A while back I wrote an entry on rear-end weakness and paralysis in dogs.  I did a little research while writing that and, based on some rudimentary statistics, estimated that at least 1 in 30 dogs will suffer from hind end paralysis by age 10 if vaccinated for rabies every year.  I figured the numbers of dogs who would develop hind-end weakness would be even higher.  This seemed to fit my observation of dogs I know, and I suspected may not be too far off the mark.

Well, I may be more accurate than I realize.  In the stats package that come with this website, I am able to see what search terms people use to find my blog.  Since I posted that entry – on Feb 22, 2008 – every single day, I get multiple hits from people looking for information on why their dogs are losing their hind ends.  For example, here’s the list of search entries used today:

“my old dog died from rabies shot”
“shadow handling agility”
“dog’s growth patterns”
“rear paralysis dog”
“hind end weakness, dogs”
“shaping ladder in dog training”
“dogs that die from paralysis”
“inherited vaccinosis dogs”
“protein for dog growth”

Considering that most of my posts are about training, I am amazed that the majority of the hits I get are on the few health related entries I’ve made.  This is sad, but at the same time makes me glad that I am writing about these issues.  I have struggled with my dogs’ health (and my own) for years, have suffered and lost, but I have also won.  I have learned a ton and, while all I can provide is my anecdotal experience and the results of a decade of research, trial and error, I am glad to know that perhaps what I have gone through may help someone else.  I often feel like a broken record, preaching raw food,  homeopathy, positive training and minimal vaccines, but this is what has worked for me and my crew.  If my experiences can help even one other person or dog, I guess I had better keep yammering away.