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Very often a dog will suffer spinal damage from degenerative processes. This is usually referred to as “slipped discs,” but they are not really discs at all, and they have not really slipped. Essentially what has occurred is a loss of resiliency between the vertebrae, and so-called slipped disc can be the result of an accident or, more likely, a gradual degenerative progression that shows itself in one of the body’s weakened areas.

A contributory factor could be lack of exercise (a sedentary lifestyle in which the older dog very frequently indulges). Lack of exercise decreases blood flow to vital areas, slackening the muscles and allowing the intervertebral “shock absorbers” to become thinner and less resilient, thereby leading to possible perforation upon impact. Diet is also a factor, since the cells that make up the “shock absorbers” are being starved for nutrients, which impairs their vitality and regenerative ability.

Whether the origin lies in degeneration from lack of exercise and poor nutrition, or the slipped disc results from an auto accident or other acute calamity, rehabilitative factors remain the same. The dog needs to be put on an optimum diet containing ample amounts of vitamin C and its complex, the bioflavonoids. The dog needs to maximize his digestive potential with the use of enzyme therapy, taken both internally and by injection at the site of the ailing disc. Raw grated vegetables and sprouts should be added to the food as sources of additional live enzymes, vitamins, and minerals in a readily available form. The herb comfrey is a most valuable addition to the diet in all bone disorders. The entire matter of diagnosis, diet, and injection should be discussed thoroughly with your vet.

Exercise up and down the stairs should be stopped temporarily, as it will only serve to put more pressure on the already weakened spinal joint. The dog should remain on level ground, placing newspapers in the house if necessary, as it can be a toss-up, in severe cases, between temporary paper training and paralysis. As the dog begins to rise and walk on his own, then slow walks on level ground can be encouraged. When the dog is feeling much stronger, you can slowly reintroduce more vigorous exercise, including the resumption of climbing stairs.

Slipped discs do not suddenly appear mysteriously, and they will not subside mysteriously either. If you are taking proper precautions with diet and exercise, the chances of your older dog suffering slipped discs are happily minimized. Should you also take vital precautions and not allow your dog out without a leash, then you are eliminating the chances of his getting a slipped disc through his being struck by a car. Remember that a slipped disc can lead to paralysis and impairment of vital motor and excretory functions and this can most certainly lead to death.

Indoor potty training is the way to go if you have a dachshund puppy. This is true for miniature dachshund puppies as well as for those of the standard variety. I love dachshunds in general but am partial to the miniature dachshund. This article is primarily meant for those who have a single dachshund puppy.

Indoor training will spare you some of the unpleasantries of having a dachshund that must go outside. Who wants to get up at 5 AM in the morning, when it is rainy or cold or, when you are watching a great movie? It is also better on the dachshund’s bowels and bladder if they can go potty anytime they want.

Start the potty training as soon as possible once you get your new best friend home. Dachshund puppies are quite small so even if they do make a mess it is no big deal. However, having them make a mess on a hard floor is preferable as it is much easier to clean than if they go on carpet. For the first few days you have your doxie at home, I suggest you have them mostly contained to a room with a hard floor…like in a bathroom. Don’t worry, you can get them out to play and can go into their area to spend as much time with them as you wish. I suggest having some Nature’s Miracle around when a mess on the carpet (it will happen) does occur. You will be amazed at the power and efficiency of this product.

Place everything your dachshund puppy needs in the contained area i.e. their bed, food and, potty. If you are lucky, the breeder has already initiated the paper training which will make it easier for you and your dachshund puppy. Start the puppy’s training off on some newspaper. If and when they make a mess on the floor put a little of the pee or poop on the newspaper or preferably between a few pieces of newspaper. They will smell this and will begin to associate this as the place for them to do their business. Some people utilize wee wee pads but I never did.

Very gently chastise your dachshund puppy when they don’t perform well; they will feel the disappointment in your voice. Never yell at them as they are incredibly sensitive and will be very hurt. They very much want to please you! Do not praise them or give them a treat when they make a mistake. Just keep working with them and your dachshund puppy will soon get it right. When they do get it right praise them and give them a treat. Your puppy will be so happy! It won’t be long until they start getting it right most of the time! You will develop your own little system as times goes by.

One purpose of this article is to spare you some of the mistakes I’ve made over the years. My mini dachshund (Charlie) is almost 12 years old and I have experimented with several indoor potty techniques over the years. I started off with newspaper (paper training) but as your dachshund puppy grows, you will tire of them stepping in their own urine, transferring urine or, having the urine drain off the newspaper onto the floor.

Dachshunds have a quirk where if their front paws are on the paper they think their entire body is on the paper. This causes a number of near misses…especially since their body is long like a hot dog. Improvement was made when I placed a plastic hallway runner under the newspaper. At some point, I then purchased a large litter box and then placed newspaper in that and a hallway runner under the litter box.

You will so love your dachshund puppy that messes won’t matter much. However, as years go by, the messes have a way of growing on you. Once Charlie got into his 10th year or so I started to get quite tired of dealing with the messes. It is a labor of love however and unavoidable.

Just recently, I discovered and purchased a Wizdog Indoor Potty System. How I wish I had discovered this years ago! Wizdog consists of a large plastic pan with a separate plastic grate on top. You place newspaper in the bottom of the device. The dog does it’s business on top of the grate and the urine falls into the tray below. No more wet footprints or urine on the floor. The poop is easy to clean off the top of the grate. This is so much better than the intermediate steps I went through over the years. Charlie is taking to this upgrade well—messes transferred to the floor have decreased dramatically. I’m happier now too as the messes are more contained and much easier to clean. Wizdog and Nature’s Miracle can be found and purchased through my dachshund and pet oriented site.

Although Golden Retrievers are very sociable, lovable dogs many of them end up in rescue centers each year for a variety of reasons. These centers are typically run by volunteers who care for the dogs until a new owner is found. You may have wondered if golden retriever adoption is a good option for you. We will look at the advantages and disadvantages of adoption and where you can find your dog if you do choose to adopt.

Should I Adopt a Golden Retriever?
The first question to ask yourself is whether adoption is a good path for you. If you have no dog ownership experience then you should not adopt a dog. Many of these Goldens have been mistreated and require good dog handling and training skills to make them well balanced retrievers again. Also you need to be certain that you are committed to long term ownership otherwise the dog will not be much better off in the long run. If you have owned dogs successfully in the past – ideally Golden Retrievers then you should definitely consider adoption. You will be putting your skills and experience towards improving one more dog’s life.

Why Do Goldens End Up in Rescue Centers?
Many abandoned dogs come from less responsible breeders who breed more puppies than they can sell. Some come from owners who neglect or mistreat their dogs. Sometimes it isn’t the owners fault for the dog’s position – the owner may be forced to move house or change locations where keeping a dog isn’t feasible.

Places Where You Can Adopt a Golden Retriever
There are two main places where abandoned Goldens end up: animal shelters and breed rescue centers. Animal shelters cater to a wider variety of pets (mostly cats and dogs) whereas breed rescue centers are places for just one particular breed of dog. If you don’t have one particular breed in mind animal rescue centers would be a good place to look. You would be able to select from a range of dogs and find the best one regardless of breed. If you are set on adopting a Golden Retriever then you should definitely contact breed rescue centers in your area and view some of the dogs. In most rescue centers the dogs still receive plenty of care from volunteer owners who often run foster homes for the dogs. If you do decide to adopt a dog, you will have to submit an application and you will receive a house visit to make sure you can provide a good home for your new dog.

For more information on golden retriever adoption check out my site at www.goldenretrieverinstruction.com where you can learn more about golden retriever adoption and how to be successful in your adoption application.