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

[Dixie_Flyer]

The back of our house is solid glass sliding doors. Mama will lay in the sun shinning through the glass soaking up the heat from the sun. When she has had enough she will move to her bed in front of the hearth. It seems to help her.

[Code2High]

If she really doesn't like the cold, maybe heat would feel good after all...

[Dixie_Flyer]

Good morning. Fall colors are painting the landscape. This is a beautiful time of the year especially here in the foothills of the mountains. Sue and I used to drive five hours from Waynesboro to Cherokee to see the fall colors and now it is in our back yard. On our drive home from the beach the area just outside Greenville was really colorful. The mornings are turning cold but we haven't seen frost here at the house yet.

Mama isn't joyful about going out in the mornings now that it is turning cold. I hope we can find a way to make her more comfortable amd mpre mobile. She has a big heart in that she still wants to participate in the walks with the other girls, but she falls behind and cannot keep up so I go back to encourage her and let her know it's alright.

I remember Fella when he was having trouble walking. He tried so hard to go and would never want to be left behind. We still have the red wagon, maybe Mama will get to use it.

Suzie, Peaches and Hobo are doing well as is Izzie. They give so much love and ask so little in return. Hobo is sitting in front of Sue hoping she will get some of what Sue is eating. Okay it is time for me to start moving. Have a blessed day and I will talk with you later.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Tuesday of next week I take Mama to the vet for some extensive exam work. I want find out just how bad her hips and joints are and then go from there. She is so weak in her hips the least thing causes her to stumble. Maybe we can find a way to make her better, I hope so.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Thought for the day.

[dogdiva]

Glad you are home safe and sound

[Dixie_Flyer]

We're back home. what a wonderful trip.

[dturm]

All really good suggestions. Therapeutic lasers are becoming more common. The idea is that it focuses the energy at the site of inflammation, kind of acts like a local heating pad. We looked into getting one last summer but had to put it on hold as we didn't have the 14K needed to purchase it :B

The water therapy is also a good one. Greenville should be a big enough town that there should be someone who has a tank with a treadmill. I think the warm water may do as much.

Massage is something you can do and have some effect even without training. Mama will enjoy the contact too.

Doug, DVM

[Dashonthedash]

For Dash, my vet recommended massaging the tip of the tail, which is an acupuncture point.

[Code2High]

X-ray not a bad idea in my book, it can give a lot of info on what is or isn't going on.

Water therapy is awesome but sometimes hard to find. Physical therapy for dogs is becoming more widespread, you might do a search on that.

Acupuncture can do a lot to improve pain symptoms, and it can be really useful for "flare up" type situations. Chiropractic can give relief in some cases, since pain in one area will cause compensation and then mis-aligment... which causes more pain and gripping muscles. Massage can also be helpful where muscles are tight due to compensating for pain. You can learn to do massage yourself by just feeling around where she's tight and seeing what seems to feel good to her. Or seek out someone who does massage on animals.

Heat works great on Tinkerbell... I put one of those stick on heating pads on the inside of her sweater when her back acts up. Works like a charm. But she's a chi and they like heat. On a hot dog, it might not be so nice.

[Hoops]

Gary, that is too funny. Best Buds huh?
I plan to try the laser treatments when we return to TX if she acts up again. Will let you how it works.

[Dashonthedash]

Remember when Dash and Molly hated each other?



(It's amazing what a vacuum cleaner will do for togetherness)

[Dashonthedash]

Anti-inflammatories are useful for pain, but they won't prevent flare-ups due to changes in weather, position, etc, and they won't do anything to stop or slow down the deterioration of the joints, muscles, bones and nerves that come from genetics and the onslaught of age. Some of these new techniques do help, but the best thing you can do is try to keep Mama as active as possible without pain. While you are at the beach, see if you can get her to swim, which is one of the best therapies possible, since it exercises the joints and muscles without the weight of her body.

[Dixie_Flyer]

The vet hasn't recommended any thing except pills and Medacam. I don't know how much they keep up with new techniques.
,

[Hoops]

Or has the vet mentioned laser treatment for arthritis? A vet in Tx suggested this for Missy's shoulder when her arthritis got bad.