My dog tore her cranial cruciate ligament: 5 things to remember

Lulu sat on the Vet's table, gingerly kicking out her right hind leg. She looked at me with the same big, sad eyes she employed to get treats.

After a week or two of not knowing what was wrong, of being frustrated and worried, I was finally overcome. I put my head on hers and cried.

Lulu waits at the vet for her diagnosis.

Lulu had some obvious discomfort a week or two prior. I took her to a vet (not her primary, he was out of the office on a training day). They felt her spine, moved her legs, she showed no sign of pain. They diagnosed her with an upset tummy and prescribed an antibiotic, a probiotic and canned prescription food.

A week later, we were at her regular vet. She would walk, yelp and hold up her leg.

The vets moved her legs. They performed an X-ray. It was a tear of the cranial cruciate ligament.

A cranial cruciate ligament tear. Picture courtesy of Embrace Insurance.

I felt like I had failed my dog somehow. I kept going through in my mind what had led Lulu to tear a ligament. Had Jasmine been rough with her? Did I push her too hard? Why did I keep letting her jump on and off the bed or the couch or out of the car? Why didn't I make sure she had Glucosamine supplements daily?

And why hadn't I waited one more day and seen her primary vet initially?

I have had many people try to reassure me that I am not a bad dog mom. I remain unconvinced. But I hope this post will help put your mind at ease... and give you something to think about.

4 ways Natural Balance dog food helps you buy with confidence #WeBelieveinNB

Last week, we talked about why Lulu and Jasmine are on a Limited Ingredient Diet. We use food like Natural Balance® because the company uses simple ingredients, a single source of animal protein and no grains.

But one thing we love about Natural Balance is how well they make sure their food is OK for my dogs. It's called the Buy With Confidence™ guarantee, and there are 4 steps to it.

This post is sponsored by Natural Balance® and the BlogPaws® Professional Pet Blogger Network™. I am being compensated for helping to share our thoughts about why we believe in Natural Balance as a quality food for our (dog(s) or cat(s), Life With Beagle only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Natural Balance Pet Foods is not responsible for the content of this article.

Need a Limited Ingredient Diet? Buy Natural Balance with confidence #WEBelieveinNB

We are a Limited Ingredient house. Lulu and Jasmine have long been on simple formula diets with single animal proteins and no grains. And we like Natural Balance's® Limited Ingredient Diet.

This post is sponsored by Natural Balance® and the BlogPaws® Professional Pet Blogger Network™. I am being compensated for helping to share our thoughts about why we believe in Natural Balance as a quality food for our (dog(s) or cat(s), Life With Beagle only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Natural Balance Pet Foods is not responsible for the content of this article.

Wordless Wednesday: Celebrate your best friend

Happy Best Friends Day! How are you celebrating with your furry best friend?

Pet Bite Prevention Week: 5 things you need to share

Today we're talking about something extremely important that everyone should know about. And I'm asking that you share this info with everyone you know.

How many times have we all heard: "oh my dog is a good dog. I can't believe they snapped like that?"

How many times have we all said: "oh my dog is a good dog. I can't believe they snapped like that?"

Any dog can bite.

Let me repeat that.

Any dog can bite.

Any shape, any size, any breed, any age.

"Underwater Dogs" with Seth Casteel: an afternoon in photos

Ever heard of Underwater Dogs?

The book series includes great, funny and fun pictures of dogs diving after toys under water.

The photographer, Seth Casteel, sometimes does private photo shoots all over the country.

I had the rare privilege to watch photographer Seth Casteel take some of his Underwater Dog pictures at a photo shoot in Orlando.

Check out some of the photos I took from the shoot!

Seth Casteel sets up a photo with Charlie.

6 steps to take before you free a pet from a hot car

Summer approaches, people.

Actually, forget it. If you're in Florida, summer is already here. Temperatures are in the 80s and they will only go up from here. So will that wretched heat index.

We are now in that period where leaving your pets in the car is dangerous, maybe even deadly.

In 2016, Florida lawmakers passed a bill that will protect people who damage a hot vehicle to rescue a human or a pet from criminal liability or lawsuits. But that doesn't mean you should just go charging in, breaking windows.

Find out what steps you need to take if you find yourself in this situation.