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Topic: What do I do with this dog?!

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teachingmyown
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Posted: Nov 06 2008 at 7:39pm \| IP Logged

We have two 4 yr old dogs. One is fine. He is healthy, relatively obedient and pretty calm. The other drives me up a wall! First of all, he is prone to ear and skin infections. We just spent over $300 on him and now he is picking at his ear again!

Of course, dd12 kept forgetting to put the medicine in the food and we can't get the drops in his ears without my dh's help, so many nights it didn't happen. He is obese, even though he less than the other dog who is a similar sized breed. He whines, constantly! And he doesn't listen.

The worst part is that the kids won't take care of the dogs. They don't play with them. This dog desperately needs love. I think he would be a great pet for someone who loves dogs and is willing to keep up with his health needs.

What do I do with him? I can't just drop him at the pound. I feel responsible for finding him a good home. But how? Dh just keeps saying to put him down. Nobody else in the family is bothered by him because they ignore him!

But I can't ignore the poor thing in pain, or whining for attention.

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In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
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mellyrose
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Posted: Nov 06 2008 at 8:06pm \| IP Logged

Can you find a no-kill rescue near you? Is it a purebreed? There are more no-kills rescues for breed dogs vs. mixed breeds.

Try PetSmart or someplace like that for information about rescues.

Ask at a vet's office for information as well. See if you can put up notices at their office to find the dog a new family.

I can sympathize -- I *knew* when we got our dog a couple months ago that the boys (and that includes my husband) wouldn't take care of her (even though they promised they would). I definitely don't have the same time/energy I had for our first dog 10 years ago ;(

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ALmom
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Posted: Nov 06 2008 at 10:15pm \| IP Logged

Just to pass on info that might solve the ear infections. We diligently did drops for the prescribed time (several different times)and were even told we'd have to do them weekly forever - then we decided prevention was tons better than vet bills and trying to put drops in large dog with sensitive ears. We discoverd that cheese gives our dog yeast infections in the ears without fail. Toddlers make a mess - and so do many of the bigger ones when we have cheese - plus the dog has this intense love of cheese and has a great nose on her.

The solution was simple. When we eat, the dog is not in the room and does not come in until the entire area is cleaned and the floor vacuumed. She no longer serves as lazy man's vacuum - but she doesn't get any chesse either. We have not had another ear infection since and we have not used the drops in about a year.

Janet

Booksnbabes
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Posted: Nov 06 2008 at 10:23pm \| IP Logged

I second mellyrose's ideas. Rescues are wonderful for placing animals in the right homes! They tend to be more breed-specific, but I know many will take an animal that is of another breed rather than have it put down (my friend is fostering a Boxer for a Rottweiler rescue).

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MarieA
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Posted: Nov 06 2008 at 10:41pm \| IP Logged

Hi Molly,

I sympathize with you....it is hard to watch a pet suffer in any way.

As for shelters. Many don't give the dogs very much time before they put them down. Is he a pure bred dog? I believe that all of the different breeds maintain their own rescue network.

For sure, I would also contact the vet about getting him back on his ear drops....and if it is possible, you take over making sure that he gets his meds. I've had to put ear drops in our shepherd's ear and once you do it a few times and develop a technique for it, it gets easier.

Does he whine when he is healthy? I ask, because the whining might go away once he feels better. A trainer might be able to give you a few tips on the whining if it continues after he is well.

Here is a list of
No Kill Animal Shelters.

Have you or your daughter ever seen the Animal Planet show called It's Me or the Dog? The trainer's name is Victoria Stilwell. My daughter and I really enjoy watching it together.

Oh, ask your vet about food allergies. I took my lab and shepherd off dog food with corn and wheat and now use a product called Blue Buffalo. I buy it at PetSmart. One of my dogs has epilepsy which I medicate for daily...but I also switched their food to this brand have been very happy with it. (They do have a weight control food.)

Good luck...I'll be praying for you.

Marie

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