. Evenings repeat the meds-meals-AlternaGel routine.

Canine Renal Failure - some resources

The number of posts we have now about Gracie’s Chronic Renal Failure (I’ve also used 'kidney failure' to refer to the condition, and notice that that is one of the web search terms readers frequently use before arriving at the Hawksbill Cabin blog) is up in the teens.  

We certainly appreciate all the interest in Gracie’s progress – for the record, she’s pretty stabilized for the moment, getting about a half liter of sub-q fluids every other day, along with all the other meds, and the special diet. I also hope that readers who find these entries on the web find some useful, or at least, reassuring information here on the Hawksbill Cabin blog.  

One thing I wanted to be sure to highlight is a comment that reader “Linda” left a few weeks ago – it was reassuring and provided additional resources that readers may want to check out. A quote from her comment:  

“I have been dealing with my dog's renal disease for three years. I was wondering if you had found the website http://www.dogaware.com/? It has a lot of good articles…”  

I’ve spent some time on that site, and there is plenty of useful information here. To get right to the point on canine kidney failure though – follow this link: http://www.dogaware.com/kidney.html#protein .

Snow Safety For Your Pets

2010-02-14T08:55:00.002-05:00

What with the large amount of snow occurring in the United States and other parts of the world, pet owners may not be aware that there are dangers lurking on sidewalks and driveways that could cause your pet discomfort and severe issues.

A lot of pet owners aren't aware that the types of de-icers used on roads, sidewalks, driveways, and other areas can be dangerous to their pets.

De-icing agents such as salt and salt-based ice melting products can contain harmful chemicals that can cause (among other things): dermatitis, inflammation of the paws, gastrointestinal issues, burning and irritation to the mouth and intestinal tract if licked or swallowed. The salt or product can get on their paws and later, when licked, cause burns and irritation on the paws and in the mouth, eyes, and intestinal tract. Some de-icers warm up to 175 degrees.

If you walk your pet on city streets that have been treated, you can purchase dog booties to keep their feet from touching and coming in contact with the de-icer. Don't let them lick or eat the snow if you think its been treated (and remember, even snow that is in yard could be contaminated from snowplows throwing treated road debris into yards), and in your own household, use "Pet Friendly" products to de-ice.

If you don't have booties or your dogs doesn't like to wear them, when you return from your walk, rinse your pet's feet off thoroughly to make sure there are no residual chemicals on their feet or fur that they can later lick off and become sick.

While this is not an endorsement for a particular product, nor is Gimpydogs paid to endorse this product, the only "pet friendly" non-salt container de-icer currently on the market is a product called "Safe Paws", and is available in most large pet retail stores.

If your pet comes into contact with de-icer agents and is experiencing skin irritation, or vomiting, please consult with your vet on the next step of treatment.

Canine Renal Failure (A Personal Story) June

2010-02-13T17:41:00.000-05:00

Some Down Time with Gracie and Sofie (originally posted by Jim, June 15, 2009)

It was a rare weekend not heading out to the Hawksbill Cabin, with me just getting back from being on business in San Antonio, and Mary headed up to NJ to visit some cousins preparing to relocate to Germany. Besides getting nine holes of golf in, and catching up on some reading (I’m currently reading Michael Perry’s Coop), I’ve been spending some quality time with Sofie and Gracie.

The girls were recently groomed. Because of the trauma bath time imparts, I haven’t given Gracie a bath in more than five years. We have a service that comes around twice a year in a converted RV, called “Bubble Buddies,” that actually specializes in older dogs, like our two. Gracie, the Border Collie, is 14 and a half; Sofie, the Chow mix we found as a stray in the DuPont Circle area of DC, is older than that. In fact, it has been about 13 years since Sofie joined our pack.

They don’t really get dirty and smelly like younger dogs anymore, so the twice a year schedule works out well for us. They actually seem to like it when the groomer hooks up the leash and leads them into the van – it’s an amazing difference from the “flat Gracie” routine I would experience when I tried to get her into the bathroom. Who knew a dog could actually expand to cover so much square footage, so that she couldn’t fit through a door?

When the groomer leaves, the dogs have been bathed and trimmed, and their nails are clipped. They get a special bandana, and they seem to like the extra attention we give them afterwards.

Canine Renal Failure (A Personal Story) May

2010-01-30T12:02:00.004-05:00

I have been remiss in posting the rest of Gracie's story. I apologize for the lapse in posting. I have given up some other responsibilities in order to concentrate on the Gimpy Dogs site. I hope you find the site informative and helpful.

Without further ado

May 6 (recap, originally posted by Mary, May 2009)

Blood and urine were checked again today. Gracie’s lost a pound, unfortunately. But, she seems interested in food. She gets a cup of brown rice in the morning and evening with 1 ounce of grilled turkey pattie (she loves it grilled), ½ of a very finely crumpled hard-boiled egg, and, as incentives, a ½ to 1 crushed Iams weight-control dog biscuit, ½ a crumpled Greenie pill pocket hidden in the rice, and as a plate-cleaner, some torn pieces of baguette not to exceed the nutritional amount in the original Hills recipe. She also gets no more than a teaspoon of turkey baby food either slathered on the bottom of the bowl or mixed with warm water to create a sauce. Normally, she would get 2 ounces of grilled turkey per meal but I’ve reduced the amount slightly because of the protein-based incentives. She also gets about a ½ cup of rice and maybe ½ ounce grilled turkey with some of the incentives as a small mid-day meal.  Feeding and fluids can take up to an hour in the morning to administer. Also, I have to allow time during the week to cook her food.

May 7 (recap, originally posted by Mary, May 2009)

 The vet called today with the results of the latest tests: 
Gracie’s BUN is down from 79 to 77 but her creatinine level has gone back to 5 from 3.6. It was at 5 when she was hospitalized. If she seems to be lethargic, the vet has suggested we go back to a ½ bag every day for a few days then go back to ½ bag of subQ fluids every other day.
(Today, Gracie does seem a little tired, but I’m not sure if that is due to the long walk we took this morning in humid weather – she was kind of dragging behind Sofie, which was unusual). More fluids will also help if she starts to lose her appetite. 

I need to reduce the Calcitriol to 0.65 ml 2Xs a week from 1.0ml. The Calcitriol is to be given 1 hour before or 2 hours after the AlternaGel. I need to adjust the timing of the meds and eating; giving these at the wrong time could be having an effect on Gracie’s numbers: 
Give AlternaGel after Gracie eats or in her food
Pills (blood pressure, Pepcid, tramadol) give 1 hour before or 2 hours after she eats
Again, Calcitriol two-times a week (.65 ml) should be given 1 hour before or 2 hours after she eats BUT not at same time of other pills

I’ve made the next vet tech appointment for an Istat blood test (ionized calcium) in about a month (Monday, June 8th 9:30 am). I will also need to bring a urine sample. (Yes, that’s always interesting – I prefer to do this in the privacy of our back yard since following a dog around with a plastic cup looks odd to the neighbors. The vet provides a sterile set up – latex gloves and a lidded cup but, since the cup is too large to fit under Gracie as she squats, I’ve found that a small, flat plastic container—I use a hummus container from Trader Joe’s – works best for collection then transfer to the larger cup. Since the vet is checking urine content, not bacteria, a sterile sample isn’t absolutely necessary.)

May 19, 2009 (recap, originally posted by Mary, May 2009)

  One of my neighbors passed on a suggestion for getting more fluids into Gracie -- mix some electrolyte-enhanced water in with her regular bowl of water, maybe a ½ cup or so.

This product is sold under the brand name Smart Water, but Trader Joe's also carries the same thing under its store brand name. Don't get anything flavored, just the regular water. This helps with keeping her hydrated as she's urinating more because of the subcutaneous fluids that are helping to flush her kidneys.  

May 20, 2009 (recap, originally posted by Mary, May 2009)

  I am a little concerned with Gracie's condition in general. Since last weekend, she's been showing signs of weakness again--tripping, slipping on the floor, laying down a lot rather than standing. The vet said that if this occurs, we should increase the fluids to everyday for a few days. We did this the weekend before last and will start her again on fluids everyday for a few days this week. It means her numbers are probably rising again. Not good. However, I am getting her to eat, but she's now responding to turkey "meatloaf" -- pound of ground turkey with two eggs and about a third cup of plain bread crumbs mixed in and baked. She just seemed to get tired of the grilled meat. Turkey baby food (about a teaspoon) mixed with warm water also helps to incentivize.

Injured Husky Needs Help

2009-11-28T13:19:00.003-05:00

This message is posted on behalf of Paws to the Rescue. Do not contact the blog for more information, please contact Paws to the Rescue with inquiries, donations, and assistance:

On Tuesday we received a call about a dog hit by a car lying in the highway - he is a beautiful male husky with blue eyes. He had on a very nice leather collar and flea collar but no ID and is not microchipped. Initial vet services were done (he was fortunate to "only" have a compound fracture to his right front leg) but no owner has come forward and tomorrow his stray hold is up.

He is a bit thin but very sweet and just barely a year old. He cannot come to the shelter with his injury so is in boarding at the vet's office right now. We need donations to cover his vetting so far and a rescue to take in this beautiful boy. Please spread the word and consider making a donation via paypal to jen@pawstotherescue.com or mail to the address below:

Paws to the Rescue
123 Dog & Cat Court
Mullins, SC 29574

If interested in rescuing this boy, please e-mail me at jennaluv2@yahoo.com.

Thank you for helping this boy!!!

Jen Nall, Executive Director
Paws to the Rescue / Animal Shelter of Marion County
www.petfinder.com/shelters/SC41.html
www.myspace.com/pawstotherescue
www.magfundraising.com/Paws_to_the_Rescue
Waiting at the bridge - Nakita "Kita Girl" 03/10/93 - 01/05/08

Canine Renal Failure (A personal story) February 2009

2009-11-14T10:37:00.003-05:00

Poutin’ Grace (first posted 2/6/2009)

On Sunday afternoon it was pleasant enough to sit out on the Hawksbill Cabin’s brick terrace and read. At first, I had Gracie and Sofie outside with me, but they kept wandering off in opposite directions and I had to track them down in the side or backyards, so I put them back inside.

About 20 minutes later, I looked over at the windows and caught site of Gracie in pout mode. She actually had fallen asleep with this disgruntled look on her face.

Gracie seems to be coming around these days. Mary has found the secret for getting her to eat the special diet, and Gracie has gained back the pounds she lost. We haven't been to the vet in a few weeks, but things seem to be going well just now.

 February 27 Vet Visit (from Mary’s journal, first posted to Hawksbill Cabin blog on 5/22/2009)

Another follow-up visit to the vet for blood and urine testing today.

Gracie’s been shivering and she’s still not eating enough. I’m trying hard to find prescription food that she will eat. She doesn’t like the Hill’s k/d or the Royal Canin Renal, canned or dry.

I’ve tried to incentivize with small amounts of regular dog food, boiled chicken, fresh chicken broth, but she’s not interested. I’m trying her now on a homemade diet based on Hill’s canine restricted protein diet (from our vet, via the internet):   

¼ lb ground beef, not lean
 2 cups cooked white rice without salt 
1 hard boiled egg, finely chopped 
3 slices white bread crumbled 
1 teaspoon (5grams) calcium carbonate (ended up grinding up eggs shells for this) 

Cook beef in skillet until lightly brown, add rest of ingredients and a little water if too dry. Keep in refrigerator. Yields 1.25 lbs.

(Analysis: 6.9% protein, 5.5% fat, 21.1% carbohydrates, 65.5% moisture)

 A 40 lb dog such as Gracie should eat 1.5 lbs of this mixture per day – one batch is slightly less than one day’s worth of food.

Daily amounts according to Hill’s:
5 lb. dog, ¼ lb of food;
10 lb dog, ½ lb of food;
20 lb dog, 1 lb food;
60 lb dog, 2 lbs food;
80 lb dog, 2 ½ lbs food;
100 lb dog, 3 lbs food

Wanted: Driver in Canada

2009-11-13T18:20:00.000-05:00

I’ve received a plea for help from someone in Sudbury, Ontario that needs a safe driver/good samaritan who can drive this person and her dog to Toronto so that her dog can have knee surgery.

This person will pay for all expenses for someone that can provide transportation for possibly several trips.

If you can help out, please contact me and I can provide you with the person’s contact info. E-mail me at: gimpydogscom@gmail.com if you can help.

Thanks!

Canine Renal Failure (A personal story) January 2009

2009-11-07T09:15:00.005-05:00

A friend of mine recently reached out about his dog, Gracie, who succumbed to renal failure.

Knowing that I hosted the gimpydogs site, he asked if it would be ok for him to post his experiences with the disease for others to learn from. I immediately said yes, because while its great to find out clinical and medical information, having insight on the actual care of a renal failure pup is not only comforting (knowing that others are going through what you have) but educational in not only how things are handled, but quite possibly giving someone an easier way to do things that hadn't been thought of.

The next blog posts will be the Gracie series on experiences with renal failure. We dedicate these posts to Jim and Mary, and to Gracie, who lives whole and free across the Rainbow Bridge until she meets her caring owners once again.

Gracie's Story

My wife Mary and I lost our Border Collie, Gracie, to Chronic Renal Failure in September 2009. She had been diagnosed with the condition early in 2008, and our vet told us she entered the final stage of the disease in January 2009. Like many pet owners, we immediately went to the web for insight on the disease, and to learn about other owners’ experience treating their pets. We found some comfort there, and I decided to keep a little track record on my blog.

Penny also offered to put these posts up here on gimpy dogs; we very much appreciate the opportunity to honor our pet this way, and hope that our experience can help other owners prepare for the experience.

Thoughts on …Canine Renal Disease (first posted 1/15/09)

I hesitate to write this post - while the Hawksbill Cabin blog is meant to journalize experiences, and is certainly personal, once I make this entry I'll have started down a path revisiting this topic until a final post sometime.

This week our vet diagnosed Gracie as having entered the final stage of chronic renal failure, which means her kidneys aren't clearing all the toxins from her body. She has progressed from a mild stage of the disease which was diagnosed last year. About three weeks ago, she started boycotting her food, and we thought, okay - she really doesn't like the food (a special diet, recommended by the vet, which we were using to treat the early stage with), and the battle to try and get her to eat it isn't worth it.

So last week we went to the vet for alternatives. In the meantime they tested her progress with the disease again, and found that she had lost five pounds over the last month, since our last visit. It was an abrupt weight loss and concerned us.   We found another version of the special food, wet this time, and a second vet visit yesterday confirmed that her condition had improved. Gracie is still a nut, driven like the Border collie she is, constantly trying to tempt us with her toys, as always. She even tried to convince a Page County Deputy to play football with her over the weekend!  But the simple matter is she is 14, and her body is starting to wear out. The vet told us that some dogs only live a few weeks with final stage renal failure – given the spirits Gracie is in, we don’t think this is the case for her – but it could be months until the end. In any case, the news was that it is likely that we'll lose her this year.
Canine Renal Failure – update 1 (first posted 1/26/2009)

Since I posted on Gracie’s diagnosis of canine renal failure on January 15, we have some updates. We did some web research on the situation. The first thing we learned from other owners is that the disease upsets the stomach so the dog won’t eat. This is what results in food boycotting, which we had been attributing to her not liking the food.  The advice we got on this was that it is most important to get her to eat – even if it’s not necessarily the (expensive) prescription diet. So Mary has begun looking into alternatives, starting with the idea that we might be able to incentivize the food, and she’d checking protein levels on candidate incentives.

Also, we read on another blog that additives such as B- vitamins and safflower oil may be a help (readers finding this blog from a search on Chronic or Canine Renal Failure – please be sure to do your own due diligence, and check with your vet!). Our vet confirmed that these things can be helpful, but she wants to check the dosages the next time we are in. We look forward to that welcome advice.  We got her some Pepcid, and that seems to have quieted the stomach issues. Mary is taking some extra care to make the food more attractive – it’s quite a project. Now mealtimes attract quite a bit of canine attention as both dogs (Gracie and her sister Sofie, the Chow mix) stand patiently in the door of the kitchen, patiently as they can, that is. Mary says, "I'm just glad they're domesticated!" when they finally charge in to the food bowls.  Gracie’s appetite has returned, and she is gaining some of the lost weight back…her energy is back – even during the stomach issues and weight loss period she still wanted to play. She's almost her pesky border collie self again.

January 9 Vet Visit (posted by Mary, added to the Hawksbill Cabin blog 5/21/2009)

Gracie, our 14 year-old Border Collie, has been diagnosed with canine renal failure. Her kidneys have been weakening for about a year. In retrospect, one of the first signs was weakness in her legs; she wouldn’t stand for any length of time, preferring to lie down even if we stopped for a short time on our walks.

She’s also lost a lot of weight. She’s not eating, and really hates the renal prescription dry and wet foods. (And, it’s very difficult to get this special food, too. It either has to be ordered through a vet or bought on line – a big waste of money if the dog won’t eat it. Petsmart sells canned Hill’s k/d and Royal Canin, but a prescription card is needed.)

Loss of appetite is another symptom of the disease. Apparently, the toxins built up in the blood by failing kidneys makes the dog nauseous and can even lead to stomach ulcers.

Perianal-Fistulas

2009-09-10T19:28:00.002-04:00

Perianal fistulas or anal furunculosis is a chronic, progressive disease characterized by ulceration of the perianal tissue (tissue surrounding the anus) in the dog.

For some great information and resources, please go to:

Canine Perianal Fistula or Anal Furunculosis site at Critterology

or visit the Tripod support group site that has very extensive information and a support group

Please Help the Broken Puppy

2009-08-30T20:00:00.003-04:00

Update 9/7/2009: The broken puppy has been fixed and is recovering, and the best news of all is that there are tons of caring, compassionate, and generous people in the world that have donated enough to cover the broken puppy's medical bills.

Thank you to everyone that helped, and please go check out the Broken Puppy's blog on her progress... and her real name now is "Hope".

Received this link from a friend on twitter (a real friend). Donate at your own risk, I haven't checked it, but it seems reliable enough and for a good cause from good people.

Help fix the broken puppy

Gonzo Needs You Help

2009-07-20T20:16:00.003-04:00

This message is posted on behalf of Pits And Rotts For Life Rescue, Inc. Please do not contact gimpydogs regarding this pup, please contact the rescue, and if you can donate, the links below will take you straight to Pits And Rotts For Life Rescue's Web site and you will be donated straight to the rescue:

Gonzo came into rescue on July 16, 2009. He came from the Staten Island, NY shelter. As you see in his pictures, his ear has been very infected. The Dr. looked at it and it does need to be removed. The Dr. is doing everything possible to get Gonzo into surgery for tomorrow-July 17, 2009.

The shelter says Gonzo is around 10 yrs old. The picture they had of him showed some pitmix in him, but as you see, that is not what's really there. Gonzo is Great Dane mix Shephard. Looking at Gonzo's pictures, you see he is somewhat on the skinny side, but Gonzo weighs 70 lbs now, so I can only imagine how much he should really weigh. Gonzo is in pain and has to have this ear removed. Please help us to help him

Pits And Rotts For Life Rescue, Inc is a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization. All donations are tax deductable.

If you are able to donate, you can go to http://www.pitsandrottsforlife.petfinder.com .

Thank you for anything you are able to help with. It is greatly appreciated.

Susan
Pits And Rotts For Life Rescue, Inc
www.pitsandrottsforlife.petfinder.com
www.pitsandrotts.net
501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization

Lost Dog is found in Paducah, Kentucky

2009-07-05T20:31:00.000-04:00

Check out this blog for pictures of a dog that was found in Paducah, Kentucky. Most likely scared from her home by fireworks, lets see if we can’t find her loving pawrents and get her back home.

click here to go to the blog and please spread the word.

TriPaw'd Needed for Cushy Life as a Star

2009-06-29T19:23:00.000-04:00

Debbie Pearl, who is with Paws for Effect, is looking to adopt or rescue from a shelter, a larger, [40 lbs, larger preferred] scruffy-looking mutt type 3 legged dog who is missing a rear leg and which is not black. [Technical issues with filming black dogs] Prior training is not important. An outgoing personality is.   She needs to find this dog pretty soon in order to have time for training. The dog would be in a movie scheduled to start filming in September.   Debbie was carefully screened with references and a home visit prior to adopting her two dogs from a rescue and offers an excellent home, not just a job. All of her canine performers are rescues that have been adopted from rescues or shelters.   If you have or know of such a dog, please contact Debbie at: redhusky@pawsforeffect.net and  send her a picture and the following information:
How old is the dog ?
How big is the dog ?
Breed or mix of breeds ?
What is the personality like ?
Which leg is missing ?
Your name, email address and telephone numbers

FDA Notice Regarding Evanger's Dog Food

2009-06-12T19:42:00.001-04:00

If you feed your dog Evangers, please click on this link and read about the FDA action to suspend temporary permit.

Please Help Sinatra

2009-05-31T08:48:00.001-04:00

This posting is on behalf of Husky House. Please direct any questions to them.

Sinatra is a 3-4 month old Siberian Husky who has paid the price for losing her way. Sinatra is a stray, and was hit by a car on May 23rd. A good samaritan took her to the Emergency Vet Clinic, but since there was nobody there to claim her, all they could do was give her pain medications and send her to Animal Control, where she sat in a cage sick and injured during the 4 day hold before she could be released to a rescue.

Sinatra has a fractured pelvis, fractured femoral head, broken left tibia and fibula. The vets feel that she needs all of these injuries surgically treated at the same time, or be humanely euthanized. With surgery she is expected to make a full recovery and lead a long, happy, 4-legged life.

Husky House stepped forward and has taken Sinatra under their wing and are giving her the best care available. She was taken to Kansas State for her surgery, but unfortunately has broken out with parvo, delaying surgery until after her recovery. Needless to say, the surgery, parvo treatment, after surgical care, and other incidentals, her expected vet bill will most likely be around $5,000.

Any little bit will help toward paying for this beautiful and innocent pup’s bright and healthy future. Any donation, no matter how small will go toward ensuring that Sinatra will find a family to love and be loved. All donations are tax deductible and Husky House will provide a receipt for anyone that requests one.

Click Here to make a donation to help Sinatra

Please cross post far & wide to help our precious Sinatra. Thank You for your support!

Liver Issue Resources

2009-03-28T17:58:00.003-04:00

Liver Disease Information:

Vets Forum

Liver Shunt Information

More Liver Shunt Information

Liver Disease Support Groups:

Yahoo Groups Canine Liver List

Liver Shunt Support Groups:

Yahoo Liver Shunt and MVD Support list

Cancer Resources

2009-03-28T17:51:00.002-04:00

Cancer Information:

Canine Cancer Network

University of Pennsylvania Cancer Symposium

Canine Osteosarcoma (bone tumor)

Hemangiosarcoma

List of Cancer Treatment Trial Centers

Perianal Adenomas

Canine Cancer Awareness Org

Veterinarian Cancer Society

CSU Animal Cancer Center

University of Missouri-Columbia

Hemangiopericytoma

Bone Cancer

Cancer Support Sites:

Yahoo Canine Cancer e-mail list

Grizz's Good Neighbor Pages

Bone Cancer Dog Support List

Please help Jeremiah

2009-03-23T19:30:00.001-04:00

Jeremiah is a pup with severely deformed front legs.

Noahs Ark rescue (awaiting their 501c3 status) is asking for donations for the surgery that will help Jeremiah walk without pain and live a normal, happy life.

Please consider donating even a little bit to help this poor neglected pup know what its like to run free of pain.

pictures, updates, and a place to donate is located here.

Help a pup live

2009-03-13T20:02:00.000-04:00

Remy, a beloved rescued pittie has lymphoma and his owners want to help him live. Unfortunately they are unable to come up with the cost of the treatments that may give Remy more time in this world.

We know that times are hard, and you all have problems of your own, but if you can spare even a dollar to helping Remy get the treatment he needs, please consider donating.

You can see Remy’s updates and donate through ChipIn at this link

A Gimpy In Mexico Needs Help

2009-02-20T09:09:00.003-05:00

Tripawds (an excellent organization that helps dogs with amputations) has asked me to post on behalf of a Mexican rescue organization that has found a dog missing both front legs.

Below is a post from the rescue, please note, their Web site is in Spanish:

We are a small association with limited money resources, dedicated to rescue mistreated dogs. Unfortunately Mexico is a country without the right law to protect animals; there is much cruelty towards them due to lack of understanding and education. Animals in general are being tortured terribly daily.

Here is our page: http://www.andes.org.mx (only in spanish) If you make a clic on the dog´s face and then on PATROCINA UN PERRO ENFERMO (sponsor a sick dog) or PATROCINA A UN PERRO A DISTANCIA (sponsor a dog from far away)

Here, you will see the pictures; before and after; how they were rescued and when they are safe and in health.

In this country is almost IMPOSSIBLE that someone would adopt a disabled or an elder dog.

This association is focused toward dogs in this kind of situation. Old dogs are thrown out of the household because they are good for nothing.

In our page there is a place that reads: ADOPCIONES CON AMOR (adoptions with love) There you will find the dogs that fortunately found a responsible family that adopted them.

SEBASTIAN is being kept in a veterinarian because we have not found a responsible adoption, dog is very much afraid because he lived in isolation away from people, he lived in a huge piece of land with several caves. We walked for more than an hour before finding him. Fortunately some youngsters told us about this situation, occasionally they would feed him with food that was found in the trash. For SEBASTIAN everything is new, we are working a lot to make him confident on people again. (note: click here for a video of SEBASTIAN)

I cannot bring him to my apartment because I have 7 female dogs also rescued from street.

In our association we have cemented floor which would be very hurting for his elbows; would be great to have him living in a garden or a ceramic floor.

Thank you much in advance if there could be some help for this poor doggie.

My association is called: ANDES, ANIMALES DESAMPARADOS, A.C.

Thank you also for the donation, it is much appreciated.

Best wishes always.

The Tripawds forum members are discussing ways to help SEBASTIAN (click here to read the posts), and if there is anyone in Mexico, or in that area that can help bring SEBASTIAN across the border toward Big Bend National Park, where Rene and Jim (Tripawds) can get him to help him get the care he needs and find a good home, please contact Jerry or Rene at: jerry@tripawds.com

Also, Andes, Animales Desampardos, A.C. could use some donations for all of the good work they do for the dogs in Mexico that need help. They do have a paypal donation button on their site.

An appeal for help for someone who was helping

2009-02-18T19:46:00.002-05:00

I received this from a friend of mine and got permission from her to post it here. I know funds are tight and times are hard, and its hard to be grateful for what we have or don't have, but some others have it worse. Please consider donating even a little bit:

This is very personal for me. I am absolutely devastated to have just learned an hour ago that Linda Money, a long-time friend of mine in rescue, and her husband, Kevin, had a fire in their home last Thursday and lost everything - including 31 animals - some family pets - others waiting for a forever home.
My heart is absolutely broken for her, him and the animals they lost. The firemen had to restrain Kevin from reentering the house to save more animals, and he was airlifted to the hospital in critical condition that day but has since been released. Linda was not at home at the time.

I've known Linda for many, many years - and there is no bigger heart for the animals than hers. I am almost beyond speech as to what to say about Linda and her good deeds. She has saved countless dogs, is an integral organizer for many big name dog events around Memphis, including the St. Jude Showcase of Dogs - and her heart is always, always working for the next dog who needed her - whatever it is - wherever it is. Whenever I brought one of my siberians to Showcase, Linda always made a point of bringing the kids from St. Jude over to see them, because of their cute tricks and exceptionally nice manners. She was always a good go-to person with questions, and always, always an advocate for the animals.

For those who'd like to read about the fire, here is a link to the news
article
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2009/feb/14/traumatized-again/
And I have a PDF flyer if anyone would like it to forward on (it won't go on lists - they'll strip it), but if you'd like one to read/forward, please let me know.

Linda and Kevin lost literally everything. A local vet has donated an RV for them to live in until they recover, however they have no clothes, no supplies, nothing but what they had on their backs - and the surviving dogs - and they need help - specifically - money and dog supplies. However big or small, donations are needed. When you have nothing, every little thing has
to be replaced. I just cannot imagine.

I know that many of you don't know Linda and Kevin. I ask everyone to consider if you can help regardless. Linda and Kevin have worked tirelessly rescue (Rotties and Chi's are two if Linda's favorite breeds, but she does not discriminate - she takes in whatever needs a safe place to sleep -regardless of its origins)

Here is the way to help:

• PAYPAL your donation to midsouthpets@aol.com

• Make your check payable to Mid South Animal Rescue Fund and mail to:
Mid-South Animal Rescue Fire Fund
c/o Regions Bank
8975 E. Goodman Rd Olive
Branch, MS 38654

• Donate needed animal items for the surviving pets (animal toys, blankets, towels, crates, kennels, dog pens) as well as household items that Linda and Kevin will need. Take all these items to:Donate needed animal items for the surviving pets (animal toys, blankets, towels, crates, kennels, dog pens) as well as household items that Linda and Kevin will need. Take all these items to: Countrywood Subdivision 2746 Rockcreek Parkway Cordova, TN 38016.

If you want more information you can contact Beverly King at
bevanddogs@yahoo.com

My hope and prayer is that my friends, too, will look for a way to help Linda and Kevin. I am going to go sleep on this. I know my email is disjointed and not my usual... I am just so upset. Hug your furkids
tonight.

Tish

Pup Needs Your Help

2009-02-16T19:23:00.002-05:00

If you can help, please contact the Vet listed at the end of this post, do not contact gimpydogs.

Hello everyone,

I am writing you all because there is a dog I recently pulled out of Metro, the local animal shelter here in Casper, Wyoming, that is in desperate need of surgery, and in turn, my small rescue operation is desperately in need of funds to help her. Appropriately, this young girl is named Angel. Angel is a nearly 6-month-old Great Pyrenees female that Metro obtained after a welfare check was called in on her brother. The shelter initially thought that she had a broken leg, but she has been examined and she has more significant problems. X-Rays were performed and there are severe growth abnormalities in her back left leg impeding her movement and making it difficult for her to walk. The shelter wanted to kill her because they did not believe anyone would be willing to help her, but we were able to find her a wonderful foster home just a few days before Christmas, and she has been living there safely since then.

We just learned from our orthopedic specialist that it appears Angel will have to have her entire back leg removed at the hip. The orthopedic surgeon at Colorado State University told me that he has never seen a deformity as bad as the one this young girl has... Because there is no knee cap or functional knee, there does not appear to be an option for a prosthetic device and her only option is amputation. However, Angel has been trying to get around as best she can in her condition and it appears to everyone that has met her and seen her amazing desire to play and run like any other puppy that she will do much better without her back leg because the leg is really in the way now! Because she is young, all of the surgeons I consulted with (three so far!) believe that she will adjust well to losing her back leg. We are, however, getting anxious to have the surgery performed because the bottom of her back leg is being rubbed raw from being dragged and is causing her to walk awkwardly--which we are afraid will lead to other orthopedic problems for her soon.

Anyhow, the surgery to remove her leg, get her spayed, and for her care is going to be approximately $1200.00 and we are hoping to have it performed next week if we have the funds to do so. Any donation at all would be helpful and greatly appreciated. Even a donation of $5.00 or $10.00 will make a difference in the life of this sweet girl.

Please make any checks to
Wyoming Animal Rescue
530 South Center Street
Casper, Wyoming 82601
or to donate online, visit the Wyoming Animal Rescue website at www.wyominganimalrescue.com

to make a donation via credit card through PayPal.

Thank you so much for your support,

Jamie

Everything you (probably didn't) want to know about Anal Glands

2009-01-16T11:42:00.003-05:00

Does this look familiar:

While a mildly amusing commercial, it is most likely a sign that Toby has an anal gland problem. I certainly hope that "Mom" checked out poor Toby before calling about steaming her precious carpet.

If your dog is scooting, obsessively licking or bothering its back region, you need to go and check things out to make sure everything is working as it should. If there is a discharge, bad smell, or swelling, its time for a trip to the vet.

So, what on earth are anal sacs and what the heck do they do? That question is best addressed on the marvistavet site, which includes interactive "where are they" and "how do you squeeze them" Web interface. It may become all the rage in interactive game playing.

If that's not enough the kind folks at Expert Village have provided a video on how to "express" anal glands:

While I wish they would have picked a lighter colored pup to do the demonstration to make the particulars easier to see, you probably get the point.

Please note: if you do express your pup's anal glands, you may want to invest in some cheap rubber gloves (exam room gloves in a box are available at most pharmacy stores), and if you have a weak stomach, you may just want to take your pup to the vet and have it done, its a most foul smell.

Here is another that discuss some of the common issues with anal sacs.

Pet Education

From personal experience, if you pup has constant anal gland/sac issues, you may want to talk to your vet about diet. If there isn't enough fiber in their food to give them firm stools, or if they have a condition where their stools are consistency soft, then that could contribute to the issue. Stools need to be firm in order to give that natural squeezing of the anal sacs during a bowel movement.

A dog with hip, back or hind leg issues may also suffer from anal sac issues, as they may be unable to "assume the proper poop position" to sufficiently empty out the sacs when they have a bowel movement.

Also, from personal experience, the TYPE of food may be causing issues. I have one such pup who gets anal gland issues whenever he eats a fish-based diet. Change his food over to a chicken or beef-based diet and the issue clears up.

Gimpy German Shepherd needs a new home

2009-01-11T19:35:00.003-05:00

Sydney, a 9 year old German Shepherd needs a new cat free home.

Sydney was about to be euthanized at an ER vet when her current owner saw her wonderful personality and decided to save her. Sydney's right rear leg had to be amputed from an injury she suffered, but with a daily dose of Previcoxx, she does wonderfully on three legs, running, playing, and going up and down the stairs (with some coaxing).

Unfortunately, Sydney does not get along with cats, so she needs to go into a loving home that does not have cats. Her owner would like to find her a loving home where she can be a loving member of the family and live out her years in happiness.

Sydney is located in the Indianapolis, Indiana area. If you think you can give Sydney a loving home and a fulfilling life, please contact Mindy at: Mindycvt@ yahoo.com

Good Samaritan needs help for injured husky

2009-01-09T21:45:00.003-05:00

The following plea is from a member of Tails of Hope Pet Rescue in Texas.

A woman contacted me a few days ago about a Siberian Husky she had found that had been shot. Apparently, the dog was shot, then wandered up to her neighbors house & found a spot to lay on their porch. The family had called animal control to come pick up the husky, when this angel of a woman told them she would take it in & try to care for it first. The kicker is that this woman is 75 years old, & as she says "not in the best of health". She posted signs for Lost Dog, and animal control knew she had the dog in her care, in case an owner came looking for it. No owner has surfaced. She took the dog to her vet to see what options the husky had. The vet said the husky's back hip is shattered, and the leg needs to be either amputated, or replaced with a metal plate. Then of course, there is euthanasia. The old woman has developed a bond with this dog & will not put it down. She would like to keep the husky herself, but does not know if that will be realistic long-term as her health is not so good.

She contacted Tails of Hope to see what services we provide & I discussed some options with her. The immediate issue is that she lives on a fixed income of social security, and will have trouble paying for the vet bills accompanying amputation (which was the vet's recommendation as the best option for the shattered hip). In addition, she took the husky in to the vet today, to be prepped for surgery tomorrow (Wed 1/7), and they also found that the dog has heartworms, plus needs to be neutered.

So we are asking for help with some of the financial burden that this initial vet bill will cost. I am going to be making a donation, and would like to petition other dog & animal lovers out there to also make even a small donation for the care of the husky. Each little bit will help. The woman would like to keep the dog at least through the beginning stages of rehab, then if it is not possible or reasonable for her to keep the husky long-term, she would want to find a very loving permanent home for him. A very SPECIAL home for this wonderful, soon-to-be 3-legged Siberian Husky! And Tails of Hope would be taking on the responsibility of re-homing the husky.

I met the husky myself, and he was one of the sweetest dogs I have known. Only kindness & love, wanting nothing more than to give kisses & get some loving in return. I am attaching pictures of the husky.

If you, or anyone you know, would be interested in making a donation to help off-set the cost of the amputation surgery, you can contact the Ennis Veterinary Clinic at 972-875-2647 to call in a credit card number, or you can mail a check to Ennis Veterinary Clinic, 3101 N. Kaufman, Ennis TX 75119 Specify that the donation is for "Husky".

Thank you so much for your consideration! And a Happy 2009 to you all!

Sincerely, LISA
Tails of Hope Pet Rescue
Waxahachie, TX

Boris Needs a Helping Hand

2009-01-03T10:43:00.003-05:00

Update (9 Jan 2009)
Unfortunately the vets have found that Boris is not a good candidate for the liver shunt surgery. His foster home is going to put him on a special diet to help manage his health, and asks that donations be sent to other needy dogs at this time. We will continue to update you on Boris as we get them.

Original post below
Boris has gone through a lot in his first year of life already, but the bad news hit home right before Christmas when days after an emergency surgery to remove several handfuls of inedible objects from his stomach, he was diagnosed with a liver shunt which would require a very expensive surgery if he was going to have a chance at living a normal life.

Indy Homes for Huskies is trying to raise the funds to give this sweet boy a chance at life. Boris has a heart of gold and a personality that outshines the sun. When he doesn't feel very well, all he wants to do is lay next to his humans and be loved upon. When he feels well- the sky is the limit to what devilment he might cause.

Donations to help Boris can be made by clicking the sponsor me button on the top right corner of his profile.

Start the New Year with a New Friend

2009-01-01T13:38:00.002-05:00

Some pups are starting the new year in a shelter. These pups were seized in a recent rescue investigation and either need new homes, or temporary foster homes.

If you can help foster, or would like to give them a good home, please contact the Jethro's Place rescue.

Click on the link above to see more of these hopeful sweeties.

Marley and Me Author and Woodson

2008-12-26T19:23:00.002-05:00

For those of you that have read the book, and may have seen the movie that opened yesterday, I wanted to share a story that someone forwarded me about one of the puppy "actors" that John Grogan (author of Marley and Me) adopted from the set.

Also, take the time to visit the American Humane site and read about how the film makers are helping to make a difference.

Remember, while Marley in the movie may be cute and cuddly, as Mr. Grogan has found, puppies require a lot of love, patience, training, money, and TIME. Some puppies also need more care than others, especially those with special needs. Make sure that you are prepared to make a commitment to this life that you bring into your home, and make sure that you have what it takes to allow unconditional love into your heart.

Broken Puppy Needs Your Help

2008-12-21T18:40:00.001-05:00

Eastern Washington Siberian Husky Rescue has a 4-month-old Siberian husky puppy in Colville, WA, that was found on the highway yesterday. He has 2 broken legs, one front and one back. The vet thinks he probably fell out of a pickup rather than being hit because there was no "road rash" as if he'd been rolled. There are 2 breaks in each leg, both bones. One left and one right. His legs have to be pinned, and it's going to cost $1600. The rescue has a foster home for him while he recuperates, but really need help to raise funds for his surgery. No one has filed a report on a missing puppy.

The rescue (a non-profit) has a paypal account on their website, and there's a "make a donation" at the top of the page. They are a non-profit 501(c)3 Siberian husky Rescue. There is also an account set up with the vet through Colville Pet Rescue. The vet is:

Chewelah Vet Clinic
PO Box 29
Chewelah WA 99109
509 935-6424
For: Spirit Puppy -Colville Pet Rescue/EWSR

We know that money is tight, but if you can spare a dollar or two to help this poor pup get better, every little bit helps.

Ingredient Change Alert - Rescue Remedy

2008-11-30T10:01:00.002-05:00

For those of you that use Rescue Remedy for your dogs, please be advised that they have changed the ingredients in their Pastilles (the candy version) to include Xylitol.

For those of you who don't know, Xylitol is an artificial sweetener that is being added to more products every day. Xylitol is POISONOUS to dogs.

Bach now has a Web site specifically for pets, so please use this site to order your Rescue Remedy.

If you purchase Rescue Remedy from any other source, read the ingredients carefully! Xylitol is an INACTIVE ingredient, so read ALL of the ingredients, not just the active ingredients.

Also check the ingredients of any over the counter medications, such as children's Benedryl, cough medicines, etc. for the ingredient before giving it to your dog.

For more information on the toxicity of Xylitol:
Snopes
ASPCA
Mar Vista Vet

Iams Homes 4 the Holidays

2008-11-24T20:08:00.002-05:00

Felicity Huffman, Iams and thousands of others are on a mission to save the lives of 1 million pets this holiday season.
Please join us in supporting the Homes 4 the Holidays drive to give 1 million deserving pets a loving home for the holidays.

Visit their Web site and learn how you can help!

Amputation

2008-11-23T10:36:00.003-05:00

If your pup is facing an amputation, or you just need help and advice from those experienced in amputation and what it means for your dog, the BEST resource around is the Tripawds site.

A lot of people consider amputation to be worse than death for their active pup, but trust me, dogs are better able to adapt a LOT better than humans when it comes to amputation because they have three other legs to support them.

The majority of dogs who have an amputation adapt amazingly well to life on three legs and can do what they use to do with four.

For some inspiring stories of dogs that don't know they lost a leg, or two, visit the sites below:

Tripawds (support, advice, and inspirational stories)

Faith the two-legged dog

Dominic the two legged greyhound video below

Chinook could use your help (updated)

2008-11-17T20:48:00.008-05:00

To donate to Chinook's medical expenses, you can donate through Southern Ontario Animal Rescue (SOAR), or send funds to:

Southern Ontario Animal Rescue (SOAR)
c/o Jan Paquete,
14 Bingham Rd.,
Brampton, ON Canada L6V 2K1

See below for Chinook's story, scroll toward the bottom for updated pictures of Chinook after his surgery.

Some good samaritans came across a Siberian Husky that had been laying on the side of the road in Ontario Canada. He had been hit by a car and lay on the road overnight in the cold, but despite his injuries, was a calm darling, accepting water from the strangers. More good samaritans came and the Animal Control took him to a shelter.

The shelter staff were not prepared to treat this stoic pup, who needed surgery to treat his injuries, nor did they have the funds to pay for the surgery or subsequent care. Amazingly enough, his owners were found.

Chinook is the beloved 13 year old companion to a couple, who escaped when workers moved his tie-out and failed to re-secure him properly.

His owners' story is about as amazing and sad as his. The wife used to be a nurse and was hit and run by a drunken driver. She's had 9 surgeries and is in wheel chair. The last surgery was a two weeks ago and they called her today for spinal fusion surgery tomorrow in Toronto. She canceled it. Her husband worked at the practice of law but is now disabled as he had a brain aneurism two years ago. While he was in hospital, his mother died. Not long after, they both lost their fathers.

Chinook has been their Rock of Gibralter and instrumental to them both in getting them through their own difficulties. They adore him and have had him since he was a pup, when the wife saw him being beaten, intervened and saved him. They are new to our area and have no support network.

The good samaritan who found the first couple giving him water by the side of the road has offered to help them as liason and called her own vet for more information on treatment of Chinook's injuries. Her vet generously donated 34 minutes of her lunch hour to give her the skinny on who could do this and what the procedure was, etc.

The owners do NOT want to surrender him. Their particular concern is that he's so bonded to them he won't do well in Rescue. They want to proceed and have a local vet who does do orthopedics do the surgery for the dislocated hip. He's scheduled to be transferred to the Animal Hospital that does the surgery. My vet said they are the best for this in our area, so he should be in good hands.

By the way, this couple have been active in caring for and advocating for abused animals. Before his medical problems, the husband did legal work for Rescues.

Chinook had surgery to amputate 1/3 of his tail, remove a broken molar and had a femoral head ostectomy (FHO). He came through with flying colors, but is still having some pain on his left side, which will be looked into and may be nerve damage from being hit by a car. He was released to recover at his home with his loving owners and is recovering and trying to learn how to walk again. His progress has been remarkable and his owners are thankful for the caring and outpouring of support they and Chinook have received.

We are working with the samaritan to provide people who want to donate with a place to do so. All funds will go toward Chinook's vet care and recovery. Please check back for updates and pictures of Chinook and tales of his recovery and the recovery of his owners. Together, they can make miracles happen.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA SLED DOG RESCUE AUCTION HAS STARTED!

2008-11-17T18:35:00.001-05:00

The Northern California Sled Dog Rescue eBay auction is starting, and they have tons of great stuff, including an ipod!

Please bid often and high! Their adoption coordinator takes all Northern Breed dogs regardless of age or medical problems, unless they are vicious, so we need lots of money to make them well and find their forever homes :-)

They will be adding stuff for the next week or so, but most will be up by tomorrow night. Great source for Christmas gifts! Thanks in advance for your generosity! PLEASE CROSS POST!

Click here to go to the auction and begin bidding for a good cause!

Hydrocephalus in Pets

2008-11-11T20:38:00.001-05:00

There's a wonderful new Website created by Baby Love's mom that gives wonderful and educational information on Hydrocephalus in pets.

If you need to know about this condition, I highly recommend this site, from someone who lived and loved a very special dog with the condition.

Hydrocephalus in Pets

Special Needs Husky needs home or foster spot

2008-11-01T18:55:00.002-04:00

Hi everyone, my name is Balto, yes, like the famous sled dog. I'm 8 years old and have a small problem... like some humans, I'm a diabetic. My former family couldn't take proper care of me when they found out that I will require two shots of insulin a day. Its not that big of a deal really, just a poke in the morning and poke at night, I don't mind them at all, but it was just too much for my old family at the moment.

I'm only 54 pounds, and I'm hungry and thirsty all the time because I just started my insulin shots, but I feel a lot better already and pretty soon I'll just be a normal dog that needs shots every day and a caring person to monitor my sugar levels. Oh, and did I mention that because of my diabetes, my eyes don't work as well as they use to. Yeah, I'm a bit of a mess, but trust me, if you give me a nice warm house to live in, and just give me two little shots a day and a good balanced meal, I'll make a nice foot warmer for you, and probably give you some kisses.

Even if you can only take me in temporarily, just until my new family finds me, I would appreciate getting out of this uncomfortable shelter.

If you think you'd like to care for me forever, or if you can keep me for a while until someone else falls in love with me, why don't you contact The Center for Animal Health & Welfare and ask for Barb. Tell her Balto wants to hang out with you.

Thanks in advance, hope to sniff you soon.

Congratulations!

2008-10-25T21:37:00.002-04:00

A big congratulations go out to Sound Pet Animal Rescue and Referral (SPARR), a Cary, North Carolina rescue that saves gimpies from shelters, gets them the medical care they need and adopts them out to loving homes. SPARR was recently announced as the third winner of Care2's America's Favorite Animal Shelter contest!

Please visit their site and congratulate them, and make a donation. While the prize money will help with their cause, rescues such as SPARR can use all the money they can get to continue pulling sick, injured, abused dogs from shelters and giving them a new leash on life.

Hope Needs Help NOW!

2008-10-14T18:32:00.002-04:00

If ever there was a dog that needed help, its Hope, and she needs your help now!

I know we're in tough economic times, but Hope needs surgery fast due to her injury.

Hope was surrendered to a shelter with this injury, and nobody knows how it happened. Luckily for her, the Sacramento Independent Animal Rescuers, Inc. got her released to them and they took her to a vet. She is awaiting amputation, but the rescue needs the funds to have the surgery done.

Please, if you can even spare $5.00 to donate, Hope needs your help. Please spread the word and lets make sure that Hope does have hope for a pain free and happy life.

Sacramento Independent Animal Rescuers Inc. is a registered non-profit, so all donations are tax deductible. Go to their site and donate what you can for poor Hope!

Biloxi Update

2008-10-11T09:32:00.002-04:00

Some of you may recall the plight of poor Biloxi.

After a lot of tender loving care, it turns out that he didn't require surgery for his broken pelvis, but he may need it in the future if complications set in. Thanks to everyone's donations though, some other lucky gimpy dogs in MaPaw's care were able to receive life saving treatment.

Biloxi has also found a wonderful forever home and is being spoiled rotten (as he deserves). He also blogs now, so stop by his blog and leave a comment for him.

Triumph Update

2008-10-11T09:14:00.002-04:00

Triumph has been battling an infection in her implants for quite some time. Recently she was fitted for a cart, thanks to Eddie's Wheels. While her new cart will give her added mobility and take the pressure off her implants, Triumph has developed another complication in her implant, and it looks as though she will have to have them removed, and possibly have part of one of her legs amputated.

While this certainly is a set back, Triumph will undoubtedly come through with flying colors, and now with her cart, should be as mobile as before, helping out with her therapy dog duties and being an ambassador to gimpy dogs world-wide.

For a news article on her cart fitting

For updates on Triumph

To donate to help Moe pay for Triumph's medical care

Help Organizations

2008-10-11T08:29:00.007-04:00

Sometimes your pet becomes ill or injured and the cost of treatment is expensive. Below is a list of organizations that MAY be able to help you afford or provide low cost treatment for your gimpy. Remember, it doesn't hurt to ask, all they will say is "no", so try as many as possible.

Also, some breed specific clubs offer a vet assistance fund. Please check with your local breed specific chapter to see if one exists in your area.

If you are a 501(c)3 Rescue and need help raising funds for gimpy dogs, please contact Gimpy Dogs to arrange to have your dog posted for fund raising. All links will go to your non-profit site, and all money will be donated straight to your organization.

Senior Dogs Project

Orthodogs Silver Lining

Lab Med (for rescued labs)

Handicapped Pets Help Fund

Corgi Aid

UK Assistance with Vet Funds

The Pet Fund

Care Credit

Angels4Animals

AAHA

United Animal Nation

The Travis Fund

Labrador Lifeline

IMOM Organization

Help a Pet organization

The Magic Bullet Fund (Helping dogs with cancer)

Actors and Other Animals (Serving the Greater Los Angeles, CA areas)

Pets in Need (Redwood City, CA area)

Nike Animal Rescue Foundation (NARF) San Francisco Bay area cities

Ashley's Angel Fund (North Carolina)

Bearen Foundation (Eugene, OR)

Volunteer Services for Animals (Rhode Island)

Good Samaritan Fund (Washington State University)

The ACME Foundation (Cobb, CA)

Pet Samaritan Fund (Utah)

University of Georgia College of Veterinarian Medicine (pdf brochures of various help funds)

Save Our Siberians - assist Siberian Husky rescue groups and individuals with non-routine expenses incurred for rescue dogs.

Help your dog fight cancer financial resource link

Angels for Animals

Brown Dog Foundation

Canine Cancer Awareness

Diabetic Pets Fund

Extend Credit

God's Creatures Ministry

NY SAVE (New York)

Pigger's Pals

Shakespeare Animal Fund

The Mosby Foundation

You Can Be An Angel

2008-10-02T20:19:00.004-04:00

This plea is posted on behalf of Northern California Sled Dog (NorSled) Rescue

Are you in the Sacramento, CA area?
Do you have room in your heart, and a little space in your life?
For a quiet, sweet Husky girl?

There is a very sweet, shy 12 year old female Siberian Husky in the shelter at the moment, who is as much a victim of the current economic times as anyone, her owners lost their home to foreclosure, and their new home will not allow pets. At her age it is unlikely she will find a home from the shelter. We are looking for someone to step up and foster her – take her in and see that she is cared for.

Can you find a place in your life to foster this lovely lady? If yes, let us know!!!

If you can foster this sweet senior, please contact Debbie Hoelscher at:

Rescue@NorSled.org, or Phone: 800-471-5822

Help Legacy Boxer Rescue help their gimpies

2008-09-27T18:25:00.003-04:00

Legacy Boxer Rescue needs your help with a simple click of a mouse. Care2 is having a contest and all you have to do is vote for Legacy Boxer Rescue and if they win, they'll get money to help their gimpy boxers.

Go to Legacy's Web site to read about the pups in need, and find the button to click to vote for them. Also, visit Cubby's blog to see and read the stories of the poor pups they are trying to help.

thanks

Bloat

2008-09-21T09:58:00.003-04:00

If you even suspect that your dog may suffer from bloat, time is of the essence, THIS IS A MEDICAL EMERGENCY THAT REQUIRES IMMEDIATE VET ATTENTION!

If you own a breed that is susceptible to bloat (Great Dane, St. Bernard, Weimaraner, for example), then learn the signs of bloat now, and learn what you can do to help prevent it.

Studies can't say for sure what really causes bloat, they have just been able to identify breeds and types of dogs that are more susceptible to it, ways to lessen the chances of getting it, and have dispelled some of the rumor and myth about it.

The following links are all encompassing in what bloat is, how to lessen the chances, dispelling myths (you may have read that raised bowls decrease the risk of bloat, but that is not true: raised bowls actually INCREASE the risk of bloat), and educate in how important it is to act fast if you suspect that your dog has bloat.

Learn about bloat now... it may help you save the life of your dog if it strikes:

Marvistavet resource

Video of a dog suffering from bloat (the dog is fine now)

Extract of the Bloat (GDV) Study

Wikipedia

Dangerous Toy Update

2008-08-29T13:12:00.002-04:00

Chai’s owner tells me that he is recovery well, BUT we still have to make sure that we get this dangerous toy off the shelves and notify dog owners about the dangers of this ball.

Four Paws has FINALLY put a notice on their site (although you actually have to click a link to get to it), and has apparently sent out notices to its vendors (see a copy of this notice below), but we still find the ball for sale on the Internet and people are reporting seeing it sold in pet stores.
It is imperative that we make sure vendors no longer sell this ball, and that every dog owner around the world (it is sold all over the world) is notified of its dangers.

Please feel free to use the notice below to draft your own letter to vendors, or simply cut and paste it and send it to them and to all of your friends. If you do write your own letters, please be sure to leave the contact e-mail address in the letter, as we will be forwarding information about other dog owners that have experienced issues with this ball to Chai’s owner, who has retained a lawyer in this case.

To find a print-ready flyer to print out and post, go here.

Thank you for helping make it a safer world for our dogs, and to keep others from the pain, heart ache and suffering of becoming a gimpydog.

Start of notice letter:

To Whom It May Concern:

We are writing to you in regard to the Four Paws® Rough & Rugged® Pimple Ball with Bell that is listed on your Store site.

We assume that you have not been notified that the Four Paws company has asked all vendors to remove these toys from your shelves and stock, and return them to your distributor. These toys are dangerous and have caused death and serious injury to dogs.

We, as concerned dog owners, ask that you remove the toys listed in the notification below so that more dogs are not put at risk.

If any of your customers have had dogs that have experienced an injury with this ball, we ask that they contact: gimpydogscom@gmail.com so we can forward their information to a lawyer who is looking into this matter.

For more information, please go to: http://gimpydogblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/dangerous-toy-alert.html

For a complete list of recalled toys, go to: http://www.fourpaws.com/news/press-room/four-paws-rough-rugged-pimple-ball-with-bell.htm
Regards
gimpydogs.com

Below is a copy of the notification that Four Paws has sent out to its vendors.  

August 26, 2008
RE: Four Paws® Rough & Rugged® Pimple Ball with Bell

Dear Valued Retailer:

As you may know by now, there have been reports of injuries to dogs as a result of a manufacturing defect in some Four Paws Pimple Ball with Bell toys. We are deeply concerned about these reports, and we have immediately stopped shipping the toys until the defect can be corrected. If you still have any of these toys in stock, we urge you to remove them from your shelves immediately and return them to your distributor. The following products are affected: Item Number Item Description

 UPC 20220  

Four Paws® Rough n Rugged® Pimple Ball with Bell -- Small  0 45663 20220 0

20225  

Four Paws® Rough n Rugged® Pimple Ball with Bell -- Medium  0 45663 20225 5

20227  

Four Paws® Rough n Rugged® Pimple Ball with Bell -- Large  0 45663 20227 9

Meanwhile, we have halted shipments of these toys from the manufacturer and I will be personally inspecting the manufacturer's facility in order to make sure that the defect has been corrected and will not occur again. It is important to note that this is a manufacturing defect in some of the toys and not a problem with the toy's design. We are also changing the packaging of the Pimple Balls to make it easier for us to inspect them for potential defects, and we are individually inspecting every one of the toys in our inventory in order to identify any that may be defective.

We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused you or your customers, and we thank you for your cooperation in removing the defective toys from your shelves.

Please feel free to call me at 1-800-835-0909 if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely, Barry Askin Executive Vice President  

This email was sent by: Four Paws Products  

50 Wireless Blvd.

Hauppauge, NY 11788   

We respect your right to privacy - view our policy  Preference Center | Unsubscribe   

Carla J. Onofrio

end of e-mail notification

Update on new parvo strain

2008-08-27T19:16:00.004-04:00

As last reported here and as I suspected, the e-mail that is being forwarded all over the internet about a new strain of deadly parvo that ONLY a Schering-Plough vaccine will prevent did NOT originate from Dr. Wendy Swift of the Humane Society of Kent County (Michigan).

On 22 August the shelter DID release a new statement regarding a parvo outbreak, and the actions they took to get it under control, which did include shutting down the facility to ensure it did not spread and that no additional animals were infected. We applaud this shelter for its quick actions, and preventing the spread of this disease through its actions.

Below is the official press release regarding the outbreak and the shelter's actions that was send to me by Dr. Swift. Below that is the fake e-mail notification that is spreading like wild fire on the internet and causing unnecessary panic throughout the dog owner community. If you receive the fake release, please respond to the recipient and all persons copied on that e-mail and notify them that this e-mail is fraudulent. Please refer them to this site so that they are aware of the scam being perpetuated by cruel people.

Start of official news release by Kent County:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – August 22, 2008

CONTACT: Mark Petz, Development and Marketing Director (616) 791-8088 or (231) 519-1464
Dr. Wendy Swift, Veterinary Medical Director (616) 791-8218

HIGHLY VIRULENT OR NEW STRAIN OF PARVO IN KENT COUNTY

(Grand Rapids, Mich – August 22, 2008) --- A highly virulent or new strain of Parvo (Parvo2c) has been suspected as the cause of death for at least three adult canines in Kent County, according to officials at the Humane Society of Kent County.

“The number of local Parvo cases is disturbingly high,” says Dr. Wendy Swift, Veterinary Medical Director at the Humane Society of Kent County. “The virus is spread through fecal contamination, and it has been extremely fatal in puppies as well as in both vaccinated and unvaccinated adult dogs.”

The Humane Society of Kent County is currently taking precautionary measures including a deep clean of the shelter, vaccinating all dogs/puppies appropriately upon intake and performing diagnostic tests with a veterinary pharmaceutical company.

Symptoms for Parvo may include lethargy, bloody vomit and diarrhea. The Humane Society of Kent County is encouraging pet owners to contact their veterinarians to see if their dog’s previous vaccinations provide protection against this current outbreak of Parvo. If you suspect your dog has contracted the Parvo virus, contact your veterinarian immediately and keep your dog confined, away from other dogs.

To ensure the health and safety of the animals in the shelter the Humane Society of Kent County will remain closed Friday, August 22. The shelter will re-open to the public on Saturday, August 23 from 11 am to 4 pm for adoptions only.

Animal admitting will re-open on Monday, August 25 for normal hours – 12:00 pm to 4 pm. However, all animal admitting will be by appointment only for the week of August 25 through August 31 for precautionary measures. To make an appointment individuals are asked to call the Humane Society of Kent County at (616) 453-8900 ext. 217.

Founded in 1883, the Humane Society of Kent County is a nonprofit organization, dedicated to the welfare of animals in West Michigan. In addition to providing care for thousands of animals each year, the Humane Society offers education and veterinary care programs that promote responsible pet care, prevent overpopulation and further compassion toward animals. For more information call (616) 453-8900, visit the Humane Society at 3077 Wilson NW, Grand Rapids, or visit www.hskc.org

End of official press release

Start of fake e-mail:

To: Local Veterinarians, Groomers, Boarding Facilities, Rescue
Groups , and Shelters
From: Wendy Swift DVM, Veterinary Medical Director of the HSKC
Date: August 20, 2008
Re: Please Read!!!!!! New Parvo Strain Hits West Michigan

Parvo 2c has been suspected as the cause of death for at least three
adult canines in Kent County and surrounding areas. Two of the three
dogs had a known previous vaccine history and tested positive on the
Idexx Snap Parvo Test. The most current information on Parvo 2c from
the vaccine/shelter medicine specialists around the country is as
follows:
Disease: Parvo 2c is a highly virulent strain of the parvo virus that
is extremely fatal in puppies and adult dogs. This strain of parvo
attacks the circulatory organs approximately 24 hours before
attacking the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, by the time a dog is
presented for lethargy, vomiting, and diarrhea it is generally too
late.
Diagnosis: Parvo 2c is detectable on the Idexx Snap Test, but it has
been showing as a weak positive on many tests. Viral isolation is the
best way to confirm the diagnosis, but it is not going to assist with
diagnosis upon presentation.
Treatment: Conservative treatment with supportive care has been
rarely successful. Plasma transfusions from recovered dogs have shown
to yield the best treatment success at around 64% survival rate.
Prevention: Schering-Plough (SP) and Intervet vaccinations have been
proven to be 100% effective in preventing this strain of parvo. If
you have any questions in regards to SP vaccinations please call 1-
800-224-5318 (SP technical support). Fort Dodge vaccines were
effective in less than 90% of the tested dogs/puppies, Pfizer was
less than 70% effective in preventing disease, and Merial was less
than 50% effective. This data was obtained from an independent
source, and at this time the only published data is an article from
Schering-Plough (S/P).
Cleaning Protocols: There are only two products that kill this virus
with a ten minute contact time. Trifectant and bleach (1/2 cup/gallon
dilution) will successfully kill Parvo 2c. All other products that
claim to kill parvo are not effective per Dr. Hall (Vaccination/
Shelter Specialist at SP) !!!!!!
Prognosis: The prognosis is extremely poor. Most puppies or dogs die
acutely from the cardiac components of the disease process. If GI
signs are present, the disease has progressed and is most likely
fatal.
Please feel free to call me with any questions (616) 791-8218. Over
seven veterinary clinics have seen this type of disease locally. The
citizens of Kent County need to be aware of the risk associated with
this disease. Please inform your clients and protect the canines in
your area.

New Parvo Strain? Not so fast

2008-08-26T19:48:00.000-04:00

A lot of you may have received an e-mail from a Wendy Swift, DVM of a Kent County Michigan shelter (the full e-mail is at the bottom of this post). I know I have, because everyone I know has forwarded it to me and are freaking out about it.

Please stop freaking out.

E-mails such as this are the VERY REASON I started gimpydogs. The internet is a wonderful tool, but it can also be used for evil, and frankly I consider e-mails such as the one below, very evil because it preys on our love for our animals and our need to provide them with the best protection and care that we can afford and find.

I would like to point out what is suspicious about this e-mail:

1.) 2c is not a new strain, it has been around for quite some time. A similar hoax e-mail was sent a while back, and here is an article about that hoax.

2.) You’ll typically receive this from a person who received it from another person, who received it, etc., etc., but you will never get it straight from Wendy Swift DVM.

3.) You may google some aspects of this e-mail and find the EXACT same, word for word e-mail listed on mail lists, even “news” blogs.

4.) Wendy Swift DVM is an actual vet, at an actual shelter, actually from Kent County Michigan. If you go to her clinic Web site... there is absolutely nothing on there about this “new strain”. Why? Because Dr. Swift most likely didn’t send the e-mail. Someone found her name and used her credentials and clinic to make it appear valid. Dr. Swift is most likely going to be flooded with e-mails and phone calls soon (one of which is mine, asking for validation), her shelter will put a notice on their Web site soon saying its not true, and the e-mail will then get modified by someone to use another vet’s name and contact information. That’s how these viral e-mails work.

5.) There is NO 100% vaccine. I’m a bit suspicious that a Schering-Plough ad person didn’t think this up the way they tout the company. I like the nice twist about how the vaccine data was obtained from an independent source (so you can’t ask them), and the only published data is an article from Schering-Plough (how convenient and totally unbiased).

6.) I’m sorry to say that parvo (regardless of the strain) is a horrible disease. It will kill vaccinated dogs as well as unvaccinated dogs IF the vaccinated dog has a suppressed immune system, is old, or is young. Dobermans and Rotties are far more susceptible to it (regardless of the strain) and the death rate is very high once a dog gets it because there is no cure, just supportive therapy and hope.

7.) The chances of your dog getting parvo is very SMALL. Shelters get if more frequent because they have a large population of animals in close quarters. Sanitation is hard to maintain even in the best of shelters. Dogs come in unvaccinated and some are sick, malnourished, etc.

I’ll post Dr. Swift’s response if/when I receive one. In the meantime, there is no need to call your vet, or get another parvo booster for your dog. I will post updates as I get them, which will most likely be me saying “yep, its a hoax”

To: Local Veterinarians, Groomers, Boarding Facilities, Rescue
Groups , and Shelters
From: Wendy Swift DVM, Veterinary Medical Director of the HSKC
Date: August 20, 2008
Re: Please Read!!!!!! New Parvo Strain Hits West Michigan

Parvo 2c has been suspected as the cause of death for at least three
adult canines in Kent County and surrounding areas. Two of the three
dogs had a known previous vaccine history and tested positive on the
Idexx Snap Parvo Test. The most current information on Parvo 2c from
the vaccine/shelter medicine specialists around the country is as
follows:
Disease: Parvo 2c is a highly virulent strain of the parvo virus that
is extremely fatal in puppies and adult dogs. This strain of parvo
attacks the circulatory organs approximately 24 hours before
attacking the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, by the time a dog is
presented for lethargy, vomiting, and diarrhea it is generally too
late.
Diagnosis: Parvo 2c is detectable on the Idexx Snap Test, but it has
been showing as a weak positive on many tests. Viral isolation is the
best way to confirm the diagnosis, but it is not going to assist with
diagnosis upon presentation.
Treatment: Conservative treatment with supportive care has been
rarely successful. Plasma transfusions from recovered dogs have shown
to yield the best treatment success at around 64% survival rate.
Prevention: Schering-Plough (SP) and Intervet vaccinations have been
proven to be 100% effective in preventing this strain of parvo. If
you have any questions in regards to SP vaccinations please call 1-
800-224-5318 (SP technical support). Fort Dodge vaccines were
effective in less than 90% of the tested dogs/puppies, Pfizer was
less than 70% effective in preventing disease, and Merial was less
than 50% effective. This data was obtained from an independent
source, and at this time the only published data is an article from
Schering-Plough (S/P).
Cleaning Protocols: There are only two products that kill this virus
with a ten minute contact time. Trifectant and bleach (1/2 cup/gallon
dilution) will successfully kill Parvo 2c. All other products that
claim to kill parvo are not effective per Dr. Hall (Vaccination/
Shelter Specialist at SP) !!!!!!
Prognosis: The prognosis is extremely poor. Most puppies or dogs die
acutely from the cardiac components of the disease process. If GI
signs are present, the disease has progressed and is most likely
fatal.
Please feel free to call me with any questions (616) 791-8218. Over
seven veterinary clinics have seen this type of disease locally. The
citizens of Kent County need to be aware of the risk associated with
this disease. Please inform your clients and protect the canines in
your area.

Dangerous Toy Alert UPDATE 22 August 2008

2008-08-20T18:59:00.003-04:00

According to Chai's owner, the company knew about this product defect in 2005 when they were notified by another owner that their dog DIED after getting its tongue trapped in the toy. At that time the company vowed to recall and retool the toy, but it continues to kill and maim to this day.

Additionally, we have learned that pet store owners have NOT been contacted by Four Paws to remove the toy from their shelves.

Gimpydogs is now calling for a boycott of all Four Paws Inc. products and asks everyone to print out the "dangerous toy notice" and take it to every pet store to post. Call the company (631-434-1100) and complain, e-mail the company through their Web site: www.fourpaws.com and complain.

Let's work together and get this toy off the shelf and make the company do what is right for the dogs and families that have suffered!

Please post this link to everyone you know that may be affected by this dangerous toy alert!

Please look through all of your dog toys and make sure that your dogs do NOT have access to a toy called the Pimple Ball with Bell (Item #20227-001, UPC Code 0 4566320227 9) manufactured by Four Paws Inc. (see picture)

This toy has been responsible for seriously injuring at least two dogs, one dog had to have its tongue amputated. Click here to read about Chai's ordeal after his tongue became stuck inside the ball, and the subsequent amputation of his tongue (please note, there are graphic pictures of the damage caused by this ball)

The design of the ball creates a vacuum while the dog is chewing on the ball and the tongue becomes stuck inside the ball causing constriction and swelling. Chai is not the only dog that has been injured while playing with this ball.

Concerned dog owners have contacted the manufacturer of this toy. The company stands by the toy, but has claimed that they are voluntarily recalling the toy to retool it so that it is safe. They claim to have contacted their distributors and told them to return their stock of this toy until the retooled toy can replace it.

We are unsure as to when this voluntary recall was enacted, but we've done a google search (as of 20 August 2008 at 7 p.m.) and have found up to 22 stores that are still carrying this product.

Please crosspost to every dog owner that you know and warn them of this toy. If you see this toy in a pet store, please notify the manager that this toy is considered dangerous and that the manufacturer claims to have voluntarily recalled the toy. Have the manager contact the manufacturer directly and encourage them to remove it from the shelves.

If you see someone on the Internet that is still selling this toy, please feel free to e-mail them with the following:

The Four Paws Pimple Ball with Bell (Item #20227-001, UPC Code 0 4566320227 9) listed on your site has severely injured several dogs. Allen Simon, the President and CEO of Four Paws Inc. has responded to e-mail inquiries and has assured his customers that it is voluntarily recalling this toy and says it has notified its vendors of this recall. We would not like to hear of other dogs being injured by this toy, so please remove this toy from your inventory, and if possible, notify your customers that this toy can be dangerous to their pet. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Haley Birk or Mr. Simon directly from their Web site: http://www.fourpaws.com/ or calling their number at: (631) 434-1100.

Sincerely,

Thyroid Issues

2008-08-16T13:52:00.002-04:00

From poor coats, aggressiveness, seizures, to heart issues, the thyroid can be the cause of a lot of symptoms. If your dog has been diagnosed with a thyroid condition, see the resources below to help you treat and live with thyroid issues in your gimpy.

Canis Major resource

Thyroid Info resource

Thyroid information from Dr. Dodds

Hypothyroidsim

OFA Thyroid resource

MARVISTAVET Resource

Arthritis

2008-08-16T13:45:00.003-04:00

Below are some great articles about arthritis in dogs, and also resources to help manage the pain and support groups.

Canis Major Resource on arthritis

ASPCA Resource

Arthritis Foundation

Support Group

Alternative k9 nutrition group

Dillon needs your donations to live

2008-08-16T12:46:00.004-04:00

This message is posted on behalf of St. Seton's Orphaned Animals. Please contact them with any questions and donations:

******PLEASE CROSS POST WIDELY******

Dillon is a darling, 7 year old, Pomeranian rescued from an elderly man who lost his home. His only care was finding Dillon a safe place first before caring for himself. He had very little money. It was obvious that he loved Dillon but could not provide for him.

Dillon needs surgery very soon. He has a large stone in his kidney and stones in his urethra (the tube in his penis). If those stones turn, it will block and he will die. We don't have much time.

Please help us save Dillon. We need donations NOW PLEASE!!! We are a 501(c)(3) and donations are tax deductible. The surgery is $1,285. We have a copy of the estimate and the doctor's letter.

If you want a copy, I can scan/email it to you. Donations may be made securely on either one of our websites via PayPal: at: www.saintseton.com
www.petfinder.org/shelters/VA152.html

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email me. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!

Jeanette Allard
St. Seton's Orphaned
Animals
(703) 209- 4555

Reverse Sneezing

2008-08-15T19:59:00.000-04:00

My dog was making this horrible noise and I was sure she/he was choking or dying!
I think my dog is having a seizure because he/she was making this horrible noise and couldn't seem to breathe right!

If there is one sure fire freak out time, its when your dog is making horrible noises and can't seem to breathe. Maybe they are even pawing at their nose or mouth. I get people asking me all the time what a reverse sneeze is and what it sounds like. Frankly, its virtually impossible to describe it by writing about it, unless you describe it as sounding like someone trying to hack up a big loogie, but there are variations of the reverse sneeze that words simply can't describe.

To answer your next question: should I rub their nose, hold their nose shut, stick my hand down their throat, rub their neck, rub their throat, etc. to make it go away? Eh, I don't know if any of that actually helps, but hey, whatever makes you feel better (except the sticking your hand down their throat thing).

Thankfully, dog owners have captured their dogs in mid reverse sneeze, so I bring you... the concert of reverse sneezing. You may want to pass on the popcorn for this one:

A pug reverse sneezing

Boston Terrier reverse sneezing

A golden reverse sneezing

Not to be confused with a dog with kennel cough

Lupus

2008-08-15T19:37:00.000-04:00

Lupus is an autoimmune disorder that can show itself from a simple skin rash to a possible fatal systemic disease. Just because your dog has a rash doesn’t mean that it has lupus! If your dog has a rash, please consult your vet for testing. Rashes can also be more benign things such as food allergies, ringworm, or mites. For more information on lupus, please consult the links below.

Discoid Lupus picture

Discoid Lupus explanation

Lupus Erythematosus

Very good article on the different types of lupus

Zinc-Responsive Dermatosis (ZRD)

2008-08-15T19:26:00.000-04:00

Does your dog have crusty lesions around its mucus membranes (eyes, muzzle, foot pads, private area? Is your dog an: Alaskan malamute, American Eskimo dog, Samoyed, and Siberian husky, Doberman Pinscher, or Great Dane?

Its possible that your dog is suffering from Zinc-Responsive Dermatosis.

If you suspect that your dog has ZRD, please consult your vet for the proper treatment.

To find out more information, please visit these links:

Basic information on the disease

DVM360 article with pictures

Siberian Husky Health Foundation article

Dolce needs your help

2008-08-15T18:03:00.003-04:00

Dolce got out of his yard and was hit by a car. Unfortunately, he suffered a fractured pelvis and one of his legs popped out of the socket. His owner took him to the vet immediately, but was unable to afford the cost of the surgery that would fix poor broken Dolce.

The vet clinic fell in love with this stoic little fella and reached out to the community to see if there was a rescue that could take him in, pay for his expensive surgery (approximately $2,000 not including follow up appointments or if there were complications), and then nurse him back to health.

All of the other local rescues were full and dealing with their own gimpies, and luckily Harnessed to Hope Northern Breed Rescue had a space available and enough money to help this little guy get another chance at life. He's only 9 months old and doesn't deserve what has happened to him, but with the assistance of SoS and other gracious and caring people, Dolce got his surgery and neutered and will be coming to Pennsylvania to recover before he's able to find his fur-ever home.

More funds are needed to help replenish the cost of his surgery and ensure HTH has the money it needs to help others like him. Won't you please donate even a little, so that Dolce and those that need care after he heals can find their fur-ever homes and find love once again.

Inducing vomiting in dogs

2008-08-14T13:25:00.000-04:00

A lot of people ask, usually during a crisis, how to make their dogs throw up something they have eaten.

Before providing links to resources, I want everyone to be aware of some simple steps you need to take BEFORE you need to induce vomiting in your dog.

1.) Always keep your vet’s phone number handy. NEVER induce vomiting unless a vet tells you to do so.

2.) If your vet is closed, make sure you keep the number to your closest emergency vet handy. You should also know how close the emergency vet is, how long it will take to drive there, and that you know how to get there.

3.) Keep the Pet Poison Control number handy: (888) 426-4435 (Please note that you will most likely be charged a $60 consultation fee on a credit card if you call this number).

If you pet has ingested something that requires you to induce vomiting, your pet will most likely require immediate follow up care. Just because your pet threw up the substance or object, some of that substance may have entered the blood stream and you will need to ensure that proper follow up care is sought immediately.

You should never try to induce vomiting if your dog is unconscious, having difficulty breathing, choking, can’t stand, has ingested a caustic (like draino, bleach, etc.), or has ingested something more than 2 hours ago.

If you dog has ingested a large toy or soft toy, you should not induce vomiting as this may cause a blockage coming back up and your dog could suffocate. Get your dog to a vet so they can induce vomiting (if appropriate) where they have the tools to handle a blockage.

If you dog has ingested something sharp, do NOT induce vomiting. The force of the dog vomiting will cause that sharp object to pierce the esophagus on the way back up and will cause even more damage, if not death.

4.) Always have hydrogen peroxide on hand. The basic 3% solution found at most drug stores will work. Please note that hydrogen peroxide loses its effectiveness over time or when exposed to bright sunlight, so remember to throw out old bottles and buy new bottles periodically.

5.) Ask your vet for a syringe or purchase a liquid medicine dropper or syringe-like instrument for administering the peroxide. They just won’t voluntarily drink it, you’ll need to squirt it in their mouth (click here to see how to administer liquids with a syringe)

When you call your vet, you will need to tell them the following:

1.) size of your dog
2.) what they ingested
3.) how long ago it was ingested
4.) How much of it was ingested (if medicine, what is the dosage, how many pills, etc.)

Remember, have the proper tools on hand to induce vomiting
ONLY induce on the approval of your vet
Take your dog in immediately for follow up care

The following are links that describe how to induce vomiting. They should NOT be used instead of the direction of your vet, but are only to familiarize you with how to induce vomiting should your vet tell you to do so.

Suite 101 article (excellent article)

Dog First Aid 101 link

Pet Place link

Cystitis

2008-08-10T16:43:00.002-04:00

Cystitis in Dogs

Canine Urolithiasis

Bladder

2008-08-10T16:38:00.004-04:00

BLADDER STONE RESOURCES:

Everything you wanted to know about dog bladders, stones, and obstructions

More Bladder Stone resources

Bladder Stones

Support Groups

Urolithiasis Group