Dog Pain Relief Blog

Henry needed a dog cone alternative when he had stitches in his tail — As well as a dog back brace when he was diagnosed with IVDD. My mom works hard to help as many dogs as possible! My husband and daughters brought home a little ball of fur while I was going through treatment for breast cancer in 2001. Our golden retriever, Cowboy, was slowing down in years and we thought a puppy would be good energy in our home. We had never had a small dog before! Henry was such a tiny bean next to Cowboy, who he soon fell in love with—constantly pulling on Cowboy’s tail, nipping his ears and paws. Cowboy, our big red dog, remained steadfastly noble. He was patient and kind and eventually, I think he came to truly love Henry. When Cowboy eventually died of a blood disease Henry missed him so much—and that’s when June joined our family. Henry, like many dachshunds, (one in every five), was diagnosed with intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) Canine Intervertebral Disc Disease when he was four years old after showing signs and symptoms of back pain. I nursed him back to health several times with veterinary care (medication and crate rest) and so much love. But Henry needed more. He needed Back stability. Firm support. Stress relief. He needed a back brace. It wasn’t until Henry started wearing his WiggleLess® brace for that he no longer went to the vet for back problems. Henry also used his WiggleLess® as a dog cone alternative when he had a lump removed from his tail and he needed to leave the surgical area alone. Instead of wearing an awkward cone around his head Henry wore a WiggleLess®. He was comfortable while healing. WiggleLess® works great as a dog cone alternative for affected/injured areas on the hind end of a dog. The brace has built-in boning to curtail twisting and sharp turns to the tail.  My sweet, sweet Henry passed away in August 2012 from cancer. He was a gentle, sweet soul and will be forever loved and missed by our family. He and June are my WiggleLess® ANGELS and a constant source of inspiration! In Loving Memory of June and Henry Our Wiggleless® Angels! We're watching over ALL dogs now! Wiggleless wants every animal to live the highest-quality life they deserve.  I love you forever June and Henry!

June, while in her prime, was diagnosed with IVDD (intervertebral disc disease), a string of fancy words that translate into lots of back problems for dachshunds.June’s life with IVDD began when she was only two years old and weighed about eight pounds. While playing in the backyard, she injured her back to such a degree that she could barely walk. I rushed her to the ER, where the on-call vet administered Rimadyl for inflammation, Tramadol for back pain, and Robaxin to relax muscles. IVDD Disc Disease Fast Facts. But the worst was yet to come; my rambunctious pet was to be “confined to rest” for a month! Whaaat?With a lot of diligence on my part, June recovered, only to re-injure her back when she was three years old! After a series of x-rays and veterinary examinations, I learned that June was a “chondrodystrophic” breed, meaning a dog with short legs and a long spine (not always), prone to IVDD. When the vet told me that June’s back was like a “ticking time bomb” and suggested spinal surgery or maybe even euthanasia, I panicked. Was my sweet angel destined to a life of pain and other maladies that can accompany IVDD, such as shaking, loss of appetite, and bladder control? I felt an immense sadness and frustration. Why did June have to suffer so? I took a little time to worry and commiserate, but then…I got busy.I realized that if June remained still, she wouldn’t injure her back. But what kind of life is that for a dog? Dogs need to be active. I had to find a way to keep June from twisting her spine and wiggling so much while she went about her daily business. That’s when the solution came to me. June needed a back brace for dogs, something like what the chiropractor gave me when I had injured my back.I immediately combed through the pet shops and searched online. I even asked my vet for a dog back brace, but there was nothing out there that would work for June. Unwilling to give up, I hired a seamstress, and together we designed a cheery, yellow vest with strong boning to keep June from wiggling. And guess what? It worked! And that was the very first WiggleLess® dog back brace. It afforded June the comfort and stability she needed to live a full, comfortable, and happy life!Then there’s my sweet, precious Henry! My husband and daughters brought home this little ball of fur while I was going through treatment for breast cancer in 2001. He and June brought my spirits up so many times. Henry was diagnosed with IVDD early on as well. Henry, also a mini longhaired dachshund, was stockier than June with a shorter spine. Fitting him for his WiggleLess®  dog back brace afforded me time to redesign a more adjustable and effective support.Fast forward to today, and there are now eight sizes of WiggleLess® dog back braces available, providing comfortable, firm back support for many breeds and builds of dogs with back problems.Sadly, June passed away in 2011 from cancer. Henry also passed on in 2012 from a long and well-lived life. They both inspired me to create WiggleLess® dog back braces. June and Henry were spinally challenged, chondrodystrophic mini long-haired dachshunds. But to my family and me, they were so much more. They were a friend, a constant source of joy and love, and the inspiration behind WiggleLess® dog back braces.June continues to inspire me and to watch over her friends who need the same support she did. It is she who keeps me motivated, ensuring WiggleLess® dog back braces are available to most dog sizes and shapes with back problems. June is and always will be our WiggleLess® Guardian Angel. We love you, June! In Memory of June and Henry It started with our bad backs! Now we want to help other dogs who suffer from dog back pain Our WiggleLess® Angels Rest In Peace My Beloveds

Lisa, a registered yoga instructor, licensed massage therapist,  ordained minister, and breast cancer survivor,  is passionate about living a full and rewarding life. Her many vocations are fueled by one purpose: to inspire others to live a high quality of life no matter what their circumstances may be. And that purpose to inspire others includes her pets, in fact, ALL animals on earth! Lisa shares her home with her husband, two daughters (when they are visiting), three chickens, and three adopted dogs: Ryder (Cocker Spaniel), LaVerne (Schnauzer/Doxie mix), and Chai (Doxie/Jack Russell mix). They joined the family from the local Humane Society when both of the family’s mini longhaired dachshunds, June and Henry, passed on.June had been Lisa’s inspiration for creating the WiggleLess Dog Back Brace. When June was just two years old, she began to have back problems—horrendous back problems that resulted in emergency room visits, strong medication, and complete crate rest. “I was angry,” says Lisa, remembering having to confine her rambunctious June. “I was shocked to learn that June had intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) and that her quality of life could be compromised forever. I had never heard of IVDD! The thought of June having back surgery or living with doggy wheels if her spine was compromised truly worried me.” Nursing June through two long back injury recoveries gave Lisa the opportunity to put her many skills and life experience to effective use. She had always felt a special kinship with animals and had been trained in animal massage therapy as well as animal communication. “I’ve had back issues myself, and they always flared up at the most inopportune times,” says Lisa. “I could relate to what poor June was enduring.” I knew she needed more than strong medication and crate rest—it simply wasn’t enough.Lisa recalled how a back brace had supported her when she had thrown out her back grooming a horse. She immediately searched the marketplace for canine back support but found no back braces for dogs available. With the help of a handy seamstress, Lisa designed a dog back brace to support her dachshund’s torso and lengthy spine. June wore the dog back brace throughout her recovery from her second back injury, and it prevented her from twisting and wiggling. She recovered fully, but her back remained compromised. “June wore her WiggleLess® brace nearly every day until cancer caught up with her —and so did Henry,” says Lisa.Today, Lisa is extra busy overseeing the production of WiggleLess® Dog Back Braces. “It all comes down to the quality of life for you and your pet,” says Lisa. “I loved June and Henry in the same intense way that you love your dog. I refused to watch them suffer. I created the WiggleLess Dog Back Brace so that they could live a fulfilling life. My mission is to provide you and your dog the same comfortable, firm, back support and the accompanying peace of mind.” And what about Ryder, LaVerne, and Chai, you might ask? Why they love their WiggleLess Dog Back Braces whenever they’ve overdone the fun and end up with an aching back! In Loving Memory of June (2004-2011) and Henry (2001-2012) Our Wiggleless® Angels! We want to help other dogs who suffer from dog back pain! Chai, LaVerne, and Ryder wear their WiggleLess® dog back braces whenever they’ve overdone the fun!