When we took him to the vet today she said it was definitely not a severe flea rash as the gentleman had told us but demodectic mange, a noncontagious immune condition affecting the skin condition caused by mites. When it is found early it is treatable but in Oliver's case it was systemic and so severe that it is very painful and completely untreatable. She said we could give him steroids to alleviate his pain but then his immunity would be weakened and the condition would worsen. She said he has likely lived in pain for a very long time. When she examined his teeth she said it appeared that he had spent a lot of hours chewing on the chain he was tied to. :( Poor sweet boy!
We thought that with enough love and TLC we could save Oliver and nurture him back to health but sadly it was too late. Oliver spent the weekend having fun at the Urban farm and is running around chasing balls with Bliss in Doggy Heaven this evening.
There were sure some tears shed around here today. It's surely not the blog post I intended to write today! Poor Sweet Oliver. At least he was loved, even if for just a weekend and a day.
22 comments:
Oh poor baby! I wondered if it was mange when I saw the picture but figured you'd gotten him from a shelter and he'd already been checked out. Oh....that is just so sad. I'm glad he got to be happy his last couple of days, and enjoy the company of your kids and running on the farm.
AAWWWWW :( I'm so sorry!
I'm so sorry! I'm glad he was happy for the last few days, poor thing. I hope you guys are doing okay!
It's so sad. All I can think of is how good it was that his last days were spent as a beloved and special boy. In your family how could he not? This brings up something my brother and I were going back and forth about last week. Do dogs go to Heaven?He says no. The God that I believe in allows and even has special places for dogs in Heaven. When you think of the unconditional love that dogs give us, how would it be right for God to not allow them in? Would it even be Heaven without them?
Oh, poor Oliver.
That's just awful.
In the adult cases of Demodex that I've seen, the dog was completely bald on the head, chest, legs, etc. Unfortunately, it's a condition that targets compromised immune systems (puppies and often the case in dogs who have been abused/neglected) and curing them is a very long road of medication and dips. And even then, it's always lying in wait (the mites always remain -- just dormant.) And the there are all the secondary skin infections caused by the demodex and they just thrive due to the weak immune system -- it's just an awful self-perpetuating cycle.
At least he had a weekend of love; his life had a happy ending.
Oh, that picture of the grave and your other dog just breaks my heart. *tears*
-Truewell
P.S.
Does anyone know how to change the name that's displayed in the blue link at the top of your post?
I tried to add my middle name, as one of my daughters has the same first/last name, but somehow, I only got half of it in there (Mia instead of MiaSara) and I can't for the life of me find the right menu in Gmail!
Anyone? I'm SylviaTruewell at gmail.com
Tell you kids you helped Oliver go over The Rainbow Bridge with dignity and that is as good as it gets. They are truly angels.
Jan
Read the this poem:
http://www.petloss.com/poems/maingrp/rainbowb.htm
Jan
He passed with a name, with a family, with love, tenderness, and kindness. He was a blessed pup at least in his last days. And it sounds as though the older gentleman had done his best for him, too. I think we touch the heart of God when we are kind to His animals. I know Balaam got in trouble when he beat his donkey, so our treatment of animals does matter. Once again, your family blessed God. And blessed those of us who embrace you all in our hearts. I'm sorry for your sadness and your loss.
awwww. and poor Nellie is confused I bet! not to mention how hard that must have been for the kids! I commend you though Cha for seeing past his looks and giving him some well deserved love.
I was very afraid it was mange, my German shepard has been treated for it. We got him when he was six weeks old and it started just as some blister looking spots, then progressed to hair loss. Thank god we caught it when he was young, but he does have a low immune system and still gets itchy at times. I pray that I never have to put him down, but I would never want him to be in that kind of pain. I'm so glad that Oliver got to spend his last couple of days with one of the best families I know. And I DO beleive dogs get to go to heaven, after all they are mans best friend. I'll keep the Urban's in my prayers..... :)
Oh, that's so sad, Charissa :(! I'm so sorry, poor boy :(.
I find myself crying alot when I read your blogs. Typically it's tear of happiness at some funny moment of one of your children...but today, tears are flowing for Oliver. I am so glad he left this earth feeling the love of a family.
Oh no!! :(
I'm so sad for you all and poor poor Ollie! :(
I'm so sorry,I was so excited when your family rescued him, now I'm crying that he won't have the life and family he deserves, but thankful he had a weekend of love.
Praying for your kids.
Debbie S
At least he knew love...even if it was for a short time!
Stacy
So sorry.
I had a dog that had Mange. It took forever for the vets to figure out what it was. I actually took him to a different vet office to figure it out. Then it took months to take care of it. And the spot was only on his neck. Poor Oliver. At least his last days were filled with love.
Oh that is so sad. I'm sorry :(
Your family's love and consistant application to everyone and everything is an inspiration! Rest well poor doggy.
I thought he had pitifully sad eyes...poor boy. Glad he had love, a name and most of all a family, even if it was shorter than you would have wished for. You know you did all you could, that's all any of us can hope to do.
Awww, so sorry about Olivier. But glad he got a few days of love and happiness. I left a comment on your old post about Zoya's cleft repair and don't know if you saw it or not but here is a link that I referred to http://www.monell.org/contact_us/clinical_inquiries/
You were the kindest thing that ever happened to him...
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