Welcome to our Senior Dog Blog

This blog is dedicated to all the dogs out there that have a few great years under their fur! The dog who has seen you mature, seen you through hard times, seen you laugh and cry or may have been there through a relationship or two. The "old faithful" guy or girl in your life that you know would always be waiting for you to come home with open paws! The one who is always happy to see you and can't wait to get your love and attention but would always give you so much more in return. We know, in our hearts, that even without a spoken word, this dog has helped us through many hard times and has been there to rejoice in our good times. We thank you for always being there and for somehow just always knowing what we need to make us feel better.

Here's hoping, that through this blog, we can give back at least a portion of the joy that they have brought to our lives over the many years.

Run by Vicki Sutkowski, CMP of For The Love of Hope Canine Massage & Stretching

Vicki Sutkowski, CMP, ARP
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
For the Love of Hope was founded and developed by Vicki Sutkowski. Vicki has been driven from a very young age by her compassion for animals. As she grew older she sought to provide a service to animals that would encompass personal touch, love and health benefits. She has dedicated her practice to her mother Hope who believed that every animal has their own story to tell and a lesson to teach. You just need to learn how to listen. Vicki believes she has through her ability to soothe by personal touch. Vicki is a canine massage practitioner and animal reiki practitioner.
View my complete profile

The National Canine Cancer Foundation

National Canine Cancer 
Foundation

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Massage Your Dog At Home

Massage can be done at home and is used primarily to improve blood circulation, while increasing the flow of energy. Massage is therapeutic for working out kinks, sore muscles, and joints. Increasing blood flow and the flow of lymphatic fluids throughout the body is beneficial for dogs of all ages but especially older dogs.The benefits of Massage are:
  • Lowering blood pressure• Relieves Pain and stiffness
  • Helps arthritic pets
  • Relieves soft tissue injury
  • Improves brain and nerve function
  • Aids in digestion and bowel performance
  • Helps obese pets increase circulation
  • Speeds recovery from surgery
  • Improves agility and range of motion
  • Facilitates improvement of skin and coat shine

Although, dog massage is best performed by a certified Canine Massage Practitioner, here are some tips on giving your dog a good rub down at home during those times between regular massage visits.

How To Massage Your Pet:

Have your dog lie down on its side on a rug or mat and make it comfortable. Put on some relaxing music and avoid distracting toys and food or treats. This is a great time for bonding with a new dog or puppy or just spending some quality time with your pet while relieving pet pain and stress.

Start at the scalp by rubbing with thumbs around the skull and lightly on the sides of the head. Move to the neck muscles which get a work out daily so you may feel some tension in the neck rub gently until the stiffness disappears or the muscles become softer.

Next rub the shoulders along the spine bones as these are the strongest muscles and feel for the major muscles while rubbing gently. Do not just move the skin find the muscles with your fingers as you get to know the anatomy of your dog. Using your two thumbs find the spine and rub the muscles on each side of the spine by rubbing away from the spine. Your dog will probably be drooling at this point.

In the front of course you have the chest and stomach area and every dog owner knows how much your dog loves a tummy rub. Dogs will lie on their back without too much coaxing at this point and enjoy every minute of your massage work. Rub gently in circular motions along the stomach area which increases blood flow and digestion. Massaging the bowels will initiate healthy bowel movements. Rub in a clockwise direction for 3 turns and then in a counterclockwise direction for 3 turns again. Repeat this tai chi motion for the benefits of moving your pet bowels.

This massage can last anywhere from 5 minutes to ½ hour.

Please note that it is important to massage the entire dog. Never just massage an area that is sore.

Finally, there are some instances in which it is not advisable to massage your dog. Some contraindications are cancer, skin lesions, fever, shock, skin disease and fractures among others.

Please consult your veterinarian prior to massage if you have any concerns.

If you would like more information, please contact Vicki Sutkowski at fortheloveofhope@ymail.com or 416-452-1588.

Please note that massage is not a replacement for veterinary care.

Vicki Sutkowski, CMP, ARPFor the Love of Hope Dog Massage and StretchingAnimal Reiki Services416-452-1588 or Fortheloveofhope@ymail.comMobile Services in and around the GTA

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Here's Travis! Won't you consider rescuing him>??


Hello! My name is Travis. I am one of the most endearing dogs you’ll ever meet. I LOVE to go for walks with the volunteers. When I see someone coming with a leash my I get totally bug-eyed and I start shaking with excitement. That’s how bad I want to get out of my kennel and smell the grass and make new friends. I love to have my belly rubbed. And if you happen to be standing by my kennel, just so you don’t forget I’m here, I will put my paw through the bars and touch you - just to make sure you don’t forget to take me for a walk. Travis has been at the SPCA for a few years now - unfortunately black dogs are the most difficult dogs to adopt out - and he seems to be passed over all the time. He really needs to have a home of his own, he is an older dog, but with the heart and spirit of a young playful dog. Please consider giving Travis his very own forever home. The picture does him no justice - he is a cutie in person. To see a picture of Travis, please click here :) I hope to have a picture to download shortly.If you are interested in Travis, please visit the SPCA's website at www.spcacattco.comor call 372-8492 (after 12:00)

Monday, July 27, 2009

Please consider adopting Mr. T. - He's a sweetie!


Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Mr. T and I am the comedian of the shelter. I love to play tag in the play yard with the volunteers. I run in circles around them and try to get them to chase me. I also like to play jokes on the cats. You see, when I am getting my kennel cleaned out I creep up to the Kitty Kingdom window and watch the cats sitting proudly and peacefully. Then I tap my paw against the window and they hiss and jump five feet in the air when they see me. So I’ll admit that I can’t add “Good with cats” to my adoption resume, but I am wonderful with all people. I am very gentle and I love to cuddle. I tend to be dominant around the male dogs, but I’m quite fond of the girl dogs, especially the brindle ones. I’d love a home with a big fenced in yard so I can run till my heart’s content. Please come on down and get to know me better!
When I walk Mr. T I have to make sure that his collar is on correctly - because he is an escape artist - the first time (and only time) he got away from me - it took us two hours to get him back - he came back when he was finished running and was tired. But he is great on a leash and as soon as you get him back to his kennel, he just presses against you so that you pet him and love him. He's a great dog and would really like his own home.

If you are interested in Mr. T - please visit the SPCA's website at:

http://www.spcacattco.com/
or call 372-8492 (after 12:00)

Friday, July 24, 2009

I Stood By Your Bed Last Night


I stumbled upon this poem last night and it moved me to tears, but in a good way. I couldn't let it pass without sharing it with all of you. Please have a read. I choose to think that this is true in my heart.


I stood by your bed last night, I came to have a peep.I could see that you were crying, you found it hard to sleep.

I whined to you softly, as you brushed away a tear."It’s me, I haven't left you, I'm well, I'm fine, I'm here"

I was close to you at breakfast, I watched you pour the tea.You were thinking of the many times your hands reached down to me.

I was with you at the shops today, your arms were getting sore.I want to take your parcels, I wished I could do more.

I was with you at my grave today, you tend it with such care.I want to reassure you that I'm not lying there.

I walked with you towards the house as you fumbled for the key,I gently put my paw on you, I smiled and said "It's me".

You looked so very tired and then you sank into a chair,I tried so hard to let you know that I was standing there.

It’s possible for me to be so near you everyday,To say to you with certainty "I never went away".

You sat there very quietly, then smiled, I think you knew,That in the stillness of that evening I was very close to you.

The day is over.... I smile and watch you yawning and say,"Good Night, Sweet Dreams, God Bless, I'll see you in the morning".

And when the time is right for you to cross the brief divide,I'll rush to greet you and we’ll stand together side by side.

I have so many things to show you, there's much for you to see.Be patient, live your journey out; then come home and be with me.

~ Author Unknown

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

My dog is......

A quote from Gene Hill.......................................
"He is my other eyes that can see above the clouds; my other ears that hear above the winds. He is the part of me that can reach out into the sea. He has told me a thousand times over that I am his reason for being; by the way he rests against my leg; by the way he thumps his tail at my smallest smile; by the way he shows his hurt when I leave without taking him. (I think it makes him sick with worry when he is not along to care for me.) When I am wrong, he is delighted to forgive. When I am angry, he clowns to make me smile. When I am happy, he is joy unbounded. When I am a fool, he ignores it. When I succeed, he brags. Without him, I am only another man. With him, I am all-powerful. He is loyalty itself. He has taught me the meaning of devotion. With him, I know a secret comfort and a private peace. He has brought me understanding where before I was ignorant. His head on my knee can heal my human hurts. His presence by my side is protection against my fears of dark and unknown things. He has promised to wait for me... whenever... wherever - in case I need him. And I expect I will - as I always have. He is just my dog."

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Another Reason to Love Your Dog

The great pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too. ~Samuel Butler

My Dog, My Friend

I talk to him when I'm lonesome like; and I'm sure he understands. When he looks at me so attentively, and gently licks my hands; then he rubs his nose on my tailored clothes, but I never say naught thereat. For the good Lord knows I can buy more clothes, but never a friend like that. ~W. Dayton Wedgefarth

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Coping with the loss of your dog - We will love again

I ran into a friend of mine and her co-worker today. Her co-worker seemed sad and withdrawn and after some discussion, I found out that her dog had passed away just the day before. I had never met this woman, but I instantly felt a connection. It is that unexplainable "pet connection". That connection that all true animal lovers feel when you meet another like yourself. I listened to her while she told me her story with sadness in her eyes, and although I had never met her before, I hugged her. I hugged her like an old friend.

I felt her pain. I feel her pain.

As I sit here now, I am faced with the knowledge that so many of you, like me and my new friend, have gone through this loss or will be going through this loss at some point in our lives. If you follow my blog, you will have seen the poem from Irving Townsend - The Once Again Prince. I urge you to take a moment to reread it. I'll attach it again at the end of this post.

Many people just don't understand how we can grieve so heavily over the loss of our pets. Our society isn't positioned well to deal with death, and grief, especially in the case of animals. People just don't understand and the usual comments fly...."Well, it's just a dog!"

Well, not so I say, not so at all!

I'm thinking that a lot of you have heard the information over and over again about the grieving process. The 5 steps, the 7 steps, the 10 steps. After all that information and after all that reading, the results are the same, grief is grief. We all cope with grief differently and there is no SET WAY to grieve. It is a process, no matter how many steps we break it into, that we must go through. The key, however, is not getting stuck in one stage for too long. It is breaking through that barrier of sadness to come out again knowing that you still have enough love left in you to love again.

As dog lovers, as animal lovers even, we have a compassionate streak like no other. We have given our love freely to an animal that we knew at the beginning of the journey would not outlive us. We gave our love to that animal knowing that this would inevitably happen, yet we still gave. We owe it to our pets to continue loving as strong as before. We owe it to them to spread that love to other, less fortunate animals.

It's okay to cry and to mourn, but remember that you must move past it at your own pace.

Remember that you have so much love to give and remember the fond memories you had with your dog. Remember the good times and make them happy memories.

In the summer of 1977, when I was a 12, my older brother was killed. Soon after, my German Shepherd named Gypsy also passed away. As you could image, the loss I felt was overwhelming. I felt alone, lost, scared and most of all confused. I remember being so afraid that I would forget them and forget what they looked like. After continued encouragement and with the help of my mother, I created a collage of my favorite pictures. Pictures of my brother, my dog, myself and even one with all three of us together. I got some Elmer's glue and glued them to a piece of construction paper. I taped it to the wall closest to my bed so I could look at them before I went to sleep and every day when I woke up. At first I would cry. Cry myself to sleep almost every night. After a few weeks, when I lay down to sleep, I would think of something great that either my brother and I had done or something I had done with Gypsy that made me smile. After a few months my grief shifted to fond memories. I won't say that every night and every morning were happy thoughts, but it was better.

I guess time does heal. Time does help. You don't forget, you just remember the better days.

After all is said and done, grieving is a natural part of life. How we cope is the key to our happiness, survival and strength of character. Since that time in my life, I have experienced more loss, but I continue to do collages. That was my coping mechanism.

I hope that my story helps at least one person. That it touches you in some way or gives you some direction.


SEPARATE LIFETIMES
We who choose to surround ourselves with lives even more temporary than our own, live within a fragile circle; easily and often breached. Unable to accept its awful gaps, we would still live no other way. We cherish memory as the only certain immortality, never fully understanding the necessary plan.... --- Irving Townsend ---"The Once Again Prince"

Below are some links I've found to help you through the grieving process.

Pet Loss – Help in Healing the Hurt – Article about dealing with the sadness and grief from the death of a beloved pet. (Kathie Maffitt)
Why Does Pet Loss Hurt So Much? – Article about the unique nature of grief for a pet. (Martha M. Tousley)
Loving Animals and Losing Them – Describes the natural feelings of grief following the loss of a pet, and gives a hotline number for people who need to talk about their loss. (University of California Davis)
Explaining Pet Loss to Children – Ideas for talking with children about the loss of a pet. Includes several book recommendations. (Martha M. Tousley)
Support groups and hotlines
Pet Loss Hotlines – List of hotlines for pet grief counseling. (Chance’s Spot)
Pet Loss Support Hotline – Information about a hotline staffed by veterinary students, as well as links to other hotlines. Also describes the stages of grieving the loss of a pet and information on euthanasia. (Cornell University Veterinary School)
Pet euthanasia
Making the Decision – Provides information and considerations about the decision to euthanise your pet. Also gives referrals for grief counseling. (American Veterinary Medical Association)
Facing Pet Euthanasia – Discusses how to deal with a terminally ill pet. (University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine)
Euthansia: What to Expect (commercial site) – Provides information about the euthanasia process and what to expect. (Pet Center)
This article was created by