Starving Dog

pawzaddict · 08-20-2010, 02:38 PM

They can't give you info over the phone bc you could sue if something happens to the dog. Can the mother not take him to a vet? I just really don't advise that the dog not receive medical attention.
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Tess · 08-20-2010, 02:43 PM

Here are a couple of articles. It looks like the advice you got to feed a quality puppy food is good. Small quantities several times a day for a total amount of food the dog would normally eat. Apparently over-feeding is the big danger.

http://www.thepetcenter.com/article.aspx?id=3400 (scroll down to the part called "Feeding the starved dog")

Here's another one
Caring for starved and emaciated dogs

Hope the dog is not as bad off as feared!

SimplyLiz · 08-20-2010, 02:45 PM

Thanks you for the advice...I guess I do have alot of expierience with all kinds of animals from racoons, possums, horses, cattle, cats and dogs...being an animal lover, well, you know how it is for us

I went thru so much with my little dog Maddie. We lived in Mexico for 4 years and this little street dog folowed my daughter home twice..i finally agreed hat we could give her a home. She had all 4 legs when she came to us, but tore thru a screen to jump out the 4th floor window and broke her right hind leg...we couldn't believe she lived with no other injuries. the vets in Mexico, 3 of them were convinced they could save the leg and just didn't want to remove it even tho I had asked them to. After 5 surgeries and 6 months, they just couldn't save it and she was really suffering so FINALLY after begging and pleading, they removed the leg..sent her home the same day..with this terrible wound left uncovered with 56 stitches and within a week, i knew she's be just fine. And she is awesome...the kind of dog you take to nursing homes or hospitals to cheer people up

Tess · 08-20-2010, 02:59 PM

Wow, what an amazing story about your little Maddie! Yes, dogs do amazingly well with 3 legs. I've seen it before as I used to work for an orthopedic surgeon vet. They still have 1 more leg than we do, so why shouldn't they get around just fine! LOL!
You sound like a person in tune with animals. You'll certainly have a better sense of the challenge ahead when you meet Brutis tonight. Clearly you are preparing for the worst and hoping for the best!
My fingers are crossed that the situation is on the not-as-bad-as-it-could-be side of the scale...

**fawkese1** · 08-20-2010, 05:02 PM

this dog definitely needs to be seen by a vet. i very much understand the situation you are in, but think about this, if the dog doesn't see a vet, and is in your possession, you can be considered responsible for what happens to it. contact a local shelter/rescue group and tell them that you found the dog if you have to, tell them you would like to care for the dog, but cannot afford to take it to the vet...
denying this dog medical attention, even for the reasons you posted, is cruel. it would be better to surrender him to a shelter, where he will receive the medical attention he needs then it would be to keep the dog under these conditions.

Tess · 08-20-2010, 05:20 PM

Yeah, the dog probably does need to see the vet, sooner rather than later, but perhaps SimplyLiz can just evaluate the dog first. Maybe its not as bad as we all fear. (I mean, all we have to go on so far is a second or third hand account...) She seems like she takes great care of her other dogs, so I trust she'll get the new dog to the vet at some time, soon if it is truly sick. I for one would be willing to chip in to help her with expenses if that is the main issue.

SimplyLiz · 08-20-2010, 05:25 PM

The closest town is an hour and a half away. I AM NOT CRUEL...I don't even know anyone who would put themselves in my position. I have NO CAR...I live in a very very small town. I am trying to do the right thing by this dog...if i can save him, I will.

I have called all the shelters anywhere near here and they say if the dog is in bad shape, they will euthanize instead of putting the resources into him.

If you don't have a receipe for me, then why bother posting to me...I'm doing the very best I can.

**fawkese1** · 08-20-2010, 05:26 PM

organ damage isn't always obvious, without blood tests, until it is too late to really do anything about it tho... if the dog is emaciated, he needs medical attention. i will keep my fingers crossed that the dog isn't in as bad of shape as she posted, but my worry is that you cannot see organ failure... also, there may be a medical issue that is causing the dog to be thin, like diabetes, cancer or a thyroid issue...

good luck with him...

pawzaddict · 08-20-2010, 05:32 PM

You are doing something not ok by denying him medical care...we all have big hearts but if you don't have the means to give him medical care you shouldn't take him in rather take him in to a shelter. He may be so sick that putting him down is the answer
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pawzaddict · 08-20-2010, 05:36 PM

I agree fawkese...with possible illness. My dog looked starved but had liver issues and was on meds which prolonged his life 6 months....
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