Review: Waterproof Blankets for Paralyzed and Senior Incontinent Dogs

Posted May 12, 2015 by Barbara Techel

Gidget almost blends right into her waterproof blanket!

Every now and then I get to test a product for special needs pups. Well, I guess you could say Miss Gidget got to test this particular product!

Catherine of Blankets in Bloom sent me one of her very soft, well made waterproof blankets to give it a test run.

From her etsy shop some helpful information about the blankets:

This new line of WATERPROOF dog blankets is convenient to use and provides an added layer of comfort for your dog. These blankets are made with a flexible, durable, quality waterproof barrier fabric, known as PUL, as an inner lining. The PUL used is environmentally safe is flexible, durable fabric is as PUL, this quality waterproof barrier fabric is made with a process that uses no toxic solvents, and it is environmentally safe.

I like the fact that with an incontinent dog that if overnight Gidget has an accident, the urine soaks into the PUL lining, leaving her drier until morning. I’ve washed the blanket a few times now and I must say, it washes up really nice and has retained it’s softness and shape.

This particular blanket shown above comes with ties on the corners, so if you have a burrower, like doxie’s are prone to be, you can secure it in each corner of a wire crate.

Also from Catherine’s description about her blankets serving the needs of paralyzed dogs:

We have also learned from the paralyzed dog community and those who have dogs with incontinence issues, how this product is beneficial. It is great to be able to put the blanket where it will be helpful, then stick it in the wash with fewer issues of wetness soaking through to the floor, crate, furniture or other place on which it is set.

If you plan to use the blanket on the floor or furniture and have a dog who loves to burrow, I would suggest getting two. Gidget immediately burrowed under hers when I placed it on the floor for her to check out.

I now keep it in her mesh crate she sleeps in overnight. I just place it over her bed inside the crate and she leaves it in place because I have another blanket to cover her. If you know dachshunds- they can never have enough blankie’s!

Thank you to Catherine for allowing us to give the blanket a try and share with our readers. Miss Gidget and I approve with a thumbs up and a tail wag!

Thank you for subscribing to Joyfulpaws.com

Outside My Writing Cottage Window- Life is in Full Swing.

Posted May 11, 2015 by Barbara Techel

Just like that. My whole yard is alive.

Yellow finches at my feeder. Robins splashing in the bird bath right outside my writing cottage door. Hummingbirds dashing back and forth to the sweet nectar hanging within site of my writing desk.

The first hummingbird I saw just a few days ago, well, I just had to sit for a moment in the grace of its tiny, exquisite beauty. I think my eyes were wide as saucers, afraid to blink that I might miss his sweetness perched upon the feeder drinking to his hearts content.

Each season with the arrival of the first hummingbird, I pause, like I did this time too–my hands in prayer over my heart. A sweet reminder of when I’m sure Frankie, my dachshund, visited me as a hummingbird a few weeks after she died.

I loved to call her my little hummingbird, so it’s not surprising I felt her spirit hovering a few inches in front of my face as a hummingbird whose wings were fluttering so fast as if to say, “I made it, Mom! I’m free! I’m free! And I’m happy!”

There is life all around me with the all the busy wings a flappin’ here, there and everywhere…and it is contagious as I feel a new aliveness within me, too.

Thank you for subscribing to Joyfulpaws.com

On Knowing When It’s the Right Dog for You

Posted May 11, 2015 by Barbara Techel

I’ve been watching with great interest as my favorite author, Jon Katz and his dear artist wife, Maria of Bedlam Farm have been searching for a new dog to bring into their lives.

The breeder they hoped to get a pup from was taking longer than usual, the dog not going into heat when they’d hoped. They considered adopting, but had a bad experience visiting a shelter over the weekend.

But then something prompted Jon to reach out to the woman who had given him his border collie, Red. As fate would have it and the stars aligned, they knew when they saw the pup with one blue eye that she was the one.

And get this….her name is Fate. I think they need no other clearer signs than this. It was meant to be.

It brought up the times this has happened to me. How it is when you just know. While at times I’ve been anxious for a new dog after one has passed, I believe that it has to feel right—that there is this connection that is undeniable.

At least this is how it works for me. It made me think again about Gidget and how I found her. Or perhaps I should say she found me? But likely once again everything aligned and we were supposed to be together.

When I saw her face and those telling eyes, after looking at hundreds of dachshunds, I felt that familiar tingle in my heart. She was the one.

While I had passed over many sweet and adorable, and most likely great dogs, I couldn’t stop looking at Gidget and found myself getting lost in her eyes. She drew me into her being. I couldn’t stop thinking about her.

It just brings me back to how connection is so important—for both you and your new dog.

Each day our love for each other deepens. I learn new things because of Gidget. I’m learning to step into and own more of my belief’s.

She is the one. And while I don’t know what the future holds, I take one day at a time, soaking in all the love that she is. And I thank all the stars in the universe for lining up in just the right way that brought her to me.

—

Jon’s post about what happened during a shelter visit in Vermont is worth reading. I was saddened to learn that some animal shelters are now using a process for adopting pets out that seems cold and impersonal for both the person and the dog.

Thank you for subscribing to Joyfulpaws.com