Great Tips from Our Clients
Great Ideas Clients Have Taught Us
This newsletter will highlight some amazing ideas we’ve heard from clients to make their pet’s care easier. Maybe some of these will help you!
Cold Pack
This is one we got just recently and it’s absolutely brilliant! For patients that need cold applied to decrease pain or swelling, this is a fantastic way to do it. In the past, we have recommended a dampened hand towel placed in a plastic bag then into the freezer for a while to chill. This can work, but may need to thaw a bit to wrap around a neck or limb. Our client told us a solution! If you have a vacuum-type food saver, you can make a bag whatever size and shape you need. Seal on three sides, then fill with corn or maple syrup and seal the last edge. Place this in the freezer. The syrup will remain flexible so you can use it on any body part right after you remove from the freezer. What a great idea!
Pill Pockets
We had a client with a Chihuahua that needed several medications daily. She shared her recipe for pill pockets with us, and it’s quite easy. Mix together 2 Tbsp flour, 1 Tbsp organic unsweetened or naturally sweetened peanut butter {no artificial sweeteners!}, and 1 Tbsp water. You can multiply the recipe as needed. Mix well, roll into balls the size you want, and you can keep in the fridge or freezer in a sealed container until needed. We add that you could possibly use a meat baby food instead of or in addition to the peanut butter, adjusting the flour and water accordingly for the correct Play-dough-like consistency.
Sling for disabled pets
While Dr Leonard highly recommends the Help ‘Em Up harness for pets who need long-term assistance with hind leg weakness, sometimes pets just need help temporarily, such as after a surgery on a knee or back. An inexpensive way to make a comfortable sling if you have some sewing skills is as follows: Purchase a cheap fabric shopping bag such as from Walmart. Remove the handles and sew them onto the narrower sides instead of the wide front and back. Cut the front and back panels off, so you are left with the narrow ends with the handles attached, and the bottom. Sew a piece of artificial lambs wool or some fleece with some padding under it onto the bottom for comfort. Voila! A comfortable sling that only cost you a few dollars!
Wagon or stroller for transport or walks
Many dogs as they age or have back problems may not have the endurance for long walks, but still want to go along. Especially if you have other dogs you’re walking, they may be sad if they can’t keep up anymore. For larger dogs, the fabric-sided collapsible wagons can work quite well for anything around the size of a Labrador or smaller. Throw a blanket in the bottom and take the wagon on your walk. When your senior pet gets tired, let them ride in the wagon for a while. If they get restless, let them get out and walk again. This is great way to let your more able pets get their exercise while the older pet can feel included. You can also use this way to get your disabled pet to a park or other area to get some exercise there without having a long walk to get there then be too tired to explore. Likewise, for smaller dogs a pet stroller can work very well for this same purpose. We have also known clients to get jogging strollers with the larger wheels for trail walks, if your pet will fit in it. You may want to have a second person along to help lift the pet in and out, or to supervise at first to make sure your pet doesn’t try to leap out. Many of them relax and enjoy the ride once they realized they’re being included more. If you have a particularly small dog, you could use one of the pet slings/backpacks similarly. Often, a senior pet will show great benefit in quality of life by being included on family outings in this way.
Tonic food and herb delivery
We often recommend “tonic foods” or herbs or spices to be added to a pet’s food in order to help them using Chinese Food Therapy. Some of these have a somewhat strong flavor and won’t always be palatable when just mixed with their food. One way you can make this work is to add these to ground meat and lightly cook them in meatball form, giving a meatball with each meal. Alternatively, you can make “cookies” by mixing the recommended tonics with some egg, perhaps a bit of baking powder, and enough flour to make a cookie dough consistency then baking them in cookie form of appropriate size for your pet at 350 for 8-15 minutes depending on size. Just make sure when you store them that they are properly labeled as PET treats! As long as they aren’t cooked too long, the additives will still work just fine.
Bath time aids
Some of our pets with skin issues need frequent bathing, and medicated shampoos usually need to be left on as lather for 10 minutes prior to rinsing. Some ways to make this easier include the following. Using an enclosed bath, or a shower with closing door, can make the 10-minute wait easier. You could even bathe at meal time and let your pet eat during the wait. Alternatively, you may be able to use a leash tied to a wall-mounted soap dish or even the faucet to help contain your pet. A towel on the floor of the tub will give your pet more secure footing and help reduce their anxiety. If you have a tile wall, you can smear canned pet food, baby food, or all-natural peanut butter on the wall of the tub to distract your pet while you give them their bath. Make sure the water is comfortably warm but not hot.
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