Massage – it’s good for your dog, too!

~ I asked my friend who is a fantastic, well-known masseuse to give me the low down on canine massage…

Canine Massage – good for you and good for your dog

If you have ever received a massage in a spa or other setting, you know how wonderful it makes you feel.  As time goes on, more and more dog owners are realizing and accepting that massage is beneficial for their dog too.  Not only does it calm nervous and timid dogs, but it also helps dogs with arthritis, elbow or hip dysplasia. The benefits, both psychological and physical, are enormous.   Canine massage is also especially beneficial for show dogs, agility dogs, police dogs, search and rescue dogs, and other working dogs.

The following are just some of the effects massage can have on your dog:

Calm and relax
Energize
Counteract stress
Increase flexibility and range of motion
Restore natural gait and balance
Relieve muscle tension, adhesions and “knots”
Soothe sore muscles and joints
Prevent injury
Accustom your dog to all-over touch
Make your dog feel great!

Why Massage?

At this point, you may be thinking, “I pet my dog all the time; why do they really need a massage?” The answer is simple; while petting is soothing and relaxing for both you and your dog, it is rubbing rather than massage. Your dog’s body actively responds and participates during massage. Massage is the deliberate delivery of strokes using controlled pressure and intention. Massage is beneficial for both physical and emotional well-being.

Ocean Waves Massage is proud to offer Canine Massage for your beloved pet companion.  A full massage generally takes between 45 minutes to an hour, depending on temperament and size of your dog. We always perform a full body massage so that all the muscles of the body receive the benefit of massage, but of course we can always spend more time on a specific area as needed or requested. 

Remember – Canine Massage is not meant to replace normal veterinary care – we work in conjunction with veterinarians to provide your dog with the best health possible.

~ Sounds fantastic. I’m ready for one myself!

innovative turf for your local dog park

They call it K9 grass but it is now installed at a dog park in the Los Gatos Creek County Dog Park in Campbell, CA. In the past, the park was hardly used because the ordinary grass would get torn up and muddy in the rain. The park reopened this past December and is already a huge hit.

‘The new K9Grass was designed especially for dogs by ForeverLawn, which is based in Albuquerque, N.M. ForeverLawn says the grass drains well and can withstand wear and tear. It also has a knitted structure that helps wick away urine and odors .’

It’s not cheap but this park was able to install it with help from the city, county and donations. [ I'm thinking I would like it in my yard!]

But if you’re neighborhood needs a good dog park or your dog park needs some work, you may want to check it out.

train your dog like the dog whisperer – Cesar Millan

So you want to be a dog whisperer? well here’s your chance…sort of. For all you computer game fans, Ubisoft, the company which produces the Petz and Imagine game titles is coming out this Fall 2008 with a game based on Cesar Millan’s, the Dog Whisperer. 

In the game, you get to be Cesar and help rehabilitate dogs. You are confronted with 40 different common dog issues and, using Cesar Millan’s guidance, learn how to deal with each of them as a dog behavior expert.

“Ubisoft’s team has done an amazing job turning the ‘Power of the Pack’ methodology into an interactive experience,” said Cesar Millan. “The game is easy to play and offers many fun ways to learn rehabilitation techniques that can be applied to dogs in the real world.”

Sounds like great fun and an education. I’ll put out another post when the title has actually launched – I may even purchase a Nintendo DS just to try it out….

Get excited all you Cesar fans – and if you have a Nintendo DS and would like to try it out and provide feedback for Henry’s Backyard, go to the contact us page and shoot me a note and I’ll try to get you a copy.

Please note: the photo is not the actual game cover, just a representation.

another dog food recall

Wanted to be sure you heard about the voluntary pet food recall from Mars Petcare US.

Due to possible Salmonella contamination, some dog food brands manufactured in PA have been recalled.

The voluntary recall only affects the United States and only effects dog food manufactured in their Everson, Pennsylvania facility.

The following brands are effected (and there are “types” affected in the brands, so please see the entire article for product codes):

Country Acres
Doggy Bag
Member’s Mark
Natural Cat/Dog
Pedigree
Ol’ Roy
Paws N Claws
Pet Pride
PMI Nutrition
Red Flannel
Retriever
Special Kitty
Wegman’s

The pet food is being recalled because it is potentially contamination with Salmonella. As you probably know, salmonella can cause serious infections in dogs and cats, and, there is the potential for cross contamination (caused by handling of the pet food) in people as well, especially children, the elderly, and people with immune system issues.

Here’s the Pedigree recall and the actual FDA recall press release for all the information. 

So please check your dog food carefully – if yours is included in the recall you can return the dog food where you bought it for a complete refund.

music calms the savage beast

Well, your dog is likely not a savage beast, but does your pup get distressed in the car when going to the vet, on a long car trip or just to grandma’s house? I found a new CD developed to calm your dog while traveling. From Through a Dog’s Ear: Music to Calm Your Dog in the Car is a 74 minute CD filled with calming classical music for you and your dog to enjoy and relax.

For $14.98+shipping you will receive the CD plus a booklet which addresses three degrees of dog anxiety from no visible issues to moderate/extreme distress. A 20 minute “travel prep” can be played before you get in the car to set the stage for an enjoyable trip.

The remaining soothing tracks should help calm your nervous canine so you can both enjoy the ride.

If you do purchase it, please come back and let us know what you think…Happy traveling!

what can I do about my overweight dog?

According to Parade.com “experts say that nearly 45% of all pets in the US are overweight and at risk for health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, high blood pressure and cancer.” There can be many reasons for dogs to be overweight but there are some simple things you can do to help change the situation. Some may seem obvious but they do work.

1) Cut down on the dog food.
Some overweight dogs, like people, have slow metabolisms – and then again, some are just lazy (and we love them for it!). But cutting down on their food and feeding them weight control dog food can be all it takes to put them back on track. Be sure you measure their dog food each time you serve up. Also, check out the Dog Pause dog bowl reviewed in Henry’s Lab for help in slowing your dog down when he eats.

2) Use vegetables for treats.
My dog, Jess loves carrots. My dog, Henry loves green beans. I didn’t know until Jess was 25 pounds overweight and I offered her carrots and she loves them! They are crunchy, chilled and delicious. Why not?  

3) Take your dog for a walk.
Obvious, but necessary. Dogs don’t usually exercise on their own so you need to help them get going. Go play in the park, take them on a run, or just chase them around the house. You should aim for getting your dog to play for around 30 minutes twice a day (or as much as you can). It’s also good for your health!

4) Don’t feed your dog from the dinner table.
Encourage them to stay in another room with their favorite blanket or toy. You will be less tempted to share and your dog can’t give you those big eyes.

My Jess was 25 pounds overweight and I followed these steps and I’m happy to say she is now at fighting weight! There isn’t always a complicated answer to overweight dog issues – sometimes it’s just a bit of common sense.

And don’t forget to give your dog lots of love – much better than treats.

what everyone should know about dogs and daffodils

Severe gastrointestinal disorder, convulsions, shivering, hypotension, dermatitis, muscular tremors, and cardiac arrhythmias. Sounds like a disease, doesn’t it?  Well, your dog could have these symptoms if they eat a daffodil.

Those lovely everyday flowers you have in the vase in your home or around your house can be detrimental, even fatal if your pup decides to nibble on it.

The ASPCA has compiled a list of the most frequently encountered dangerous and toxic plants for pets:

ASPCA’s TOXIC PLANTS LIST

You can also sign up to receive a Pet Safety Pack which includes an Animal Poison Control Center magnet and a pet rescue window decal to alert rescue personnel that pets are inside your home. And best of all, it’s FREE!

So when you’re doing your landscaping, you may want to have a look at the list to be sure you aren’t putting your pup in harms way. But if you think that your pet may have ingested a poisonous substance, contact your local veterinarian or the ASPCA’s 24-hour emergency poison hotline directly at 888.426.4435.

human shampoo

I read a letter written to Dog Fancy magazine regarding using human shampoo on dogs and thought it was good information to pass along…

Q. “When I give my dog a bath, I use human shampoo. I see no reason why I should buy dog shampoo when I don’t bathe her very often. Is it bad to use human shampoo?”

A. It may be convenient to share your shampoo with your dog, but it’s not the best thing for her. Human shampoo, which is pH-balanced for people but not for dogs, can dry out and damage your girl’s coat and skin. The resulting itchiness – aside from making your dog miserable – could cause her to scratch and chew her skin to the point of irritating and abrading it, which can set the stage for secondary bacterial or yeast infections.

Most dogs don’t need a lot of baths, as long as they don’t play in the mud, roll in something stinky or – worst of all – have a close encounter of the black-and-white kind. Regular brushing keeps the coat and skin healthy and odor-free.

When you bathe your dog, place cotton balls in her ears to keep them dry, and use only the smallest amount of shampoo needed to lather well. Rinse well, using a spray nozzle if possible. Then rinse her again to make sure you’ve gotten out all of the shampoo. Leftover shampoo residue will dull her coat and maker her itch. Next, stand back. You know she’s gonna shake!

holistic veterinary care

Did you see it on the Today Show? There is a vet in Long Island, NY who is having tremendous success helping and curing dogs by utilizing Chinese herbal combinations and acupuncture.

The stories are inspiring – the Today Show link just highlights Jill Rappaport from the show and her dog’s health issues but I saw a man with a beautiful St. Bernard who was actually on the Today show. His dog was on his death bed at 2 years old and is now happy and healthy (and drolled a bit on the set…so sweet).

Here’s another story I found about “Gus” whose tumor is now gone thanks to the good Dr. Wen. Gus’ Story

This guy is definitely worth a look if you have a sick dog which conventional medicine has not helped.

Dr. Wen, Holistic Vet in Long Island

Eddie’s Wheels

I recently learned about a fantastic company which unexpectedly touched my heart. Eddie’s Wheels is a company created out of necessity. Their beloved dog had a disease and couldn’t use his back legs. Without much encouragement from vets, they created a doggie cart so their pup could “walk,” “run,” and generally do all the things pups are suppose to do. Seing how happy their dog was and how much it contributed to her healing, they decided to build customized dog carts for other needy dogs.

Please have a look at their site and feel free to donate – they provided dog carts to Katrina victims, animal rehab clinics and to those who really can’t afford them. I met the owners and it was so moving to hear their stories. The happiest time is when the dogs leave their warehouse with their new cart, there is always floods of tears from all involved. Talk about doing great things for those in need.