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Author Topic:   Rescue - need some serious help....
Samsintentions
Member

Posts: 944
From:Columbus, Tx ,USA
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 12-30-2003 06:04 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Samsintentions     Edit/Delete Message
Hey yall,

Here goes:

Our first heeler died a long time ago. Well we have a brother and sister out of one of his last litters. They are half heeler, half whatever else, I don't know. Any how, The male isn't neutered, we usually can't come close to him because he's half wild. His siter however is the sweetest girl ever.
I don't know why he's like that, he has been since birth. Any how, People always dump off dogs at the house and strays always seem to find their way to us. Well he "locked up" with a stray female, and two black chow looking dogs attacked him and litterally ripped off half of his neck. All thats there is meat, and some of it is gone. The other side of his neck has holes about the size of my palm.
Well we couldn't catch him for like 3 days after it happened, he just limped about, bled everywhere, and ate and went about his buisness. We tried trapping him, darting him, everything. To no avail he escaped everytime.

Well Saturday, Granvel snuck up on him while he was sleeping and caught him.
The vet says there's nothing he can do, that the wounds are too big to sew up, and he couldn't graph skin that large from anywhere, if we left him there the only thing he could do was keep him on IV's and watch him and watch our bill rack up....
SOOOO he's at home in my bathroom.

He's so weak now he doesn't run or fight us. He barely drinks, doesn't eat and he's nothing but skin and bones. We're medicating him like the vet recommended, 4cc's of penacylin 1x a day with childrens tylenol for the pain.

If we piss him off enough and pick him up he'll stand. But will soon lay down again. He doesn't even flench when we give him the shots. We flush the wounds with warm water and leave them uncovered like he says...but the smell is soooo bad. WE've bathed him, cleaned him daily, and oh it stinks horribly.

We've tried everything to get him to eat and he won't, so we've been taking a syrenge and feeding him buttermilk, ensure, and some broth. But he won't eat on his own.
He's missing his bottom two canines and some of his molars on one side as well, we think he lost those in the fight as they are fresh losses.
I bought canned dog food, made him gravy, mushed his regular dog food with warm broth. He won't eat.

Last night i boiled some chicken for him and he would only eat the fat and skin....I was glad he showed interest in that!!! He usually weighs about 35-40 lbs, but probably doesn't weigh 20 now.
I don't know what to do. He's drinking a bit more water now, but I'm sooo worried.

Anyone have any idea how I can get him to eat?? It's heart braking to see him, and Granvel feels so bad having to force feed him.
The vets both insure us that we're doing everything we can, and we call them both daily! I'm sure they are tiring of us.

Please any help would be appreciated.

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Karriesue
Member

Posts: 277
From:Nellis AFB, Nevada
Registered: Jun 2003

posted 12-30-2003 08:37 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Karriesue     Edit/Delete Message
Sam, what are his chances of surviving? The wounds sound so serious. Maybe you should consider a second vet opinion. I guess I am just thinking there has to be something a vet can do. I am with you. I hate to see any animal suffer like that. I wish I could help but I can't, so I am offering you all my support. Hang in there and I hope you see some positive changes soon.

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Samsintentions
Member

Posts: 944
From:Columbus, Tx ,USA
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 12-30-2003 09:29 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Samsintentions     Edit/Delete Message
Yeah, I've consulted two vets. they both say the same. "dogs are tough, there's not much I can do. Take him home, feed him and keep him clean. let nature take its course, and give him this for pain and this for antibiotic...ect..."

They are serious. The wounds believe it or not look so much better than they did, its him not eating thats really got me bothered.
We will not let him die. He's gonna pull through this, and hopefully tame down and be a loving pet. Though this isn't really good memories for him, he probably thinks we're torturing him or something. I don't know. I try to save everything. Its heartbreaking.

I rescued a kitty about a month ago, he's not quite all that tame, and he was in the bathroom yesterday afternoon, and we caught him licking the dogs wounds. The vet said that was ok. It wouldn't hurt either one of them, that it was natural for them to do that. We aren't putting any topical meds on the wounds, it should dry out itself, only warm rinses once a day. But I think kitty needs to stay away he may become lunch if the dog gets mad enough.

I don't know. My mother in law is checking up on him every hr or so while I'm at work and making sure he is drinking.

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Maisey
Member

Posts: 1387
From:Portland, Oregon US
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 12-30-2003 10:55 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Maisey     Edit/Delete Message
I would think they would want you to keep the wounds clean with something other than warm water...and I would have hoped they would give him something stronger than tylenol for the pain. I'm not big on pushing meds and pills by any means and I understand the importance of pain and the role it plays when an animal has a injury that requires it to stay still...but I can't abide an animal needlessly suffering in pain and I would guess the tylenol isn't helping much.
If the wounds are not repairable, you will have to just sit it out...did they suggest any creams or ointments to protect the wound and speed up the healing process? Since you have the opinions of two traditional vets, maybe consider the opinion of a Holistic vet, they often have home remedies that are helpful, maybe even something for the pain. I would also make good use of the time he is down and weak to make nice with him...smother him with attention, if he does make it, it might make all the difference in how tame he will be afterwards.
Do you know who owns the other dogs that attacked? I would be for doing some screaming to the owners (this was on your property?)...unless your dog was running free too, then there isn't alot you can gripe about. I'm so sorry the poor guy is going through this, I'll keep him in my thoughts.

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Samsintentions
Member

Posts: 944
From:Columbus, Tx ,USA
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 12-30-2003 11:50 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Samsintentions     Edit/Delete Message
We live way out in the country so my dogs usually stay pinned during the day when no one is home and when we are they have acrage to run on.
I have no idea where these dogs came from or where they went after the attack. We've driven up and down the roads looking for them and they have pretty much vanished. I've got a poster at the post office and the general store asking if they belong to anyone.


They both recommended some antiseptic spray, and applying vasaline to the skin edges. They said this would keep them soft and help it stretch more. They said by allowing it to scab over and then moistening it with warm water, it would scab faster and thicker over the entire wound. By putting any kind of ointment over such a large area, could do more harm than good.
I've called a Holistic vet as well, she agreed as well.
It's looking better, and the scab is covering most of it now. They said its just going to take a long time to completely heal and He'll end up having a nasty scar.

Oh I shower him with so much love I'm scared I'm smothering him. I just wish he'd eat. We give him tylenol, and an aspirin paste. it seems to help, he bends his neck and doesn't have any swelling or fever.

He's just weak from not eating.
I agree, I think that if he doesn't start eating in the next few days, and doesn't progress any, we'll probably have to help him cross the rainbow bridge. I hate to see him suffer, but he really has so much spirit.

it just ticks me off that people can abandon their animals and not care where they go, if they are a danger to others, and if they hurt others. Now that we've caught him, and if he heals, we'll neuter him. Its not that he's stark wild, he's just one of those dogs that will come to you when he wants. He's a great watch dog and companion to Smokey, Charllotte, and his sister "Sissy". He doesn't pick fights, or bother anyone. He jsut got caught up in doggie love and it got the best of him.

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Samsintentions
Member

Posts: 944
From:Columbus, Tx ,USA
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 12-31-2003 04:25 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Samsintentions     Edit/Delete Message
Oh God, Granvel had to work on his truck late last night. So I drove home and went from the shop to the house to feed the dog and give him his evening kisses and loving, and a good poke in the butt with the meds... He was dead. He had drank all of his water, ate some of his dry dog food and most of the chicken I had shreded up for him, and he had severe diareha all over the bath room, it had a large amount of blood in it along with a pile of vomit that contained a bit of blood as well.

I ran out of the bathroom screaming and ran all the way to the the shop crying and screaming the whole way. I'm so heartbroken.
Granvel called our vet right away, and the vet said that he was expecting him to not make it. That if he made it a week we'd be lucky and then he'd have a good chance. God he was doing do good! I don't understand what went wrong.
The vet seems to think that with the large amount of blood in his stool and since he hadn't gone in so long, that he probably had intesinal swelling from damage in the fight, and the swelling went down and the result is all over my bathroom.

I guess he's better off now, but I'm so sad. I tried everything possible and he was acting if he was getting better. He finally ate, and knew he was being cared for (at least I think he knew), and then curled up on the sheets and blankets I had down for him.

Granvel is going to bury him this morning. I couldn't even bear to go in the bathroom the rest of the night nor this morning. I had to hold it until I got to work this moring.

Thanks for yalls consern. Yall are such great people and I'm so glad we have this forum to discuss our problems, vent, and get help and advice.

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puggleowner
Member

Posts: 228
From:Grand Rapids, MI
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 12-31-2003 05:49 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for puggleowner     Edit/Delete Message
I am truly so sorry for your loss- it was so honorable of you to give the dog so much love and care in his final weeks, especially with him not being so nice to you previously. I'm sure that he is in doggie heaven looking down on you and appreciating all that you did for him- sometimes dogs don't always show it like humans do, but you know they are thankful.

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Karriesue
Member

Posts: 277
From:Nellis AFB, Nevada
Registered: Jun 2003

posted 12-31-2003 08:34 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Karriesue     Edit/Delete Message
I am so sorry. Try to be comforted by the fact that you did all you could do for the little guy. He was lucky to have you giving him lots of love in his final hours and he passed on knowing that someone cared about him. Take care and you know we are all here if you need someone to listen.

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susan_cude@hotmail.com
Member

Posts: 813
From:Santa Maria, Ca.
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 12-31-2003 08:56 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for susan_cude@hotmail.com     Edit/Delete Message
Hi! I am so so sorry!!!! I know how much this must hurt you. Take comfort in knowing that you did all you could for him, just like Karriesue said. Your in my prayers...Sincerely, Susan

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honeybear
Member

Posts: 926
From:
Registered: May 2003

posted 12-31-2003 09:33 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for honeybear     Edit/Delete Message
I am so sorry to hear about your poor baby, he has passed to the rainbow bridge you did all you could and please know he is not suffering anymore. My thoughts are with you.
Honeybear

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ozzy_AmericanBulldog
Member

Posts: 27
From:UK (Staffordshire)
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 12-31-2003 01:49 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for ozzy_AmericanBulldog     Edit/Delete Message

Hi,

i am really sorry to hear of your sad loss. You did everything you could to help him, so i hope that you dont blame yourself. You are in my thoughts

Ozzy xx

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Miss_vp2002
Member

Posts: 152
From:Dubbo, NSW, Australia
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 12-31-2003 07:34 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Miss_vp2002     Edit/Delete Message
Sam, Im am so sorry for you loss. Don't blame yourself for his death, you did everything in your power to keep this little guy alive. My thoughts are with you at this time, be strong, look at the sky and give him a wave cause he's probably looking down on you now.

Jody

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Samsintentions
Member

Posts: 944
From:Columbus, Tx ,USA
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 01-02-2004 05:52 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Samsintentions     Edit/Delete Message
Thanks yall,
We buried him next to his daddy.
We found out that he had some serious intestinal damage caused from bites to the gut. HE never bruised there or anything so we never knew. So he initially just slowly bled to death from the inside. No blood leaked out due to the intestinal swelling, but once it went down, it opened the flood gates. The vet said he'd have never known, it was too far up in there.

I'm glad he no longer hurts, and can't get into any more trouble. His sister howled last night. I guess she figured it out when we buried him. It was heart breaking. She had a shephardXmutt pup that some one dumped off the other day for a companion now. SHe doesn't like Smokey or Charllotte.
We were going to find the pup a home, but she attatched to the little mutt, so I can't bring my self too separate them. I'll post photos soon of her. She's sooo ugly she's kinda cute. We named her Hankie Spankie. She's gets into soooo much trouble!!!!!
She's sooo hyper and loving and jumps and never walks, always runs....oh she's cute, but definately a trouble maker. I'll have to start obediance probably next week. We still need to get a little weight on her.
She's about 3 months, and boy, if I had half of her energy......

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dreamer_girl
Member

Posts: 51
From:Mobile,Alabama,United States
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 01-02-2004 09:58 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for dreamer_girl     Edit/Delete Message
i am so sorry.i know what it's like to lose a pet.at least he isn't in pain now.you should know he loved you even if he didn't show it and if he could have talked he would have thanked you for everything you did to try to save him.

------------------

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honeybear
Member

Posts: 926
From:
Registered: May 2003

posted 01-02-2004 10:16 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for honeybear     Edit/Delete Message
Sam, god works in great ways and maybe that was his gift bringing this pup to you to help his sister with the grief.
Honeybear

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