Question by Beth J: Pray for Hooch: Have you ever rescued a dog that some said you were crazy to rescue…and found it to be very reawrding in the?
OK guys.. Remember Hope? The 14 year old GSD with the huge tumor I posted over the last few days. She is in her new home and is doing well. For the first time ever, Hope is an inside dog and seems to like it. She was vetted and it is a mammary tumor that will be removed on Thursday. While she is under for the surgery, she will get her ears cleaned very well as they look as though they have never been cleaned, and she will also have her teeth checked over well, or the few she has left. This was a pure breed GSD that was loved by some kids at one point I am sure, but was left outside to fend for herself against the elements. She was dumped in her hour of greatest need.
A complete senior panel has been done and the dog’s new name is Nanna, courtesy of her “new” boy, Eric. I have received word that she likes her new name and has been started on antibiotics to treat a bladder infection. She also has a little fluid on her lungs and some arthritis, nothing that is so serious it cannot be treated. The vet feels Nanna will be allowed to be loved and respected in her new home with all the comforts she deserves, failing any new problems that are unforeseen… for at least another year or two. Her overall health, considering everything she has been through, is good. Her new family learned the same thing I did rather quickly. “Nanna” does not mind doing a little dumpster diving at all for food. She has a wonderful appetite.
I was so happy to see her in her new home and the contentment on her face. Today is a good day in the rescue world…for now.
Thanks for responding and thank all of you who showed an interest in this dog.
Her new pictures are added here:
http://s947.photobucket.com/albums/ad316/eaglesdenrescue/
@akabln: Which is why when we pulled her from the animal shelter, where her cowardly owners dumped her to be PTS…we vetted her to see if the tumor should be removed or if she should be humanely euthanized with someone who cared for her standing by. Why would you put a dog to sleep whose life quality is good, regardless of the age? The only thign wrong with this dog is she was owned by idiots with little or no heart. She has a benign tumor that needs to be removed. IF she were my dog, which she is not, I was simply a rescue and a foster… I would do the surgery just as I do with my own dogs when they need care. I leave the decision to a vet, with years of experience instead of someone who thinks removing a tumor is cruel to a dog.
Had you followed the story…you would have seen she does have a decent life quality. She is not lethargic nor is she sickly. She just has a huge tumor that cannot be comfortable hanging as it is. So you are saying you would love a dog for 14 years and if the pet needed surgery that would help her, you would leave her with the problem or have her PTS rather than risk a surgery? We do not endanger dogs by operating on those that are too weak to have surgery. Any time a dog is put under for surgery, they are at risk. But you do not euthanize dogs who need surgery because of your fear. The vet evaluates and goes from there. If you are too afraid to have a dog treated that can live another two years with a good life quality, please do not take on the care of a pet.
@sickbxy: And your stories always give me hope and inspiration when I am at the very end of that rope many times. TY

Best answer:

Answer by Sassy
Oh hun, I never saw your original post but I am animal lover and I’m so glad that this story has a happy ending!

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Question by Trail B: is it true that my miniture weenie dog has back problems that would cause him to cripple up, i need some help.?
My dog is old and for some reason he is acting like he has arthritis, its something to watch him try to get around, someone told me its cause wennie dogs have back problems, just wondering if anyone else’s dog might do the same thing, I dont know what to do with him…

Best answer:

Answer by Tiger
My does does that too when she walks sometimes.
I know she has back problems though because the herniated a disc a couple years ago. Also my dog is 7 and is a toy poodle.

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Question by Hannah: What are some fun activities for older dogs?
My dog is 11 and still very healthy, other than arthritis, which she’s on medicine for and doesn’t bother her much. She’s a smart girl with a lot of energy and I’m sure she’s getting bored just going for walks and playing in the park. I used to do agility with her, but she’s too old for that now. I know swimming would be great but nowhere around here allows dogs.

What are some fun activities for her that won’t bother her joints?

Best answer:

Answer by Hydro Morph
Take her to a local dog park to meet other local dogs (can be fun for you too) or take her with you on a long hike or a bike ride. Dogs love that!

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Question by Troy: If you have a 4 legged friend, share some wisdom with me?
My only friend is my dog Ajax. I got him when I was seven years old after having some health issues that made me a sad kid for a while and Ajax made everything better just by existing. I have never been so attached to anyone or anything before. Now my buddy is very sick, he has arthritis and I don’t have money to take him to the vet and give him his medication. I’ve seen him getting worse and worse. My brother in Nevada told a friend of his about this and she has offered me to take Ajax. She has money and a nice house I’ve visited where he’ll have attention and feel better. She seems like a nice person. But I will die a little bit without my dog. If I send him to Nevada am I being a good owner? I know this sounds mildly stupid but I hope he understands why I might send him away. We’ve been together everyday for the past 7 years. Will he be okay without me?
Em and Tori, I’m sorry about your little pets. I’m sure they were great.

Caseydog, Ajax looks like shepherd form far away but we’re not sure what he is. Just a little mutt.

Best answer:

Answer by brilove71
It does sound like the right thing to do. It sounds heartbreaking though separating you two. He’s going to miss you a lot and if anything, he’s going to get worse. When my mom is away from her dog for like 2 weeks, her dog slowly stopped eating and she started to get sick until my mom came home.
It’s really tough.

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Question by Jack P: Depressed, and need some advice on getting girls?
My names Jack and I’m 18. In the last year I have been through a lot, really my hole life. My ex who I left a year ago turned out to not of cared about me at all even though I did so much for her, that really broke my heart. My best friend who I have known for 8 years has changed after we got into a bad car accident and he got hurt, there were no drugs or alcohol involved but I was in the hospital for less than a day while he was in there for a week. We didn’t talk for almost 6 months and now were talking again but he never invites me anywhere with his other friends and only uses me to get cigs or for a place for him and his girl to crash so they can hook up. My dog who I had since I was 5 died shortly after the accident, than my mom died of a drug overdose 4 months later. I was an alcoholic for a couple of months drinking really heavily but I quit. I made a fake id and tried going to bars so I could meet a girl but I never did, I only got drunk in my sorrow and pain. I than stopped but I am still smoking really heavily, I don’t do drugs. I am really lonely because my friend john was the only person I really had but now he seems like he doesn’t even care about me anymore. The reason he got hurt so bad was because his seat was all the way back so he was laying down when we crashed. I have been told that I’m a good looking guy but never seem to get approached by any girls and because I’m so depressed and messed up inside I feel like I have nothing that they’d want. I became very materialistic because I thought that would help but it only gets me stares, not confrontations as I would of liked. I’m very lonely and want to find a girl to be with or just make friends. I bought a motorcycle which I love and I’m hoping when I go to clubs and stuff this summer I will find a girl but I just don’t know what to do. John’s girlfriend seems like she likes me a lot and like shes more attracted to me than she is to him but he won’t allow us to talk at all, he did let us kiss because we sort of had a semi 3 some yesterday but that wasn’t a big deal. The only reason I wanted to was because I hadn’t touched a girl for almost a year. I’m just really messed up and don’t know what to do about friends and girls. I have a lot of things going for me like I’m getting my pilots license and I just joined the Airforce Reserve and I’m going to college online but thats about it. Not much of a social life. I was hoping the motorcycle would help me get out more so I could meet a girl to spend my time with. I have a hard time approaching them but once I start talking I’m fine. Its just that first step. Any recommendations on where to go and how to approach a girl that I’m attracted to? I’m always afraid of getting turned down, sometimes I just feel like I’m met to be alone. Please help Thanks
I like the way I look, I’ve been told that I am very attractive and I think that I’m good looking and that what i don’t understand. If I really am this and I’m this cool guy who rides sport bikes, fly planes, and is in the military than why is no girl interested in me?

Best answer:

Answer by Charlie
I see questions like this all the time. You should go to valuedynamics.blogspot.com and read up a bit. It’ll help you understand women better.

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Question by Daisy: What are some HIGHLY recommended arthritis medicine for dogs?
I buy my Rottweilers arthritis medication on Ebay, but we had to stop giving it to her because it was making her stomach upset. I don’t remember what it was called, it was some brown liquid.

I need to start giving her some new medicine because Asprin isn’t working for her.

What are some HIGHLY recommended non Rx medications I can look into buying for my Rottweiler?

Best answer:

Answer by $ RocB$
look @ this
http://arthritis.about.com/od/dogarthritis/a/painmedications_3.htm

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Question by kat k: Need some good advice- should we give the dog away to the humane society?? Please help! desperate…?
I live with my boyfriend, his socially inept 40 year old cousin, and his mother. When I first moved in I noticed some thing sort of weird with their pet dog. He had hot spots and appeared to be in a lot discomfort dealing with them. I asked if they had ever given him a bath- he is a decent sized lab mix- and my boyfriend said maybe a year ago!

I was shocked and as time went on I started seeing the mistreatment of this dog. Granted, I come from a home with pampered Maltese, Yorkies and Shih Tzus- but man, this Lab mix- Teddy, gets no love.

So basically, months later, he started looking really bad and he also began to have some real issues with his back legs and walking. He is 11 years old, btw. I finally convinced my bfs mom to bring him to the vet and after two visits, he was given antibiotics and an antifungal ointment. My boyfriend and I gave him a bath and administered the antibiotics- no improvement.

The last visit to the vet, he got more antibiotics and more antifungal bath ointment- but no one gave him the baths he was instructed to have and now it’s too cold to do so. the doc said to bring him back for tests and xrays regarding his arthritis issues…

His mother doesn’t have enough money, or so I hear, to bring him back to the vet even though the Doc said so..

So now the dog is stuck downstairs, living with the disgusting cousin who has no personal hygeine or knowledge about cleanliness. The dog STINKS to high heavens, and he looks so sad. He is trapped in this room that is like a musty stinky cave- as he cannot go down stairs… The last time the cousin let him upstairs despite our instructions, and Teddy jumped down 4 steps landing with his legs all crooked because he is scared to get down the stairs..

I feel like this is an animal cruelty issue without criminal intent. They just don’t have the money, and honestly, don’t care enough about the dog to get him the treatment he needs to his skin problems, eye infection and arthritis- one night Teddy was stuck for a few hours as he couldn’t even stand and he urinated on himself…

Should I report this to the animal shelter? Or see if they will give him up? I feel so SO bad for this dog, if he was mine I would have NEVER let him get to this point- and he just wants to be loved!!! Please help, any suggestions?/ i don’t want to get my boyfriends mom in trouble, but this dog is being treated as a smelly nuisance… and its not right
ha, no i mean my boyfriend and i both care, i mean like the older people in the house who have more money than us dont care…

he isn’t my dog either, i feel terrible for him, but do not have any bond with him, he would be better off put to sleep in my opinion as he is suffering- but how does one go about humanely putting an animal to sleep- the vet?
jana, i appreciate your answer- however i was the one who suggested the vet visits, all three of them- i was the one who gave him that first bath- its not my responsibility as i am a full time college student and have a full time job, i have little to no time or money to properly care for a dog that is not mine- i do what i can , but it isn’t much- thats why i am having a problem here
oh my gosh GUYS, the reason I posted this is because I am trying to help him! don’t say i’m not doing what i can, jesus – it’s not like i’m sitting on my ass all day staring at this dog while it’s in pain…
my boyfriends mother wont even ALLOW me to bath him the bath tub… she refuses to assist with anything, and like i said the dog lives in a disgusting room that I have no control over at all…
okay last time i’m adding details ha- i don’t know if this is going to clear anything up- this living arrangement is temporary, we are moving to chicago soon and cannot take the dog with us…
also- everyone is telling me to take care of the dog- i don’t even know how to do that because he is in such pain and bad shape. i do not have extra money to take a dog to the vet, i just don’t have it- i barely have enough money for my own antibiotics at this point!

Best answer:

Answer by Amazing Water Basset
It is unlikely that anyone else would want to adopt a senior, large breed dog with health problems requiring expensive vet treatment.

It does sound like he is suffering, but passing the problem on to the shelter will not help him. If they are not willing to care for him he needs to be humanely put to sleep to end his suffering.

And I would seriously reconsider the boyfriend if he does not have an issue with this situation.

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Question by Courage!: Any way to provide some relief to a dogs’ arthritis pain naturally?
Like without prescription medicine? Are there any natural ways?

Best answer:

Answer by shaggybus
glucosamine and chondroitin is good for arthritis. It helps lubricate the joints naturally which prevents further wear. It’s available in doses specially for dogs at most pet supply stores. Feeding the dog chicken cartilage also helps to naturally repair damage and he will love it. Avoid giving the dog pain relievers because if he doesn’t have the pain to tell him when to take it easy then he may easily over exert a bad joint and cause real damage.

p.s. do not purchase anything from Petland stores. They are the nations biggest supporter of puppy mills. Petsmart or Petco have a good selection of natural remedies available.

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Question by xxtropicalbarbiexx: my dog has arthritis, some help please?
my 15 year old dog has arthritis in his back hip, e is taking anti-inflamitories for it but nothing else, this helps ALOT with his pain but there are some days where one of his legs is so sore he cant put it down. i have noticed over a few months that the muscle in one of his legs has been weakening. after checking him today the bone in his right hip is very pronounced and there doesnt seem to be much muscle left, is this a side effect of the anti-inflamitory (muscle deterioration?) hes on metacam oral suspension as per his vet. thanks :S

Best answer:

Answer by swifft20005
it would be kindness to end its pain with a final injection by a vet

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Question by ♥ Leo ♥: What are some ways to slow the progression of arthritis in senior dogs?
I have a 15 year old (about to be 16 in April) golden lab that has arthritis in her hips and shoulders. She’s on anti-inflammatory medication, and is doing as well as any 15 year old dog can do. She has a heated orthopedic bed she sleeps on, and we have put a ramp on the back door steps. So physically she’s able to get around our house with ease.

Are there anymore steps we could take to slow the progression of her arthritis? I’d hate for her to get so bad she has to get euthanized before her time.

Best answer:

Answer by QueenBee
GARLIC…..lol

Garlic helps with arthritis in both humans and animals. I use to feed my 12 year old Doberman cloves of garlic wrapped in cheese and then seems to help him. Mind you I was 10 so it probably wasn’t the best way to give it to him.
Find a garlic supplement and mix that into his food.

Small amounts of exercise are good too. Keep her moving but only for 10 minutes for a walk and then give her a break. Do this a few times a day. THe more she lays around the stiffer she will be.

Diet is very important. I don’t know what diet your dog is on so I am just going to suggest somethign I woudl try. Labs tend to get chunky and this is never good for their joints. she should be on a senior or low cal/low activity diet. Minimal treats to keep her at a healthy weight.

Lots of love always helps too!!!!

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