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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Anything I could do?

78 replies

Focusfocus · 17/04/2015 14:07

Will keep this vague, if possible.

Friend got a puppy 1 year ago from an online advert. The seller (a) refused with various excuses to have them come and see and friend paid for seller to come by with four pups to show. (B) seller brought four pups from three different litters, each few weeks apart. Friend doesn't accept this is a puppy farm, but that it's just a regular family living in a nice farm.

Okay. Friend seems very keen to have a skinny dog. The way to do this they concluded at the outset is to not feed the puppy (8 weeks) more than 2 meals a day, a fistful of kibble each meal. Eventually after a few months the vet remarked at a pre neutering check up that puppy looks underfed. Feeding continued as normal.

Fast forward one year. The dog is now 1 year old. Weighs 7.5 lbs. it is NOT. Toy breed. I repeat, we aren't talking chihuahuas. Every bone is visible. Friend recounts to me how the dog is disciplined by hitting. Sometimes hitting hard enough to hurt their hand. It's all said jokingly, and swiftly.

Dog has come to stay with us. The perpetual posture is a crouched cower, low tail wag and walking along the sides of the room, following the walls, ears back, skeleton crouched and tail in a low wag. Every bone is visible.

Friend has left food for the dog. Fistful of pedigree and fistful baker morning and evening. I have been asked not to worry with letting dog out too often. Dog is often left at 8:20 till 6 and has never soiled indoors. Dog is 1 currently.

Can someone please tell me that I am wrong in feeling sad and angry.

OP posts:
MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig · 17/04/2015 14:49

Could you get away with saying you lost it? That it ran out and scarpered and you've had people out looking? Whilst you secretly rehome it somewhere?

Would they care anyway?

Focusfocus · 17/04/2015 14:49

Ok, will take to vet. Dog's adult size is meant to be on average 6-8 kgs. Dog is 3 kgs at adult size and they "wish to keep it that way". So, not very underweight I guess, but on that small scale...

Ok, will try to take it to our vet.

OP posts:
MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig · 17/04/2015 14:50

Dish I think op said that despite weighing only 7.5lb it is not a small dog. Sad

MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig · 17/04/2015 14:51

Not very underweight? That's half its correct weight!

Got to do school run now but will check in on this later.

KoalaDownUnder · 17/04/2015 14:51

It's half the weight that's usually given as the lower end of normal for that breed?

It sounds severely underweight.

Focusfocus · 17/04/2015 14:51

I weighed dog. 2.8 kgs.

OP posts:
KoalaDownUnder · 17/04/2015 14:52

I'm fact, it sounds emaciated. That plus the cowering and cringing - fuck, it just wrong.

SadAngry

Focusfocus · 17/04/2015 14:54

Another bit of info. Friend says their vet has said dog looks underweight but could be a miniature breed. Never heard of a miniature of this breed, but, maybe the vet knows more than me, after all I am a lay person.

I am not changing her food, as it's not the right thing to do. Handful each of pedigree and bakers it will continue to be. Technically I don't know what's been recommended for said dog, what their bone and joint issues are, and if this is the food they have been recommended. I have no idea how they will react to new food, so. Will try to take to my vet.

OP posts:
tabulahrasa · 17/04/2015 14:54

3 kg for a 6 kg dog could be hugely underweight or lean but healthy depending on height of the dog.

If it's not a sighthound (they're built differently) it's ok if you can see the last couple of ribs when standing and has a clearly defined waist from above and undercut from the side...but more ribs or any other bones clearly visible would be worrying.

Ohfourfoxache · 17/04/2015 14:58

Fucking hell Sad

I know nothing about dogs (I'm a strict cat person) but please Focus, you have to do something. This animal sounds mentally, emotionally and physically abused. Please - you can't let this poor dog go back to these utter bastards Sad

Marcipex · 17/04/2015 15:01

The owners will just get another dog and do the same to it Sad Angry

KoalaDownUnder · 17/04/2015 15:02

Why do you think it's 'not the right thing to do' to give an underweight animal more food?

Rafflesway · 17/04/2015 15:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

KatharineClifton · 17/04/2015 15:04

Why have you posted if there is nothing you are prepared to do?

CheeseandGherkins · 17/04/2015 15:06

This is shocking and disgusting. If you give that dog back to her and continue to starve it then YOU are also complicit in it's awful treatment. Where in the country are you? I think I know someone that could help you regardless of where you are.

PM if you want. Please do not give that dog back. You have all the evidence you need in a terrified, starved dog. This is awful.

Focusfocus · 17/04/2015 15:13

There is absolutely no need for that tone Katherine Clifton. Of course I am prepared to feed it more and different food. But it's always suggested by posters here that they would be very very pissed off if someone concluded their dog is underfed and altered food. Also changed circumstances and changed food don't go well. Last time I ran out of their food and fed my own, dog returned a bit heavier, I was told off.

As I have just said -

  1. I will take it to the vet. My vet. In my city.
  2. Will gradually try to give her more of it's own food, as that would be better than a complete change of diet.

Will wait to see what vet says. That's not doing nothing. I will consider an RSPCA report if things don't improve after conveying vet advice, but as I have just said, it s a very professionally delicate situation for me. Please don't judge me.

OP posts:
Justusemyname · 17/04/2015 15:23

Sod your professionally difficult situation and stop this cruel abuse on a defenceless animal.

CheeseandGherkins · 17/04/2015 15:26

I don't think your professional situation should come into it. If you want, say the dog run away and let someone else take it to look after it. Hell, I'd come and collect it myself and make sure the poor thing is taken care of properly.

CheeseandGherkins · 17/04/2015 15:29

This dog weighs 6 pounds and isn't a toy breed? I feel sick. My cats all weigh more than that.

Focusfocus · 17/04/2015 15:34

I will take it to my vet.
Accordingly I am prepared to report to RSPCA next.

OP posts:
CheeseandGherkins · 17/04/2015 15:38

Are you taking him today? It does seem very urgent. I would make sure your vet knows it's not your dog as they may report you themselves otherwise. Be prepared for a shocked vet.

Please, don't give that dog back. If you're that worried about working relations, let the dog go to people that will help and tell her it escaped.

GraysAnalogy · 17/04/2015 15:49

Feed the fucking dog!!! im sorry but you have a starving animal in front of you and you are more concerned about office politics!

KoalaDownUnder · 17/04/2015 15:54

Exactly, Grays!

This whole scenario makes little sense. You've got a dog of your own, you presumably have some idea what a healthy, happy dog looks like. (There's even a feeding guide on every type of dog food I've ever bought, so you know how much to give.) It's not rocket science. These people joke about hitting their dog, and it skulks about looking terrified with its ribs sticking out.

And yet you're worried about offending someone at work?

Unbelievable. Angry

Arsenic · 17/04/2015 16:00

Dog's adult size is meant to be on average 6-8 kgs. Dog is 3 kgs at adult size and they "wish to keep it that way". So, not very underweight I guess, but on that small scale...

That is extremely underweight.

Stop faffing. DO something. NOW.

That poor dog needs you to.

Arsenic · 17/04/2015 16:04

Focus Be brave.