It is not uncommon for owners starting fitness plans with their dogs to expand their own canine gym at home. Having some equipment at home, either DIY or purchased, can help progress exercises faster and in creative ways. My favorite piece of equipment for my canine gym is the original FitPaws FitBone. Continue…
Urinary and fecal incontinenceUrinary and fecal incontinence is the lack of ability to control the bladder and bowel movements. This issue can occur in cats and dogs, just like humans – after all, they make Depends for a reason! Reasons for urinary incontinence may be hormone induced, drug reactions, disease process, trauma to the central nervous system, and/or damage to the pudendal nerve (the nerve that controls the bladder and colon). Some common causes for fecal incontinence include difficulty or pain when posturing to defecate (which happens with arthritis), or decreasing communication between the nerves of the colon and the brain. Urinary and fecal incontinence is unfortunately one of the leading reasons why our pets are euthanized. It is important to understand that these pets are not intentionally having these accidents and it is a medical issue so always consult your veterinarian to see if the underlying cause can be found. Sometimes, looking at incontinence from a rehabilitation perspective is also helpful. What if there was a way we could combat this issues from a neurologic standpoint? Continue…
