Is it Time to Say Goodbye?

Hello everyone! Welcome to this issue of Mighty Mutts! Hope you’ve been enjoying the calmer weather. Maybe Wiarton Willie was right for a change and spring is right around the corner! Let’s hope so..

I don’t know about you, but I always feel a bit of a letdown when the Olympics are over. I loved watching all of the events, especially skating and, well… hockey. So proud of all of our Canadian athletes! Well done, Canada!

Since I am feeling a bit solemn the theme this week is also a bit solemn, but unfortunately, necessary. How do you know when it ‘s time to say goodbye? And how do you deal with it? The grieving process is different for everyone, but I’ve got some tips on how to make it a bit easier. (try not to get too teary-eyed).

Also this week, we’re going to talk about some signs to look for so you know if your dog is in pain. There are obvious signs, like limping or open wounds.. but there are other ailments that your dog may not be able to tell you about. For example, a tooth ache. Dr Andrew Jones, DVM, from veterinary secrets explains how to spot signs and what to do about them.

Our recipe comes from the American Kennel Club, and of course, Pablo has some things on his mind..

 Enjoy!

Pablo’s Ponderings

 Hello furry friends! Hope you are all doing well. I’m still sad about Sunday’s game. But our boys put up a good fight, and at least we got to take home silver! Go Canada Go!

Our snow is starting to melt and mom says we’ll put the clocks ahead soon – a sure sign of spring! It’s so nice to see longer days. I love going on walks with my hooman, Brandon. And I don’t have to worry about salt getting in my paws anymore because it hasn’t snowed for about a week! Wow, that’s a record in Bruce County.

That’s about it for my news, not very much happening in my life at the moment. Can’t wait for spring when I can go for longer walks and sit out on the patio with my hoomans! And I really can’t wait till dad starts BBQ’ing again (I always get taste tests)!

See you next week my furry friends! Don’t forget to send pics!

Is it Time to Say Goodbye?

It’s the time that every pet owner dreads: the time to say goodbye to your beloved furry friend. Memories of a playful, mischievous puppy who chewed your favourite shoes give way to memories of a dog who moves at a much slower pace; can’t chase a ball anymore or run up the stairs like they used to. Those moments are hard to watch, and they happen to all of us. Owning a pet is a big responsibility, and part of that responsibility is knowing when to let go.

Sometimes, the kindest thing you can do for your pet is to say goodbye before their pain gets too deep; before they suffer in silence for too long; before they waste away before your eyes. That may sound overly dramatic, but I’ve experienced it with my own dog when I was a child, and I know the heartache of losing my very best friend. Her name was Sissy and she was a black lab. We got her as a puppy and I was in grade 2. She was an outside dog (my mom never let dogs in the house) and I remember that she was the gentlest dog who was deathly afraid of thunderstorms! When I was a teenager we noticed that she wasn’t moving around much and she had a favourite spot in the barn on top of a straw bed my dad made for her. In those last days, we just made her as comfortable as possible, until one day she just didn’t wake up. I’m getting teary-eyed just thinking about it.

Here are some signs that your dog may be headed for doggie heaven:

1)      Lethargy

2)      Less Eating/Drinking

3)      Incontinence

4)      Seeks comfort

5)      Shortness of breath/laboured breathing

6)      Loss of interest in walks/playing with toys

The first thing, of course, is to take your dog to the vet for a full checkup. Communicate with the vet all of the symptoms your dog has been experiencing, and for how long.

Your vet will recommend a plan, whether that’s to administer treatment, let things take their course, or give them a humane and dignified process to end their life so they don’t suffer unnecessarily. Sometimes, love and kindness mean letting go. This is a decision between you, your family and your veterinarian. Many vets have cremation urns for you to take home, and some even put together memorial books with pictures, and even tufts of fur, so you can remember them always.

Remember: to you, your dog is only one part of your world, but to your dog, you are their whole world. They depend on you for everything, and have given their whole lives into loving and serving you. They’ve been with you through thick and thin, comforting you when you’ve had a hard day, and just being there. Return the favour by being there for them when they need you most.

Saying goodbye is never easy, and some people may be cruel by saying, ‘it’s just a dog’. But, that’s not the case at all, is it? Because pets are not just animals – they’re family. Give yourself the time you need to grieve.

10 Signs To Tell If Your Pet Is In Pain

Can You Tell Your Pet is in Pain?

By Dr Andrew Jones, DVM

 This can be difficult, as many of the signs are very subtle.

It is thought that our dogs and cats have the tendency to ‘hide’ their symptoms of pain as an instinct for

survival. In the wild often the weak or elderly animals are targeted as prey…to

not end up as prey you need to not show your weakness.

Pain is difficult to quantify, and there is a large difference between individual

animals. A key point to take in is just because your pet isn’t showing obvious signs

such as excessive vocalizing, or obvious limping, doesn’t mean they are not in pain.

Causes

Causes of pain in dogs and cats can be many, but arthritis is at the top of the list.

Most pet arthritis is due to joint wear and tear, loss of the protective cartilage,

and subsequent joint inflammation and pain.

Back disorders such as spondylosis ( vertebrae fusing), disc disease, and pinched

nerves are increasingly being recognized as chronic sources of pet pain.

Chronic allergies with inflamed skin will cause irritation and pain in your dog, and

closely related to allergies are ear infections, which can be extremely painful.

Dog and cat cancer affecting the bones, skin and organs has many signs, one of them

being pain.

 Dental disorders, such as a tooth root abscess can be very sore, and your pet may

just be reluctant to eat.

Here are some of the signs that veterinarians use to tell if your dog or cat is in pain:

1. Some pets may just be reluctant to move, to jump up, or have difficulty rising

after lying down.

2. Dogs and cats may tremble

3. Eat or drink less

4. Be generally depressed

5. Increased panting

6. Lameness, favouring a leg after a walk

7. Pain on palpation of a specific area of their body

8. Increased heart rate and breathing

9. Excessive vocalization.

10. Behavioral changes, such as being more aggressive, or not really reacting to

being petted and groomed.

11. Chronically licking a specific area ( ie over the hip or knee)

To read the full article, click here:

    Apple Pretzels Recipe for Dogs

The recipe may look like it has a lot of steps, but this three-ingredient baked treat is easy to make. Plus, if you’ve ever made pretzels, you know they’re fun to roll and twist. You can even make your own crazy shapes. Your dog won’t care how you twist them. They’ll love the taste either way.

That’s it for this issue. See you next week! Feel free to share this with other dog owners!

--Maryanne and the Mighty Mutts team

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