(Ottawa Dog of the Week for November 9th/09)

“My children and I had been asking my husband …. well begging him …. to get a dog for many years. This past spring for my birthday he finally gave in. I started a search for a yorkshire terrier and found Bailey at a local breeder. She was 4 months old at the time and very shy. She did not want to be petted or held and was scared of everything. It was love at first sight and Bailey joined our family in early June. Within days she started coming out of her shell and her true personality appeared. She is an absolutely friendly, loving pup who enjoys car rides, going to the farmers market, etc. She thinks that everyone she meets deserves love and kisses, especially little children!

Bailey hurt her back right leg in August and several trips to the vets could not figure out the extent of her injury that was causing her not to use her leg. So she would go through her day using just 3 legs and was still happy & loving. Recently, she was diagnosed with Legg-Calve-Perthes disease (also known as femoral head necrosis – a painful condition where the blood supply to the bones in the hip is hampered resulting in the death of the bone leading to lameness) and will be undergoing surgery to remove part of the femoral bone in early November. Everyone who has met her is shocked to hear this and cannot believe how good natured she is despite the pain. Her prognosis is very good. We look forward to her being happy and healthy again soon.” – Bailey’s Mom, Laurie

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A NEW RECORD!!!!!!!

Hopeful Hearts has now surpassed 75 adoptions!!! We are so proud of our successful little rescue and are happy so many dogs who would otherwise be in shelters or worse have found amazing, loving homes.

Unbelievable…………

We also welcome a new baby to the fold. Logan came into Hopeful Hearts recently. What makes Logan so special is that he has 5 legs – yes 5!!! This little boy was in a shelter that could not possibly provide surgery or any hope of adoption (unless perhaps to some horrible sideshow which they would never do!) so we decided to step up yet again and try to help this wee angel. We will be doing tons of fundraising to cover costs for this fella so keep your eyes open for upcoming events. We have also contacted the University of Guelph in hopes that they may help. We hope they can!

Thanks again everyone for your belief in Hopeful Hearts and what we do.

Cheers
Roz, Jenn, Meghan and Brandy

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Hip Dysplasia is a common ailment that is found in dogs. This condition is developed from an abnormal development of the hip joint in the dog. In worst cases it will affect both sides of the joint. It occurs as a young puppy grows, and gets worse over time. Usually the hips are fine at birth, but other surrounding tissues, muscles, and ligaments can develop abnormally. This leads to the bone becoming separated from the socket. Stiffness occurs and it eventually can be painful as the dog gets older and develops into arthritis.

The symptoms are not hard to spot. Dogs with this condition walk with an awkward gait like a limp. It is even more noticeable when they run. Sometimes these dogs will not even attempt to hop up on furniture as a normal dog would.

Many people agree that genetics play a part in the development in this condition. Many people also agree that over feeding your dog increases the problem even more. Obese dogs naturally put more stress on the joints. Therefore it is ideal to feed your dog a healthy diet consisting of more natural foods that dogs should eat. Look for food that has a high meat content and calcium if possible. Give your dog a supplement that contains high levels of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate work to help slow the breakdown process that occurs in connective tissue. Ask your vet for natural supplements with these ingredients. If caught early, a supplement like this can really slow down the process. If you suspect that your dog is a candidate for hip dysplasia then starting them on a joint supplement as a puppy is a good idea.

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When I look at a package of something for my dogs, I am probably more prone to lean towards something that is “vet recommended” but I have learned now that I am going to have to make my own informed decisions about items and not rely on what it says on the box.

Ever since Paddington was 6 months old, I have given her Greenies. I knew a few people who had dogs who loved them and to be perfectly frank, I really like the idea of not having to brush my dogs’ teeth (have you ever tried that???!? It is unbelievably hard!). I read on the box that they were veterinarian recommended, had many benefits and most of all, Paddington loved them. I never thought that they could be dangerous.

One thing that SHOULD have tipped me off was the fact that I couldn’t introduce the dogs to them fully right away, or they would get diarrhea. I would cut them up into thirds, then half then after about 3-4 weeks I would give them a whole one. They got one every day and with what I have found out now, I am extremely glad nothing happened on those days.

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If you have ever had a pet go through major surgery, you know what a troubling time it can be. When Paddington had her leg operated on to correct her Luxating Patella, I would have been a wreck if it hadn’t been for a friend whose dog had recently gone through a similar surgery.

I can’t imagine not having them there to ask certain questions and ease my concerns. I was lucky because most people don’t have a friend who has been through something similar. That is why I believe that The Adventures of Maeby’s TPLO blog is such a wonderful resource. It is an extremely detailed account of Maeby’s knee surgery. (TPLO stands for Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy)

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Millions of Pet Owners across North America look to their furry friends for love and companionship. Pets are often considered part of the family and owners want nothing but the best for them. When ones pet falls ill, many owners would rather go into debt than see them suffer.

It is difficult for Canadians to understand the underlying costs of veterinary medicine. In Canada, we are fortunate regarding our own health care so it can be a psychological leap to pay for our pet’s medical expenses.

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