Is Your Dog Doing The "Bunny Hop"?

Is your dog suddenly doing the "bunny hop"? When a dog appears to be doing a "bunny hop," it's typically referring to a peculiar way of running or walking where the dog uses both hind legs together, rather than moving them independently. This movement can resemble the way rabbits hop, hence the term "bunny hop."

When a dog is consistently using a bunny hop gait, especially during normal walking or running, it is usually sign of an underlying health issue. In some cases, it might indicate problems with a dog's hips or hind legs, such as hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, an ACL tear or other joint or muscle issues. These conditions can cause discomfort or pain, leading the dog to use both legs together to alleviate some of the discomfort. If your dog is using this bunny hop gait, it's a good idea to consult your veterinarian. Not every joint or muscle issue requires surgery. You may be able to use a conservative approach which includes rest and natural remedies to help reduce inflammation and repair connective tissue. Ask Ariel's Ultra-Flex Collagen is a whole-food supplement that builds cartilage, joint and connective tissue. If ACL surgery is necessary, Ultra-Flex Collagen natural can also aid in recovery.

How To Protect Your Pet From Giardia

While giardia is more common in dogs, cats can get it too. Unfortunately, giardia can be hard to get rid of, especially in multi-pet households. Giardia can be transmitted by eating, drinking or sniffing the cysts that have been shed from infected animals. It can be very challenging to completely remove the parasite from your pets and their environment. Here are 6 hygiene tips to try to prevent giardia from coming back:

1) Wash your pet and your pet's bedding several times during the first 2 weeks of the treatment period.

2) Use a baby wipe or wet paper towel and gloves to wipe your pet's rear-end after defecation

3) Try to keep your infected pet separated from other pets during treatment. You may want to ask your veterinarian about proactively treating other pets although the medications can be harsh.

4)Be sure your infected pet only urinates and defecates in an isolated area (no grass is best) away from where other pets may go.
ALWAYS wear gloves when picking up stool infested with giardia or parasites/worms and then throw the baggie into another baggie with a tie on top. Immediately pick up the stool if possible. Giardia can set into the ground, concrete etc.

5) After you clean up the area, please use bleach or a cleaning product containing bleach.

6) Wipe your shoes after walking on the infected area.

Best Wishes For A Happy & Healthy New Year

 It’s now been 16 months since our 14 year old rescue dog Legend has been fighting liver cancer. As if on cue, he put his paw on my leg when we went to take the picture this morning. He walked down a steep hill to get to the beach. He is a true cancer warrior. We are incredibly grateful that he is here celebrating the New Year with us.

Legend was first diagnosed with liver cancer in September 2021. He had such subtle symptoms, mainly a decline in appetite and he didn't sleep on his back anymore. It got worse and worse and then we got the news that he had a large mass in his belly. The next day we did the surgery and by a miracle our Legend survived. Liver cancer in dogs is often hard to diagnose due to the subtle nature of early symptoms. Primary liver tumors, originating within the liver, and metastatic tumors, spreading from other parts of the body, both contribute to canine liver cancer. Liver cancer is a slower growing tumor which has given us more time with him. Still it is heartbreaking to see him declining and we love him so much.

Thank you for all the love and support you have shown us during this very challenging journey. We send you our very best wishes for a Happy & Healthy New Year.

Wishing You A Happy & Healthy New Year!

 

"In January 2023, it will be 18 years since AskAriel.com introduced our premium pet care supplements. It has been an honor to help you with your pets. We have learned so much by working with you. Your feedback has improved the quality of our products and the services we offer. We send our sincerest thanks to the veterinarians (especially Dr. David Gordon at archbeachvet.com ), pet owners, rescuers and pet lovers everywhere who made this possible. We couldn’t have done it without you."

At AskAriel.com we have been offering pet nutrition tips and natural supplements for dogs and cats since 2005. Based in Orange County, CA, pet owners trust our holistic pet supplements because they are human-grade, made with quality ingredients and tested for safety and purity. You can feel confident using them along with conventional veterinary treatments recommended by your veterinarian. Ask Ariel’s pet supplement protocols are based on Pet Nutritionist Susan Blake Davis' 10+ years of experience on staff at VCA Hospitals, working in conjunction with holistic veterinarian Dr. David Gordon and other veterinary specialists. To help your pet get the best results, we include FREE DIET TIPS with your order.

Heartwarming Holiday Tale

The holidays are about more than just presents and decorations. They are about being a good person and helping someone in need. Our brother Jeff is a dog lover extraordinaire and a real life Santa. Just before Christmas, during these freezing temperatures, an elderly neighbor (a disabled veteran) managed to wheel himself over to Jeff’s house. He and his wife were in dire straits because they had no running water and their pipes had been frozen for days. Jeff could have offered to call a plumber, but in the true spirit of the holidays, he offered his help. He gathered his tools and another neighbor and went to work. Instead of a chimney, Jeff had to go down a deep crawl space and fix the problem. The elderly couple were beyond grateful. Sometimes Santa wears a tool belt instead of his red velvet coat.

Why Pets Act Naughty Over The Holidays

Sometimes pets can “act out” at the worst possible times. It can be so frustrating when you are having company, only to find out that Fido had an accident on the carpet or got into the trash and made a big mess. Pets feel the stress of the holidays just like we do. They are creatures of habit and like their regular routine to feel balanced. New people in the house, being left alone, different sounds and movements can give them anxiety! Whatever way possible, do all you can to keep your pet’s feeding schedule and exercise routine as close to normal as you can. A routine helps pets feel safe and reduces the likelihood of destructive behavior during this busy time. 

Christmas Trees Are Temptations For Your Cat

Sparkling lights. Shiny ornaments. A climbing post. These are all things that cats love! Some cats will paw at ornaments, chase twinkling lights, hide deep inside the branches or climb right up to the top of a decorated Christmas tree. Cats are curious and like to explore. They are also natural climbers and their instinct is to get to the highest vantage point.

How do you keep your cat (and your Christmas tree) safe? Some cat owners use foil, decorative stones or other barriers around the base to discourage climbing. Get a stable stand to keep the tree secure and use jingle bells in the tree as an alert in case your adventurous kitty happens to land on a branch. Consider pricklier varieties of pine trees, like Colorado Blue Spruce or Norway Spruce, which are less appealing to cats. Best of all, make this holiday tradition special for your kitty by getting an alternative tree just for them - a cat climbing tree or perch placed right near the Christmas tree.