gripe... Someone said our heat wave will come back later this week
I know how you feel Lenarenée, our 2nd last piggy had a stone, we got the op done, he recovered really well. It eventually came back and another op but we had to let him go under the op. The stones come because of too much calcium in the diet, can be too much Lucerne. Just because he was a piggy didn't make a difference to us versus a cat or dog, it's still a life, and not about investing money for the size of the animal. His friend died not long after about 2 months, he was older but I think he was fretting.My very sad gripe; looks like we're going to lose our very special guinea pig soon. He's the very first one we had - the one our little girl chose the moment she saw him and refused to take the adorable little baby girl pigs instead. He follows you around like a puppy, comes when he's called and purrs when you pet him.
It's taken hundreds of dollars to get him diagnosed with bladder stones, and surgery/recovery is hundreds more. The thing is surgery is even riskier on pigs than cats/dogs, and recovery can have a lot of complications....and bladder stones often return. It he were a cat or a dog, it would be worth investing the money, but....well, we're collecting estimates with the hope that something comes in lower than we expect.
Have you tried feliway? I have cats so I’m familiar with the feliway name, for som ereason I feel like they have a different name for the dog version.
They have various products (wipes, sprays, diffusers) that are supposed to mimic a mother’s horomones and calm the animal. They claim that over time it can help permanently adjust personality, but I’m not sure I’ve seen permanent changes. It may help if your princess is feeling intimidated/lost now that your mom isn’t around for cuddles on demand or immediate defense if your larger dog is playing a bit rough. It may boil down to a form of separation anxiety/grieving for your mom.
If you don’t think feliway is an option you can ask your vet about medication. Is this a change in behavior since your mom passed or something that’s has always happened?
If it helps, one of my cats shows similar behaviors. For us, it’s been an issue since we moved from 700 sq ft in the middle of town to nearly 2000 sq ft on the border of the woods (with appropriate nature and convenient 4 wheeler trails).
Shih tzus can be quite clingy and nervous anyway and she has beeen through so much - but if she has been living there a while why is it only now that she is getting to you? Whats changed?
TBH they are such different breeds and in time she would settle but right now her whole world has changed and you are the only constant, of course she wants to be with you! If you were in the UK I would take her in a heartbeat. They are the most wonderful loving dogs and all they really want is to be loved.
If you are going to rehome please please please dont leave her at a shelter, the stats for the number of dogs pts in US shelters are horrendous and as for Craigslist or the internet, I've seen soo many dogs taken and used as bait dogs. If you give her up please find a good reputable rescue who could find her a new home.
Eighy year old nervous dogs get PTS all the time - dont let anyone tell you that its only big dogs or old dogs or aggressive dogs. When the shelters are full (like they are right now) they will kill any dog that isnt perfect. I am not trying to be rude I just hate to think that something terrible could happen to her.
She loved your mum and she feels lost; you have ended up with a dog you dont want. You have to either find a way to bridge that gap or find someone to love her as much as your mum did.
At 8 she is only 1/2 through life, think of it that way. MANY more years left that maybe someone who is looking for that breed will find to be the perfect pet !!
Ask your Vet or any other Vets to put up a sign to help find a home for her.
Make sure she is up to date on vaccines, spayed, Teeth cleaned (teeth are a big issue with small dogs) and Groom her to perfection
You might just find that someone who just had their doggy pass would be SO HAPPY to find another that needs their love as much as they need the doggies love .
Unfortunately accidents and age happens and it may be a blessing for someone who is hurting.
@redhead1226 Look into rover.com for boarding when you travel. The in home dog sitters (usually their home) have a profile to review before you contact them that gives info on what they have to offer. This includes things like their work schedule, size of dogs, whether or not they have a dog/will have other dogs boarded or just one at a time. We found a perfect sitter for our pupper and the cost isn't really any more than a regular boarding kennel. He is allowed to sleep on the bed with them, someone is home all day and they have a large fenced yard for him to play. Since my hubby retired, we are traveling more and our dog gets super excited when we pull into his sitter's driveway. You might be able to find someone who would be happy to have a needy dog around when you travel.
As for rehoming, if that is what you need to do there are ways to find them a new home. Research the shelter well. Three of our family members have adopted four dogs from the same shelter, and my daughter volunteered there when she lived in town. The dogs are all kept with a foster care giver until they are adopted - none are kenneled on site. My cousin recently lost a 16 year old shitzu, so 8 really isn't so old for that breed.
One thing I will say about 'no kill' shelters. Some are no kill because they transfer the old, sick and injured dogs to shelters that do euthanize.
Maybe see if there is some other older person that would like her. Beings she specially trained for old people that training at least wouldn’t be waisted. I don’t think it’s worth using approx 8 years of your life tripping and falling over a little dog. Or if you really do want to keep her just step on her a couple times when she gets in the way like that. Not hard but enough so it’s not comfortable and maybe she’ll learn.
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