Saved Joe!!!

[SC's Mom]

First, congratulations to you and to Joe for finding each other. I'm sure the time you'll spend together will reward you at least 10 fold.
In addition to chicken and rice you can also try boiled hamburg and rice. Is Joe drinking at least? I'm not one to give any advice on this other than call the vet but you've already done that so I'm just going to say please keep us posted and I hope Joe feels better soon.

T. and Caesar

 

[ilovevegas]

i just found this thread, congrats!! joe is so freakin cute!!!!
i'm wondering if he's started eating yet? good luck!
crystal

 

[gojoe]

Thank GOD!

OK. Maybe he was just not hungry. Joe FINALLY ate the kibble!!! And not only did he eat it...he ate ALL of IT, and was in his bowl when I left this morning!!! I'm so proud of him. He seems to be feeling great. We play fetch at the park and his energy level is improving.

We had to confiscate his dear 'Mr. Squishy' as Joe had chewed it's little guts out. Does anyone have any suggestions for squishy dog play toys that are more durable than a stuffed something, but less un-appealing than that wierd rubbery stuff (he won't play with the thingy I got him). I don't want to get him another 'Mr. Squishy' because he'll kill it to fast. Something we can take to the park and fetch and bring back home and chew on.

 

[SC's Mom]

What about those tennis balls that aren't in ball form? Some are shaped in doughnuts, bones, stick-like. They aren't real thick so Joe may be able so squish it but it won't get torn apart like a stuffed animal. We can't do any stuffed animals anymore due to C's "killing it" then eating the stuffing! Hey I just had an idea (yes it happens from time to time) what about a doll? An actual kids doll. They have the kinds that aren't hard plastic but kind of rubbery. The only way this could backfire is that if you have kids Joe may not understand that all dolls aren't his toys. Might be worth a shot.

Please keep posting about Joe. It's so nice to hear such happy endings.

 

[gojoe]

Still Eating!!!

Well. I panicked for nothing. Joe is now not only eating ALL of his kibble, but he is eating without me having to enhance it with other food items. His personality is really starting to come out and I'm happy to see that he's a bright and perky thing with a whole lot of spark left in him.

We had our 'interview' with the new dogwalker last night and they seem to get along fine. The service is owned and operated by a veterinarian who goes with the dogwalker on the 'get to know you' visit. She has me a bit worried. I THOUGHT Joe was bow legged, which it LOOKS like he is and it gives him an extra wiggle when he walks. Almost like he's double jointed in his hind legs somehow, he'll rest on the 'knuckles' of his paws sometimes and just do this wierd lazy lean. It doesn't seem to be painful or uncomfortable but did seem to lessen as he's been getting stronger 'perkier'. She said that usually dogs legs do what Joes do after having some type of spinal cord injury or nerve trauma at some point and that he has recovered and compensated from whatever may have occured.

But the more i think about it, that's really messed up, because Joe has a few 'odd' scars on him like a lightning bolt shaped scar inbetween his eyes on his forehead which i am fairly certain could only been caused by something falling on his head, or being hit with something hard and sharp. He also has a 2 inch long scar on his left rear leg which is REALLY odd, i have no idea HOW he could've gotten that. Needless to say. IF he didn't have the greatest start it is really amazing that through whatever he may have been through he is still such a trusting and loving dog. He'll follow me from room to room to room, wherever I am, he wants to be right there. And now that he's feeling better the last 2 days he's been at the door so happy i'm home 'stomping' his feet and turning circles.

I am so glad I decided to go get him. He's definitely not one of these big 'flawless' super pedigreed Boxers that many of you are blessed to have, but he makes up for his physical oddities with his intelligence and love and I look forward to spending as much time as he wants to give me making up for whatever happened to him in the past and giving him a healthy happy future. (although he's probably going to hate me once i fatten him up and have him neutered....ha ha!)

 

[Cindy Creel]

I am so glad that you did go get him. You will be so rewarded in love and graditude.

Cindy

 

[sashamom]

I just read this thread....what a truly wonderful person you are!! Its wonderful how well he is adapting and he is so lucky to get so much love and attention from you!! Congratulations and may splendid things come your way!!
Sasha,Telmar and Lisa

 

[gojoe]

Kennel Cough!!!

OK. Joe went to the vet last Saturday and came out with a semi-clean bill of health. Although I had bathed and 'cleaned' his ears, he unbeknownst to me had yeast infections in BOTH and we now have ear wash and medicated goo for that. The vet gave me drops for conjuctivities in Joe's right eye.

Initially the vet was 75% certain that Joe was going to test positive for heartworms...of course I was distressed and saddened, but he did state he may also of been a mean old grumpy vet and Joe could be just fine. Lucky for Joe and I...Joe's results came back heartworm negative on Monday!!! Thank GOD! He's still eating dry kibble with no problems, has firm stools and his energy level is improving BUT...
...Joe started coughing on Sunday night...at first I thought maybe he had a particle of something stuck in his throat...it got progressively worse and I called the vet on Monday, he stated Joe probably got Kennel Cough and gave me a prescription for Tetracycline which I administer 3 times daily (he's good with pills...eats them if I dip it in barbecue sauce) And here's the strangest thing...Joe doesn't cough AT ALL while outside and active on his walks...the second he comes back in the house and slows down, he's back at it again until he lays down. In the meantime Joe is hacking SO BAD he's not resting well AT ALL (and neither am I, it's so loud I wake up whenever he flairs up.) I did a search for Kennel Cough and noticed some people had given their dogs cough suppresant while waiting for the antibiotics to do there job. Is this really safe??? And if so...any preferred brand??? As usual, any and all information you all would have would be GREAT!

 

[Holden's Mom]

I gave Pete a teaspoon of honey three or four times a day and that seemed to help. Also, in the worst case I gave him Robitussin DM iinfant drops as directed on the box. So happy to hear Joe is heartworm negative.

Pam and Pete

 

[gojoe]

Thanks!!!

Thanks @ HoldensMom...it's quite distressing to hear him coughing like that...i know how my throat and ribs would feel if I was hacking that hard and can't stand to see and hear him so uncomfortable...i keep on thinking he's gonna cough up a lung or something. It's BAD!!! I will check out th Robitussin DM during my lunch hour.