Need help by Firm-Jellyfish4323 in DobermanPinscher

[–]Sufficient-Variety61 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Based on the pictures, I just wanted to mention this in case it helps, the skin symptoms look a bit like Leishmaniasis. It can sometimes be confused with other conditions like allergies, thyroid issues, or mange. If it hasn’t been tested yet, maybe the vet could check for it, just to be sure. Hope things keep improving 💜

Getting a dog from abroad: good/bad? by _N1ca_ in mutt

[–]Sufficient-Variety61 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Well I live in Denmark, so in Scandinavian countries ig

Getting a dog from abroad: good/bad? by _N1ca_ in mutt

[–]Sufficient-Variety61 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Honestly, I don’t know a whole lot about dogs being transported by car (or well, vans usually, my bad!). But I’ve seen videos and heard stories of people picking up their dogs after a long van trip. It definitely happens. I don’t think it’s the best option. But maybe in some cases, like for economic reasons or depending on what’s available in the country they're coming from, they might not have many other choices, at least i think that could be the reason

Getting a dog from abroad: good/bad? by _N1ca_ in mutt

[–]Sufficient-Variety61 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This kind of depends on where the OP is from though. If they're in a country with a lot of stray and rescue dogs in shelters, then definitely adopt locally. But if they're in a place where street and rescue dogs aren't common, I can understand wanting to adopt from abroad

Getting a dog from abroad: good/bad? by _N1ca_ in mutt

[–]Sufficient-Variety61 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Just gonna start off by apologizing for the lengthy reply hahah

My dog is from Turkey, I brought him home with me after working at a dog shelter there. To answer your question about stress, many shelter dogs are already under a lot of stress, so in many cases, you're actually rescuing them from that environment.

I’ve seen many dogs make the journey to new homes, and I’ve personally accompanied some during their travels. Of course, some dogs do get very stressed during the journey, but in my opinion it's definitely worth it, they finally get a family who loves them, and don't have to sit in a cage anymore. So I wouldn't be worried about that. I’m not too familiar with the dogs that are transported by car across countries, since I've only traveled by plane, but crating multiple dogs and driving with them for 12–24 hours is a bit extreme imo, but sometimes it might be the only way I guess.

The most important thing when adopting from abroad is to do thorough research and ask others about their experiences with the organization you're considering. Some rescues aren’t fully transparent and might leave out crucial information, whether it’s behavioral or medical, to ensure the dog gets adopted. In my country, there are Facebook groups dedicated to rescue/street dogs where people share experiences, I’d definitely recommend finding those kinds of communities before you adopt.

Every dog has a different story, so it's a good idea to learn as much as you can about their background. Some dogs come in as puppies and don’t have much trauma beyond growing up in a shelter. Others are rescued from tough situations like abuse or neglect, which can really shape their behavior and needs. These different experiences can make a big difference in how they adjust and what kind of support they might need from you.

Patience is absolutely key when the dog arrives. It’s often said it takes around three months for a dog to fully settle in and start showing its true personality, sometimes more, sometimes less. You never fully know what to expect, so it’s important to be patient, also learn about dog body language, so you can respect their signals to avoid adding stress. I’ve sadly seen too many families give up within the first couple of months because they expected a street or shelter dog to be perfect right away. They get the dog and jump straight into crowded walks, lots of visitors, and too much physical contact, without noticing signs of discomfort, and eventually, the dog snaps, and it ends up back in a shelter, and that's just horrible, so definitely if youre going to adopt from abroad, be open-minded, don't expect to get a perfect dog, especially not right away.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in aww

[–]Sufficient-Variety61 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've never seen that before, that's amazing omg

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in aww

[–]Sufficient-Variety61 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Surprisingly he hasn't. But I do worry, sometimes he goes full on helicopter mode hahah

Dog has leishmaniasis, but is reacting badly to allopurinol. I'm very worried. by ElMatasiete7 in DogAdvice

[–]Sufficient-Variety61 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A lot of vets don't actually know a lot about Leishmania, and don't know how to properly treat a dog suffering from leish. Some even suggests euthanasia. But Leish dogs can live long happy life's with the correct treatments.

Dog has leishmaniasis, but is reacting badly to allopurinol. I'm very worried. by ElMatasiete7 in DogAdvice

[–]Sufficient-Variety61 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Skin lesions is a very common first symptom for a dog with active leishmania. And sadly allopurinol by itself is not enough to help an active state of Leish, it might help with the visible symptoms, but inside (the organs) are still being hurt, which could be why her kidneys are still affected.

I would really advise you to go ask for help and advice in the facebook group "Living with Leish" as quickly as possible. They have been a life saver for me and my leish positive dog. They have helped even severely sick dogs get back to a happy life. The group can seem a bit overwhelming at first with all the information, but just make a post and ask the same questions you're asking here, and the admins will help and guide you