| Weight: 28 |
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Medical condition: Skin sores due to weight. Arthritis. |
| Other: Obese, restricted diet and walking assistance. |
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Special needs: |
Description:
Meet Mickey! Mickey came to us from the Lake Elsinore Animal Shelter. He was listed as a senior, but the vet believes he is 5-8 years old, he just has old man problems because he was overfed and allowed to become extremely obese. Someone left him in the night drop box in pain and distress with no information other than his name.
At 28 lbs. for a small framed pug (small frame), he could barely walk. There is a link attached to view a video on his progessive walking. Every step was extremely painful for him because he had developed severe arthritis in his elbows. He was also in severe respiratory distress with pneumonia made worse by the pressure of his weight. His teeth are rotten from a lifelong bad diet. Mickey has horrible pressure sores on his elbows from lying down so much and his weight putting extra pressure. He prefers lying on hard floors because they are cooler, but we are encouraging him to lie on soft, cooling gel beds and treating his sores with hydrocolloidal dressings.
Mickey has recovered from his pneumonia and has lost a pound and a half in less than two weeks. He is on pain medications and supplements for his arthritis. He was found to have low thyroid and is now getting medication for that which he will need to receive his entire life.
We are hoping that once Mickey loses his extra poundage, his arthritis pain will ease and he will require less pain meds and have better quality of life. The vet says he should weigh 15-16 lbs. Once he is down to normal weight he will be evaluated for a surgical dental to get rid of the rotten mouth.
Mickey has a beautiful, clear fawn plush coat that is very soft. He is very loving and tries his best to follow his foster mom everywhere. When she leaves the house, he howls softly and brokenheartedly until she returns. He gets along well with the many pugs in his foster home and ignores the cats. He is potty trained, although when we first got him his pain made him unable to make it outside sometimes, but that is over with now.
While Mickey will be on medical hold for quite a while, he would like to get started planning his new life. He would like a family who will not overfeed him and let him get heavy again and a home with no stairs. He will need medical monitoring and medications for life, which luckily are not too expensive. He would prefer a family that is not too active and stays home a lot....maybe an older couple. He needs to be protected from larger, active dogs that might play too rough for his joints and small children that don't understand.
Video of Mickey Walking:
http://s215.photobucket.com/albums/cc187/truckmountgirl/Pugs/?action=view¤t=photobucket-2651-1345592345697.mp4 |
New Beginning: Sweet Mickey! I (lisa) am so sorry to report that my sweet little Mickey died this morning at 7:50. I was with him, petting him when he took his last breath.
He began to have a very hard time breathing early this morning. I gave him theophylline at 3 am. He was not better by 6 so I gave him a large dose of prednisone in a rescue effort, but he died less than two hours later. I considered taking him to the emergency vet, but I felt his distress level at being carried and moved would have made it worse for him. He died in his home, with his foster mom who loved him very much.
Take care,
Lisa |
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