Q. We had an old sick dog who urinated on the rug several times; we had the rug cleaned but the smell is worse than ever.
A. Have you tried fabreeze? That works for me. I have 5 small markers. It really helps.
what should I look for when I go see this rescue dog? I Do not want to bring home a sick dog?
Q. I am going to go look at a new dog for our family, what warning signs should I be aware of? How do I tell if he is sick or diseased? Do I just spend enough time around him to see if he is coughing and check him for fleas? I Do not want a sick dog
A. Ask the shelter to see vet records and proof that the dog has been tested for worms - our dogs are tested as soon as they come in and if they ever show signs of illness (blood in stool, vomiting, etc.)
Make sure the dog is up to date (UTD) on vaccinations. Beyond that, they can't really assure that the dog will not be "sick" - colds and general illnesses can be common in shelters.
Check that the dg is bright and alert. Clear eyes, no nasal discharge, no coughing or sneezing. The dog should also be interested in it's environment as well as you. Should not really be cowering in a corner or laying down too much, either.
I would also observe the dog's behavior - is the dog jumpy, easy to scare, is the dog gravitating towards you or away from you, does the dog nip or grab at clothing, how does the dog react to passers by (people and other dogs). Ask shelter workers if they ever notice anything "off" about the dog - such as food bowl aggression, how it reacts to the other dogs, etc.
It would be a plus if the shelter does behavioral exams but not all do. Do you know what you want in a dog? I wouldn't go into a shelter unless you know what you're looking for - you need to choose a dog that will MATCH you perfectly or you may end up returning the dog.
Think about size, energy level, exercise needs, grooming needs, etc - if you don't want high energy then stay away from collie or herding dog mixes, if you want easy to train stay away from hounds. Stuff like that.
JRome - No. Sorry, but "many rescue dogs" do not have Wobbler Syndrome. I work in a shelter - we see 25+ new pups/adults every two weeks and have our "usual" dogs - which means there is usually 40+ dogs in our shelter at one time - and i have NEVER seen a dog with Wobbler Syndrome. No diagnosis of it either. Where'd you hear that, television?
Make sure the dog is up to date (UTD) on vaccinations. Beyond that, they can't really assure that the dog will not be "sick" - colds and general illnesses can be common in shelters.
Check that the dg is bright and alert. Clear eyes, no nasal discharge, no coughing or sneezing. The dog should also be interested in it's environment as well as you. Should not really be cowering in a corner or laying down too much, either.
I would also observe the dog's behavior - is the dog jumpy, easy to scare, is the dog gravitating towards you or away from you, does the dog nip or grab at clothing, how does the dog react to passers by (people and other dogs). Ask shelter workers if they ever notice anything "off" about the dog - such as food bowl aggression, how it reacts to the other dogs, etc.
It would be a plus if the shelter does behavioral exams but not all do. Do you know what you want in a dog? I wouldn't go into a shelter unless you know what you're looking for - you need to choose a dog that will MATCH you perfectly or you may end up returning the dog.
Think about size, energy level, exercise needs, grooming needs, etc - if you don't want high energy then stay away from collie or herding dog mixes, if you want easy to train stay away from hounds. Stuff like that.
JRome - No. Sorry, but "many rescue dogs" do not have Wobbler Syndrome. I work in a shelter - we see 25+ new pups/adults every two weeks and have our "usual" dogs - which means there is usually 40+ dogs in our shelter at one time - and i have NEVER seen a dog with Wobbler Syndrome. No diagnosis of it either. Where'd you hear that, television?
Is it possible for a dog to be misdiagnosed with kidney failure?
Q. My 11-1/2 yo lab was diagnosed 2 weeks ago. The vets were amazed at her numbers as she is still so happy and active and does not act at all like a sick dog. The vet put her on special diet with supplements and the excessive thirst and urination stopped almost immediately and she seems even perkier than before. Is it possible that the test could be in error? Could it be the result of her "getting into something" that was passing through her system?
A. Every dog is different with kidney failure and you treat the dog and not the numbers which are a guide to getting worse or improving. If it is Acute kidney failure then maybe the tests will change, if Chronic (kindeys damaged but managing, just, long term) then the tests are usually right.
Go to the kidney disease section at
http://www.dogaware.com
Consider joining this excellent group:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/K9KIDNEYS/
Go to the kidney disease section at
http://www.dogaware.com
Consider joining this excellent group:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/K9KIDNEYS/
What is with the questions in the dog section?
Q. I am just taking a break from the "politics" section. Things over there get a little crazy. But, the things that I am reading here are just sad.
Back yard breeders, people wanting to shoot their dogs, people not taking an obviously sick dog to the vet, etc etc etc.
Dang, if I wanted to read about animal cruelty I would have gone to the PETA website.
What is wrong with people?
Back yard breeders, people wanting to shoot their dogs, people not taking an obviously sick dog to the vet, etc etc etc.
Dang, if I wanted to read about animal cruelty I would have gone to the PETA website.
What is wrong with people?
A. Stuff I deal with on a daily basis working at an animal shelter.
"But his fur doesn't match my couch"
"No he's never been to a vet, he's healthy as a horse" (three year old dog)
"If you don't take him I'm going to shoot him"
"We got bored with him, so we got a new puppy"
People suck A LOT. I'd like to think many of the yahoo posts are kids trolling, but sadly I'm sure most of them aren't. It makes me sick how many horrible people live on this earth. It's a good thing that there are enough good people to keep it balanced.
"But his fur doesn't match my couch"
"No he's never been to a vet, he's healthy as a horse" (three year old dog)
"If you don't take him I'm going to shoot him"
"We got bored with him, so we got a new puppy"
People suck A LOT. I'd like to think many of the yahoo posts are kids trolling, but sadly I'm sure most of them aren't. It makes me sick how many horrible people live on this earth. It's a good thing that there are enough good people to keep it balanced.
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