persephone

has she contacted ALL vets/clinics around ?

Oh, Gayle - that is very sad news. I'm sorry he left so young .... take care

It would be a good idea to have her properly vet checked before starting on diets/medications at home, altho I guess you had her vet checked before bring her in contact with your own dogs ? Allergies do need to be pinpointed .. it could be a food allergy - or it could be a thyroid problem... or other things. It may just be a weird coat!

R I P Emma - run and bounce your way over the bridge now ....

Just train the dog to bark : when someone's at the door : when someone's at a window : ..then you're safe ;)

I would count my blessings!! Living in suburbia and having non-barking dogs would be a wonderful wonderful thing - The neighbours would be happy ...you won't get council on your doorstep after complaints ..and you won't get sued for 'aggressive, threatening dogs" !!

make sure her bed is not in a draft!! Also an 'igloo' bed or 'sleeping bag type bed will make sure bodywarmth just doesn't go straight up to your ceiling ;). A heated wheatbag would help...

Birthdays? Do dogs have birthdays ?? ;)

She will be MUCH more comfy after the surgery ..plus , if there are any lumps or bumps you want biopsied/removed .. or a teeth scale etc - it would be a good opportunity to do it

Then I would think the dog has been on a diet insufficient for his needs for some time . slight OT - an assistance dog who will scale a 6 ft fence ?....... Hmmmm .If you got this dog with the assistance of a particular group - they are not being very thorough in their assessment/training .If, as I suspect - you have done this 'on the cheap' and on your own - then you need to do it properly and contact professionals. It is the dog who is suffering from your lack of knowledge.

Thinking of you, and hoping she can be made comfortable .

A couple more of my attempts

Whatever food you give him - introduce it gradually - or you may well end up with a lot of diarrhoea. Please still give him the mince, as well as the Uncle Albers..... that way he is getting more nourishment.

I really need this explained to me ... why would a 'bigger rib cage ' make the pelvic bones stick up? In that photo he doesn't look oddly built, just very thin.

That's a great idea getting an assistance dog thru a recognised program would mean you get one to suit you- and one that is healthy .You also have support from the organisation, I would think. As it is - , if you are getting comments from the public - Horse should not be out & about - it will give you, and Assistance dogs in general, a bad name . perhaps Horse does need special care - and as you come across as not having much money - then maybe there's someone out there who would be willing to do it .

I just had to read this again..... and shake my head. Horse 2008 This is just not correct. At all. In any form.

:D

That's a nice idea

he's a gorgeous boy ----- Right now might be a really good time to cut back on his food! ;) if he needs surgery,and has to be kept quiet - he will not be burning off the food - plus, lean dogs give their joints a bit of a rest ...

Some do - some don't ... but they do put on weight with it , and I've never had a refusal

*puts up hand * It's good stuff -

Luxating patella isn't a disaster .. lots of dogs have a problem with this ... I had one many years ago - he had the surgery - his long recuperation, and was 100% for teh rest of his life as a very active dog! I'm glad you will be seeing a specialist , too!! (personally, the vomiting/shaky rear end concerns me more)

. you have been given good advice . The comment of 'a bit of extra water won't kill him' well - it may well do ! feeding an extremely thin dog watery canned food is not helping him . your dog needs REAL food ..every mouthful should be packed full of what he needs - and, in his FOOD bowl - he doesn't need water to fill his belly . That photo is very sad- I don't think that is the cause at all . There is just NO muscle on his rump to pad the bones. he needs immediate vet care - from a vet who will actually do tests to find out the problem !! There is no muscle on his back end - and for a young dog , that's a bad sign. As I said in the other thread - Horse can not be expected to do his work to the best of his ability while he is in such a poor state - if you do not have the money to get proper tests done - see if the vet will allow you a payment plan ?

I would recommend taking the dog to a vet and getting blood tests/worm cultures done if you can... Is there anyone you can ask to help you with finances ? and also feeding the absolute best quality dry dog food you can afford- plus lamb flaps /chicken carcases (necks for a dog his size pose a choking risk ) and some pulped vegetable (only a VERY small part of his diet) . Dog are designed to eat and digest meat/bone. Unfortunately - him being ill/emaciated means he won't be able to comfortably do his work - While I'm glad you came on here to ask - you really do need to look into the problem further . it's not fair to ask him to look out for you if he is unwell. Tinned food is indeed mostly water - and not much use.