SheriM - Too Stubborn to Stop Dreamin' - SURPRISE!!!

[dragonlaurel]

Sorry to hear about Flynn. It's really hard when they are sick or hurt. Call the vet and ask if there are any programs available for getting dogs neutered at reduced cost. Might get lucky and be able to do it cheaper.
Do you have a dog carrier that Smiley will fit in? It will help the vet visit go more smoothly. Let them know in advance that he might panic around extra people and they will probably sedate him quickly when he arrives. Less scarey for him.
You might try rescue remedy for them both. It's to help deal with fear and shock. I hope Flynn is healing well. Wish I could help you.

 

[FarmerChick]

I know exactly what you mean "when the whole harmony of the farm is out of whack"----It is a bad feeling isn't it?

Sorry for your troubles. Is Flynn neutered also? Both boys should be neutered to handle the problem.

UGH

feel for you---you sure don't need this on top of everything else.
Hope it all works out well for you!!

 

[justusnak]

Oh Sheri...im so sorry to hear about Flynn. Poor little guy. Getting Smiley fixed MIGHT fix the problem. One thing you can do is when you are financially ready....call the vet and ask for sedation pills. You can give them to him before you go. They wont knowck him out, but will make him easier to load, and handle once there. My mom had a Doberman we had to sedate before going to the vet.
I sure hope Flynn recovers quickly. When the harmony on a farm is lost....it sure can make life miserable. Prayers are there for ya hun. Take care of you dureing all this too!

 

[Farmfresh]

While we are "altering" things around the farm to make things run smoother - Miss Ellie and her wandering lusts would be altered as well. Maybe while she is knocked out to have the quills removed. You might just level with the vet about the money situation and ask for "group rates" and a payment plan. We have had vets work with us MANY times. Another option is a group like PAWS that offer coupons and discounts for spay and neutering.

I am so sorry that all of this has happened. It seems when it rains it pours.

 

[SheriM]

While we are "altering" things around the farm to make things run smoother - Miss Ellie and her wandering lusts would be altered as well. Maybe while she is knocked out to have the quills removed. You might just level with the vet about the money situation and ask for "group rates" and a payment plan. We have had vets work with us MANY times. Another option is a group like PAWS that offer coupons and discounts for spay and neutering.

I am so sorry that all of this has happened. It seems when it rains it pours.

Ellie won't be an issue for much longer, as I am going to sell her this spring. Even when she's not in heat, if the gate gets left open, she's gone like a shot. Her sister, Angel, on the other hand, might go sniffing around, but she's catchable and sometimes even comes when called. Angel will also be spayed. Since Ellie is bred, I will probably keep a pup to replace her, and the pup will also be fixed when the time is right. I am SO done with intact dogs. The only exception to that is Fynn, as he has done some stud work in the past, but when it comes right down to it, I'll probably do him too.

I have already asked the vet about the group rate, and he said we could probably work something out but warned me it will still be expensive because the dogs are so big (more anaesthetic needed, etc.) He will let me pay over time, but I'm hoping I'll be able to knock down some of the cost of this last "adventure" before incurring more. I hate owing him money, as he has been so good about everything in the past.

Good news this morning. I was worried about Fynn getting dehydrated, as his mouth is so swollen he didn't want to eat or drink anything. I managed to syringe about an ounce into him last night and he swallowed it willingly, so I was planning to try that again, but this morning I heard him in the kitchen, tanking up at the water bucket. He had a nice long drink, so there went my biggest worry. I was going to use the syringe of water idea to get his medication into him but decided to see if he would eat some canned cat food. (We don't normally have canned pet food of any sort on hand but are currently nursing a palliative senior cat.) I offered him a small amount on a spoon and he gobbled it up, so I put his meds in the rest of the can and he ate it right up. He then went to the cat's dish and licked that out as well, something he normally gets in trouble for, so I think he's feeling better.

 

[SheriM]

Oh, and the reality is, fixing the dogs is going to cost me big time in income as well. The two litters last year brought in around $3000 and allowed me to buy a more economical vehicle than my big 1/2 ton 4x4. It's hard to give up that income, especially since I now have to recover from a year on disability payments, but in the grand scheme of things, it's just not worth it. That harmony I spoke of is probably THE most important thing in my life and no amount of money can buy that.

 

[Farmfresh]

Peace is something worth more than gold.

We used to raise Persian cats to sell. My mom had several very nice show cats and owned a really nice Red male. When we got married she gave us a nice breeder quality red female kitten and we raised several litters. They provided the money to buy a vacuum, a washer and our first deep freeze in addition to other things.

The problem was with our female. She was a constant problem. She required lots of grooming. She constantly "missed" the litter box and would mess in the corner of the living room on too many occasions. She was in general unfriendly and obnoxious.

We ended up returning her to my mom. The constant stress was just not worth the income produced.

 

[FarmerChick]

You are right......"that" harmony you are searching for is not worth alot of headaches or money! I hear ya......living simple, easy, basic and without known possible problems is so worth it....life is to be enjoyed right?

hang in there...all seems to be working out for you.
glad you dog is drinking and getting better!!

 

[lorihadams]

Ooooooooooh Sheri, I feel your pain honey. One of my labs is neutered (Charlie) and one is not (Tonka) and our female (Maggie) just went out of heat. Tonka is our stud and Charlie has always just been a pet. He and Tonka usually share a kennel outside and get let out for walks and play time and usually no problems. Well, after bringing Maggie back in the house and returning Charlie to the kennel Friday they evidently got into a fight and when I went down to feed them this morning I found both of them bloody and part of Tonka's ear missing. Charlie has puncture wounds all over but seems okay for now. Tonka is resting peacefully in the house after cleaning him up. We are thinking of either keeping Tonka in the house from now on or rehoming Charlie somewhere he will be the only male.

Hopefully things will be okay!

 

[SheriM]

Fynn is doing okay, eating and drinking well, but the poor boy is swollen up like a balloon. We'll be going to the vet again first thing Monday morning because I think the pressure bandage is forcing all the swelling above and below it.

Here are some pictures we took tonight. They're not very good because the lighting in the house is so yellow, but they give some idea...

And here are the boys in better times. They are only about a year and a half old here, so Smiley especially is even bigger now.