animalrehabilitation.com Blog

This is part of a series in keeping your furkids, especially the elder variety, feeling and looking their best. It is not intended to supercede medical advice or directives.

Obedience training is not dependent on the age of your dog or your financial resources.

Teaching your dog a few commands makes rehab, and other aspects of your dog’s care & health, much easier.

You cannot tell a dog to go perform a few leg squats in the corner but with you can have him achieve the same effects by using the “sit” command. (And teaching “stand” or “stay” or ?? is even better.)

Teaching a dog something challenges him. Dogs like challenges.

It has been said that dogs can learn up to 150 seperate words.

Now, GO. Teach.

This is part of a series in keeping your furkids, especially the elder variety, feeling and looking their best. It is not intended to supercede medical advice or directives.

Whether or not you heed the previous Fit Tip of brushing, it is important to regularly check the paws and pads of your dog’s feet.
Most practitioners I know have had the experience of looking at dog for the reported issue of “lameness”, only to have it be caused by a burr, stone or torn nail.
The good news-NOT a long-term or expensive problem.
The bad news- you experienced unnecessary worry and expense.

This is part of a series in keeping your furkids, especially the elder variety, feeling and looking their best. It is not intended to supercede medical advice or directives.

Here is another worth and easy tip: brushing your dog. Brushing serves to increase superficial circulation, much like a massage does. Not only does it feel good (of course!) to your doggie and increase his/her bonding, but you will be better able to notice changes such as: bites, lumps and bumps, etc. For dogs with medium to long-hair, this tip is essential; matting of the fur hurts!

This is part of a series in keeping your furkids, especially the elder variety, feeling and looking their best. It is not intended to supercede medical advice or directives.

This will be quick & easy: no jumping. No jumping up on the bed, no jumping down from the bed. Substitute couch for bed. Or similar.

Jumping is very jarring on the spine of, especially, small dogs. There is an extraordinary amount of hyperextension that takes place. Add this to a genetic predisposition to back issues and well…there you go.

For large-sized dogs, use your discretion. I wouldn’t do “dancing” or picking up their paws and having them stand up tall towards your standing, bipedal self, often or for very long.

Now, dogs that do flyball and agility, their jumping is a bit different. More horizontal displacement. They tend to having more forces directed at their wrists/carpals. But yes, not the best physical activity. I wouldn’t be aggressively training any pups that aren’t at least 1 1/2yrs old or until skeletal maturity (longer for big breeds). Which also includes taking them jogging with you.

Jump to it! Or not

This is part of a series in keeping your furkids, especially the elder variety, feeling and looking their best. It is not intended to supercede medical advice or directives.

Supplements- Mainly digestive and joint protectives. Why? Because dogs are inherent athletes. Active, at that. Their joints deteriorate and they feel the effects of arthritis too. Some people start their pets on supplements but stop for the main reason I’ve heard, being: DIDN’T NOTICE ANY CHANGE.
Before giving up on supplement, for you or your pet, give it a good 2 months! Some say even longer. If their, or your, body can’t take it– you’ll know right away.
But, you may not *see* any noticeable effect and the take away message I want to impart is: THAT DOES NOT MEAN IT’S NOT HELPING.
The vitamin or nutrient could be maintaining things and that, in and of itself, for many dogs is GREAT!

Supplements come in many forms: pills, powder & liquid so if hiding it in PB/cheese/hotdog trick ain’t fooling Spot…trying another type might be the (other) trick!!