Rescuing dog on Saturday please help

[ifonerememberstoturnonthelight]

Hi I'm collecting a dog from our neighbours on Saturday that is in terrible condition. He's 13 ish, cries constantly and bangs into shit in the garden. He lives in a kennel and the rspca is not interested so I'm going to get him on Saturday. Obviously the first thing we need to do is take him to the vet, but he stinks so maybe he'll need a wash first?

He's so passive it makes me so sad, he's never been for a walk and it's only now we're able to talk to the neighbour about maybe giving him up.

Do we keep him away from our other dog? And he's never been inside so how do we transition him? I'm not a green dog owner but I've never actually picked a dog up away from its neglectful owners before.

Oh that poor poor boy.
He needs to have known love before he goes and he will get that from you I'm sure.

Can you report the neighbour? This level of neglect breaks my heart. Thank god you stepped in.

@ifonerememberstoturnonthelight

So he got back from the vet last night. He's got some weird neurological thing going on, he walks like he's drunk, staggers about and bangs in to things. He blind, He's deaf, He gags and coughs every ten mins or so He has a tumour on his bum that has not been ever looked at And he has absolutely rancid teeth, they need to be removed but he's too sick. He's so thin it makes me so sad

I don't know if the kindest thing would be to put him to sleep. He's on oral antibiotics for his infection (of unknown location) but he's been on iv antibiotics and he still has a temperature, he seems to like our other dogs.

Oh @ifonerememberstoturnonthelight how tough for you.

I think rehoming/any changes are going to be incredibly stressful for him, his teeth will be causing chronic pain (plus likely arthritis) and it doesn't sound like he's a candidate for surgery to remove the tumour. Overall his quality of life is going to be pretty poor.

PTS May well be the kindest most dignified option for him.

Give him a couple of good feeds - let him experience pleasure in a comfy bed and some nice treats but think about letting him go. I know it might be hard when you had hopes of rescue but its the kindest thing and much better than the months of suffering and neglect he would have had.

@Veterinari yeah I have to agree, he doesn't seem to know his back legs are there, he walks like he's drunk very unsteady.

I thought maybe we'd be able to help him
But he's in such a bad way.

The vet estimates he's 16 ish. I think the level of neglect and abuse he's suffered for most if not all of that is extensive. He's got a crate and he's happy for now, but he definitely doesn't have a quality of life.

@Veterinari although he had bloods yesterday he doesn't have kidney failure, liver issues, diabetes, anything endocrine his white cells were insanely high plus the high temperature means he does have an infection, no idea where though.

[quote ifonerememberstoturnonthelight]@Veterinari although he had bloods yesterday he doesn't have kidney failure, liver issues, diabetes, anything endocrine his white cells were insanely high plus the high temperature means he does have an infection, no idea where though. [/quote]
It could be his teeth as if they're infected that can impact on the bones in his jaw and cause systemic infection. Dental disease is often underestimated. Or could be associated with the tumour (I assume anal gland tumour?)

Regardless, what you need to think about is his quality of life. His liver/kidneys etc might be fine but if he's in continuous pain and distress because he's disorientated and has chronic dental and joint pain then his qol is going to be pretty poor unfortunately

I think the kindest thing would be to PTS. I hope your neighbour as a very compelling reason to have neglected the dog for so long.

You've done a wonderful thing. I agree with @Veterinari, let the poor wee mite experience love and comfort for a while and if there's no improvement in his conditions then pts might be the best thing. Good luck OP and please keep us updated.

Oh, poor old boy :( It might be kinder to let him go - he must be in pain from those teeth. Show him how loved he is first though.

I have no words for my opinion of his owner. There's no excuse.

Thank you OP for rescuing this dog

This is in incredibly sad. You have done such a kind thing by giving him some comfort at the end of his life. At least you can let him go knowing you did your best.

Here he is. His name is Keith but it suits him

And yes he chose to sleep on the floor despite having that nice big bed behind him and those cushions on the floor

Bless him. Our rescue greyhound had to have a lot of teeth removed as they were in such a poor state and she had infections and pain from them - but she was much younger than 16 when we had that done and it was quite traumatic for her in terms of the scope of the intervention. It sounds like a lot to put a 16yo dog through. So glad he's got you looking out for him though op.

Oh he's gorgeous, wee pet. Good luck to you guys.

What a Good Boy.

My former street dog often lies on the floor. And eats the beds we give him.

OP - This thread has made me cry. I wish the world only had people like you in it. I salute you. And if you can possibly find a way of inflicting any pain or unhappiness on your shit of a neighbour I'd be very very pleased.

Sadly it sounds like pts might be the kindest approach. Poor dog. What a life.

A friend of mine recently rescued a dog in very similar circumstances. Her decision was to spoil the dog completely for a couple of days. Some nice food, love and comfort. A couple of gentle walks. Then do what was the best thing for the dog and pts.

God I am in floods, that poor dog. Please PTS, he'll be in so much pain.

Lucky Keith that he is knowing comfort and love for his last days. He reminds me somewhat of Keith Richards, so very well named

He's a border, my little border is fast asleep upstairs on my bed. How could someone treat him so badly 😞 Did the owner give you any reason why he neglected him so badly?

You are lovely OP - thank god for you and I'm so happy you're giving him kindness and comfort in his twilight years.

Sending squishy, gentle hugs to dear, sweet Keith.

And I am crying - if only compassion could help all the dogs in the world - they'd all be ok.

How is Keith today?

Oh, love his little heart :( How is he?