A very unexpected and unplanned new dog

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poiuytrewq

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I know an old man who has finally been taken (long overdue) to a care home due to his quickly worsening Alzheimers.
He and his dog have lived alone since his wife died some years back.
The dog needs a home and the family were going to advertise "free to good home"
I couldn't stand the thought of her falling into the wrong hands or worse used as bait (if that's a reality not just scare mongering?)
So I said I'd have her.

It's not something I was planning or would have ever gone out looking to do. This will be dog 4!!!
However we live on a farm in a spacious house surrounded by fields so one more won't hurt!

She's been very very over weight as her owner would fill up her bowl everyone it was empty (forgetting he'd already fed her) but was also giving her most of his own meals. She's list a bit pining for him over the last two weeks. She's living in his house still being visited throughout the day.
I can't bring her straight home as some of you might recall my littlest dog is quite poorly and I want him to meet and get to know her first. She's gentle and I don't anticipate any real issues.
Our other two, two young labs just occupy themselves and won't care at all but if anyone has any advice on making this as easy as possible for little dog and new lady dog that would be much appreciated.
I've also never had a fat dog! Shes used to being fed crazy amounts should I feed her correctly from the start or cut down slowly? I figure exercise wise we will start slowly with short walks and build up?
Tell me I'm not mental???
 
I think it's a really generous and kind thing to do :)

I'm not 100% re the food [ I've never had a fat dog either] but it depends.. if she's quite elderly you might want to halve it for a few days, then halve again, but otherwise I'd just cut it right down, she will adjust quickly.

Walks.. I'd say treat her like a pup - if possible, a couple of short 5-10 min walks would be ideal BUT the dog isn't with you right now and you're busy so that'd be completely understandable if you cannot/. If she likes playing, maybe throw a tennis ball a few times and a 10 minute walk, and build up gradually :)
 
Instinct tells me to cut diwn feed slowly or risk her becoming food aggressive and / or becoming a thief of all things she considers food but I'm happy to be corrected on that :)
Maybe ring your vet and ask their advice?

Did you say you have 3 already but 1 is unwell? If I read that right you could always start to introduce the other two to your new girl now :)
 
I'd pop her to the vet for some advice - couldn't hurt to have her checked over and her general health assessed. You don't want to (inadvertently) make any underlying conditions worse by trying to get the weight off her too quickly/not quickly enough, or by exercising too much/not enough.
 
I've been through this (minus the other dogs) with one of mine.

Cut the food down slowly and increase the exercise gradually. Mines a rather large cavalier, who is meant to be around 16kg, when I got him he was 26kg. I did manage to get him down to 16kg briefly but now he's too old to come with the horse anymore and his hearts a bit dodgy so it's now only a 45min walk a day he sits at around 18kg. Unfortunately, trying to keep the weight of him is a constant battle, I don't know whether it's a breed thing or because he was so overweight for so long, I got him when he was five. He barely gets any food and anything that goes in him is either lite or senior, my vet told me that you can give them less biscuits than the recommended amount which I do and it seems to help keep the weight off.

The only downside is he acts like he is constantly starving, steals food whenever you get a chance and eat so quickly I always worried he's going to be sick. You just have to hold your nerve he's not as hungry as he makes out he's just massively food orientated after being so overweight for so long.

The other issue I had, is because the old man used to give him so much human food and if it was any dog food it was pedigree, it took him a long time to be able to eat good quality dog food without getting very gassy and diarrhoea. Now all his food has to be cerial free and hypoallergenic or he gets a very upset tummy.

( written on an iPhone sorry for any spelling/grammar errors )
 
You've a heart of gold to take him in..I wish the old man had got to know that before he died,it would have made him so happy.
How old is the dog and what breed is she?How much weight do you think she needs to lose?
 
What a wonderful thing to do.

Knowing that I was having her, I'd want her home asap. To think of her alone is just desperate.
 
Great thing to do, well done.
I have only rescued thin ones that you build up gradually with food and exercise but you have good advise above. Do keep us informed how it goes.
 
I really wouldn't do ball throwing, think if she was an obese horse, the joint issues are the same. I would try for steady walks that gradually get longer. I would cut down food slowly, I'm sure you know but feed her separately, if she is not used to living with other dogs.
I would take your old boy to meet her on neutral ground, can you lead him and someone else have her?
I think you are fantastic for having her, well done, I hope he owner can understand.
 
Lovely thing to do snd I am sure she will be fine. She will automatically get more exercise I am sure just because of your life style compared to her previous owner. If she eats the same time as the other dogs she will get into a routine of meal times and you can I am sure you will know how to adjust her feed. Good luck I am sure all will be well.
 
I don't know about the quality of it but my vets recommended Hill's Prescription Diet Weight Loss food for my fathers dog who was very (10KG +) overweight - he kept giving him extra meals, forgetting he had already fed him, feeding him his own dinner much like your dog's owner. He would also forget he was on a diet - I once caught him grating cheese over the diet dog food! Once Dad was in hospital as a long stay patient and we started feeding the correct amount of diet food he did lose weight and as a result became much more active and played happily with our other dogs enjoying running about fetching balls etc
 
Op, if the dog has been left in the house for two weeks I would not only be concerned for its welfare, but at this stage the intervention of the RSPCA if any of the neighbours have alerted them to the situation.

Please, please, please don't let the dog spend another day alone.
 
Oh wow, so much support Thank you all.
She is a collie. We don't know how old she is. I've known her about 6 years and she was adult when I met them. No-one really can agree on her age but i'm guessing about 8.
No idea how much she needs to loose, she has lost weight the past two weeks already but id say a fair way to go just yet. I have a fantastic vet so yes i'll get him to check her over.
The poor old owner will not know I have her, he's too bad to understand and they have decided not mentioning her is kindest as he gets upset. I think he'd have been happy with this arrangement had he been able to understand. About 18 months ago she had a litter of puppies and he wanted me to have one of those.
The only neighbours are the staff of a stable yard (where I work) They are really rallying round and spending time with her/having her out on the yard when safe. She loves her ball and they are brilliant about kicking it across the yard inbetween stables etc. They visit her first thing and last thing and lots in between so she's ok its just far from ideal, especially for a dog who had such a close bond with her owner.
Tomorrow I'm going to take my little dog and get her out (leaving mine in the car whilst I go into the house to get her so they meet on neutral ground) and just take them for a walk. I'll do the same the day after then fingers x'd all has gone well she can come home.
I would bring her straight back if we just had the two labs- they love anything but I really cant risk upsetting my older dog too much by bringing a totally unknown dog into the house.

On a separate note, do you think the vets will talk to me about her if I explain the situation as obviously the real owner cant give permission?
 
poiuytrewq said:
On a separate note, do you think the vets will talk to me about her if I explain the situation as obviously the real owner cant give permission?
Click to expand...

I'm sure they will. My grandparents have made decisions about our dogs when we've been away on holiday etc. And dogs don't have passports like horses.. You could easily just say you got her off gumtree or whatever... Our local vet wouldn't really mind, just whoever was footing the bill :/
 
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