Reply #44: thanks for the advice & I do have an update [View All]

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Thanks for the tips. I am more or less leaving the dog alone. I was told to keep the dog on a leash at all times 24/7 right next to me which simply is not possible (nor to I necessarily want it nor does the dog). Anyway, I have the leash on her now and she is sleeping at my feet on a blanket and I covered her with another one. However, she can leave any time she likes as the leash is a short one and I'm not holding on to it. I don't like this "pinned up" crap on any level, even if by a leash next to me. It is her life and I am helping her to recover and have a better life, not another new restrained life.

At night I let her do what she likes. She likes sleeping on a dog bed I got her at KMART for $20.00 in the kitchen where she can look out the sliding glass doors and keep an eye on her new backyard. :)

She is getting along very well with the 2 cats and they are playing a bit in the yard when I can let them all out. There is still lots of rain here for this time of the year (when will it ever stop?).

She was very sick yesterday and had thrown up in the backyard. I think she ate too much perhaps. I had her on a bland diet of rice and eggs for a few days after I saw that blood in her stool. That is now gone luckily and she is eating normally again.

I found another bite wound on her and it had just about healed up and the large wound is almost gone now too. She finishes her antibiotics today.

The ear problem is a lot better. That vile putrid odor is gone and it was coming from her ears! I'm still cleaning them every day with alcohol and cotton balls and putting the drops in each ear. The right ear is much worse than the left one. I'm wondering (given all the ugly stuff that I've cleaned out of her ears) if she could even hear much. However, now she can most certainly hear very well.

So, she is on the mend but she is still very shy but the crate is now out of the living room (she never went back in it) and it is now in the garage thank god.

She nuzzled my hand with her nose this morning for the first time :D , so she is coming around and I heard her outside barking this morning too (a sign of life and a sign of getting used to her new property). I think she likes me being she did this. She likes her new home and I've caught her smiling more than once.

I just hope I can get the ear problem cleared up because it is messy and the she hates the drops and so do I.

I think your advice to leave the dog alone is a good one but a few pats and hugs sure don't hurt either. She likes being brushed and combed too and wow, what a load of fur I've gotten off of her!

Thanks again to everyone!

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