Muscles, muscles...more muscles

I am in my third week of Canine Massage Therapy school... this week we are reviewing the most important muscles and muscle groups and what their function is in the movement of the dog....
My scholing as a Certified Massage Therapist from back in 1991 is very helpful. The skeleton and muscles of the canine and from the human, are not the same, but a lot of similarities are noted.
Lucy is more than willing to let me explore where everything is located., and I also have another candidate... Miss Betty Boop, another sweetheart that came into our lives about 6 months ago...
She also has an exciting story... more about her later!
Why don't you study with me a little bit... here is the chart!
Have FUN!

So... What Happened?

Lucy... got better and better, and after a while, I didn't need the support belt anymore for walks or to go outside and do her business! (I certainly was glad about the latter!)

We kept doing our massages and pressure points, it became like a conditional experience..."what do you mean, you are not going to give me a rub today!?". Because of the daily massage, she also got used to the different strokes, and was able to tolerate some pressure and cross friction...
So... here it comes... a few months ago she got excited when a friend came into the house (he always gives her a cookie or 2) and she slipped on the tile floor. (Of course on one of the few places where there is no runner or area rug!)... Needless to say that disaster struck and she was back to absolutely no feeling in her back legs.

I immediately started to ice it and try to pamper it for a few days, and then slowly began applying my massage therapy... long story short... about 2 weeks later she was back to walking with the support belt, and I am happy to say, that she is back to normal and doing her regular walks every day like a real trooper!
Because of the result of having this work a second time, I decided that I might just be able to help some other dogs out there, and started working for my "Canine Massage Therapy Certification" with the "Equissage School", where you can study for a certification for Equine (Horse) and Canine Massage Therapist... So... that's the development... stay tuned, I will be giving trial massages soon, free of charge until I am certified. Let me know if you have an interest for your pooch...(Palm Springs CA area!)

Back on the BLOG!

DogieDog is back.

After one year of absence, I am glad to be back on! I am excited about a great new development!

My Lucy the Golden Retriever (probably about 14 years now!!!) was paralyzed for a few months about 3 years ago... Our Vet said that she had a good life and maybe she should be put to sleep... Not wanting to take the easy way out... I inquired about an Acupuncture and Holistic vet in the area. Only one was available in the Redlands (CA) area: Dr. Nancy Modglin, I am glad I contacted her, and drove the distance!

She treated Lucy for 2 months with Acapuncture, but also told me that frequent massage, pressure points and water exercises would be needed in order to grab that 25% chance that she would walk again. Believe it or not... but after 1 month, we started getting some sensitivity back in her hind legs, 2 weeks later she started to stumble and walk slowly again, with the help of a special belt strapped under her tummy!

let's just say that she was a very happy dog!

So what's the great development?......

I just checked out this money saving ad... "1-800-PetMeds Summer Deal"

Crazy?...Lost your marbels?...Or just plain stupid!? Your dog running behind you riding your bike in 98F!?

I live in the desert... it's hot here in the summer.. you get up early and walk your dogs... before it gets hot.... just plain logic...
So here is this romantic couple riding their bike (slowly TG!) with their dogs on a leash...running in between them at 8:00 AM... the temperature is already 98F...
WHAT'S WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE!? Don't they know about heat stroke or just plain exhaustion... AND.... This happens every day!
I called the Humane society here and...talked to the SPCA... and there is nothing they can do about it!
ANY SUGGESTIONS?

If you are not familiar with heat stroke... this is from Petplace.com , a great recourse for any pet related issues:

"Heat stroke is a condition arising from extremely high body temperature (rectal temperature of 105 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit), which leads to nervous system abnormalities that may include lethargy, weakness, collapse or coma. Abnormally high body temperature (also called hyperthermia) develops after increased muscular activity with impaired ability to give off heat due to high heat and humidity or respiratory obstruction. Allowing a dog to remain in a car with closed windows on a hot summer day is probably the most common cause of heat stroke.

Normal dogs dissipate heat from their skin. In addition, panting allows evaporation of water from the respiratory tract
and is an effective method of heat dissipation. When these mechanisms are overwhelmed, hyperthermia and heat stroke usually develop. The elevation in body temperature stimulates the body to release substances that activate inflammation."

Not a Dog.... but an Octopus!

Looks like the Octopus was right with the prediction... Spain won the Soccer World Cup... amazing what animals can do... Maybe next time a clairvoyant dog should be given the opportunity to choose between 2 fire hydrants....Ha!

How did it go?

Any stories how your dog behaved during the fireworks?
My Lucy (the golden retriever) went through it just fine... her hearing is not what it used to be, so she hardly realised what was happening... I didn't really notice that she was getting deaf until during the fireworks... and I thought she was ignoring me for sometime...