Lalabugs - Kidding done

[Southern by choice]

Part of the condition could just be to age. Many dogs lose all their muscling and get thin with age. I also wonder if the dog may having "doggy Alzheimers" . Sadly many aged dogs do get this and disappear from their own property and wonder and keep wondering because they no longer know how to get home.
I think it is a good idea to get a vet appointment but maybe also put flyers out in case someone is missing this sweet old dog.
Happens more than people think, but the general assumption is it was a "dump".

 

[lalabugs]

I should have added that to the post. I will be posting on our local FB groups. I will be taking him to the vet here shortly to check for a microchip first. If he has a chip we will be calling the owners, if not he will be getting evaluated. Also will be informing the shelter that we found him with our contact information if owners come looking for him.

 

[BoboFarm]

If he is in fact old, it's hard to tell from the pictures, he could very well have cancer. Sadly, that's what rotties die from, most often bone cancer. In regards to feeding him, take it extremely slow. You should feed small meals four or more times a day rather than feeding one to two large meals. His body needs to recover from being starved if that's what happened. Again, it's hard to tell from the pictures but I don't see a lot of graying on his muzzle. He has very sad eyes. That breaks my heart Please keep us updated on him.

 

[Southern by choice]

If he is in fact old, it's hard to tell from the pictures, he could very well have cancer. Sadly, that's what rotties die from, most often bone cancer. In regards to feeding him, take it extremely slow. You should feed small meals four or more times a day rather than feeding one to two large meals. His body needs to recover from being starved if that's what happened. Again, it's hard to tell from the pictures but I don't see a lot of graying on his muzzle. He has very sad eyes. That breaks my heart Please keep us updated on him.

My dog looked like this at 16yrs. she hardly had any greying at all. Just old. You are very right about the cancer.

 

[BoboFarm]

I'm being flooded with memories from Teah, who we lost a year and a half ago She started graying at about 5yrs. Anja and Jake, littermates from Teah's first litter, have no gray and they're 7yrs old.

I think what I was trying to say was not to assume he's old. Condition needs to be taken into consideration too. The vet should be able to determine approximate age based on his teeth.

 

[Southern by choice]

I'm being flooded with memories from Teah, who we lost a year and a half ago She started graying at about 5yrs. Anja and Jake, littermates from Teah's first litter, have no gray and they're 7yrs old.

I think what I was trying to say was not to assume he's old. Condition needs to be taken into consideration too. The vet should be able to determine approximate age based on his teeth.

Yeah, I try not to just assume animals are dumped or neglected. Working in the canine industry for so long showed me so much. I love "old" dogs. In the future that is what I will probably do, take in the aged ones so they can just live their live so out peacefully. I really want to do some work with a foundation that takes in dogs for our servicemen and women that have to be out of the country for a tour, and basically you care for them til the owner/s can come back stateside. I love it!

Sorry lalabugs- getting off topic again..

 

[lalabugs]

Just got back from the vets. He does not have a microchip. Vet could not give me an approx age. She just said that he is really old. He's missing teeth, some teeth are broken and he has heavy calcium on the teeth he still has. They suggest how to refeed him. Giving him 4 small meals a day with a 50/50 mix of soft food & hard food. After 1 to 1 1/2 weeks of feeding him, if he does not improve at all or gets worse they will see him. They did look him over and gave me advice which I greatly appreciated.

Once I get done with my kids school work I will be heading to the feed store to get him some senior dog food.

The reason I say he was a dump is because my property is fully fenced. He was in my yard this morning. He can barely walk. Not possible for him to jump my fence.

I have informed the shelter about finding him. I posted him on the fb groups. If someone is looking for him we will find them.

 

[BoboFarm]

Thanks for taking this guy in

I doubt anyone will be looking for him I hope he recovers enough to enjoy what time he has left.

 

[babsbag]

Poor boy, people are so cruel, it is good that he found a soft heart to land on. You are a kind soul. I also am thinking that my next dog will be an older one that just needs a home for their last days. I just need them to bark when there are intruders and sound vicious. And they need to like cats.

 

[OneFineAcre]

Bless you for taking care of him.