Fun for the every day dog - Keep your pets active, happy & healthy.

For all the fur-baby Moms!

People are living much longer today than in the past.  Our society has more Seniors now than ever before.  I like to think the vastly growing love of our pets plays a part in our human longevity.

We are all social beings and dogs are pack animals that fit perfectly into our daily lives.   Pet ownership is especially beneficial for the elderly and has numerous benefits.  

Animal behavior specialist Lynette A. Hart, PhD. says “Taking care of a creature that cares about you and responds to you is a real antidote and preventive medicine for loneliness and depression.”

Some Seniors will become more reclusive after the loss of a spouse.  Pets can give them a sense of security, with their unconditional love and companionship.  Knowing that another living being depends on you and feeling needed is a powerful motivator. 

Pets seem to relieve the stress of our daily lives, by the companionship they bring.  Studies have shown that people who own a dog or cat tend to have lower blood pressure and cholesterol.  They have even shown that heart attack victims that own pets have a higher survival rate after a year than those that do not.

Richard B. Ford, D.V.M., M.S., a veterinarian in Raleigh, N.C. says “Seniors can benefit substantially from pet ownership.”

We may all know that by keeping our bodies strong and fit we will live longer and healthier lives, but the older we get the less we tend to exercise.  Even though we may not exercise for ourselves, we do what we have to for the creatures we love.  If “Fido” needs his daily exercise and romps at the park, then that is exactly what gets done. 

Once you’re on the search for a pet, be sure to do your research.  Raising puppy can be an overwhelming task for an energetic 20 something, so be sure to select a pet that is appropriate for your lifestyle.   A great place to start your pet search is with your local humane society. 

For Seniors who live in convalescent homes and are unable to take care of a dog or cat full time there are Pet Therapy programs that will visit the centers. 

Nationwide Pet Therapy Groups

Pets have a Fountain of Youth quality and seem to keep us young by their very nature.  It’s tough to feel old when your playing.  Throwing balls, making silly sounds and laughing with a furry bundle of joy. 

I saw this handbag and I just had to post about it.  I love a new purse as much as the next woman, but these things are just so ridiculously cute that it makes me almost wish I had a pure breed dog. 

For some reason they just don’t sell one of the breed German Shepherd/Husky/Springer Spaniel mix.  :)  Don’t worry though, I put a link at the bottom of the post for the Mommy’s who are lucky enough to snag this purse.

The purse is a bit pricey at $79.98, but I can’t imagine a doggy Mom alive that wouldn’t absolutely love it.  The purse is full of detail, even the zipper has a breed specific charm on it.

The purse is available for dog Moms of the following breeds: Bassett Hound, Beagle, Bichon Frise, Boston Terrier, Boxer, Bulldog, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Chihuahua, Cocker Spaniel, Corgi, Dachshund, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Jack Russell Terrier, Black Lab, Yellow Lab, Maltese, Miniature Pinscher, Papillon, Pomeranian, Poodle, Pug, Rottweiler, Schnauzer, Scottish Terrier, Sheltie, Shih-tzu, Springer Spaniel, Westie, Yorkshire Terrier.

FREE Standard Shipping! Expires 5/7

All dogs have an excellent sense of smell and Lucas has never met a holiday he didn’t like.   Lucas discovered his passion for Easter egg hunting when he was 3 years old.  Nothing gave him more excitement than finding hidden treats all around his yard. 

Now at age 13, Lucas moves a bit slower from arthritis (after having a TPLO done on both knees), but you can still see the excitement in each of his steps and with every Easter egg he finds. 

Dog agility is a sport in which a handler directs a dog through an obstacle course in a race for both time and accuracy.  The handler can’t touch the dog or obstacles.  Only voice and hand commands are allowed.

A basic agility course is run on an area of apporoximately 100 by 100 feet and has numbered obstacles (tire, jumps, weave poles, a-frame, tunnels), laid out by an agility judge in a design of their own choosing.  The numbers represent the order in which the obstacles are to be completed.

Agility courses are made difficult enough that a dog could not complete them correctly without human direction.

Don’t forget to check your dogs paws when icy weather hits.   Snow and ice can cause many of the same problems that humans have with the cold. 

Think about getting booties for you dog.  These can protect your dog’s feet not only from harsh chemicals, but also from broken glass that might be hidden by snow and ice. 

Here’s a link to a website that sells them: Dog Boots
Chemicals used to melt ice and snow are harmful to your pet.  Don’t let your dog eat the ice and snow in a neighbor’s yard.  You never know what chemicals they could have used to speed up melting.  And, many neighborhood streets are sprayed with chemicals by the highway department.   

If your dog is like mine, he LOVES to catch snowballs.  Roll balls of snow from your own yard or any other source you know doesn’t use chemicals.  Don’t dig down to get a handful, skim off the top.  This will minimize the chance of picking up rocks and sticks that could hurt your dog.  Push the snow together only enough to keep its shape for you to toss.  Packing it down tight might hurt your dog when he catches it.Always check your dog’s paws after playing in snow or ice.   It’s a good idea to wipe your dog’s paws with clean warm water after a walk in the neighborhood.  After your dog has had a good day’s play in the cold, wash and dry them off thoroughly.  Then check the pads of each paw.  Look for swelling.  Nicks and cuts as well as abrasions could cause infections.   If you don’t find anything, watch your pet to see if he licks his paws.  This may be a sign of an injury and the main reason you rinse your dog’s paws off after a walk.  Check him again.  If you find something, clean the wound gently.  For a serious cut, contact your vet or local animal emergency hospital.  Don’t let it fester before seeking help.Once you’ve checked your dog and everything is okay, treat him or her to a nice gentle leg massage.  This will stimulate circulation and keep his paws nice and toasty. Sit beside your dog and take one leg in both hands.  Make slow circular movements with your thumbs as you work down from the top of the leg to the paw.  Use a steady, light pressure.  When you reach the paw, take one finger and slide it between the toes.  If your dog doesn’t like this, then stop.  Otherwise, continue between the toes using only one finger.  Don’t push the toe outward, keep it in its natural line.  Only apply enough pressure for your finger to glide through.As always, offer your pet fresh clean water after any massage.  This helps flush out toxins from the muscles that can be released during massage.

Have a fun, safe, and healthy winter!

If your dog is anything like my Lucas then he or she absolutely loves Christmas! The crinkling of the paper, the bright colors, all the hustling and bustling about is extremely exciting to them.

Christmas is a fun time of year for dogs and cats, but for our own pets safety we have to remember that they don’t always use the best judgement. Our pets lack in good judgement and our lack of foresight can be dangerous.

By following a few common sense Christmas rules you can keep your pet safe this holiday season.

1. If you know your pet is going to rip into presents while you are gone, make sure you either put your presents out of reach or use wrapping paper with non-toxic dye.
2. If your cat loves to climb, don’t leave them access to the Christmas tree when you are not around. Don’t let your cat climb the Christmas tree. The tree could fall on your cat, or the cat could get tangled up in the lights .
3. Turn off your Christmas lights when you leave the house.
4. Poinsettias are poisonous, don’t leave them around your pets.
5. Chocolate is poisonous to dogs, don’t leave gifts under the tree that contain chocolate. Your dog will sniff them out.
6. If you have a puppy, unplug everything. Do you have candle lights in the windows? Unplug them. Your puppy will chew on the cord, which will give them a giant shock.

Every house hold is different. You better then anyone else knows your pet’s personality. Take a look around your home and access the possible dangers. Chances are you will find many.   The best gift you can give your pet is a safe Christmas.

Paws for Health of Virginia is a new service based in the Chesterfield/Midlothian area of Virginia.  Offer your dog the same benefits that humans get with massage.  Canine massage is a safe, effective way to help your dog live a healthier life.  Massage is great for improving circulation, reducing pain, and promoting overall health and well being.  Massage is especially helpful for dogs with hip and elbow dysplasia.  Services include introductory massages, full body massages, and massage for sick, injured, or elderly dogs.

In this blog, we’ll look at some tips that can help your dog lead a happier, healthier life.  Take a look at the massage video posted here at www.caninegames.com for massages you can do at home.  It will get you started on helping your pet feel their best.

Remember, although massage is a safe and gentle procedure, it is never a substitute for regular veterinary care.  You should always consult with your vet before using any treatment he or she is not aware of.  Verify with the vet that your pet doesn’t have any condition that massage might make worse.  Always offer your dog clean fresh water after a massage.  This helps flush out toxins and other waste from your dog’s muscles.  Also, massage is a useful addition to veterinary care, not a substitute. Always keep your vet informed about any outside treatments.

For more information, see the contact information below:

Stephanie Whitehead

Canine Massage Therapist
Paws for Health of Virginia, LLC
9947 Hull Street Road
Suite 244
Richmond, VA  23236
pawsforhealthofva@yahoo.com
804-986-4675

After a day of strenuous work or play, give your dog a cool-down massage. 

It will be pretty much the same as your warm-up massage with three differences.  First, you want a little bit firmer pressure than you used for the warm-up massage.  Where you wanted to wake up the muscles with the warm-up, the cool-down massage helps the blood to move wastes out of the muscles to where they can be eliminated. 
 
You also want your movements to be slower and more fluidly connected.  This helps to relax tense muscles and calm your dog.  Again, use the strokes you did for the warm-up, but make them longer, a bit heavier pressure, and slower.
 
Third, although you will still use an open palm, you want to turn your hands around.  Where you were stroking down the body with your palm leading your fingers in the warm-up massage, now you want your fingers to lead.  This feels like a pushing motion and that’s what you’re doing, helping to push toxins and blood through the muscles.  This helps blood flow assist the body in removing toxins like lactic acid from the muscles. 
 
As with the warm-up routine, you’re using the same pattern.  Down the spine from the crown to rump, around the jaws, and over the snout.  Repeat this sequence three or four time or for between five and ten minutes.  Just slow it down and make the strokes longer and firmer.  Note any tension or “flinching” responses from your dog.  These are areas that may need a bit longer massage or even heat or ice therapy.  If your dog shows marked flinching, check with your vet to make sure it isn’t a pulled muscle.  Check the paws, too, for any injuries.  After the massage, offer your pet clean, fresh water.
 
Contact Information:
 
Stephanie Whitehead
Paws for Health of Virginia, LLC
9947 Hull Street Road, Suite 244
Richmond, VA  23236
804-986-4675
pawsforhealthofva@yahoo.com
 

Remember, although massage is a safe and gentle procedure, you should always consult with your vet before using any treatment he or she is not aware of.  Verify with the vet that your pet doesn’t have any condition that massage might make worse.  Always offer your dog clean fresh water after a massage.  This helps flush out toxins and other waste from your dog’s muscles.  Also, massage is a useful addition to veterinary care, not a substitute.  Always keep your vet informed about any outside treatments.

Your dog can benefit from a warm-up massage before play or exercise just like you can.

You want to use an open palm.  Start with a brisk, light rub down from the crown of your dog’s head to the rump.  You want to use light, even strokes, one after the other.  Keep your hands loose and open and use a brushing stroke, one hand after the other, with your palm leading.  You don’t want to use a lot of pressure here; just enough to better stimulate the blood flow.

Use the tips of your fingers to gently massage the large muscles of the jaw.  Trace lightly over the snout and top of the head again, repeating the open-handed brushing strokes.  Repeat this stroke routine about three or four times in it’s entirety.
 
Do a light massage on the large muscle groups down the legs by using your thumbs to trace small, even circles across the entire muscle.  Be careful not to apply a lot of pressure.  You are looking to get the blood flow to the muscles, not to do deep relaxation.  Blood flow helps the muscles work better, move better, and be more flexible.  This helps your dog avoid injury and minimize soreness after a strenuous day.
 
Keep your massages short, between five and ten minutes.  Offer fresh water and a bathroom break afterwards, then enjoy your day.
 
Contact Information:
 
Stephanie Whitehead
Paws for Health of Virginia, LLC
9947 Hull Street Road, Suite 244
Richmond, VA  23236
804-986-4675
pawsforhealthofva@yahoo.com

Remember, although massage is a safe and gentle procedure, you should always consult with your vet before using any treatment he or she is not aware of. Verify with the vet that your pet doesn’t have any condition that massage might make worse. Always offer your dog clean fresh water after a massage. This helps flush out toxins and other waste from your dog’s muscles. Also, massage is a useful addition to veterinary care, not a substitute. Always keep your vet informed about any outside treatments.