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Pawbly | 8 years ago
My 5.5month Old Blue Heeler Hurt Her Back Right Paw. I Believe It Is One…

My 5.5month old blue heeler hurt her back right paw. I believe it is one toe, she lets me press and extend her leg/joints with little reaction. When I move her 2nd toe to her side, or spread her middle two toes is when she lets me know it hurts. No whining or whimpering, she just gently puts pressure on my hand with her mouth.

Injury occurred yesterday, about 36 hours ago. Yesterday she would put the leg down, even ran a bit. Today she has the leg lifted/hanging above the ground. She will use it to jump up onto couch, I’m trying to limit her as much as possible. Other than that she is completely lame in her back leg. Paw has slight swelling. Not much at all.

Please help, I want to do what’s best for her, and am willing to do whatever it takes financially. But I am in a position where I need advice if seeing a vet is necessary, or to monitor and see if there’s improvement. I just don’t have the money to walk into my vets office unless I suspect I need to see a professional.

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  1. Anonymous

    I would have her on crate rest for 24-48 hours.  This means no jumping on couches and all outside visits should be on leash for potty needs, then back inside.  If it resolves itself in that time, then it’s just a strain or sprain of some sort.  If it doesn’t, then you need to go to the vet.

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Pawbly | 9 years ago
My Puppy Got Hit In The Head/neck Area With A Closing Door Now He Has…

my puppy got hit in the head/neck area with a closing door now he has been drooling and whining at night and lathargic … He is eating fine
Has been to the vets but shows no outward sign of brain damage or an area that should be hurting
The vet says its prob a parasite and he may have nauseous from it and thats why drooling but all of this started the very night the door hit his head
I dont know what to do puppy is 10 wks old

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  1. Anonymous

    i would get another opinion, and i would go NOW.  

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Pawbly | 9 years ago
I Recently (three Days Ago Specifically) Took In A 1 Year Old Pitbull Puppy For…

I recently (three days ago specifically) took in a 1 year old Pitbull puppy for a family friend who can no longer keep her. I’m starting to worry about her, because she cries a lot and I’m not sure why. I had just taken her to use the bathroom where she did both, and when we got inside she started to whine – so I know it wasn’t because she had to use it. She lives upstairs with my mother and sister because my cats (three of them) live downstairs with me, and fear her. So whenever I get the chance to I come upstairs and visit and play her with her. She seems sad. She throws herself on the floor and makes a big deep SIGH. What could I do to help?

2 Responses

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  1. Dawn Ferara, DVM

    First I would take her to a vet for a check up to be sure it’s not medical.  However, it is possible she is depressed and may take time to adjust to a new family!

  2. Eliss Bonilla

    Thanks! I hope she adjusts soon, I feel bad for her. Nothing I do seems to help – she walks around with her tail in between her legs.

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Pawbly | 9 years ago
I Recently (three Days Ago Specifically) Took In A 1 Year Old Pitbull Puppy For…

I recently (three days ago specifically) took in a 1 year old Pitbull puppy for a family friend who can no longer keep her. I’m starting to worry about her, because she cries a lot and I’m not sure why. I had just taken her to use the bathroom where she did both, and when we got inside she started to whine – so I know it wasn’t because she had to use it. She lives upstairs with my mother and sister because my cats (three of them) live downstairs with me, and fear her. So whenever I get the chance to I come upstairs and visit and play her with her. She seems sad. She throws herself on the floor and makes a big deep SIGH. What could I do to help?

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Pawbly | 9 years ago
I Recently (three Days Ago Specifically) Took In A 1 Year Old Pitbull Puppy For…

I recently (three days ago specifically) took in a 1 year old Pitbull puppy for a family friend who can no longer keep her. I’m starting to worry about her, because she cries a lot and I’m not sure why. I had just taken her to use the bathroom where she did both, and when we got inside she started to whine – so I know it wasn’t because she had to use it. She lives upstairs with my mother and sister because my cats (three of them) live downstairs with me, and fear her. So whenever I get the chance to I come upstairs and visit and play her with her. She seems sad. She throws herself on the floor and makes a big deep SIGH. What could I do to help?

2 Responses

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  1. Eliss Bonilla

    Will do, I’m taking her Saturday to the vet. I don’t understand why though, the family who used to have her kept her 5,6 hours locked up in a cage by herself. I feel like she should feel happy to be free to roam around the house at all times. 🙁 But thanks, I’ll try excersizing her more. I’m noticing her losing muscle within the short three days that I’ve had her.

  2. Kasey Litt

    Krista is right!  Puppies need exercise, mental stimulation and love!  Give her some puzzles that she needs to do — something as simple as a stuffed Kong or you can make homemade puzzles with treats, a muffin pan and tennis balls.  Work with her on basic obedience.  Chicago might be a bit harsh for outdoor activities but if she’ll fetch (or even is interested in tennis balls or other toys) throw them down a flight of stairs and call her back to you so she is running up and down the stairs.  A good game of tug can get her energy going too.  Also think about a flirt pole — this is sort of like a fishing pole with a toy on the end (almost like a cat toy) where you can have her chase it, stalk it, pounce on it.

    Good luck!

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Pawbly | 9 years ago
When I Wake Up In The Morning, All 5 Of My Pets Are Crying For…

When I wake up in the morning, all 5 of my pets are crying for their needs and I don’t know what to do? What is the most efficient way to take care of many pets in the morning? What is your personal routine?
I have 2 dogs and 3 cats. The dogs whine in their crates and the cats yowl their heads off..

17 Responses

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  1. Anonymous

    better question: what is YOUR daily routine?  more info about the animals in question?  are the cats free fed?  we can help tweak if you share. 🙂

  2. Annie Yang-Shaffer

    Well I guess I have to be honest then. : Don’t be too harsh on me.
    I wake up around 8 am to 10 am. I take my dogs outside to pee as soon as I can, but I often can’t, because they cry and I can’t respond to them until they stop crying. I then feed my three cats, the female ones first, then the male one, and this takes about an hour, more or less, because I’m trying to train the cats to stop yowling. The dogs are still whining after this, so I wait for them to stop. I have to wait because every single step I take, every single door I swing, they are very sensitive to, so they start or stop whining according to those sounds. I try not to reinforce the whining. Once the whining eventually stops, I stand up and start walking, but they usually start whining again before I even get to them. I make my large dog lie down and stay in his crate and he doesn’t get it until he does, and I just give it to Coffee since her crate is too small for her to stand in it. I give them water on top of their kibble. It’s the exact same process to wait for the cats to stop as well.
    Back when it was warmer, I used to put the dogs outside until I was done feeding the cats. Since the cats would yowl so much without stopping, I’d usually eat a little something until they stopped. But now the dogs stay in their crates since it’s cold, and it’s become more complicated.
    All animals get specifically measured food. I try to wake up at a reasonable time, but I have issues sleeping and issues waking up (at a time the animals aren’t crying). :

  3. Anonymous

    oof, that’s tough.

    how old are the animals in question? how long have they been in your house, with you? routines can be tough, ESPECIALLY when there’s so much NOISE.

  4. Annie Yang-Shaffer

    Bones is almost 2, approximately 19 months. Coffee is about 9 months. Those are the dogs. Callie and Artemis are almost 2. Callie was a stray and is small, so it’s hard to know how old she actually is. Artemis was claimed to be 1 from the previous owner. Loki is approximately 12-13 years old. I’ve had Bones since he was 9 months, but my husband had him for a month before I started living with him. Callie and Loki were the only cats in the house back then. In May 2015, Artemis and Coffee were both added to the household approximately at the same time. Only in the past 4 months I’ve been really getting into training my animals the correct way though. Before this, I’ve never owned cats or multiple animals, just a single dog, and there’s just so much…

  5. Anonymous

    oof, puppies. one puppy is tough enough, but your older dog is still pretty much a puppy. i don’t envy you there!

    i would ignore the cats until the dogs are dealt with. i understand wanting to make them stay in their crates until they stop crying…but i wonder, do you do any training during the day? do they understand that crate is for settling down? i’d maybe work on that when it isn’t early in the morning.

    i’d also ask your husband to help out, if that’s possible.

  6. Annie Yang-Shaffer

    Yeah… My mistakes were the /reasons/ I got my pets. Loki and Callie were default for moving in with my husband, those two were his cats. I wanted Bones because I wanted a “dog that would love me since cats are mean,” Artemis because “white cat means marriage” and Coffee because “small puppy needs a good home.” And now I have all these trouble cases because I have so much to deal with lol…
    Yeah! I really REALLY overestimated (underestimated?) Bones because I (my husband too) was convinced that he was an adult, he should know better. But when I started to build a closer relationship with Bones, I realized he is completely a puppy… I realized this especially when he wanted to chew my toes…..
    That is a good tip! Let’s say I wake up at 8 am, then take the dogs to the bathroom outside. Then what do you recommend?
    Well, they stay in their crates because that’s where they sleep. I know some people may find that controversial, but I can’t sleep with them because my husband doesn’t like that, and Coffee also has peed on our expensive mattress several times, and I can’t exactly sleep with them on the couch since it is difficult to stretch out my body. I give them a walk at least once a day, allow them to run around in my 3/4 acre yard at least once a day and try to train some inside manners at least once a day.
    My husband works all day and comes home at 7:30 and his excuse for not being in close vicinity of the dogs is that “he doesn’t want to fight with them.” : So I’m kinda (and preferably..) on my own with this one..

  7. Anonymous

    so, here’s my thought.

    your husband should handle the cats’ breakfasts…especially if he wants nothing to do with the dogs.

    you should handle the dogs’ needs, absolutely, and i would put a lot of work into making them Good Dogs…dogs your husband might want to spend time with! i won’t knock you for crating – i used it for my girl until she was 18 months old because i had a geriatric cat i didn’t want her stomping on in the middle of the night. i also do not sleep with any of my pets, so i won’t knock you there, either.

    you didn’t mention breeds, so i’m going on generalizations here. with breed info i’d be able to tailor this a little better.

    here’s what i would do: get up, take them out. back in, breakfast. back out for a bathroom run. back in, training time! work on basic obedience for now. my favorite thing is “puppy push-ups,” which are sit-stand-down, rinse and repeat for a good 15 minutes or so. randomize it so they don’t start anticipating. after a good 20 minutes or so, i’d start working on a Place command. it’s a way to send them to a bed, a towel, whatever…and stay there. this is HARD for young dogs, and helps them learn when it’s time to settle down. i’d do more training throughout the day – little stuff, here and there, but enough to help them understand what you expect of them.

    what do you mean when you say your husband “doesn’t want to fight with” the dogs? that’s a little distressing, but something that should be fixable with work!

    exercise really depends on the breed, here. so does housebreaking…if Coffee is still urinating in the house, he’s not housebroken and needs some attention in this area. i’d also make sure he is clear of any UTIs.

  8. Annie Yang-Shaffer

    Ah, sorry, you didn’t ask. Bones is an American Bulldog mix. To be more specific, his previous owner said “half White English Bulldog and half pit” but considering he said he was a “lab and pit breeder” makes me think he wasn’t exactly trustworthy. He looks like an American Bulldog because he’s large (approximately 80-100 pounds) and he’s got those side lips that stick out. He’s also neutered.
    Coffee is a rat terrier chihuahua mix. She might be mixed with more, as her previous owners claim she’s half shih tzu as well 1/4 of those 2 other breeds, but it’s hard to say. All I know is that she looks exactly like her father, except with drop ears, and her mother looks nothing like a shih tzu, since the mother also had prick ears and was fluffy and brown.
    Loki is Siamese and shorthair stray, Callie is a shorthair stray, and Artemis is Himalayan and shorthair stray if any of that matters, but I think they’re all too mixed for that to even matter lol.

  9. Anonymous

    hmm, so the dogs are vastly different in their breed intentions, which means you MAY need to tailor training to work on their weaknesses.

    i think i’d work on Bones’ obedience. and i mean work HARD on it. bulldogs are stubborn noodges but really seem to excel in rigid structure, based on what i’ve seen. so work on the basics, then increase skills. work on things like rigid heeling. something that might help you here: http://www.fenzidogsportsacademy.com/index.php/courses/obedience-courses (i’m a HUGE fan of Fenzi-style training, especially since you can do it at home)

    for Coffee, keep working on the basics for now. focus on hardcore basic obedience, work on that housebreaking, etc. once she gets more of her brain in the mail, step up the obedience and maybe work on nosework? i’d even consider doing Barn Hunt stuff if you have any local events. it’s a lot of fun, doesn’t involve a LOT of training, and terriers LOVE THE HELL out of it. more info for that can be found here: http://barnhunt.com/

    you didn’t explain the husband’s aversion to the dogs, though. how is he fighting with them?

    you have a Siamese. oh god, the noise. i have a Balinese mix, which is essentially a long hair Siamese, and he’s a NOISY boy. you could always try to work on training the cats (yes, they CAN be trained if you use positive reinforcement!), but i really think you need to focus on the dogs for now. cats are fairly self sufficient as long as they’re fed and watered and their boxes are clean.

  10. Anonymous

    oh, forgot to mention: i would walk Bones a second time, at least, and i would do more yard play. hell, do obedience in the yard – the distractions help work dogs’ brains! Coffee probably shouldn’t be walked too much until she’s fully grown, but she’ll need a bit more exercise than you’re giving her, too.

    i promise, with more frequent and comprehensive training your dogs will be less of a headache for everyone. 🙂

  11. Annie Yang-Shaffer

    My husband isn’t /really/ fighting with them, that’s just what he says. : He thinks it is too hard to teach dogs how to learn. It quite frankly is, because I am still a novice, but he doesn’t even try. It’s been many months since he’s attempted anything close to training them with me. He works and I don’t, so there’s that, but I wish he’d at least try. He views methods that reward as allowing the dog to get away with things and doesn’t always work, and ultimately believes that dogs need a “firm hand.” :
    Honestly, I still think I need to get a better understanding of heeling, because I’ve taught both my dogs to go behind me (as in to take a step back rather than actually right behind me) so I can avoid tripping over them. But then I realized that might not be actually heeling.
    What does housebreaking actually mean..? You mean house manners? Walking and not running, ignoring the cats, not tearing up pillows..? Not really sure if barnhunt is anywhere near me.
    Loki actually doesn’t really make a lot of noise. He’s probably less than half Siamese actually, and only meows when he wants attention or food. It’s the female cats that meow for literally no reason all the time.

  12. Anonymous

    yeah…i’d ask him to involve himself in the cats’ care, and you take over the dogs. if he doesn’t want to be involved with training the dogs, so be it, but i wouldn’t LET him do anything with them henceforth, either.

  13. Anonymous

    oh, and to answer your questions:
    “Honestly, I still think I need to get a better understanding of heeling, because I’ve taught both my dogs to go behind me (as in to take a step back rather than actually right behind me) so I can avoid tripping over them. But then I realized that might not be actually heeling.”
    — as long as you’re happy with how they’re walking, that’s good enough.

    “What does housebreaking actually mean..? You mean house manners? Walking and not running, ignoring the cats, not tearing up pillows..?”
    — housebreaking involves eliminating bowels and bladder in the house. the rest of that is manners, yes, and something that definitely needs daily work. for the record, my 2.5 year old dobe bitch can’t have pillows or blankets without destroying them, so i don’t allow her to have them. i’d work on a strong “leave it” with both of them, especially if they’re going after the cats. running…good luck stopping them from doing that.

    “Not really sure if barnhunt is anywhere near me.”
    — check the website, you never know. 🙂 it’s a fast-growing sport and trials are popping up everywhere.

  14. Annie Yang-Shaffer

    So now that we talked about my situation, how is your morning routine like?

  15. Anonymous

    mine is NOWHERE NEAR as chaotic as yours, as i have one dog and one cat. when i had two cats i had some excessive noise from the feline brigade, but felines in my house are free fed so the dog takes up 99% of my effort and time.

    she gets a quicky around-the-block morning walk and about a half hour of mental work. if i have to leave for the day, she gets another run outside in the yard before i leave, then she’s back out the second i get home. back in, train for a half hour, back out for a longer period of time (this depends entirely on the weather. today she got 20 minutes outside and was DONE after that but we were staring down a blizzard at the time). back in. free time for however long i deem appropriate, more training. because it’s cold we’ll do nosework in the house or my favorite, a fairly free-form game of “find it!” (where i’ll hide things around the house and make her find them). until yesterday we were also in a weekly class. we’re doing some table and tunnel work in the yard right now – i want her to understand what those words mean when she’s faced with different types of the same thing.

    this is enough to keep her happy, but the first year and a half were tough ones. she’s insanely intelligent and needed a LOT more work to keep myself sane. we were in obedience classes almost constantly the first year she was home with us, and i had her in a weekly drop-in class for show training. when she was the age of your younger pup she was in a minimum of 2 classes a week, sometimes 3.

    i need to look for more drop-in classes so i can pop in and out at our leisure…looking for Rally classes as i’d like to start competing in that.

  16. Traci VanScyoc

    I let my dogs out as soon as I wake up. They usually pee immediately and run in. While they pee I get their food in the bowls. As soon as they finish eating I put them right back out. Then while they are out there running around and pooping or whatever I feed the cats so the dogs aren’t bothering them. I have coffee and by the time the cats are done eating the dogs are ready to come in.

  17. Traci VanScyoc

    Also, we take the water bowl away a half hour before bedtime so they don’t chug water and then they don’t have really full bladders all night

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Pawbly | 9 years ago
I Have A Dog That Is Almost 2 And He Has Recently Started Whining A…

I have a dog that is almost 2 and he has recently started whining a lot in his crate if I don’t pay attention to him… My 9 month old dog scratches, whines and barks in her crate too, so is he learning his behavior from her?

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Pawbly | 9 years ago
He’s Not Eating Now, But He Has Been Drinking Water. He Has Also Been Whining…

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  1. Ebone Brown

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Pawbly | 9 years ago
He Is A 9 Month Old Shih Tzu. I Tried Crate Training When He Was…

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Pawbly | 9 years ago
My 10 Year Old Lab Just Started Licking Everything In Sight And Eating Grass And…

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