Big Paws Only Dog Forums

Josh (the half mask) and Pete, our new rescue Saint

I have some pictures of Pete now but cannot figure out how to get them on the board nor can I find any instructions.  Can anyone help me with this or point me to some instructions?

Thx

We just got Pete a couple of weeks ago.  He is an 18 mo. old male that we got from a rescue organization.  He had been starved, left out in a small pen with no shelter and apparently physically abused (we have found 3 sets of scars under his fur).  He was also losing his fur due to the stress.

Since we got him his fur is recovering nicely although he doesn't have the thick winter coat our other Saint has, he is putting on weight and his real personality is now coming out (he was quite fearful before). He is a lover and has one of the sweetest personalities I've ever seen. He doesn't have an aggressive bone in his body and loves to play with Josh, our other Saint.

I am always baffled that anyone could abuse such sweet dogs.

I'll post some pictures when I have time to take them.

Just to update:  The vet put Josh on Rimadyl but only for 10 days... too risky to use it longer.  After that he will get 2 entropic coated aspirin per day.  We are feeding him Eukanuba lamb and rice large breed kibble which contains chondroitin and glucosamine.  In the meantime we are researching other options but need to sort through the claims carefully.

Our plan is to make him as comfortable and happy as possible for as long as possible.  If he ends up in excessive pain we will look into hip replacement at the Iowa State U vet college... they do a lot of them.  This, of course will depend on his age at the time.

We are also looking to get him (and us) a companion dog probably in the spring..  In fact his brother (who is not dysplasic--- go figure) may become available.

I greatly appreciate all the words of encouragement and the very helpful advice.  We are going to do whatever we can to help Josh.  One way or other we will have a happy Josh..

Josh is a big lovable pile-o-dog.  He is wary of strangers and will bark and snap if they get too close, but give him a treat and some petting, you have a friend for life.  The trainer says he doesn't think Josh would actually bite but is just trying to scare the stranger away.  Around people he knows, he is very friendly and he remembers them.  He remembers my sister who he only sees every 6 months or so.

I'm in the process of training Josh to wipe off his own drool.  I've got him to the point now where I can hold out a towel and say "drool" and he will grab the towel in his mouth and shake his head.  He gets rewarded with a "good boy" or occasionally a treat.

Next step is to get him to do it without being commanded.  That is to get him to grab a towel off the rack after he drinks. 

Next step after that is to get him to do the laundry.... 

Josh the Saint gets those.  We put Polysporin on them and they clear up pretty quickly.  The vet says they are the same thing as a hotspot except there is no fur on the area..  The vet can also provide a prescription ointment at abput $30 per tube..