A very old stray {The Old Fella Story}

[Dixie_Flyer]

Went camping this weekend at a campground on the lake, had not been there for a few years. Once there I began to walk around looking at the different sites when I noticed a very old dog. He just lay there until I got too close then he got up on three legs and hobbled away. Just judging I would say he is at least 11 years old. Well back to my story. The next afternoon he wanders into camp and just sits there looking. He looked so sad, so the wife got a bowl of our dog's food and put it down for him and he came over and ate. He then walked over to our dog and the two of them sniffed each other over and then they lay down together for the rest of the afternoon. That night he disappeared.
The next morning he was back and was a little more receptive of me. I looked at his injured leg and found that half of his rear foot was gone. It had healed and was not causing any problem except that he was walking on the stub that was left with no foot pad which causes him to limp. His front teeth were gone except for one canine tooth and it looked decayed. His eyes were tired looking and showing his age. He spent the rest of the day just laying around looking for a handout and by afternoon the campground host came around and saw him. I enquired about the dog and was told he had been there for three years and that most of the campers were tolerant of him and gave him food.
So what to do? Do you pick him up and bring him home or do you let nature take it course. He can't harm anyone, he has no teeth and he isn't a nuisance unless you don't like dogs, and no one seems to mind him being there. He is gentle and likes other animals as seen by his interaction with our dog. He still would not let me touch him but he would eat from my hand. Enough said, what would you do???

On June 28th 2008 Old Fella passed away of complications caused by bone cancer. Fella spent almost three years with his new family and became the icon of rescued old stray dogs. He will be greatly missed but his foot prints have been left in our hearts forever.

Now Charlie, the ten year old rescued Golden Lab has come to be a part of the continuing Old Fella story. (*Note, Charlie took his journey to Rainbow Bridge unexpectedly September 30, 2008)Suzie continues to charm her way into our hearts with her antics as she has grown from a puppy into a young lady. Togther they will carry on the Old Fella legacy. Come join us in their daily lives and be a part of the best feel good thread in RV.NET history. The legacy lives on.


HIghways Article Puppy Love

Old Fella Burke County Animal Rescue

[Martyn]

Wanderlost wrote:
Richard posted on FB that the latest stroke may cost him his sight in the one sighted eye he has left. Very concerning.

Suggest even if Richard can no longer post, we do not let the Old Fella thread die.

Totally agree. I have looked for Richard's FB page but am unable find the right one.....

As for us, we are taking new truck and trailer on a trip up to the Mark Twain Natl Forest (near St Louis in about 10 days. 800 miles - friends/former neighbours in Colorado are bringing three 5ers up to meet us (about 800 for them too! Really looking forward to it.

Wanderlost - if I cannot get on Richard's FB page can you please give him our best. We met at the OF Rally in Colorado a few years ago.

[Wanderlost]

Richard posted on FB that the latest stroke may cost him his sight in the one sighted eye he has left. Very concerning.

Suggest even if Richard can no longer post, we do not let the Old Fella thread die.

[Scottiemom]

I am currently in Indiana. I will help my Mom celebrate her 96th birthday on Friday; then on Saturday, I will begin my trek home to Florida.

Dale

[MetalGator]

Wow, it's been a week with no posts. I hope the ole Fella thread doesn't die out.

We are about to leave for a trip in the motorhome over to Jetty Park at Cape Canaveral. We have 4 nights there and both of us are really looking forward to it. Monty (my male Pappillon) is not happy about it. He still doesn't like riding in a vehicle and is stressed the whole time we are in motion. The last couple of trips we have given him a benadryl and it has taken the edge off. He still pants a lot but will at times lay down and try to sleep. It is only a 2 1/2 hour drive so hopefully it won't be too hard on him. My other two dogs are great travelers and just sleep the whole trip.

I hope everyone had a great Memorial day.

Burch

[Martyn]

Prayers for Richard from our family.

[Scottiemom]

Prayers for Richard and his family.

Dale

[riah]

Prayers for Richard and hoping that he makes a full recovery and is able to travel again with his children and grandchildren.

MetalGator wrote:
Hello FOOFs

Richard called me this afternoon. Unfortunately I missed his call but he left me a voicemail. He has had a stroke and is in the hospital but he said he is expected to make a full recovery. He said he wanted to let me know and the forum so I am hoping it's OK to post this here.

Please keep him in your prayers. I tried to call him back but got his voicemail.

Burch

[MetalGator]

Hello FOOFs

Richard called me this afternoon. Unfortunately I missed his call but he left me a voicemail. He has had a stroke and is in the hospital but he said he is expected to make a full recovery. He said he wanted to let me know and the forum so I am hoping it's OK to post this here.

Please keep him in your prayers. I tried to call him back but got his voicemail.

Burch

[SGTJOE]

Good to hear that Pickles is doing good. I can't believe that this Old Fella thread is coming up on 16 years.

[Toolguy5]

Pickles came home today. She is sleeping soundly. Could not exactly diagnose the cause. But supplied us with antibiotics and probiotics.

She did drink as soon as she got in the car and ate when she got home.

Hopefully she will be back on track.

[Scottiemom]

Prayers for Pickles. Hoping she gets back on track.

Dale

[Toolguy5]

Took Pickles to the emergency clinic today. She has not been herself lately. Not eating everyday. She has diarrhea off and on last several days.
They did blood work and X-rays. Blood work showed she was dehydrated and a X-ray of her stomach showed an enlarge stomach like she just got through eating.

They admitted her to give her fluids and to get her to eat.


Hopefully we will have some news tomorrow.

[Toolguy5]

dturm wrote:
Good luck to Dan and Patty. Looks like Ohio residents who have been vaccinated are entered in a 1 Million dollar lottery. Nice inducement to get vaccinated!!!

Thanks Dr. Doug

Ohio has better ways to spend this money but if it gets people incentive to get vaccinated great. But i like the idea we have 5 chances of wing a million dollars.

[Dernhelm]

Heading tomorrow out on a 3 week round trip to pick up the new puppy. Can't wait to meet him in person! Hope you're all doing well. Looks like a lot of RVs are hitting the road this week. Be safe out there.

[2_many_2]

MetalGator wrote:
Dr Doug

I know this is off topic and I can send you a PM if necessary but my little Chihuahua is having anal gland issues again. He had a ruptured anal gland 6-8 weeks ago and my vet put him under so he could clean his glands. He was doing much better and now he is back to licking his rear and he doesn't want to poop anymore unless I walk him outside on a lease for a long time. The last time this happened he turned very "needy" and had to be by your side at all times and he is doing it again now. Is there anything I can do to prevent his glands from getting impacted? He has never had issues with this until recently.

Burch

I see Dr. Doug has reached out to you already. I just wanted to share my experience. We had a Chihuahua Dachshund mix (Cheweenie) 16 pounds, at about nine years old he started having anal gland issues.

It started with monthly expressions at the Vets office. Eventually progressed to impacted glands that had to be cleaned with surgery under anesthesia (twice), after that he had an anal prolapse $$$$.

In desperation we tried all kinds of supplements for the diet and a very special and expensive hand made food recommended by the Vet. Nothing we tried made any improvement, after much research we found a new food to try. HERE

We chose this variety HERE This dehydrated variety is great for RV travel.

The transformation was immediate, his stools became completely normal and good sized, he no longer needed any anal expressions. He lived for another five years to the age of 16 and had no more anal problems for the rest of his life.

We started our Beagle on this food at the same time, she was about two years old then and started to need anal expressions also. She is now ten years old and has never had any anal issues since on this food.

So for us, the food was the seemingly magic solution, we got lucky. Hope you find a solution for your little guy soon.