|
Author
|
Topic: I think I've lost my mind
|
fullhouse9873
Member
Member # 222
Rate Member
|
posted September 09, 2003 12:52 AM
Help - I think I may have lost my mind! I was searching through the website of our local humane society when I found a gorgeous dog. He is an adult male Tosa. I had visited this humane society, and never saw him - but I think I know why. He has heartworm - so he may be segregated from the other dogs.
Well - needless to say, I saw his pic and fell in love. I'm thinking about contacting the humane society about fostering him until his heartworm clears up (they have noted that he is not receiving the treatment he needs at the humane society).
My question is - am I nuts? We have a 4 year old pit/german shepherd mix and a 3 1/2 mo. old husky. Also we have 2 cats and 2 small children (ages 1 & 4). Our house is fairly decent sized (could be bigger) - with a nice size (soon to be fenced in) backyard.
They say that Cameo (the Tosa) is ok with kids - they just don't recomend him to a house with kids because of his size. However my boys both know how to behave around dogs - and are constantly supervised around them. I'm not really worried about them getting knocked over by a dog - they're used to it now.
The thing that scares me is that Tosa's are bred for dog fighting in Japan. I don't want to risk bringing a dog into my home and have it injure one of my dogs. The shelter stated that he is not "aggressive or overly interested in other dogs". Well - I've heard that before. Another humane society told me the same thing about my last dog. Unfortunately he turned out to be overly aggressive and had to be put down.
I'd love to help this dog, but I'm afraid it may have negative consequences on my other dogs. So please - give me some input.....
*also - we have a vet appt wednesday afternoon. I'm going to ask about heartworm - as I've never had to deal with it with my dogs
Posts: 247 | From: Jefferson, WI | Registered: Sep 2003
|
|
Dawn
Moderator
Member # 14
Member Rated:
|
posted September 09, 2003 08:47 AM
I can't really advise you about the aggresion, but when being treated for heartworms there's a very good chance that he could die. Basically they poison them, and try not to get the concentration high enough to kill the dog. However, it must be high enough to kill the worms.
Posts: 428 | Registered: Nov 2002
|
|
DogExpert
Member
Member # 145
Member Rated:
|
posted September 09, 2003 08:48 AM
It is a lovely thing that you are doing, I really hope you go ahead with it and help him. About the heartworm, I hope it gets treated as I don't want anything worse to happen to him. ![[Frown]](frown.gif) I also hope that he isn't aggressive so you can foster him, maybe a visit to him with your dogs would be useful to find out how he really is?
--------------------
¤Dog Expert¤
Posts: 140 | From: England | Registered: Aug 2003
|
|
fullhouse9873
Member
Member # 222
Rate Member
|
posted September 09, 2003 11:14 PM
Well - I'm going to the vet tomorrow - for puppy check up, and a booster shot for my older dog. I'll be able to get some advice from the vet then. I'm hoping this weekend to go and visit with him.
Wish me luck at the vets office. For some reason my 3 year old pit mix hates the vet (he's never had a bad experience). Hopefully he won't have to be muzzled!
I'll keep you guys updated....
Posts: 247 | From: Jefferson, WI | Registered: Sep 2003
|
|
PixelQ
Member
Member # 123
Member Rated:
|
posted September 10, 2003 01:33 PM
I've never had to deal with heartworms either.
I've heard of it and have seen the ads in the vet's office.
Check out the dog and hopefully it will work out with him and your family.
Good Luck. Keep in touch.
--------------------
I love cats too.
Posts: 82 | From: California | Registered: Jul 2003
|
|
fullhouse9873
Member
Member # 222
Rate Member
|
posted September 10, 2003 11:22 PM
Well - my husband and I sat down tonight and really talked about it. He's the more realistic one of us. Now is just not the best time to bring another dog in the house. My 2 dogs and 2 kids do keep me pretty busy during the day.
We did decide that in the future we will do breed rescue - I want to do pit bulls, but my husband is a little wary of them.
I'm going to do a little searching on the internet and see if I can find any breed rescue groups for this guy.
Wish me luck!
Posts: 247 | From: Jefferson, WI | Registered: Sep 2003
|
|
DogExpert
Member
Member # 145
Member Rated:
|
posted September 12, 2003 07:55 AM
Good look then! ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
--------------------
¤Dog Expert¤
Posts: 140 | From: England | Registered: Aug 2003
|
|
Vernon
Junior Member
Member # 232
Rate Member
|
posted September 14, 2003 05:07 PM
on the issue of heart worms, get your vet to explain "soft treatment" It will be met with resistance and denied totaly but if you twist the vets arm hard enough, he will finall acknowledge it.
Posts: 13 | From: Austin Texas | Registered: Sep 2003
|
|
Printer-friendly view of this topic