Enquiring...(10 yo Dachshund) UK

[Julie Wood]

I am UK based and saw an advert on a free website from someone looking to re-home a ten year old mini dachshund that they say they only had taken from someone else two days before. The details are vague of the circumstances. I was interested and sent an email enquiring for more information, It seems that they are re-homing because he is drinking excessively and urinating a lot and they work full time and cannot let him out to wee as much as he needs. They say he indicates when he needs out but will urinate on the floor if not let out in time. They also said he likes eating (I'm guessing that probably means he has excessive hunger). They also say he wouldn't need walked much so I'm guessing his mobility is affected.
They say he would be content to sleep all day. They also mentioned he snores loudly.
I am concerned that this little dog has Canine Cushings and will end up going untreated or to a home that will not deal with him in the right way.
I am considering taking him - I live 5 hours away from where he is currently in the UK, so am not easily able to go and see him. I already have a mini dachshund who has had two IVDD episodes but is otherwise in good health. I also had a pony who had equine cushings and am well aware of the management of the complicated nature of this condition. She was sadly PTS three years ago.
I am however afraid of taking on more than I can handle both in a practical care sense, and also financially. (I don't have endless finances to plough into this). My dachshund's 2 back surgeries came to £6000 in the space of three months, and it could happen again.
I also am a veteran of the emotional and psychological impact that Cushing's has - the experience with my pony was a nightmare in the end.
I am just trying to be realistic before I undertake a ten hour round trip to take on the unknown in a 10 year old dachshund.

I work full time but work from home quite a lot, and when I go out to work my dog comes with me in the car, or if that is not practical he goes to my parents, but they are now older and would not cope with an incontinent dog (my dad is 84). I have also have two boys and they would find it hard if I brought the dog home then had to have it PTS. The youngest is only four.
I don't even have an idea of how much initial tests would, and then how much medication might cost. I am lucky in that I live in Edinburgh which has a university vet school so specialist help is to hand.
So can anyone advise on the wisdom of rescuing this dog? Or does anyone UK based know someone who might be interested in taking him on? Thank you.

[mytil]

Hi Julie,

Firstly I must say you are an incredible woman for attempting to take on this pup. And to have this poor boy being shuffled around like that at his age and having these problems. It could be other conditions that are causing this - thyroid problems, and even diabetes. Have these new owners taken him to the vet for any testing or even a senior blood panel?

I am guessing they have provided a photo (go ahead and post it here if you can) and and hoping any health documentation (i.e. vaccines, other health records).

Regarding the initial testing that would pretty much be a low dose dexamethasone suppression (LDDS), and ACTH and an ultrasound and treatment costs would depend upon which type of drug - most probably Vetoryl/Trilostane.

Oh good you live in near a vet teaching hospital!! This can help out with finances a lot.

I have some friends in Glasgow and will check with them about any doxy rescues who may be able to help out as well.

Terry

[molly muffin]

You are really a wonderful and as Terri said incredible woman to be thinking of taking on this pup.
I'd call the vet hospital or your own vet and ask about the cost of ACTH testing, cost of Ultrasound and cost of LDDS test. Then find out about the cost of the two medicines most often used for cushings, vetroyl or lysoderm. That will give you some idea of the cost factors involved with a cushing pup.
Cushings dogs Can live out normal lives with this disease, but it can be expensive to treat, usually the ACTH and initial testing then the medication as an ongoing factor. As the cushings becomes controlled, you'll be looking at doing the ACTH test less often, but to start with until dosages are correct, that is a bigger cost factor.

I hope that helps you with making a decision. Perhaps Terry will find something out about a doxy rescue in the area too.

Sharlene and Molly Muffin

[Julie Wood]

Thank you so much for your replies. My husband will in from work soon I'll see if he can copy and paste the advert and also the email I got from the people who have him. He is based in Manchester at the moment.

[Julie Wood]

Hi

This is the advert on Gumtree that show the little dog - heart breaking... also the email I got back from the people who have him at the moment..:(


The link to the advert is here;

http://www.gumtree.com/p/pets/dachshund-for-re-homing/1006542736#gallery-item-full-3

The e-mail is as follows;
"Hi thanks for your reply. We feel that he does have some medical concerns but we dont know his history sorry. We've only had him since Sunday but he's just very happy finding a comfy spot and having a nap, and food! We must make you aware though that he has been drinking lots and lots of water, and a previous owner allowed him to get overweight therefore we're concerned he may have diabetes or someone else informed me that it maybe a thyroid problem? Also due to being overweight we think over time he has developed arthritis so his mobility isn't the best. He knows when he needs the toilet so takes himself to the backdoor, although due to the high intake of water and frequency he needs someone who can be around to toilet him regularly otherwise he does wet the floor.
He is neutered but unsure about vaccinations. We have fleed and wormed him but thats as much info as we know sorry.
He would just be extremely happy having a comfy spot and being on someones lap 24/7 poor thing.

If you need to know anything else then just let me know. Thanks again for your interest. "

This is my response, not heard anything back yet;

"Thank you for getting back to me. And thank you for being honest about Biggle's current state of health.
I'm think he may have Canine Cushings. This results in excessive drinking, urinating and probably explains his poor mobility. It is caused by a malfunction of the pituitary gland resulting in too much cortisone production (symptoms can also be hair loss and a pot belly). I think there are other physical symptoms which you would recognise perhaps if you had always owned the dog, as they can be harder to spot.
Unfortunately I know rather a lot about Cushings as my pony had it. However on a positive note equine symptoms are not all that different to those in canines and with medication my pony really improved and it was able to be very well managed. However if he has Cushings and it remains untreated his symptoms will remain the same or worsen.
Obviously as he is an older dachshund it could also be diabetes or kidney failure.
It would seem likely he would need some blood and urine tests done by a vet and then possibly may be on medication for the rest of his life.

It could also be the case that if it is kidney failure he would eventually have to be put to sleep - on what kind of time scale I don't know.

I work full time but work from home a lot, when I go out on jobs my own dachshund comes with me in the car, or if that is not practical he goes to my parents. However my dad is getting on now and would not be up to keeping on top of Biggles incontinence.

The Dachshund Rescue UK might be able to advise but I think they are mainly breeders and may not be sympathetic to Biggles issues. (i.e. they know what health issues dachshunds are prone to, but continue to breed them for sale (Cushings being one of them) and may try to minimise his problems or may even suggest having him put to sleep). I apologise if I am mis-representing them in any way - I don't suppose you would know unless you contacted them.
The Dog's Trust too might help - your nearest centre would be Merseyside Tel: 0151 480 0660.

Having seen the pictures of Biggles my heart is breaking at the thought of what might lie ahead for him. It is a pity I live so far away. I would still be prepared to consider re-homing him but obviously the thought of expensive vet bills and potentially having to make a very hard decision about his quality of life is daunting. I also have two children who would be very upset if we took him and then had to put him to sleep or have him suffer.

I don't know if you have had any other interest from Gumtree but would it be ok to ask if you would please let me know how things go and if you come to any decisions about him?
I totally understand the position you are in and am guessing you are kind and caring people to have taken him from whatever situation he was in.
And sorry I hope you won't be offended but Gumtree has a bad reputation for animals getting sold/re-homed and because Biggles is cute and small someone might offer to take him and then not do the best thing by him.

Please keep me informed about him and if I can help I will see what I can do. (Edinburgh has a vet school attached to the University so I may phone them tomorrow and see if I can just ask how much tests would cost to try and work out what is up with Biggles).

A local vet might be able to tell you too - even if it was just for a cheap blood glucose level test to rule out diabetes.

Sorry if I have caused you any further stress by what I have written, I certainly don't mean to, I am just concerned about that little dog. I wished I lived nearer and then perhaps we could work out a solution together."

[Julie Wood]

Also just to say if there is a dachshund rescue that could help I would be happy to go to Manchester and transport him and help with vet costs.

[mytil]

Hey Julie,

Thanks for providing the links and emails. I also saw that you made suggestions about organizations to contact. Have you been able to contact any yourself? He does look extremely overweight and that is probably not good for his heart either.

I know he is in Manchester so I do not know if the Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (my friend suggested this to start with) would be able to help in this. I will be making contact to another person who is involved in dachshunds and see what she comes up with.

Maybe if you contact the Society they can point you to what we in the States call "a dog transport" where there are people who drive varied distances with the dog and pass them off to another to drive a bit and drop off to another....(you get the picture) so everyone does not have drive vast distances. And then you will not have to drive all the way.

I do fear time may be of the essence here due to the current caretaker's circumstances. And he does look like he is not feeling well and is in need of care.

Will get with you as soon as I hear back from this other person.
Terry

[Julie Wood]

Thanks Terry.
I agree time is of the essence.
I am afraid to push the people who have him too hard and they then cut contact. I don't think the RSPCA or SSPCA would be ideal as I think it would frighten them off.
Knowing so little is very frustrating.
A dachshund rescue would be best. I haven't followed through with anything yet as I hoped the people who have him might do so and then let me know what response they got.
I will phone the North of England dachshund rescue contact tomorrow and see what she says. The dachshund rescue UK contacts are dachshund breeders though so I'm not sure how they'll be.
I certainly don't mind going to Manchester and transporting him, it is the least I could do. I just wish I knew a way to help him.

[mcdavis]

I think you are an amazing person to consider taking the dog in, and as you say it is very important how you handle the situation with the current owners.
It might be helpful to understand how he came to be in their care as they say they have only had him a few days - for example if he came from a shelter or rescue they might be able to help with vet testing etc. Also, they may want to be involved in any further re-homing.
If you haven't had a response from the owners it may be worth getting someone with a different email address to contact them?
So sorry I can't help more - I really hope there can be a good outcome to this.