Coco's Tail - How a Dynamic Dog Assessment changed her life and her mums!

Coco

It was wonderful to receive this message from Coco’s mum, I asked if I could share it for Easter, a time of year we attribute to new life, new beginnings and growth as for Coco this is the start of her new and happier life, and for her mum everyone has come together to support her in helping Coco live the best life! I've put the words in the video below to show you the wonderful life Coco is living. (I'm a bit jealous!)

Coco is living the best life and is fully supported by a wonderful team.

After several years of investigations, and thousands spent on referrals, Coco’s mum was told her “wonky legs” were normal for the breed and they were nothing to worry about. She was left frustrated, emotional, feeling she was just being a hypochondriac, whilst worrying about her poor little dog being uncomfortable but not getting the help she needed!  She worked hard on helping Coco with her reactivity but it was challenging especially as we strongly suspected underlying discomfort was contributing to her reactivity which made progress slow.

After moving to Dubai, Coco’s mum signed up with a fabulous dog trainer -Mena -"It’s Ginger’s way" who recommended a vet to see, who immediately put Coco on pain medication.  Coco’s mum then signed up for a Dynamic Dog Assessment to get a full picture of what may be happening. The rest as they say, is history!

The assessment identified a series of issues with Coco which had been missed previously or disregarded as "normal for the breed"- issues which were causing her discomfort and then leading to undesirable behaviours on walks such as lunging and barking at people and dogs.

What was particularly interesting in Coco’s case was how differently she walked on walks compared to home, these comparisons were key to getting Coco the support she needed.

It was an emotional discussion when talking through the findings, it’s never pleasant to point these things out, but where Coco’s mum had been made to feel like it was all in her head, it was a relief and tears were shed. As professionals, supporting Coco’s mum together enabled Coco to get the right support and empowered her to support Coco in the way that was needed. And now, Coco is much happier in so many ways!

The vet referred to a fantastic physiotherapist who is already seeing improvements in Coco’s strength in all four limbs, the vet is amazing and ensuring Coco is supported, and her dog trainer is helping broaden Coco’s world – even taking her out on group dog boat rides  - yes BOAT RIDES! Captain Coco is living it large!

The Dynamic Dog Assessments are created to support vets and professionals in their treatment and should never replace veterinary care, they help to consolidate everything and piece all the puzzle together. They are fully remote with a hands off approach which enables us to see the dogs "in their natural habitat" and without stress.

The feedback from carers and veterinary professionals alike has been phenomenal and I am thrilled to be able to offer these to enable the best approach to addressing behavioural concerns whilst working alongside other professionals to ensure carers and their dog's receive the best. For more information on the Dynamic Dog Assessment please visit: https://www.perfectlypolitedachshunds.com/dynamicdogassessment. All breeds are welcome to sign up!

Chillaxing

To see Coco’s boat trip, visit Coco’s trainer’s Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIOxUtgIF-F/?igsh=MWc2azgxM3Ewbng2Yw==.  Isn’t it fabulous!

As a side note, it is important to recognise everyone's pain is different, and what may be mild to some is excruciating to others. Dogs communicate through their body language and behaviour. Just because something is common it does not mean it is acceptable, nor does it mean it is not uncomfortable for that individual. Irrespective of little legs, their legs should move in the same way as a normal dog......just not cover as much distance. Please do not discard abnormalities just because it is common. Please see my blog on pain for more guidance: Can chronic pain really cause behavioural issues?

Captain Coco enjoying a boat ride