disabled dogs

A Book for Every Dachshund Owner Terrified of Disc Disease. Plus Enter for Chance to Win A Copy!

Posted by Barbara Techel

A Book for Every Dachshund Owner Terrified of Disc Disease. Plus Enter for Chance to Win A Copy!

I can’t say enough good about this book written by Kristin Leydig Bryant and Adam Christman, DVM.  Everyone owned by a dear little dachshund truly needs to have a copy of this book!  Education, as I’ve always said here on my blog when talking about Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD), common in doxie’s, is what will save the life of your dog should this happen to him/her.

As many of you know, I’ve been  down this road. With my first doxie, Frankie, who was inflicted and became paralyzed in 2006, and that first time around – whew – it was downright scary. I didn’t have a clue about this disease – this book would have helped big time.  Though I do want to plug that I will and continue to be grateful for Dodgerslist – an organization dedicated to helping educate others about this disease also. Since Frankie, I’ve cared for two doxie’s with IVDD – first Joie and now Gidget.

While there is no cure for IVDD, there is help and hope!  Run right out and get yourself a copy of this book – it will be your IVDD bible should you be faced with this and you’ll be able to make an educated decision should this happen to your beloved doxie.

I love the fact that veterinarian Adam Christman is on board with this book sharing his story and advice – bravo! The book is filled with so much practical and helpful advice, like having a doc and those who have been through this before right beside you holding your hand should you need them. And what I loved best is the sense of humor presented throughout the book. Those of us who have been down this road know that a sense of humor is key!

I’m thrilled and honored to have provided an endorsement:

Every dachshund should come with this book attached to the collar! While we all hope our dog is never diagnosed with IVDD, education is key. Kristin Leydig Bryant and Dr. Adam Christman have done a valuable service in putting together this detailed book on how to live with, and care for, a dog with IVDD; how to be prepared ahead of time should this happen to your pup; and how a dog with IVDD can thrive! The added touch of humor in this book, I can personally attest, is the medicine that got me through when my dachshund became paralyzed. The best thing you’ll get from this book? Hope! There is always hope!  ~Barbara Techel

ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A COPY

Kristin and Dr. Adam have generously offered to give a copy of the book away to one of my blog readers!  Even if you have a copy already, do enter as it would make a great gift for a friend with a dachshund or give a copy to your favorite vet.  All you have to do is say YES or leave a comment is comment section below.

Open to US residents only. Enter by midnight cst, Friday, Oct. 21st. Winner will be notified on Oct. 22nd.

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Follow updates and information on IVDD on Kristin and Adam’s Facebook page here.

Order your copy of Honey, Have You Squeezed the Dachshund here.

***And one special note:  Not just for Dachshund owners, but for anyone with a long-backed dog such as corgis and basset hounds too – as they can be prone to this disease too.

Thank you for sharing and subscribing to my blog updates.

How I Stopped Comparing My Dog Joie, to My Deceased Dog, Frankie

Posted by Barbara Techel
How I Stopped Comparing My Dog Joie, to My Deceased Dog, Frankie
JOIE

Last week in celebration of the release of my new book, Wisdom Found in the Pause – Joie’s Gift I did my first ever live event on Facebook. I was quite nervous, but afterwards I received such wonderful feedback from many – it made it all very well worth it and I’m so glad I  took the plunge. If you didn’t have a chance to watch live, you can view the recording here.

But one question I got, which I think is important to expand on is this one from viewer, Sharon: “How did you resolve your issue of comparing Joie to Frankie?”

I do write about this in Wisdom Found in the Pause, but what I came to understand is that I had so closely tied my identity to Frankie and all my work with her, that when she died, I felt like I had lost my sense of purpose.  And we all know how so many of us search a for what seems a good long time to find our purpose – and many that feel they never find one.

Even though I’d been feeling this nudge to expand, I didn’t quite know what that looked like. So it felt more comfortable to think I’d continue to do what I’d always done, instead of marinating in the feelings I was experiencing that I was being called to end the chapter I defined as “Frankie.” While I truly wanted another special needs dachshund to love and care for, what wasn’t clear was how I was going to move forward now that Frankie was gone.

Many of you know I adopted Joie four months after Frankie’s passing and I was so happy to have a little one to care for again. As the days started to unfold I was having a hard time feeling a bond with her, or feeling deeply connected, like I had with Frankie.

What I did was reach out to my friend, Dawn, who is an animal communicator. She had helped me before with Frankie and I felt confident she could do the same with Joie.

While I don’t want to give it all away (and you can read more in my new book), it was during the reading with Dawn that I had the courage to admit I knew I was comparing Joie to Frankie.  It wasn’t that I was really doing it consciously, but rather subconsciously. And the issue was really all about me. I was having a hard time letting go of Frankie and what was. I needed to let things evolve organically with Joie and let her be her own dog. I truly wanted what was best for her and wanted more than anything for her to feel loved, safe and nurtured.

In many ways I owed this to Joie – but I also owed it to myself to see the truth of what was transpiring. And the beauty of one of the many gifts that Joie brought to my life. She helped me to see that I could let go and move forward – that I could expand on who I was and it would all be okay.

Every dog arrives in our lives to teach us something – arriving at just the right time – and I knew it was up to me to open myself fully to the lessons Joie was here to teach me, not only so she herself could live a happy and quality life while here – but that Frankie could rest in peace – and I could live more from the truth of who I am.

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Tomorrow I’ll be sharing a link to auhtor, Jackie Bouchard’s blog, PoochSmooches. We did a recent Q & A about my book, Wisdom Found in the Pause, and one of the questions I enjoyed answering is this one:

  1. I really related to the quote from Sue Bender (p108) to “practice feeling good where you are.” I have to continually remind myself of the lesson from our angel Abby – to live in the moment. I think this is such a great lesson for everyone, no matter where you are in life. Can you expand on how you practice feeling good about where you are?

I hope you will stay tuned for my answer!

Thank you for sharing and subscribing to my blog updates.

Meet Molly Mocha – Frankie Wheelchair Fund Recipient & Available for Adoption!

Posted by Barbara Techel

Meet Molly Mocha - Frankie Wheelchair Fund Recipient & Available for Adoption!

One of my greatest joys in life continues to being able to help a paralyzed dog walk again with the use of a wheelchair.  Meet Molly Mocha who I heard about through one of my favorite disabled dog sanctuaries, Lovey Loaves.

As per Lovey Loaves website: Molly Mocha is 12 years old and weighs 17lbs  and considered a chocolate cream dapple dachshund. Her hind legs are paralyzed and she was diagnosed with IVDD at two years old and has dragged her hind end for the past ten years. She now has an Eddie’s Wheels cart that she uses regularly to run and play! Due to her hind end paralysis, Molly does require bladder expression.

Molly Mocha is available for adoption and she comes complete with her brand new spanking speedy wheels!  Please contact Lovey Loaves if you are interested.

Again…thank you to all that continue to support my mission to help paralyzed dogs in need. Without those generous donations I couldn’t do what I do. It takes a team and I’m grateful for everyone who has helped me in the past and continues to help. To learn more about the fund and/or to donate please visit here: http://nationalwalknrolldogday.com/donate-to-the-frankie-wheelchair-fund/

Molly Mocha’s wheelchair is custom-made by Eddie’s Wheels for Pets. To learn more about them please do visit their website!

…and today I was able to grant another wheelchair to a paralyzed dog in need… which brings it to 60 dogs the Frankie Wheelchair Fund has helped!  YAY!!  And I’m pretty sure I heard a ARF-A-ROO echo on down from heaven from Frankie!

Thank you for sharing and subscribing to my blog updates.