Peque, el perro en ruedas

On April 27 I approached the Fira de la Terra in the Ciutadella Park, in the heart of Barcelona.

There I had stayed with my friends from Bichosraros and kat’s Club, associations with which I collaborate and that take care of disabled dogs and cats. I had the luxury of seeing how their great work grows, and how more and more people are sympathetic to them. Each association has dozens of protégés, each with a different story, but all with a common denominator. They have found their place.Perro con lesión de médula

I got to know Toya and Peque up close, two charms that use self-adjusting wheelchairs. Toya is a dog with a paralyzed hind leg and the other amputated. Peque is a little boy of a year and a half, incredibly affable, who suffered an injury to his spine that left his back legs totally immobilized. Both collected from the street. Both saved from a terrible end and lucky to have the best care. We leave you some images so you can see them.
Toya en su silla de ruedas de Ortocanis.comPerro en silla de ruedas
Toya y peque, perros discapcitados en su silla de ruedas

 

Carritos y sillas de ruedas para perrosWant to see them on the go? watch this video:

Toni Fernandez

Ortocanis.com

Férulas caninas

jumbo-perro ciego

Jumbo and his brother are two dogs that have not had it easy from the beginning. Both were born blind and abandoned. They were initially welcomed by a couple, both of them, but once the couple separated the boy stayed with the dogs and soon they were back on the street.

Perro ciego con carpos rotos

Being blind they knew that if they stayed together they had a better chance of surviving. But one night crossing a little-traveled road, they were both run over. There were several injuries suffered and the Jumbo carps never came to be welded but given the seriousness of the run over and the state in which they were found they were lucky to remain alive.

Jumbo-con-soportes de carpo

After a while the girl (ex-partner) learned that they had been abandoned and after months of searching she found them in a shelter. It took them in again and gives them the care they need.

The recent chest scar is from an operation to remove a hook he ingested on the beach while trying to feed. Now he is much better and they have put some carpal supports with which he can correct the position of these, relieve discomfort and avoid future injuries.

jumbo

“Despite being totally blind, they do not usually run into obstacles,” says their caregiver María Teresa R.. It’s amazing how well they’ve adapted and how they recognize the terrain before moving forward thanks to their tremendous sense of smell and fine-tuned ears. We were also moved to see the passion they show for their caregivers and the affection with which Jumbo conveys its gratitude.

Perro-jumbo-y-hermano-ciegos

Jumbo y Pati con cuidadores

Editor: Ortocanis.com Team

Video of Jumbo when he starts walking with the carpal supports:

Soporte para carpo

 

Blind people use a cane to orient themselves in space and know where there are obstacles. Other animals naturally use sound, whiskers or other warning devices.

Perro ciego

A blind dog also needs something to tell it when it is approaching an obstacle. Dennis Hacker, a veterinarian from California, told us how to manually make a “cane” for a blind dog.

Using an aluminum strip, which allows to give it the desired shape while providing a solid barrier for the dog, we make a ring that fits the harness, with a prudent angle so that it can turn its head and have mobility in it.

Medidas de bastón para perro ciego

To manufacture it, we need to take 3 measures:

A – From the front leg to the neck.
B – From the neck to the tip of the nose.
C – The diameter of the chest just behind the front legs.

 

 

Necessary material:

A – An aluminum strip of the correct size, these are the measures A + B multiplied by 3.
B – Leather harness, to fit on the chest. Remember that blind dogs tend to gain weight.
C – A riveting machine.
D – Rivets of 5 mm and 3-6 mm of reach.
E – Electric drill.
F – 5 mm helical drill bit.
G – Sandpaper.

The process for manufacturing is as follows:

Sand the edges of the aluminum so that they are round.

lija1 lija2

Ortocanis.comAttach the harness to the blind dog and adjust it to make it comfortable. It measures the distance between the centers of the vertical bands. This is where the ring-shaped aluminum bar is going to be put.

Medir distancia de las bandas del arnés para el perro ciego arnes3

Drill four holes into the aluminum strip. A hole at each end and then another pair of holes at the distance between the two harness fasteners (as indicated in the photograph above left).

Medidas para la barra de aluminio del arnés

Pierce the harness at the bottom of the vertical strips of the neck where we measure. This is where the aluminum band is attached to warn the dog that it is about to hit itself.

taladro

Bend the distance to the ends of the aluminum bar with an angle of 45 degrees. Then, bend gently and in the opposite direction to give shape of circumference to the central area.

aluminio aluminio3

Rivet the aluminum ring to the harness on the vertical leather straps closest to the dog’s head.

Arnés perro ciego

Now, with the harness on the dog, level the hoop at eye and nose level. Mark the measurement and rivet the ring on the back of the harness.

Arnés para perro ciego

We already have our cane ready for blind dogs!

Arnés para perros invidentes

The result is phascinating, a solution that will improve the lives of dogs with vision problems.
At first they feel confused and need to adapt, as soon as they understand the operation and see the improvement they quickly dodge the obstacles.

In case you are not one of those who have a lot of patience, the new harness for blind dogs is now available for sale.

Arnés para perro discapacitado

 

 

Glory was a stray dog that was beaten to the point of injury in such a way that its two front legs and one hind legs had to be amputated. Now he is living a second chance that will allow him to walk again.

This dog lives in Romania and a few months ago was brutally assaulted. A woman who had been caring for him took him to the vet and learned that three of his legs had to be amputated.

Vanessa Bamkin saw the photos of Glory online and decided to save the dog that is only 4 years old. Mrs Bamkin and her husband paid for Glory’s vaccinations and travelled to Romania to take the dog home to the UK.

Perro con 3 protesis

The Bamkins thought about giving Glory a more comfortable life and decided to raise funds through the internet. The surprise came when they managed to raise about 3,500 euros based on donations. This allowed them to acquire the three prostheses that Glory needed, being the first dog with triple prostheses on its legs in Europe.

Since Glory began using the prostheses, they have had to do tests to adjust them well.

“The case is not going to be to put three new legs on Glory and start running. This is a long-term project.” The canine physiotherapist commented. “Once she gets used to her new paws, she will have a second chance to live.”

Férulas caninas

 

ahorra en gastos del perroOn many occasions we face the decision making that involves maintaining care for our dog and reducing expenses without affecting their quality of life. In this post we explain some steps to follow to do this successfully and be sure that it does not have a positive impact on both the dog and you.

Benefits of living with a dog and expenses at home

28% of families make ends meet with difficulties in Spain. And 10% admit that they accumulate delays in the payment of receipts.

Living with a dog, like expanding the family with a child, involves expenses.

Living with a dog implies responsibility, care and, like expanding the family, necessary expenses. The new member of the family needs veterinary care, a good diet, as well as affection and games.

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In return, our new friend more than returns what he receives. Living with an animal makes life more enjoyable and develops human skills that are difficult to achieve otherwise.

But, we all know, that in a period of crisis, saving is imposed as a necessity. Therefore, below we show you some steps to follow to reduce the expenses of the dog without this shaking his quality of life.

 

1. Forecast the dog’s expenses: prepare a spreadsheet

The average income of a Spaniard was 9,321 euros in 2012, says the INE. In some cases, much lower.

When it comes to anticipating expenses, it is good to get used to drawing up a dog expense sheet. Include in it vaccines, food and veterinary check-ups. So we can get an idea of how much we will need to balance the accounts at home. The ideal is to sort the information by months and concepts to plan games and not take surprises.

2. Save by arranging visits to the vet

According to the Official College of Veterinarians of Madrid, the average veterinary care of a dog per year is about 200 euros between check-ups, vaccinations, cleanings and more specific attention.

To sustain and reduce the dog’s medical expenses, it is advisable to distribute visits to the veterinarian. Veterinarians recommend two visits a year, therefore, the idea is to match these visits with vaccinations and deworming.

Another of the premises is not to skip the visits, since the check-ups imply a review that can avoid diseases and major expenses is a future.

3. Offers at the vet and flat rates for dogs

Precios Veterinarios

Study on the average prices of veterinary consultations

Flat rates are also available with veterinarians, these rates involve paying a fixed amount per year that covers different services for the dog.

There are also other types of discounts: there are large family discounts, if the owner has three animals or more.

Ideally, ask, because ratesvary by clinic.

4. Discounts on dog food

According to the National Association of Pet Food Manufacturers, 284,199 tons of dog food are sold in Spain every year.

Buying large bags of animal feed reduces the price by almost half.

The price of a high-end dog food ranges between 6 and 7 euros per kilo, depending on the brands. However, one way to save is to buy larger bags of food: if you buy one of 15 or 20 kilos, the price is usually reduced by almost half.

Another way to buy good quality food and save is to make the purchase online. With this option you can access interesting offers that are only available on the internet.

5. Choose durable accessories

Colchón especial para perros

Sturdy dog bed

When buying necessary accessories for the animal, it is advisable to think long-term. If we need a special mattress for dogs, it is important to think that an adult dog will need a mattress adapted to rest for an elderly or arthritic pet and opt for one of better quality and more durable.

If a small mat is acquired when the animal is a puppy, the purchase will have to be repeated once the dog grows. It is better, therefore, to choose a large one from the beginning.

6. Homemade outerwear

Coats for the cold, canine raincoats for the rain… Making at home some of the garments that the dog may need is simple and economical. A little trick is enough.

7. Save on dog toys by making them at home

It is not necessary to spend money to have fun with our dog, he will always find himself happy with a toy. One possibility is to manufacture the toys at home and combine this option with a dose of entertaining proposals that do not need material objects, such as walks in the mountains and games that exercise the dog’s intelligence.

8. Have friends and family to take care of the dog

Turning to the social network to attend to our furry friends is a very good option when one needs to leave home for a few days. So we don’t have to spend money on professional caregivers and share our pet’s company with family and friends.

Seven out of ten Spaniards have taken care of the dogs of friends and family on occasion.

9. Education to avoid damage at home

The arrival of a puppy at home can be a headache. Small dogs are prone to smashing shoes, plants and even part of the furniture in the house. These messes involve an obvious extra expense.

These items of money can be avoided, since there are some guidelines or products such as anti-bites to avoid the destruction of the puppy.

Education and even resorting to a professional if necessary, can also be more of an investment than an expense when there is a problem of continuous behavior in the dog.

Source: consumer.es

Arnés de soporte para perros

In these dates so close to Christmas, many people consider it a good gift option to buy or adopt a dog. Experts recommend taking into account several important points before taking the plunge.

The purchase and adoption of animals is a decision that requires a commitment, and what might seem like an act of solidarity, can sometimes become a nightmare, and who bears the brunt is the animal adopted, point out the animal protection associations.

ortocanis blog

Questions that experts advise to ask yourself before giving or adopting a dog:

Do you give the dog to satisfy the illusion of a child?

Children are excited to share their lives with a dog or enlarge the family, a tender feeling that many of us have had, committing to walk it daily and take care of it. Keep in mind that although their intention is good, children are not mature enough to make this decision and take responsibility. The decision to have a dog or any other animal must be in common agreement with all members of the family, for the happy coexistence with the animal.

What kind of dog do I adopt?

Christmas should not be the excuse to adopt a dog of a certain breed, of which we do not know its characteristics and its needs can not be adequately covered. According to José Luis Torres, veterinarian of the Society for the Protection of Animals and Plants of Madrid, “this approach is usually one of the most common mistakes among dog adopters”.

Another frequent mistake is to adopt a dog when you do not have enough free time to take care of it. A dog is a living being with needs and one of them is to exercise. We must be aware of this before planning to enlarge the family.

Is the dog a surprise gift?

It is not advisable to give a dog to someone who has not even planned to have it or who although he has ever thought about it, is not ready yet. Having a pet requires prior planning. Analyze if time, space and if it will continue to be so in the future and it is also necessary to consult it previously with all the members of the household, as we already mentioned. “These surprise gifts end in abandonment,” says Torres.

christmas-lights-dog-Favim.com-532972

Another point to keep in mind when adopting a dog at Christmas is to let go and relax too much for the fact of being on vacation. Torres warns that “it is a mistake that the dog adopted on vacation spends all the time accompanied, because when the routine is resumed, he will not be accustomed to loneliness and could develop behavioral problems.

 

Christmas can also be a good time to plan the future life with our new friend, taking into account the real schedules of the family members and thus be able to cover their needs. And as a member of the family that he is we can take care of him as such, with affection and respect. They will thank you all your life.

Source: consumer.es

Anuncio-botas

 

The animal had lost a leg in an accident before being found by a retiree willing to help him. Not finding the right prosthesis, veterinarians resorted to a particular solution.

Tortuga con prótesis en la pata

The animal was seriously injured in Neuried, southern Germany, thanks to an ingenious solution with Lego pieces it was able to recover its ability to walk.

“Schildi”, as the turtle was named by those who received it after its accident, had lost one of its legs and with that its mobility and autonomy, this fact could have led to its death in a short time, but its fate changed radically with an original low cost prosthesis.

A retiree from the city of Sttutgart found “Schildi” and transferred her to the Animal Shelter of Neuried, where they were able to cure what was left of the front leg, strongly affected by an infection.

The veterinarian Marcelo Bürkle did not rest in his efforts to find a solution to the lack of a prosthesis on the market for the lost leg, until he saw in his clinic the daughter of one of his employees with Lego construction toys.

The doctor used his creativity and stuck a lego wheel in the place of the turtle’s paw, which allowed him to regain mobility and thus save his life.

Source: www.infobae.com

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An example of overcoming A disabled dog competes in an agility contest with his wheelchair.

Zip has five titles of agility champion, achieved before an accident left her paralyzed.

Un perro discapacitado compite en un concurso de agilidad con su silla de ruedas Perra discapacitadaA CNN viewer presented a video of herself and her disabled Border Collie competing in an agility contest in Pensacola, Florida.

The owner of the dog commented: “Zip has taught me many lessons, one of them is that you can not let a disability put you on a sofa.” “Many are already those who have told me that they were going through a difficult time in their lives and seeing the case of Zip gave them hope and grabbed the problem by the horns.”

Proceeds raised from zip’s exhibit and his guide Sue went toward cancer research in dogs.

Owners often ask themselves questions about whether to shelter their pets in winter, this question at the same time comes with many others of this type:

Don’t dogs already have enough hair?
Is it a bit ridiculous?
Does it depend on the breed?
Does it depend on the area?

Is it normal in small dogs that are colder and silly in large breed dogs and especially with long hair?

All these questions may have more than one answer, but in general we SHOULD shelter dogs in winter, especially if we are in cold areas.

Older dogs are more likely to suffer from cold than younger dogs, who have more vitality. Older dogs especially with problems such as osteoarthritis suffer a lot with the drop in temperatures, we must do something to protect dogs with osteoarthritis from cold weather.
Dogs small breeds are more prone to cold than large ones, so they should be warmer.
There are some large breeds that are very prone to suffer cold and have a very bad time especially very short-haired dogs such as greyhounds.
The amount of hair influences, we will not shelter a Nordic dog in a Mediterranean city, but perhaps yes, if we go to the snow at sub-zero temperatures and do not do physical activity.

Regarding the ridicule is very opinionable, I could be more embarrassed to see the dog shiver and do nothing to help him.abrigo-para-perro
Elderly dogs are very grateful for a blanket in winter, and even in warmer times if they suffer from osteoarthritis in the spine or hips, the typical hip dysplasias of Golden, German Shepherd … they improve a lot with special thermal blankets. In winter especially if the dogs live in cold areas, or very humid or mountain, when we do not want the dogs to get wet on their outings, we can use waterproof blankets that also protect the muscles and joints from the inclemencies of the weather.

In summary, if we have a small breed dog or a large breed with short hair, or an elderly animal in any of its breeds and sizes , we must shelter it in winter.

 

Ortocanis technical team

Baner silla 728x90

Ortesis de codo para perros con higromas o callosThe five keys to having a healthy and happy dog at home and enjoy it

There are different aspects that are important when we have a dog as a pet at home. Having a healthy pet means not only having it in good health but also other aspects.

The care of the health of the pet, hygiene and a correct education of the dog are the three pillars of the good coexistence of dogs and people.

The health of the pet is an aspect of vital importance, a healthy dog can bring us problems but a sick dog or with a weak state of health will surely bring them to us.

Healthy Habits are essential to maintain the good health of our pets:

  • Routine veterinary visits and vaccinations
  • Regular physical activity

duc-i-ana-2If we complement it with a correct hygiene (also important for health) and a careful education of the dog important for the family-dog relationship, we will have a set of aspects that will greatly improve the relationship with our dog, its quality of life and that of the whole family.

The correct feeding:

Dogs must eat feed, many times we wonder if it would not be better for dogs to eat homemade food, or if they can live well with what is left over from a house, as it was done before. The answer is always the same, canine feed is a complete, balanced food, formulated by veterinary nutritionists who determine the needs of each dog according to their breed, age and physical activity and develop the most balanced and complete diet.

Canine feed, as long as we buy the type that best suits our animal, will be the best food we can give our pet. We must respect the measures recommended by the same brand or ask for help from our veterinarian, he will be the most suitable to explain the amount of feed you should eat and in cases where necessary if we can complement it with a special dietary supplement.

Routine visits and vaccinations:

Not only for our pet but also for everyone else in the neighborhood, even for our own safety and those of the people who live with us or our neighbors it is extremely important that we keep the dog’s vaccination card up to date.

Proper vaccination prevents diseases that can become very serious for our animals.

Hygiene:

It is another important aspect, although sometimes forgotten about pets, hygiene not only means taking the dog clean, but taking care of its skin, its hooves, its mouth and therefore its breath, and that it has the appropriate place to relieve itself without staining and where we can pick them up and deposit them in the appropriate place.

Depending on the type of dog, the breed, its physical activity we must wash it more or less, and in certain breeds we must have special attention to specific points. For example, Cockers have a special tendency to make recurrent otitis, even chronic, this is because due to the position of their ears and their size, the ears breathe very little and it is an excellent breeding ground for bacteria and fungi; it is avoided with a simple spray every so often and a correct washing of the dog’s ears much more commonly than is necessary in other breeds.PastedGraphic-1

It is good to be informed of these aspects when we adopt or incorporate a new member into the family. You can consult in many forums specific to dog breeds, kennels, dog clubs and of course whenever you have doubts to the Veterinarian.

Physical activity:

It is the great forgotten in Spanish dogs, I feel envious when I see in American movies the dogs doing physical activity with their owners in Central Park …

Some privileged Spanish dogs go for a walk three or four times a day, but they go for a walk to relieve themselves and especially in winter these walks are limited almost exclusively to this activity. It’s not that it’s wrong to take the dog out to urinate or defecate, the problem is that too many dogs ONLY come out to urinate and defecate.

The walk should be an important part of the owner’s relationship with his animal, the dog should feel free, satisfied, happy with the walk and should serve for him to do physical activity. Therefore it is important that one or two of the walks that the dog takes throughout the day is much longer and the dog, especially if it is young, can run freely, jump, play with other dogs …

Education:

Another aspect in which, as a whole, although it hurts to recognize it, we have been a few years behind Western Europe and the United States in Spain, even with certain Latin American countries, is the education of our dogs.

Many times we complain that they do not let us enter hotels, restaurants, shops or cafes with our dog. It is true that we can oppose many problems if we look for a hotel where pets are accepted in certain Spanish cities. On the other hand, many of us have traveled to Holland, Belgium or of course the United Kingdom and have seen small dogs on planes, and larger dogs in Perro en silla de ruedascafes and restaurants. We have seen them but we have not heard them, nor have we smelled them nor have we noticed their presence until the owners of the animal have left the premises. The dog was missing the entire time he was in the restaurant. Nothing like the dogs that you can find in beach bars, which is one of the few places where they accept them, and not always, competing for the neighbor’s croquette or for the piece of ham that has fallen to the lady or for directly the grilled cuttlefish that have brought you and smell wonderful.

We must sing a collective mea culpa about the education of the Spanish canine cabin, to more and better education more and better respect and understanding on the part of people who do not have pets. A dog that does not bother anyone would not count anyone and few people oppose its presence. A dirty dog, with a foul breath when he throws it directly to the face of the neighbor’s baby who in his stroller filling it with drool and scaring the child is normal to provoke the upset reaction of the child’s parents.

Orthocanis Veterinary Team

www.ortocanis.com

Ayudas para perros con artrosis