While checking twitter this morning I came across an article about a new potential solution for dogs with arthritis. While it sounds expensive and we haven’t seen long-term benefits of it YET, I’ll be keeping an eye on this.

In June of 2010 Hank woke up one morning and could barely walk. He limped along and didn’t want to go up and down the stairs (a problem in a townhouse). So, we took him to the vet and after some x-rays discovered that our 4-year-old lab has arthritis.

We talked with friends who have had dogs with arthritis and did a bit of research. We decided to try naturopathic pain relief and acupuncture for Hank. YES Acupuncture for the dog. (We know, we promise not to reproduce.) And the acupuncture has been a good solution for Hank. Except Hank HATES needles. In fact his vet has to special order needles they use on birds for Hank. He now goes each change of season for his acupuncture appointment and we load up a Kong with cheese for him. He LOVES the vet – it’s the place with all the cheese!

This past fall our vet started offering laser therapy and we thought that might be a great solution since the bernese mountain dogs across the street from us had AMAZING success with it. But laser therapy didn’t work for Hank right now. So, we continue with acupuncture, walks, supplements, diet changes and swimming – Hank loves to swim!

Someday it may also include a stem cell injection, but for now, bird needles and keeping the weight off are doing OK.

One of the things I want to do with this blog is to write on behalf of Hank, so today Hank & I are going to have a short RANT about dog poop.

Yup, evidently we need to remind people to pick up after our dogs. I know with the snow and all this rain lately that it’s easy to “forget” to pick up after your dog when you’re walking him. Here’s the request:

1. Don’t poop in the middle of the sidewalk

2. PICK IT UP!

You got a dog, there’s responsibilities with a dog, and I think we all know, Everyone Poops. So why the heck is is so hard for you to pick up after your dog? There are pet waste stations every block in most neighborhoods these days. If you have a dog, you have poop bags laying around the house, or an empty bag from the store. Make sure to take 2, Hank is notorious for pooping twice when I only grabbed one bag. Thanks buddy…

The real issue here is the environment. Besides making all your neighborhood dog owners look bad, it’s bad for the environment. The fine folks at Pooper Troopers wrote a great article a couple years ago on dog waste – and they have great resources on their website – plus they’ll come pick up for you. AWESOME. Dog waste is toxic and the way the water system works in Seattle, if you leave your dog crap on the street, it gets into the drains and then you’re eating salmon filled with dog crap. And that’s DISGUSTING. (yes i’m exaggerating, SORT OF).

Please do your dog and Hank a favor and pick up after your dog. If you can’t exert the energy to do that, you should have gotten a cat.