I think if I was a dog with a health problem, I would want to live with Mary Straus. A gifted researcher and devoted dog owner, Straus has the ability to climb mountains of medical journals and emerge with the key points that can make a difference in the diagnosis, care, and treatment of a sick or compromised dog. I’m thrilled to have her writing for WDJ. Straus’ article “Involuntary Urination” is a wealth of information about helping dogs with urinary incontinence.
One point that Mary didn’t mention in her article – probably because it seemed too obvious to her – was that you should never punish or even admonish your previously housetrained dog if you suddenly start finding puddles of urine in odd places in the house.
They are probably as mystified and horrified by the discovery of their leakage as you are. Dogs who mark their territory by lifting their legs and urinating on significant items or prominent places in the house – that’s a different problem, one we covered in “Permanent Markers?” in the April 2003 issue. But if there are wet spots in places where your dog has slept – on the couch, on his bed, or on your bed – you need to make an appointment with your veterinarian right away to diagnose the cause of the incontinence and find the best treatment for your dog.
I would imagine that most of us have been to a dog park at some time. That probably also means that most of us have been struck by some of the rude and perhaps dangerous behavior manifested by some dogs – and people! – at some dog parks. These hazards are usually outweighed, however, by the benefits of a safely contained venue for off-leash play and exercise. In “Dog Park Etiquette,” Pat Miller offers some basic rules of etiquette that, if observed by a majority of park-goers, could vastly improve the enjoyment and safety of all puppy playground visitors.
Last month, CJ Puotinen offered a wealth of information about helping your dog quickly heal his wounds. Not covered in that article were hot spots and lick granulomas, which she remedies in this issue. See “Accelerated Wound Healing.”
Instead of fixing problems, this month, animal acupressure experts Nancy Zidonis and Amy Snow tell us how to try to prevent health problems from arising in our dogs in the first place. Give the “acupressure for health maintenance” session described in “TCM Doctors” a try, and see if your dog seems brighter and feels better.
Finally, holistic veterinarian Randy Kidd discusses canine pain: what causes it, and most importantly, what dog owners can do about it. See “Canine Pain Management” for a world of information.
Before I moved my home and home-office, I put out a call to all my past and current writers for extra submissions, to help me accumulate articles for the editorial “bank,” as a buffer against having too little time to write myself. Champions that these writers are, the articles are starting to pour in. I look forward to presenting our readers with their combined fun, wisdom, innovative solutions, and depth of experience. Until then, stay cool!
