Monday 26 November 2018

Senior Doggy Dilemmas…

Our furry boy at 6 weeks (2007)
Our Labrador Retriever turned eleven this past August. Other than the fact that our yellow fellow was taken home by us (I swear the Universe planned this), the hand he was dealt with has been a tough journey. Plagued by allergies (cats, fleas, trees, grass—you name it) that required shots and pills before he hit one-year-old, tearing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his back left leg when he was two, and having a tumor on his chest removed at five, I’d say he has paid his dues. Our furry guy is still on allergy meds, but I removed the shots from his treatments when we moved down to southern Ontario, and was glad of it since they proved to be expensive over the years. Poor dog must have been allergic to all those pine trees up north! LOL!

Don’t get me wrong, there’s been plenty of blessings and good times too. More than I can count. So when our old boy’s back legs were giving him trouble because arthritis had set in (mostly from his ACL repair), we had to do some hard thinking. Presently, he’s on pain medication (five pills a day), and I still haven’t counted out Cannabis Oil to ease his pain now that it’s legal in Canada. However, before I try that, I thought I’d invest in some therapeutic laser therapy for him to help relieve his pain. I must say, the results surprised me, and has added to the quality of life for our senior dog.

So what exactly is laser therapy, and how does it work on dogs?

Getting his treatment. So relaxed!
I won’t bore you with the studies or science, so simply put when laser light (using a long wand with a wide head) interacts with tissue it causes certain photochemical reactions to occur and stimulates natural biological healing processes, thus transforming light energy into chemical energy. There’s absolutely no damage to cells and doesn’t burn. In fact, getting a treatment seemed to relax our dog. The therapy sessions take about twenty minutes, and so far our dog has had about eight treatments. Contact your veterinarian to ask about laser treatments if this is something you think would be a good fit for managing your dog’s pain. If you want more information about this procedure, please click HERE.

I found out about laser therapy for dogs through Lina Ventura Kaput, the owner of Salubrity, my local health store. When she mentioned that she did house visits, I booked an appointment immediately! Each treatment costs around $40, but prices vary depending where you live and what your veterinarian charges. My neighbors noticed a considerable difference in the way our dog walked (his back leg straightened) and he seemed not to lag too much on walks. A huge bonus as his leg was turned out before the treatments.

Available soon on Kijiji...maybe!
Another thing we’ve done to ease our old pup’s life is building a dog ramp from the top of the deck. Of course when I say ‘we’, I mean my hubby. If you’re thinking of doing this for your senior dog, you can order ramps in different sizes online, or if you’re handy with tools, then you might save some money doing it yourself. Though, a heads up. So far, our sucky Lab refuses to use it. Pulling him up or down the ramp should be deemed an Olympic sport. He’s not too happy about it. We’ve even dotted the ramp with dog biscuits, but alas he only goes for the ones he can reach. This will be a work in progress, so for now, I’m sure we can teach an old dog new tricks. At least I hope so, or this ramp will be going up on the buy and sell! Any takers?

Do you have an aging dog? If so, what have you done to add to the quality of his or her life? Would love to read your input and comments. Cheers, and thank you for spending time with me by reading my blog!

20 comments:

  1. Excellent post, Sharon, but my heart goes out to you and your poor pup.

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    1. We do what we must to make sure our pets are cared for, Sloane. Like I mentioned, the Universe set this up perfect for our dog! Cheers!

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  2. This treatment benefitted my elderly dog a lot but I was lucky to get some sessions free in exchange for a review on the therapist's website!

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    1. I'm so happy that your old lad got the help he needed! He sure had a good mum! Thanks for stopping by! Hugs!

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  3. Sending prayers for you and your dog. There have been a few elderly dogs in my life, two of whom have passed away.

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    1. Thank you so much for your kindness, Andrew. Yes, it's not fun at this end of the spectrum for our old babies.

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  4. A ramp for the car is good too. We have an 11 years old Lab and she is showing signs of severe arthritis but to date has been remarkably illness-free. However our previous Lab was in huge trouble and we had to carry him (using a towel) for almost a year. Looking into laser treatment for Brandy. Never heard of it prior to this.

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    1. Oh, I'm so glad you're checking it out, Vonnie! You won't be sorry. We have to lift our old fellow up on our bed and in the car. Sigh. Thank God I lift weights! LOL!

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  5. We had a ramp for elderly cats to get on and off the bed. They LOVED it and learned to use it in one try and even took turns. So funny to remember. Perhaps your dog will follow you up the ramp?

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    1. Tried that one, Helen and Lorri, but he put on the brakes. LOL! On a positive note, my son's Havanese dogs run up the ramp as if it was built for them! Go figure...

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  6. The things we do for our fur babies! That picture is so cute.

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    1. I know, right, Darlene? Yes he was a looker as a pup! Wink. Cheers!

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  7. I love that you're a dog lover! (Me, too!). What we won't do for our furry babies. Great post!

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    1. Thanks so much, Leigh! Like attracts like! Hugs!

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  8. Awwww....poor little guy. It's so hard to see our furbabies suffer, but it sounds like you're doing everything you can. Kudos to you for taking such good care of your baby. <3

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  9. Thanks, Lisa! We do what we can for our furry son! Cheers!

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  11. I am thinking to get a ramp for my dog.. I am a healthy active Senior Dog. But lately jumping into the car is a bit harder. We are in search for
    a ramp that can used in both car (reg/suv). Golden Thanks for this post.

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  12. You're very welcome! Good luck with your search, Pet lover!

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