Journalistic Incompetence - or Laziness?

Suppose, for a moment, that back in 1989, someone had decided that the existing Touch-Tone phones didn't suit him, and decided to build his own from scratch. Let's say that he did a very good job and came up with a phone which worked exactly the same as those which had already been available for over 25 years, but incorporated such significant design improvements that other people wanted one like it. Then, let's imagine that 9 years later, he and his wife started a business manufacturing their custom-built phones, and managed to succeed. Now, in March, 2008, they continue to run their business.

That would be an admirable accomplishment, as anyone who has ever started a small business would agree. But would it also be news of national significance? AP seems to think so.

Yesterday's local paper, the Lebanon Democrat, ran this AP story, Hot Wheels For Disabled Pets, which had appeared earlier on the CBS News website. It's a nice human interest item, but as any veterinarian could have told them, it's not news. Such custom-fitted canine "wheelchairs" have been commercially available for over 40 years from the K-9 Carts Company of Oxford, Maryland, which started to manufacture them while I was attending veterinary school at Cornell (1966-70).

Cornell didn't buy the commercially available carts, but used to make their own from 6-foot lengths of aluminum alloy splint rod, a pair of Little Red Wagon-type wheels, padding, and tape. That was the procedure during the entire time I was there, had been for many years before I arrived, and may, for all I know, still be today.

The carts were first used while the late Dr. Ellis P. Leonard ran the Small Animal Hospital at Cornell, which was from 1948 until his retirement in 1969. Dr. Leonard himself probably came up with the idea, but proving it might be difficult, since he passed away in 1991.

Under Dr. Leonard's guidance, Cornell adopted strict aseptic standards for veterinary surgery identical to those used by human hospitals. Later, he introduced spinal surgery for dogs paralyzed by intervertebral disc disease, including fenestration, hemilaminectomy, and dorsal decompressive laminectomy, and brought aboard other skilled veterinary surgeons to perform the procedures.

As a result, and because at that time, it was one of only a few places in the country then offering such surgery, Cornell attracted referrals of paralyzed dogs from all over the Northeast. While I was there, the Small Animal Clinic was always caring for a number of recuperating Dachshunds, and occasionally other breeds. Every day during lunch hour, there was a regular routine in which each dog able to participate was put into his own custom-fitted cart and allowed to exercise. During good weather, they were taken outside to the lawn, but if the weather was inclement, the dogs were allowed to run up and down the highly polished terrazzo corridor.

The dogs loved it, and it was really heartwarming to see them enjoying themselves running around in their little carts. Surprisingly, even though the dogs were allowed to exercise together, I don't remember ever seeing a fight. Once in a while, one would make a mess, but that was expected, and those who were supervising their exercise period were always prepared for that eventuality.

The unnamed reporter who wrote the article could easily have ascertained most of those facts with a simple Google search, and could have learned the rest by interviewing a few older veterinarians. Instead, he or she took the lazy route and just parroted back what these cart makers told him.

Where were the editors who are supposed to supervise the reporters? Didn't anyone up the entire chain of command realize that the use of canine carts is a practice that has been in common use for at least half a century?

It appears that the owners of the canine cart company which was the subject of the article managed to pull off a brilliant public relations coup in the tradition of Jay Conrad Levinson's Guerilla Marketing Excellence. The reporter eagerly took the bait and wrote a story implying that these people were the originators of the idea, and all of the others engaged in the business had sprung up afterwards, following their example. That's bad enough, but even worse is the fact that the reporter completely failed to mention the complications that inevitably accompany the use of these carts. The article implies that once a dog is fitted with his cart, he becomes normal except for the fact that he can't use his hind legs.

Unfortunately, it's not quite that simple. If a dog can't move his hind legs because of a neurologic problem, whether disc disease, myelopathy, or any other condition causing paraplegia, in most cases, he also can't empty his bladder. That means that someone must manually express his bladder at least 3 times a day until such time as function returns — which may be never. Failure to do it faithfully — and thoroughly — will result in the development of a urinary infection. Even with the best of care, these dogs are very prone to develop such infections.

There are several other problems with which owners of such dogs must be prepared to deal, often on a long-term basis. The K-9 Cart Company discusses them in considerable detail here, because before pet owners make the commitment to undertake the care of severely disabled pets, they need to be fully aware of all of the ramifications of their decision. This news article, though, doesn't even mention those common complications, thus giving pet owners the mistaken impression that if their pet should become paralyzed, they need only order a canine "wheelchair," and everyone will live happily ever after.

If only that were true.