Healthy Paws Pet Insurance Rocks

When my husband and I adopted Cody from Small Dog Rescue of Minnesota one of the first things we did was research pet insurance companies. We didn't know a ton about Dachshunds back than other than that they were very susceptible to Intervertebral Disk Disease or IVDD.

IVDD  is a debilitating and costly disease that affects many different breeds including Dachshunds. Knowing the cost associated in the surgical treatment of IVDD we did not want to be in a position of not being able to provide care because we could not financially afford it.

Researching Pet Insurance is Daunting

I'm not going to lie, researching pet insurance was a daunting task, especially because you can't always believe everything you read. (I work in marketing after all and a marketers job is to make everything sound great) When deciding on a pet insurance policy you have the same things to consider as any other type of insurance policy:

• Cost
• Deductible
• Policy Limits
• Coverage
• Reimbursements
• Restrictions
• Ease of Use

After researching online and reading reviews on Angie's List we decided on Healthy Paws. The plan we choose costs $44.58 per month, has a $250.00 yearly deductible and pays out a 90% reimbursement. The plan covers everything except routine vet care. This includes genetic conditions as long as they were not pre-existing.

Submitting Our First Claim

Cody's IVDD surgery was our first claim in the almost 2 years since we'd had insurance and was going to be a BIG test as to just how good our policy was. In all honestly I was prepared for having to go through a bunch of red tape. I just didn't believe filing a claim and getting reimbursed was going to be as easy as it claims it would be.

Healthy Paws Reimbursement

The total cost of Cody's IVDD surgery and hospital stay was $6,279.53, this included a CT scan, MRI and his stem cell harvesting and shot. Submitting a claim was super easy and I'm not just saying that. We sent everything in on Monday December 10th and 1 week later we had our reimbursement checks in hand. Here's how our payout worked....

Kudos to Healthy Paws

In addition to their super simple claim filing process, we called customer service a few times since it was our first claim and I have nothing but great things to say. Good customer service is hard to find these days and their phone reps were very helpful. They kept us in the loop every step of the way via email.

Thanks Healthy Paws!

Walk Mindfully Like a Dog

I went to a workshop recently called "Discover the Body-Mind Connection". Many believe that living mindfully affects the body in a positive way. Living mindfully requires being in touch and completely aware of the present moment without judgement.

In today’s world, it’s very common for us to go through life with numerous thoughts going our minds no matter what we are doing. And most of those thoughts are either from the past or for the future. I wonder how many people have really mastered living mindfully.

The good news is that you can start living mindfully at any time.  

How You Can Become More Mindful

There are several techniques to help us achieve a good mind-body connection. 

One of the practices to start being more mindful is to "choose a daily activity in your life where you bring your full awareness and attention". Instantly I knew that walking with my dogs would be my activity of choice. Dogs are the best teachers. They lead by example. So I couldn't think of a better way to honour my dogs than to walk and be in the moment with them, everyday.

Those of us who live with dogs are so lucky to have a constant reminder to live mindfully. All we have to do is to look into those eyes to know there is no better moment to be in than the present one.

Tips for a Mindful Walk

• Remember to breathe. Be conscious of every breath you take. Breathing deeply will keep you calm which in turn will keep your dog calm.

• Think of walking with your dog as a privilege, not a chore. You will be more open to experiencing it in a positive way.

• Learn from your dog. Your dog knows how to completely engage in his walk. His nose, eyes and ears are ready to take it all in to the fullest. Don't walk your dog, walk with your dog.

• Leave your gadgets at home. Talking on the phone or texting someone will distract you from what is important, you and your dog.

Make it a mindful walk!

IVDD Diagnoses

Cody Before Surgery

I am not a patient person so waiting to hear the results from Cody's CT scan was agonizing to say the least. The call came at 10:30 pm. They did not see anything in the CT scan that would indicate a disk rupture but his symptoms were not adding up so they would like to do an MRI in the morning.

Since we were  told that the CT scan would tell them if surgery was necessary I took this news as a somewhat positive sign. BIG MISTAKE!


Thursday December 6th

10:00 AM we get a call with the results of the MRI. Guess what? Disk Rupture and Surgery ASAP. (Mind you we brought him in at the 9 hour from symptoms mark and it was now a full 24 hours) The first thing that came to mind was did this additional time decrease Cody's chance of walking again?? I couldn't help but wonder why the most advanced surgical center for animals in Minnesota did not have the ability to do an MRI after hours, we were in the ER where time sensitive surgical procedures happen all the time. But now is not the time to dwell on that.

Cody underwent his surgery today and did great according to the doctor. We opted for the additionally stem cell injections (studies have shown stem cell injections increase the chances of mobility) so tomorrow he will go under for a second time to receive his injection. Last we heard we are going to be picking him up sometime tomorrow evening. I cannot wait to see my little guy!

Now we are busy preparing everything we'll need to help him successfully recover. I am trying to prepare myself for what I will see (shaved back and huge incision) but somehow I have a feeling even though I know what to expect, it will still be very emotional seeing him in that state.

More to come...stay tuned!

IVDD - A Dachshund Parents Worst Nightmare

Cody - Before Surgery

This is Cody, our beloved dapple Dachshund. My husband and I adopted Cody from Small Dog Rescue of Minnesota after falling in love with him as a foster and earning the title of 'foster failure"

I decided to document our journey after reading Nathan's blog that documented his journey. It will be interesting to see the similarities and differences.

Where It All Begins

Cody sleeps with us and every morning wakes us up by showering us with kisses. Unfortunately that didn't happen Tuesday December 4th. We didn't think anything of it at first other than commenting to each other how 'unusual' it was.

I proceeded to let both dogs out to go potty (we also have a Yellow Lab) and noticed that on the way in Cody came to a dead stop right in front of the small stair into the house. (red flag #1) I lifted him into the house and gave them both breakfast. After breakfast Cody normally goes back into the bedroom and hides under the covers. Instead, he laid on his brothers bed. (red flag #2) When I called him to come over to me he didn't want to move. (red flag #3) By this time my husband agreed something was wrong. Back injury came to mind immediately but then wondered how that could have happened. We are so careful, we have doggie stairs and ramps everywhere and he was in a puppy mill for the first 5 years of his life. After our second potty break I knew 100% we were dealing with a back issue when I saw he was very weak in the back-end. I called the vet right away. We use Chanhassen Vet in Minnesota - awesome place!

The vet did his exam, and did an X-RAY (worthless in detecting IVDD, more on that later) Since Cody still had some neurological function the vet thought there was a possibility things could improve treating him with 24/7 crate rest and meds. Of course that was in the event he did not get any worse. Which of course he did.

Wednesday December 5th

Cody was no better. In fact; he was worse, as the day progressed his back-end became completely paralyzed. I knew from reading that once complete paralysis sets in time is of the essence. For the best recovery success rate after surgery you have a window of 12-24 hours before the possibility of walking again dwindles greatly. I immediately called our vet, gave him the update and he called the University of Minnesota Veterinary Center.

We arrived at the UofM at 7:00 (9 hours since the complete paralysis symptoms set in) They took him back to be examined right away doing some of the same tests our local vet did. Their recommendation was to do a CT scan and that would tell them if his injury was one that could be corrected surgically. We asked why not an MRI and they told us that no one was available after hours for an MRI but assured us that the CT scan would tell them what they needed to know (Which turned out not to be the case) My husband and I had to leave Cody there, we had agreed to proceed with surgery if necessary.

I knew I would be in for a sleepless night, leaving my baby was VERY difficult.

Surviving the Puppy Years – Growing out of the Crate

If you have ever crate trained a puppy, you know it takes time and a lot of patience. You have to be strong when you’re puppy whines and cries to come out. It is possible to achieve a happy balanced crate trained puppy.

Eventually though most people want their dogs to have the run of the house. But how do you know if your dog is ready? The best advice I can give is to take baby steps! It’s a good idea to start with very short time periods with your dog out of the crate.

My puppy’s first taste of freedom has been at night. She proved to us a long time ago that she could be trusted in the morning out of her crate while we all sleep in on the weekend. We have been blessed with a good sleeper! After our beloved Mika passed away we decided it was time to give our puppy Judique more freedom at night. If I let her out for a pee in the middle of the night, I would let her stay out until morning. I did this for a week or two and then one night decided she was ready. She’s been wonderful.

This is a good place to start if your puppy is in her crate during the night as well as the day. It gives her a taste of freedom but you’re still there if anything should happen.

On average dogs tend to be ready to be on their own in the house by the age of 2. There many factors that will determine when your puppy is ready. Higher energy dogs who get bored easily can be more of a challenge. So are dogs that have separation anxiety.

You need to know your puppy, how much they chew, what things attract their attention, how much exercise they need to settle down.

Baby steps

When you feel you and your puppy are ready, start leaving her out of the crate and going outside by yourself. Start with 5 or 10 minutes. Do this every day for a couple of weeks. Then gradually increase the time by 5 minutes. For the first while you shouldn’t go too far. You want your dog to think you are leaving but you also want to be close by. The great thing about this type of practice is that it will show your dog you always come back. By starting for short time periods you can actually decrease your dog’s separation anxiety.

Once you’ve practiced short time periods with no incidents, it’s time to take the next step. Take the car and go to the store. Or go visit a neighbour. If that goes well, keep repeating leaving her out of the crate for short outings. If you find your dog has been destructive while you were gone, go back to the shorter times. This process can take a lot of time depending on your dog.

You should feel very comfortable before your dog is ready to be left to her own devices for the whole work day. I know sometimes it may seem like your dog will never be ready for that. But it will come with time, especially if you work up to it.

If appropriate you may choose to have your dog free in one room to start with.

The big deal is no deal at all

I know how hard it is not to grab your dog and hug and kiss her goodbye when you leave. But this is the worst thing you could do. You will only increase her level of excitement and when you leave that excitement can turn into anxiety and that can lead to destruction and a very unhappy pooch. Instead stay strong and simply leave. If you want to use a phrase such as “watch the house” or “you wait here” go ahead and do so but say it in a very calm and neutral tone.

The same goes for when you return. Of course your dog will be excited to see you but refrain from using the high pitch “I’ve missed you so much”!!!! Again I know it’s tough but the calmer and more nonchalant you are about coming and going, the calmer your dog will be. 

Work with nature

In nature dogs would hunt, eat and then rest or play. You can emulate that for your dog by always going for a walk before feeding time. This is allowing your dog to work for her food. The amount of time or intensity (running, doing obstacles) will depend on your dog’s individual need.  By the time you are ready to leave, she should be ready to settle down and rest while you are gone.

BetterBreederBureau.com

So you’ve decided you are ready to bring a puppy into your home. You are about to embark on a wonderful journey.

If you are looking at breeders online, it’s so important to be sure that they are reputable and treating your new addition the way they deserve to be treated. The last thing you want to do unknowingly support puppy mills where dogs are treated deplorably and are only seen as money makers. The good news is that there are many breeders who care about their puppies, understand their needs and give them a safe and healthy environment to start their lives.

BetterBreederBureau.com is a veteran owned family business that provides people a worry free way to find those ethical breeders anywhere in the US. They conduct yearly visits to their member breeders to ensure your puppy is brought into the world with the best care. If the breeders don’t meet their Code of Ethics, they will not work with them. It’s that simple.

Are you unsure what breeds would best suit your family? You can talk to one of the puppy consultants to help you find your perfect companion. Or browse through all the breed pages and read specific information about the breed and all the available puppies.

And be sure to read their blog for all kinds of interesting articles.

Website: BetterBreederBureau.com

Is the Pekingese right for you?

Before you bring a dog into your life, it’s best to do your research. If you have a certain breed in mind, ask yourself why? Is it the look of the dog that attracts you? Or maybe it’s the size? These are places to start, but there is so much more you need to know.

The Pekingese is a toy breed that originates from China. They weigh between 6 – 14 pounds and on average live from 12 – 15 years. Their colours include Sable, Tan, Blond, Gray or Blue and White.

Pekingese are very loyal and protective dogs. They will bark at strangers and strange noises, therefore make very good watchdogs. However if not properly trained, they may become overly possessive. Because this breed tends to be stubborn, training them can be a challenge. Remember patience is a virtue.

Pekingese do not need a lot of exercise; daily walks are great for them. These dogs can be very happy in an apartment. They are great for amusing themselves but also love and attention from their family.

These little cuties are big shedders so regular brushing is a must.

If you are interested in the Pekingese breed, there is a website that can help further inform you. Find out about the history, breed standards, facts and health concerns on PEKINGESECLUB.ORG.

Train Dog To Change Dogs Behavior

Fishing with dogs.

Behavior of some dogs is very dangerous and we can quickly improve dogs performance by applying a few tricks. If you are a dog owner, you can become a good dog trainer. if you new to here, please read our previews article about how to become a dog owner. however, Choose the most flexible and nice dog for perfect with you. Walking regularly with dogs, talking with dogs and stay with your new pets to build a close friendship with new dogs. Buy a best book about control and health of dogs. Try to everyday for your dog can follow to you and everything about you. Buy Accessories and others for dogs and contact with familiar animal health expertise for avoid any kind risk as dog bite injury.
Related: Largest dog in the world 2015

Halloween

Ghosts, goblins, dress-up and candy. Halloween sure is fun for humans. But is it fun for your dog? It certainly can be for well adjusted, confident dogs that go with the flow. For other dogs the constant ring of the doorbell and strangers can be a source of stress.  There are also added hazards that can attract your dog such as candy, candy wrappers, decorations and costumes. It’s important to keep your dog from getting into them as they can be potentially dangerous.

Dressing up your dog for Halloween

Let’s not kid ourselves, dressing up a dog for Halloween is really for our enjoyment, not theirs. They don’t care either way, nor do they understand anything about it. Granted there many dogs that would be just fine wearing a Tutu and revelling in all the attention and excitement. But never push an anxious or stressed dog to wear a costume. If your dog isn’t used to wearing a coat, she might feel uncomfortable having a costume put on her. If she seems ok and willing and you really want to dress her up, make sure the costume is safe and comfortable. Do not cover her eyes, ears or tail. And ensure the costume is not interfering with her ability to move freely and is well ventilated.

Trick or Treat

You get to know what situations make your dog anxious or nervous. If you act accordingly, you and your dog will get through Halloween without being spooked.

When you are handing out candy, consider the following:

• take an extra long walk before the festivities begin
• answer the door before the bell rings
• keep her on leash when answering the door
• keep the candy well out of reach
• put her in a room (or her crate) with her favourite toy or blanket and play soft music

If you take your dog along for trick-or-treating, here are some tips to keep her safe:

• keep her on leash at all times no matter how trained she is
• make sure she is visible to kids, other adults and cars
• keep her on the opposite side of traffic at all times
• pay attention to what is attracting her attention, there could be candy or wrappers on the ground
• don’t allow her to lick any kids hands

It's understandable that if you are taking kids out trick-or-treating, their safety should be your priority. So if you cannot pay the proper amount of attention to your dog then it’s best to leave her at home for this walk. You can make it up to her tomorrow.

Have a safe and happy Halloween.

DOGTV

Do you ever have the impression that your dog is watching TV with you? Well look out, you may have to start sharing the remote with your furry friend too.

The reality is that most dogs are left alone while their families are at work or out shopping, seeing friends, attending events, etc. It’s not ideal in a dog’s world to be away from their pack. And so an idea was born. DOGTV is the first 24/7 network just for dogs. It’s a new digital TV channel that has been scientifically designed to keep your dog company while you are away. Years of research with top animal experts has gone into the programming. It takes into consideration your dog’s senses and behavioral patterns.

There are three types of programming for your dog:

Relaxation – your dog will relax to the soothing music, sounds and visuals.

Stimulation – active camera movements, exciting animations and sounds and frequencies will help encourage your dog’s playful side.

Exposure – designed to help your dog deal with everyday stimuli with special sights and sounds.

DOGTV is currently available in San Diego at COX ON DEMAND, Channel 1, FreeZone. Or you can get in online through the streaming service at www.dogtv.com/online and through Roku boxes.

If you want to know when the channel will be available in your area, subscribe to the mailing list.

Stay tuned!

Website: http://dogtv.com/

Saying goodbye to Mika

Seven years ago my husband and I adopted a beautiful 8 year old Shepherd/Collie mix.

Her name was Mika.  I knew I would be changing her life, but I had no idea how much she would change mine.

 

This is a tribute to Mika.

 

 

 

Two days after we adopted Mika, we took her on a camping trip. Imagine being in a cage one day and then two days later out in nature with a new family. She was so happy.

 

 

 

 

 

Life went on getting to know her and love her more and more.  She always wanted to be everywhere I was. At first I found that a little overwhelming but once I got used to it, it was very comforting and made me feel pretty special.

 

Because of Mika, we started walking and hiking more. We learned to appreciate nature. I started every day walking with her. I wouldn't trade those times for anything.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More vacations followed....everywhere we went everyone was always wanted to see and pet her. Mika visited some very beautiful places and was always a joy to have around.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When Mika was 12 years old we thought it was time to get her a buddy. We adopted an 8 year old Belgian Shepherd mix named Bear. We couldn't have chosen a better brother.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bear also proved to be quite a good travel companion. Now you can imagine how much attention we got with these two amazing dogs!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When Mika turned 14 years old she really started slowing down. She didn't go on as many walks and she started keeping to herself. Things that used to be easy where now a struggle. She appeared to be near the end. It was hard watching her age but she always remained sweet as ever.

 

We decided to adopt a puppy at that time, thinking she could learn from the two seniors before Mika passed. We adopted a 6 month old Husky/Samoyed mix and named her Judique.

It turned out to be quite a challenge to manage three dogs but I'm so glad I took that challenge. After several months we had a great pack.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Almost a whole year after we adotped the puppy, it was time to say goodbye to our beloved Mika. Her health issues were getting worse, she struggled to get up and walk and she barely ate.

 

We decided to have our vet come to our house so she would be in a familiar place surrounded by her whole pack. She passed peacefully in my arms.

 

Such a sweet and beautiful girl. So many wonderful memories.

 

 

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We will never forget you and will always love you Mika.
You will be forever in our hearts and with us always in spirit.

 

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"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened". Ted Geisel (Dr. Seuss)