The Zim Family Cocker Spaniel Forum

Bless you for taking Mowgli in! He is obviously thrilled to be in a home again.
A tip for diarrhea clean up: cat litter that clumps or sawdust. The sawdust doesn't clump as well but the bits that you can't pick up biodegrade better in the yard than cat litter or sand. One of my fosters came to us with horrendous intestinal issues from bad food and I got this tip from one of the vet techs.

Just so all of you are aware...the longer Mowgli is here, the more obvious it becomes that this is a very sick dog. I don't know that this will have a happy outcome, which is a shame, because he is very happy here. I'll be talking to Vickie, hopefully as soon as she gets in.

Floss,
That is often the case with "older rescues". But he does look happy in the photos, and that is what matters.

Eleven years ago, I had a cocker diagnosed with a fast moving cancer. She was given 30 days to live -- and she lived for 6 weeks. Her oncologist's best advice was that dogs don't know they are terminally ill. They wake up in the morning and know how they feel right then (good or yurky) but they don't project to how they will feel later that day or that week. So I was to "go with the flow" and don't treat her as if she was sick, because most days she didn't think she was.

Colleen K.

To Colleen....the problem here is, this dog is too ill to be left while I go to work. He cannot rest, because he cannot lie flat and still breathe! None of these problems are short-term, and I don't think Vickie was told the seriousness of this either. This poor pup practically needs to go out hourly, can barely walk and is breathing using all of his abdominal muscles, which if you were medical, you would know is very bad. I am heartbroken and sick over this, because he is so happy to be here. This horrible wheezing cough he has never ends, and he is exhausted.

Oh, I'm so sorry.

Could it be excitement, nervousness or something along those lines? I'm hoping so then maybe time will be what is needed?

I wondered the same thing...it didn't make sense. He started out running, chasing the neighbors cat, greeting everyone, eating everything that didn't move, playing with a ball, running for his leash and then he is weak legged heavy breathing...didn't he just have surgery?
I know he is a senior that has issues ..that in and of itself is difficult, but when you rescue one it is even more so. I do know Vickie and I know her vet is excellent and I am sure that they would help with this...I know they would also understand if it is too much to deal with and if he needs more care than you can give with working and all. And if it is , no one would blame you.

Aw, poor Mowgli-baby-boy! he sounds Very Tired and Very Stressed.

Cricket has been with me almost 5 months now, but I still sometimes see her stressing from learning and experiencing so many new things. She came from an extreme neglect situation 3 years ago, but physically she is a very healthy 5-ish years old. I can just imagine senior health issues and recent surgery on top of that!

I hope everyone is able to get good rest tonight.
(...writes a woman who held many fosters all night so that they could sleep...)

PS - I think it's also true that the dog you bring home will not be the same dog you have in a few days or weeks. They learn, adapt, and settle in.