anneappraiser
05-11-2013, 02:51 PM
Hi, My name is Annie and I live in Southern California out in the desert near the mountains. It is very hot and dry here. Over time, I have rescued 5 dogs, 1 kitty (one already passed on) and I have a desert tortoise too, all rescued. The dogs were all rescued from highly abusive and horrific situations and the cat was running loose out in San Bernardino County, where lots of wild dogs roam.
Two of my dogs are mini schnauzers, likely around 6 - 7 years old I think(Spunky and Baby, most likely sister and brother) abandoned in the desert from a puppy mill it is believed and they were covered with brown ticks when found. Two of them are chihuahuas, one around 10 or more years old (Foxie - from a woman who was evicted and was going to dump all her animals) and the other about 4 years old (Charlie, who was literally dropped into my arms and then the lady escaped into the night at the dog pound Christmas eve about 4 years ago). Then there is one larger sort of terrier mix, the much coveted "lucky" breed I rescued from sure death several months ago (Bunny because she was out running with all the bunnies). She had been dumped out by the freeway on the access road, and I am positive that one more day out there and she would have died. Busterbrown, my cat, is around 7 - 8 or more years old, and Big Boy tortoise (who was walking down my street when I lived near Torrance, CA, and whom would have walked into the storm drain, was never claimed by anyone). He was in pitiful shape and I nursed him too back to health, and he is about 70 or so years old. I have had him for some nearly 14 years or more.
I am 71 years old and I am doing my very best I can to give my little rescues all a good and safe life. Currently I cook their food, generally chicken, and I also give them brown rice and mixed veggies with that on top of dry food. I have to admit I am not using the expensive dry food, but I get what I can afford and I try very hard to get the best for the money. I put powdered bone meal on all of their food and extra vitamins in the lucky breed's food to try to help her get back to total health.
One of my mini schnauzers a friend and I suspect might have Cushing's. She is heavy despite the fact that she eats very reasonably and not a lot. She does have the thirst and does need to go tinkle frequently. Her back legs also shake. Her chest is puffed out too and her little belly is really swollen. Despite all of this, she seems very happy and she does go outside and gets exercise. She turned like this within a month after her neutering.
Someone gives me greens for the tortoise, or I find enough natural greens in places where there is no spraying. The cat eats dry food and a spoonful or so of meat every day and he is very healthy and peaceful.
I am just so worried about Baby, the one who might have the Cushing's. I don't know that I can afford all those expensive tests, but I have tried to read up what I can on the Internet now that my friend who has owned many mini schnauzers has said he thinks it is Cushing's.
I hope I can find some help for things I can try to do to help her have a decent quality of life. I could get supplements, etc. for her, and I don't know about the raw food. I have tried it in the past for former dogs (they all live with me until they pass on from old age or something like cancer) and they didn't like it and wouldn't eat it.
Thank you all very kindly and I hope I can come up with some good ideas to help my dog to live a comfortable life even with this. If there are any resources for medical help that is affordable, I will be grateful to know about them. My pets are house dogs and they do go out in the yard for exercise and fresh air and necessaries, but they are really not exposed to other dogs. Because of their previous traumas, they really like to just be with me where I am in the house or outside. Bunny, whom I believe was thrown out of a car, throws up if we even get into the car before it even moves. I always fear that if I take them to the pound, they might all end up abused again, and I would die if that were to happen. Thank you very much again, Annie
Two of my dogs are mini schnauzers, likely around 6 - 7 years old I think(Spunky and Baby, most likely sister and brother) abandoned in the desert from a puppy mill it is believed and they were covered with brown ticks when found. Two of them are chihuahuas, one around 10 or more years old (Foxie - from a woman who was evicted and was going to dump all her animals) and the other about 4 years old (Charlie, who was literally dropped into my arms and then the lady escaped into the night at the dog pound Christmas eve about 4 years ago). Then there is one larger sort of terrier mix, the much coveted "lucky" breed I rescued from sure death several months ago (Bunny because she was out running with all the bunnies). She had been dumped out by the freeway on the access road, and I am positive that one more day out there and she would have died. Busterbrown, my cat, is around 7 - 8 or more years old, and Big Boy tortoise (who was walking down my street when I lived near Torrance, CA, and whom would have walked into the storm drain, was never claimed by anyone). He was in pitiful shape and I nursed him too back to health, and he is about 70 or so years old. I have had him for some nearly 14 years or more.
I am 71 years old and I am doing my very best I can to give my little rescues all a good and safe life. Currently I cook their food, generally chicken, and I also give them brown rice and mixed veggies with that on top of dry food. I have to admit I am not using the expensive dry food, but I get what I can afford and I try very hard to get the best for the money. I put powdered bone meal on all of their food and extra vitamins in the lucky breed's food to try to help her get back to total health.
One of my mini schnauzers a friend and I suspect might have Cushing's. She is heavy despite the fact that she eats very reasonably and not a lot. She does have the thirst and does need to go tinkle frequently. Her back legs also shake. Her chest is puffed out too and her little belly is really swollen. Despite all of this, she seems very happy and she does go outside and gets exercise. She turned like this within a month after her neutering.
Someone gives me greens for the tortoise, or I find enough natural greens in places where there is no spraying. The cat eats dry food and a spoonful or so of meat every day and he is very healthy and peaceful.
I am just so worried about Baby, the one who might have the Cushing's. I don't know that I can afford all those expensive tests, but I have tried to read up what I can on the Internet now that my friend who has owned many mini schnauzers has said he thinks it is Cushing's.
I hope I can find some help for things I can try to do to help her have a decent quality of life. I could get supplements, etc. for her, and I don't know about the raw food. I have tried it in the past for former dogs (they all live with me until they pass on from old age or something like cancer) and they didn't like it and wouldn't eat it.
Thank you all very kindly and I hope I can come up with some good ideas to help my dog to live a comfortable life even with this. If there are any resources for medical help that is affordable, I will be grateful to know about them. My pets are house dogs and they do go out in the yard for exercise and fresh air and necessaries, but they are really not exposed to other dogs. Because of their previous traumas, they really like to just be with me where I am in the house or outside. Bunny, whom I believe was thrown out of a car, throws up if we even get into the car before it even moves. I always fear that if I take them to the pound, they might all end up abused again, and I would die if that were to happen. Thank you very much again, Annie