Troy - The saga continues. ANOTHER update inside

First topic message reminder :

So I have just come back from the vet £130 lighter.

Troy appeared to be itching his ears badly and then started rubbing against the walls and rolling on his back. I could tell there was something wrong with him so took him to the emergency vets.

The vet advised that he has discharge in the ears caused by ear infection. The patches on his head are from a chronic skin allergy as the insides of the ears are dry and cracked, the ear infection is a knock on from the skin problems.

They gave him steroids for the pain and a sedative so he could sleep. Got some ear drops to be applied for a week too and some flea treatment too. Because it was emergency hours they could not do skin scrapes tonight so have to go to another consultation.

The poor little sod has been dealing with moving home, new owners, ear infection and allergies.

Should of checked him over better but I'm no vet, it wasn't obvious to me until it was shown under his ears and I thought nothing of the patch on his head.

To top it off I never had the insurance sorted, only had him a day after all! So none of this is covered. It's not the initial spend that bothers me but depending on the outcome it could be something that needs regular treatment for life.

The vet said it could be an allergy to pollen, fleas, something in his food and things like that.

The vet advised this was also something that had gone on for a while and he has had multiple ear infections. By the looks of his ear canals.

Well I said I would rescue a dog and I definitely got a dog in need! I knew it was too good to be true, I have very bad luck and always get screwed.

Where do I stand with these costs and any spend depending on the outcome of the skin problems? Are there any groups or organisations that can help with costs of treatment considering my circumstances? Only had him a day. I planned for the cost of food and insurance etc but obviously insurance won't cover this now. Fingers crossed its an easy to treat nominal cost procedure.

Guess its time to get a little sleep now. Troy has finally gone to sleep as he is drugged up

Yeah but I mean it's bad. He stares in the direction of the dog moaning loudly for as long as he can see it. He pulls in that direction no matter how much you pull him back and turn him around. I stood behind a wall and he literally sat there screaming for 5 minutes when he couldn't even see the dog but wanted to go in the direction it went it.

Like I mentioned, seems like he has said hi he I'd more or less chilled. Hopefully some socilisation can help combat this.

He just wants to play. Romeo gets like that sometimes and he was well socialised with everything from 12 weeks.
Even horses
On a better diet he probably has a lot more energy as well, have you been letting him off lead to do some running or play fetch? Its a good way to build big muscles too. Staffies love wrestling with other dogs.

Yeah I think he does just want to play.

No I haven't let him off the lead. Only had him 2 weeks today and was going to leave it a few months. I don't have a secure garden either.

I am going to buy one of those long leads though.

.

they are all funny.. they all have their funny little things that they do.
... when we used to go out and leave Jethro we would leave him with a special chew or biscuit..we were guaranteed that when we got home, the biscuit would still be where we left it, but he would run , pick it up and start throwing it in the air several times and THEN he would eat it ! it was like Whoopee now you are home and I am so happy I can eat now!
they sure keep us amused don't they!

It never stops with Troy I tell you!

I am sure you all know by now the skin and ear issues he had. Well one of his eyes looked bloodshot when we got him but I never thought much of it. His eyes go red when he is excited too.

Well I noticed some tearing happening and it looked green from his left eye. Even though it seemed to look better, I took him to the vets today and it turns out he has a mild case of conjunctivitis.

Got some drops to apply 3 times a day for a week which should hopefully clear it up.

Oh my days..think I have spent £100 a week on average since getting Troy.

What's next? Nothing I hope!

Hopefully he will stay healthy now

Hopefully all these little things will now have been sorted & you'll have a really healthy Troy (it's probably the first time he's been properly healthy for a while!).

Just try to think of it as how grateful he must be that he finally has a good owner who really cares for him!!
Most dogs end up costing you money somewhere down the line but I bet he gives a lot of luv back which makes it worth it!!

Hi, I was on before when you were asking questions about getting a dog. Haven't been on for a while, so great to hear that you now have one and a very needy one at that. Congratulations to you, and hope he settles in well with you. So sorry to hear you have got off to a bad start with him. Poor guy sounds to be in bad way since you have had him. There are some absolute * owners out there. Our dog had skin problems when we got her, her belly and feet were raw and she was constantly scratching and dragging her belly on the carpet. She was being fed Wagg (when they remembered to feed her) and since we have changed her over to James Wellbeloved she has been thriving. Her skin problem has all but cleared. She still has a go at her feet now and then, but she can now lie still without feeling the need to get up and continuously scratch. So as someone mentioned James Wellbeloved, I thought I'd also add how great it is.

As for the settling in with you, sounds like your doing a great job with him. But please remember it will take him some time to settle. Some settle easier than others, whereas some take a while to feel at home. Tinkerbell has only settled in the last 2 months or so, we got her in August. She took a while to realise there was regular walks up for grabs, and to learn to trust us enough to feel comfortable to play with toys. She was also house trained but for the first month or two (can't remember really) she also pooed in the house. She wouldn't tell us when she needed to go out, but we were patient with her and she now lets us know when she needs to go. Sounds like an anxiety thing with Troy, and it will also take you a while to learn his cues and for him to learn that he can trust you. Sounds like he is getting there bit by bit though, and I promise the results will be worth it eventually. Fingers crossed this is the last of vets bills for him for a while. And most importantly enjoy your time with him and getting to know the real him. He is a wee cutie though. Good luck with it all!

Hey,

Glad to hear that your dogs skin condition has all healed up Troy is on James Wellbeloved too now and is a lot better. His ears are now no longer cracked and they were really bad before. A patch he had on his face has completely healed and the patch on his head appears to be slowly growing back but we'll see. Apparently it can take 8 weeks for whatever he was allergic to, to leave his body and I've only had him 3 weeks.

I must say, its not ALL bad with Troy. He is a fantastic dog and has a good temperament with other dogs he greets and gets on great with my brothers dog too. I had them both off the lead in the garden and they were running around having fun and getting a long just fine.

He doesn't seem to eat as fast as he used to either, as if he knows meals will be there daily now. Not sure how often he was fed previously.

Also, in 2 weeks he has only had 1 accident, a little wee in the living room but my brother did call down a little later than usual that day. He no longer pee's or poops when anxious as he is not as anxious as he used to be. He will be in other rooms without me now and will even leave himself! He will eventually come to find me and does moan a little if he is shut out of the bathroom etc but nothing like he used to be.

At bed time he goes into his crate in my room and lays down to sleep without a fuss, I don't have to tell him to go in or anything. I close the crate door without a fuss and he no longer moans or whimpers.

He is also left out of his crate when I go to work or go out and my brother walks him midday. He is not destructive which is great. I sneaked up to the window the other day though and caught him on the sofa. He looks shocked when I tapped on the window and told him down LOL

He knows he shouldn't be on there, he only does it when I am way.

Overall he is a fantastic dog and is lots of fun. Sometimes walks with him are not a problem but other times he simply goes mental. He is getting there slow I reckon.

You're doing a great job with him by the sounds of it! Fantastic!

Ah well done, sounds like he is improving in all areas.

Wow sounds like Troy is coming along really well. Now a Staffy sneaking onto the sofa, who da thought that would happen

Keep up all the good work. Sounds like you have solid foundations in already. Some much easier to build on those.

Well done

Thanks all.

Really need to curb his excitement, but I'm looking into it.

Very glad to hear that he is doing well