Cold Weather is Tough on Dogs... especially when they are missing a leg..

Diesel's Down!  

TOO COLD FOR A HUSKY?


It is so cold this winter that my 4 Furry BFF are complaining by lifting their paws. This is a problem for 3-legged Diesel...he goes down. He tries to balance on a front and back leg for a moment and then he collapses into the snow. He just lies there and waits for his feet to warm (in the photo look at his front paw how he has it bent out of the snow) and then off he goes until the cold pain sets in again and down he will go again. This sounds cruel...and yes we should move to a warm climate...I agree. Fortunately we only have a handful of days too cold for a husky. And on those days, we deal with cold paws and salty walks with the popular and trendy, DOG BOOTIES.   

He doesn't care how trendy and safe they are. 

GET THE BOOTIES ON!


We struggled today to get these boots on. He really doesn't like them. This is a pup used to pain. He would rather freeze his feet than wear them. Still, I persevered and got him booted. He is wearing muttluks.www.muttluks.com They cost about $45 and I highly recommend buying them in a bright colour because...

He gets them off!

VIDEO: one crazy husky gets his boots off:

PREVENTING CRACKED PAW-PADS:

Although booties didn't work for Diesel's walk today, they have worked in the past. They keep their feet warm and help protect and prevent their paw-pads from cracking. Salt and cold can irritate a dogs pads and they will start to chew at the irritation. As well some salts are harmful if swallowed or licked. 

If your dog doesn't wear boots on cold salty sidewalks, you should wash their feet with WARM WATER when they enter the house.(be sure to dry them off so that they don't lick the water and again cause more irritation. If you notice your dog has cracked paws, catching it early is important. Try applying some 'bag balm' to the area. It will help soften the pads. You will want your dogs pads to be tough so discontinue when the cracks heal. 

FYI: Cracked paw-pads can also be caused by an allergic reaction to something they eat or breath, a yeast infection(similar to athletes foot), even a zinc deficiency. 

RESCUE DON'T BUY:

Having a 3-legged rescue dog has a few challenges. Going 'down' in the snow when Diesel's feet are two cold is one. With warm winter booties and someone(me) taking a little more time to secure the boots on a little tighter, he can enjoy a cold winter days walk just like any other dog. 

NEXT POST: for those that live in warm(for me wishful) climates...

TO SHAVE OR NOT TO SHAVE...

Water Therapy for 3 legged Dogs

"Are we going on the boat?"

With a foot of snow outside and snow still falling...I had to break the news to Diesel... 

IT'S STILL WINTER! and this is the look he gave me. With a little...  

"get this thing off me."

Believe it or not a 3-legged dog can swim...but for how long? It's not safe for Diesel to be around water without his life jacket on.www.myoutwardhound.com 


WATER THERAPY

Because Diesel has severe Arthritis in his back hip, WATER THERAPY was recommended. It is an incredible invention for dog rehabilitation. The dogs walk into a small 'tank' and the water starts to fill up slowly. A therapist walks with the dogs as they are(as you can imagine) a little scared. When the water gets to a height to help support the dogs weight, they start walking on a treadmill. www.vetemergency.ca/docs/rehab_team.html This treatment is helpful for a lot of dogs. A Border Collie  was in the tank after us. He had torn his ACL. He loved walking in the tank. For dogs recovering from ligament, or hip surgery, this is excellent therapy.  For Diesel, he was so scared and he has been through so much that I felt we could try something else. 

MASSAGE THERAPY  

At the same clinic they taught me some MASSAGE THERAPY techniques. These techniques have worked really well for Diesel. I would highly recommend it for all animals. Just as we enjoy massage, animals do to. Watch your dogs movement, breathing and their eyes slowly close and you know they love it. For Diesel his muscles are so tight around his good hip. He needs a little help with massage. 

PHANTOM LEG

Writing about massage made me think of this. When I scratch under Diesel's front leg on the side where his leg is missing, his leg 'stump' goes crazy. It moves really fast as if my arm is his leg and he is scratching himself.

He is one of those special dogs that you know needs you as much as you need him. He makes me smile and appreciate him every day.