canine glaucoma

Our little Heidi has gone completely blind.
In the fall of 2004, she was diagnosed with glaucoma in one of her eyes, and had surgery to treat the pain. She did well for many years, and just recently the glaucoma spread to her other eye. She has several presription eye drops and some meds for pain, but now she needs a second surgery. Right now, we're just making sure she isn't in any pain.


Here she is resting comfortably...


We found lots of links that have been helpful living with a blind pet...
* Blind Dog Emergency Pack- lots of helpful tips to make life easier for a blind pet.
* Hints for living with a blind dog, click HERE.
* Living with a blind dog- For Dummies, click HERE.
* more tips HERE and HERE.

We also found that with glaucoma, it is important to use a harness rather than a collar. It would also be nice to have some sort of eye protection. Maybe something like these mesh Doggles.


If anyone has any helpful tips, please send them our way. We'll keep you posted on Heidi's progress.
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cranberries for dogs

Meena has had chronic UTIs since she was a puppy. She used to take meds from the Vet a few times a year, but they always came back. It seems like less grains and cranberries seem to help. I must say I'm not a Vet, but if your pet has chronic UTIs, then perhaps you may want to take a look at their diet.

fresh cranberries...


pureed...



cranberry cubes... * serve defrosted with regular diet


We just add defrosted cubes, as well as yogurt, to their regular raw food diet when necessary. Plus, we add some to their regular veggie mix. It's great to buy them in season and freeze. I really want to learn how to can fruits and vegetables.
Also, you can mix them with yogurt and make frozen treats. We did that here.

feeding your dogs kale...

In the summer and fall, we feed the dogs kale as a green in their veggie mix. (we mostly rotate between kale and collard greens this time of year)

Kale is high in fiber, super nutritious, has lots of vitamins and minerals. Plus, kale has a little 'kick' to it, so it adds some flavor to the mix.

We usually just puree and serve it fresh, along with other componants of their RAW food diet.
You could also try steaming kale, or using it in a stew. I found a great recipe using Kale in a stew, the 'A*starz Dog Stew', via this site.

3 lb. meat (chicken or turkey, cooked)
1 lb. raw organ meats (livers, kidneys, hearts)
2 c. peas
2 c. brown rice
1 c. lentils
4 garlic cloves
3 c. raw veggies (kale, carrots, parsley, tomatoes, sweet potatoes)

Bake the non-raw meats along with any dry vegetables such as split peas.

Debone the meat and shred pieces by hand.

In a food processor, mulch up raw meats.

Cook the brown rice and lentils together.

In a food processor, mulch up vegetables and garlic.

Mix it all together and serve!

Freeze the leftovers.

* Originally from Donna Stekli

Be sure to check out DragonBear Dog Treat & food Recipes. They have a really wonderful compilation of dog food and treat recipes.

Dog Flu Outbreak Sweeps Chicago

Reporting Mike Parker

CHICAGO (CBS) ― An aggressive strain of flu appears to be affecting dogs in the Chicago area. CBS 2's Mike Parker reports that Milo is a 7-year-old golden retriever who just recovered from a tough new strain of canine influenza that seems to be sweeping through Chicago. "He was coughing a lot and wheeezing and he had a discharge coming out of his eyes, kind of an odd color," said Sarah Rack, Milo's owner. "That's when we knew something was wrong." Derrick Landini, a North Side vet, says he's treated some 40 dogs with symptoms of this new flu in recent weeks. "We have more than one case confirmed now and there are reports coming back that its indicative of canine influenza virus," Landini said. Infected dogs can experience severe coughing for up to 30 days, along with a fever. This flu can lead to pneumonia in very young or very old dogs, and it can have a death rate of five percent. It is not contagious for humans. Dr. Landini believes dog beaches, like the one at Montrose and the lakefront are prime areas for infection. Should owners and their pets stay away? "I would probably hold off for a while," Landini said. "I don't want to put the fear of God in them, it is something that's going to run its course. It is treatable, just try to use common sense if there's a hacking dog around." Most of the dog owners we talked to knew about the flu, but went to the beach anyway. "They can get it at daycare, at a kennel," said Ed Fairman, dog owner. "They can get it anywhere dogs hang out with each other." This virulent strain of flu has popped up in Florida, Nevada, New York and Wisconsin during the last four years or so, but it is new to Chicago. Vets say that most dogs that get it will be okay, with antibiotics and anti-cough medication. Sooner or later, this flu will run its course.

Click HERE for the whole story.

Giardia

Sorry we haven't posted in while. Meena has been a little under the weather. We've been nursing her back to health, power cleaning our home and outside courtyard area with bleach, doing tons of laundry, etc.

She went to the Doctor this past weekend. He gave her a shot and prescribed metronidazole and bella phen. The Doctor told us to fast her for a day and a half.

Today she is doing great and back to her old self. She's eating a bland diet with yogurt. She's not thrilled about that part, but that is what the Vet told us to do.

Heidi is totally fine, knock on wood. She could be a carrier and not show symptoms. She has a Vet visit coming up, so hopefully the Vet can give us more info.

Of course I'm a nervous dog mom, and am trying to learn as much as I can about Giardia . Did she get it boarding when we were on vacation? Did I bring it home from work?

Here are some links, we found to be helpful...
* click on the links below to connect to the sites

Tiny Giardia can make Fido mighty sick

Giardia (Giardia canis)

Giardia in Dogs & Cats: More common than you think


Here are some other tips we've received that we're checking out...
- adding a drop of bleach to drinking water

- adding garlic to their homemade dog food (we usually do this, but didn't with the last batch)

- this immune strengthener at Only Natural Pet

- Love My Pet Diarrhea relief at ONP

- Kocci Free all natural herbal treatment remedy

- supplementing with Probiotics, Blackleaf and MSM

- Panacur dewormer, more info here

If you have any helpful advice, please do share. ..