The New Dog

[LadyPirate]

After a night's sleep, all these thoughts came rushing through my head. The dog we are getting is around 5 or 6 years old. Supposedly she has been a house dog, but I have serious doubts. Probably the people who dropped her off said she was a house dog, but this is really a very dirty, matted, dog. Maybe they just didn't do baths or brushings. That will change once she gets into our home.

Since she is so obviously uncared for, I was wondering about worms. The shelter had tested her for worms and it came back positive for either whip or hook and I can't remember which one they said. I know I need to keep her feces out of reach of our other animals. I'm assuming she shouldn't be eating from their bowls either. What about sleeping? I have bought her a bed, but I'm sure Milkshake will try to take that over like she does everything else! LOL! I'm think I don't want her sleeping on our bed until she at least gets another treatment for the worms, is bathed and I'm sure she is flea free.

I also thought about heartworms. She may very well have those too. I will be taking her to our vet next week. My question for the moment is, how much does that treatment cost? I've read as low as 500 and I'm guessing that would be for a light case, and I've read several thousand. We can't afford several thousand. That's just the facts.

She seems like a healthy enough dog. I think she is overweight, but that could be worms. I know she really seemed to like us. We'll see how all that goes when we bring her home. Hopefully she will just fit like a glove after the initial adjustments.

I'm just looking for some answers to some thoughts that were running through my mind when I woke up this morning.

Robyn

[mynameislola]

Please don't take in a dog you can't afford. We put $2,000.00 in the savings account for every dog we get, just in case. Cody's knee surgery was $4,000.00! Good thing we have the account and all the other dogs were healthy last year.

[LadyPirate]

I brought her home. I think that was just one of the middle of the night things you worry about before you get totally awake. We will have her treated no matter what the cost. It will be fine. We got a dog almost 2 years ago who was in no better shape than this one is and she was fine. Once she was wormed, got her shots, some decent food and a haircut, she was fine. She's neurotic, but that's just Lucy!

I know animals can be expensive, but when we took these dogs, we were committed to taking care of them. The money is there. It's earmarked for other things, but if Annie needs some extra care, she will get it.

Robyn

[marg]

It is true. You think you can't afford something, but when it comes right down to it we always seem to manage. :)

[Jerica]

A deworming won't be costly, heartworm treatment can be though yes. A simple blood test at the vet can tell you if she has heartworm. I hope she's negative. I would be safe and keep her feces picked up out of the yard and keep her away from other dogs to be sure nothing gets passed on. If she is free of heartworm you can start giving her Heartgaurd Plus, or something similar, it deworms for roundworm and hookworm (can't remember if any others) and keeps away heartworms. Its not too costly. Congrats on your new addition and good for you for taking in this dog! :)

[LadyPirate]

She will be going to the vet on Friday. I honestly think she probably just has regular worms. They did find some kind of worms at the shelter, but I can't remember which kind it was. They gave her some kind of worming medicine then. I've had her out several times now and she is doing better all the time. Maybe she really was a house dog and whoever had her, just didn't comb her or take her to the vet. I know there are some people who don't. Or maybe they gave her something over the counter which doesn't work very well.

My grandkids were here for a while and she just laid right next to me and paid them no mind at all. Of course, once this stuff is out of her system, she will be up and about more but I think she will still be a quiet type of dog. When they left, she got up and walked to the door with them, wagging her tail the whole time. Maybe she was just glad to see them go! LOL!

She still hasn't eaten, but I know that too will come in time. I have no idea what she was used to eating so it's going to be a guessing game for a few days. I fully intend to get her over onto the same diet I have Lucy on. Lucy is doing great on it. I'm going to talk to the vet Friday and see if I need supplements for her, but as shiny and soft as her coat is and as shiny as her eyes are, I don't know if she needs anything extra or not.

Milkshake has calmed down though she still gives Annie the evil eye. Right now all 3 are laying in the middle of the floor sleeping, so just maybe in a couple days, they will be friends, or at the very least, tolerant of each other!

Robyn

[LadyPirate]

Annie does have heartworms. She will go to the vets Monday and stay for 3 days. She will get a series of injections and they will watch her closely. She will then go back in 2 weeks for an oral medication. After that, she will go back in 2 weeks to be checked again to see if it worked.

The vet was very honest and upfront and said that sometimes dogs did experience problems, meaning sometimes they pass. I am well aware of that, but Annie will die if she doesn't get treatment. Therefore she will get the treatment recommened by my vet.

I was amazed when I asked the cost and she said $125.00. I thought that was just for the first treatment. No, it covers everything. Her 3 days at the vets office, her oral treatment and the followup bloodwork. When I mentioned what I thought it was going to cost, my vet was surprised that some people had to pay so much to get their animals treated. She said even their biggest dogs only ran about $300. Needless to say, I was VERY relieved.

We've only had her a week, but she has managed to fit right in and I'm really attached to her. Hopefully she will do fine with the treatment.

Robyn