Funny Pet Videos: A Dog Carousel

When Maestro saw this, he started to bark and whine. He's jealous of this dog on a carousel:

Meatball is a Pembroke Welsh Corgi. His human grandpa made him this dog carousel. What a lucky dog!

Petcam Video: Canuck Winters from the Dog's POV

Now that Maestro's canine arthritis and I.V.D.D. appears to be stabilizing, he has started to use his Mr. Petcam a bit more. We have some friends and family who have never seen snow before, so he happily puts up with the Petcam to show off Canadian winter. I think it's mainly because he likes the attention he gets when wearing it:

This is Maestro's first Winter 2013 video with his petcam. It was taken on Friday, December 13, 2013:

One friend from Australia is completely fascinated by how crunchy the snow sounds when we walk on it.

This is a video in which Maestro shows off a typical day of errands. If you can stomach the motion, he shows his pre-acupuncture arthritic gait (listen for the uneven rhythm). Towards the end, he shows off his post-treatment gait, which is a bit more fluid:

Maestro had barely a limp (if at all) after his treatment. Last week, Dr. Mark from the Bridlewood Vet Clinic said that the arthritic pain is under control and that now, we are just managing the stiffness with his canine acupuncture, angelica-mastic medication and his laser therapy. A nice Christmas present for the guy.

Brr! It was cold that day (-18 degrees Celsius). Not as cold as it was earlier this month. With the petcam, the snow looks more intimidating from a small dog's POV.

Gift Ideas for Older Dogs

Looking for gift ideas for your senior dog? Here are seven Christmas gift or birthday gift ideas that Maestro and I recommend for the older dog in your family:

Snoozer Scalloped Pet Stairs for Canine Arthritis

Available on Amazon.ca, the Snoozer Scalloped Pet Stairs is at the top of our list ($57.50 CAD and up). Maestro used to have the Pet Gear Easy Step II Pet Stair ($37.56 CAD and up), but once he was diagnosed with canine arthritis and I.V.D.D, the stairs had to go. The impact was too hard on his joints.

Maestro's old stairs had to go once he was diagnosed with Inter-vertebral Disc Disease. Photo by R-M Arca.

The Snoozers are so soft (yet firm). It's much easier on his joints:

This Snoozer Scalloped Pet Ramp is easier on Maestro's joints. Photo by R-M Arca.

A Dog Ramp to Ease Joint Pain in Dogs

If you are crafty, you could make your own dog ramp. Just make sure the angle isn't too steep.

If we didn't have the Snoozers, we would have purchased Mr. Herzher's Smart Ramp Jr ($72.99 USD at PetSmart). There is a full-sized version of Mr. Herzher's Smart Ramp  on Amazon as well as PetSmart ($143.99 USD and up).

If you need a pet ramp for your vehicle, check out the Pet Gear Full Length Tri-Fold Pet Ramp. It's also available on both Amazon and PetSmart ($129.99 USD).

A Dog Jacket or Sweater

Just like us, older dogs have achy joints. Keeping them warm helps immensely!

When we experienced that cold snap a few weeks ago, Maestro refused to let me remove his plaid Bailey & Bella jacket from Pet Valu:

Maestro really loves this dog jacket by Bailey & Bella. Photo by R-M Arca.

Believe it or not, I had to go back to Pet Valu to order him a second jacket. The first one is currently in the wash.

A Therapeutic Dog Bed to Soothe Aching Joints in Dogs

When he was younger, Maestro loved his dog crate. Now, he needs more room to get settled and a softer, warmer surface.

If money were no object, I'm sure Maestro would love an infrared Thermotex Therapeutic Dog Bed. It retails between $178 to $238.80 CAD. In the summer, I bought us a Thermotex Infrared Therapy pad. Sure, it costs more money ($249 CAD), but at least we both can use it:

There are alternative therapeutic dog beds. At PetSmart, you can check out the Precision Pet SnooZZy Round OrthoAir Mattress Dog Bed ($99 USD) and Canine Cushion Orthopedic Fabric and Fleece Dog Bed  ($20 USD).

Amazon has a variety of therapeutic dog beds. They range between $32,85 to $86.06 CAD.

Enzymatic Oral Hygiene Chews for Dogs

Gum disease is common in older dogs. Bottom line, they need to clean their teeth, but the treats must be gentle on their sensitive gums.

Maestro really likes his lamb pizzles from Pet Valu. His second favourite go-to dental chew are his enzymatic oral hygiene chews that we get at the vet. You can also find them on Amazon.

Wheat-free biscuits for Arthritic Dogs

Wheat is bad for dogs with arthritis. Lately, Maestro has been enjoying think!dog Crawfish Dog Biscuits:

He gets his fruits and veggies too. Our usual go-to wheat-free dog cookies are Fruitables Crunchy Dog Treats and Nutro Natural Choice Crunchy Dog Treats. Really, any dog cookie that is wheat free is fine for the older dog in your family.

Paw Protection for All Dogs

If you live in a cold climate, paw protection goes a long way at preserving your furry buddy's paw pads. All the dogs in our family own a set of Muttluks:

They retail for $50 CAD and above. The major pet stores in Canada sell them, although you can also find them online at Amazon or PetSmart.

Recently, I picked up a FouFou Pet Fou Stick Paw Balm for Pets. If Maestro isn't out for too long, it's a lot easier to slap on the paw palm than it is to put on his dog booties!

Whether your are shopping for Christmas gifts or birthday gifts for you older dog, we hope this list gives you a few ideas to check out. How about you? Do you have any gift ideas for older dogs that you'd recommend for Maestro to try out?

Diggin' the Laser Therapy

Maestro laser.jpg

After six months of laser therapy for his canine arthritis and I.V.D.D., Maestro is still enjoying the benefits of this non-invasive treatment.

Paralyzed Hedgehog Gets Wheelchair

This seven-month hedgehog had an accident that left his hind legs paralyzed. Thanks to Exootic Vets, the creators of his custom-made wheelchair, this paralyzed hedgehog can walk once again: