Arthritis is a chronic degenerative condition that primarily affects major joints such as the shoulders, knees, hips, and elbows. This disease causes the cartilage that cushions and lines the joints to break down, exposing the ends of the bones and leading to painful bone spurs. Additionally, the joint lining becomes inflamed and thickened, which limits mobility.
Often referred to as osteoarthritis or "old age arthritis," this condition is common in both humans and dogs and is generally considered the same disease in both species.

Your dog may appear lame or to pull up sore after exercise. They may be reluctant to go for walks, jump into the car or onto the couch. Especially during colder weather, they may be slower to get up after resting and can appear stiff. 
They may also appear more grumpy or react when touched in a sore area. 

Thankfully, there are many options on the market now to give our pets relief from arthritis. Depending at what stage of arthritis your dog has will depend on what your vet recommends, so it's always best to consult with your vet before beginning treatment. Treatments can include:

• Supplements added to meals
• Regular injections from the vet
• Vet prescribed kibble that supports joints and bones
• Reducing exercise
• Water exercise 
• Weight management 

Origin:
The West Highland White Terrier, affectionately knowns as 'The Westie' originates from Scotland. They are in fact, simply a white Cairn Terrier, that came about when a Scottish breeder had some white pups within his Cairn Terrier litters. He continued to breed these white pups and created the Westie. 
 
Purpose:
The Westie was used as a working dog to control vermin issues as well as foxes, badgers and otters. 

Coat care:
The Westie is equip with a double coat however they shed very little hair. The breed requires a clip every 4 or so months and brushing every other day. Their coat is good at repelling dirt and mess and only requires bathing when needed. 

Health & Temperament:
The boldness from their original ancestors has not escaped the Westies we know of today. They are a confident, sturdy and determined little dog. It's important they have rules and boundaries set in place from a young age to avoid little dog syndrome. In general, they are great with kids and robust enough to keep up with them for some playtime. Without balanced training and good socialisation, they can become destructive.  They enjoy companionship and are an easy breed to train.
The breed can be prone to liver issues, hip issues and diabetes. They are often sensitive to certain foods which can cause skin issues too. 

It has been a little while since we gave you an update on Abi and her therapy dog Frankie.  Lots of exciting things have happened since our last report so we felt it was time to give you all an update.

As many of you know Frankie, a beautiful female golden retriever, was provided to Abi and her family after her training with Assistance Dogs Australia. 
Since joining the family, Frankie has been not only a wonderful and calming support to Abi but has also provided no end of benefits (and unconditional love) to all of Abi’s family. 

Her parents, Sarah and Michael, and her siblings, Finn, Sage and Lachlan all have a really special relationship with Frankie.
We have shared some images with you so you can see some of the things that Abi and Frankie get up to together.  Frankie goes with Abi to her therapy sessions.  Abi practices her dog handling skills walking Frankie daily and when it comes to bed times, Frankie is there it help settle Abi.  And just a couple of months ago, Frankie was best dog at Sarah and Michael’s wedding.  She was a important part of the wedding party and was a very good girl at the wedding.  Such an event was very exciting and stimulating for Abi and for her to have Frankie there to help her regulate her emotions before, during and after the ceremony was just one of the many valuable reasons why dogs like Frankie are so very important to young people like Abi (and their families).

Again thanks to all those people who helped us to provide the funds for Assistance Dogs Australia to train and place Frankie with Abi and her family.  It truly is a gift that gives every single day. 

The same as humans, dogs can be diabetics. In almost every case, a diabetic dog is a Type 1 Diabetic, that cannot be controlled or managed with diet or oral medication alone. They will require insulin injections on a regular basis, in most cases every 12 hours but every case is different.

 Diabetes in people and dogs occurs when the pancreas no longer produces insulin for the body, meaning it needs to be added to by body a different way - via an injection. 
The causes of diabetes in dogs can vary and can be one or a combination of the following issues.  

• Obesity 
• Pre disposed genetically 
• Infection
• Pancreatic issues
  

Signs of a diabetic dog before being diagnosed can include:

• Increase water consumption
• Increased urination
• Increase in hunger
• Fast weight loss
• Cataracts 

It can take some time to get a dog's diabetic condition under control once first diagnosed. Once a stable insulin amount and safe, low fat diet is established, a diabetic dog can continue to live their life reasonably normal, compared to how it was before.
Meals and insulin injections must be kept to a strict schedule and snacks and treats throughout the day will need to stop as well as ensuring they are kept at a healthy weight. 
With the advancements in modern medicine, there are now many tools on the market that can help manage and maintain a dog's diabetes, including blood glucose monitors and insulin pets, that hold and draw down the exact amount of insulin needed for each injection. 

With a team of trained Doggy Doaters available to our guests 24/7 - day and night we can attend to diabetic needs. For more information on our special medical needs care, contact us or visit accommodation options page HERE!

As the winter chill sets in, we all start to feel it. It's important that all members of the family are kept warm, but not too warm! Dog's naturally have an ability to regulate their temperature in hot and cold climates, however depending on their age, aliments and their coat condition, they may need help to keep themselves warm in the cooler months.

The most important thing is to understand your dog's coat. For example, a breed such as a Husky who has a thick double coat, designed to protect the dog from sub temperatures, don't need assistance in keeping warm. However a breed such as a beagle or an older dog with a lighter coat will feel the cold a lot more.

Ways that you can help to keep your dog warm include:

• Keeping them out of the cold. When possible, having your dog indoors will help them to keep their body temperature up. If using heating in your home, you should be setting the temperature to simply take the chill out of the air. Having the room too warm can cause your dog to overheat.
• Placing a coat on your dog. There are lots of stylish options available now for dogs in lots of different sizes to fit all different body shapes. If your dog needs to stay outside, be sure to go for a waterproof option to avoid a wet coat being stuck on your dog. 
• Booties are great to keep your dogs feet warm if you are walking them. As with the heat of the concrete, dogs feel the chill of the cold ground. 
• Providing a windproof shelter. Should your dog need to stay outside, ensure they have a safe, sheltered and protected area to keep them out of the elements. 
• Warm bedding, including thick blankets to snuggle into or heat mats that can be placed under your dogs bedding (to act like an electric blanket) are a great way to keep your pooch snug. Especially if they are elderly and suffer from arthritis, this is a great way to warm their cold joints. 
• Check for drafts in your house. As your dog may be on their bed located on the ground, it's important to make sure there are no cold drafts coming under the doors or around the windows that could be affecting them. Cover any drafts to help keep the cold out. 

Things to AVOID that could pose a danger to your dog include:

• Overheating is very easy to do, especially when you are cold yourself and want to have the heater nice and high. There are varying suggestions on what the 'ideal' room temperature is for a dog and again this will vary depending on their coats and body condition. You want to set the room temperature to have the chill out of the air. 
• Hot water bottles or wheat bags are a danger to pets. They can easily be burst by a tooth or claw and can cause burns. If you are needing to heat your pets bed, stick to a pet heat mat only. Electric blankets are not safe to be used either. 

​Origin:
Their name is a bit of a giveaway – the PWD originated in Portugal.
The breed was created from mixing a number of working dogs from the Iberian Peninsula, to create the perfect dog companion for fisherman.
 
Purpose:
The PWD was used as a working dog for fisherman and were capable of many different tasks including herding and catching fish, transporting messages between ships as well as retrieving items from the water.
 

Coat care:
When in full coat, the PWD requires a good brush every few days. A distinct clip the PWD are known for is the ‘lion clip.’
Originally this was used to help them move through water and dry quickly, with fur only kept around their vital organs to avoid them suffering in the cold water.
They are a great option for allergy sufferers as they as considered a hypo-allergenic dog. Their coat is slow growing and does not require frequent clipping.  

Health & Temperament:
The PWD is a great family pet. They are a fun loving dog who is loyal to their pack. They have plenty of energy to burn and can be very playful but also very relaxed and calm natured when their needs are met.
As their name is history suggests, they love water! Water play and exercise included in their routine will keep them very happy and pleased. They are very intelligent and easy to train, responding best to calm pack leader.
The breed isn’t prone to many health issues although hip dysplasia can occur.
Their average life span is between 10 – 14 years.    

This quick and easy biscuit recipe is sure to be a winner with all doggies!  

  Ingredients 

• Pumpkin Puree - 2/3 cup
• Peanut Butter - (ensure it contains no Xylitol) 1/4 cup
• Eggs - 2 large 
• Whole Wheat Flour - 2 1/2 cups​

    Method

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees C. Line a baking tray with baking paper and set to the side.
2. Mix together in a bowl the pumpkin puree, peanut butter and eggs until all combined.
3. Slowly add in the flour while mixing, ensuring not to overmix. If your dough is still a bit sticky, keeping adding small amounts of flour until it is no longer sticky.
4. Lightly flour your clean and dry benchtop or chopping board. Transfer your dough to this surface and kneed (approx. 3 - 4 times) until it comes together.
5. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough to approximately 1/2cm thick. Using cookie cutters, cut out your cookies and place them onto your lined baking tray.
6. Cook in the over for 20 minutes or until golden broken.
7. Allow cookies to completely cool before offering to your pooch or storing away. These cookies are best kept in an air tight container. ​