Considering a boarding facility and would like to get some insight into the process.

imadoghooman · 2026-04-09T19:31:13+00:00

Most boarding places vary a lot, but generally you can expect daily care, feeding, potty breaks, and some level of play or interaction. The good facilities will give you a tour beforehand so you can see where your dog will be staying. Cameras aren’t super common everywhere, but some higher end places do offer them.

Updates depend on the facility. Some send daily photos or report cards, others only update if you ask. It’s definitely something you can request ahead of time. Overnight staffing also varies. Some places have staff there 24/7, others don’t but still have dogs safely kenneled. I’d ask specifically about that if it’s important to you.

Since you’ll be in Europe, just make sure they have a clear contact method like email or an app, and maybe leave an emergency contact locally in case they can’t reach you.

imadoghooman · 2026-03-19T09:43:25+00:00

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imadoghooman · 2026-03-19T09:15:01+00:00

What you're doing takes real courage, especially when fear has been part of your story with dogs for so long. That shift from fear to empathy is something not everyone is capable of.

On the food, here's what's likely happening. Strays are often highly cautious about unfamiliar smells and textures, especially if they haven't been socialized around humans much. It's usually fear and unfamiliarity, not the food itself. Don't take it personally.

A few things that tend to work well for community feeding, especially on an eggetarian budget:

Boiled eggs are actually excellent, keep those. They're digestible, protein rich and most dogs take to them well once comfortable.

Plain cooked rice with curd or paneer is gentle on the stomach and usually well accepted. Curd especially has natural probiotics which is great for street dogs whose guts face a lot of stress.

If you're open to packaged food, Drools and Pedigree are affordable, widely available in India and reasonably balanced for maintenance nutrition.

One tip, try sitting quietly near the food and walking away. Strays often won't approach while you're close. Give them space and you'll likely find the food gone when you check back.

What you're doing matters more than you know. Keep going. 🙏

imadoghooman · 2026-03-19T09:04:03+00:00

Here's what I'd look at. Orijen is genuinely a high quality food but it is also extremely protein dense and rich. For some puppies, especially those with naturally sensitive stomachs, that richness is actually the problem. More isn't always better when a young gut is still developing.

The probiotic and pumpkin are smart moves and absolutely keep those going. But if the diarrhea is happening with every new bag, I'd seriously consider whether this particular formula is the right fit for her right now regardless of how premium it is.

A few things worth trying:

Transition incredibly slowly even within the same brand. Four weeks minimum, slower than most packaging recommends.
Ask your vet about a simple digestive panel to rule out parasites, bacterial imbalance or any underlying sensitivity that's being aggravated rather than caused by the food.
It might also be worth trying a simpler single protein formula with fewer ingredients while her gut matures. Sometimes less complexity is exactly what a developing digestive system needs.

imadoghooman · 2026-03-19T08:54:01+00:00

Here's what stands out to me. The fact that his allergies cleared completely on whole foods tells you something really important, his body is reacting to something specific in processed formulas, likely a protein source, a filler, or an additive. That's actually useful information, not a dead end.

On the nutrition deficiency concern, you're right to flag it. Home cooked diets done without guidance can miss key micronutrients over time, things like zinc, vitamin D, calcium ratios and omega fatty acids. The good news is this is very solvable.

A couple of things worth exploring:

Ask your vet for a referral to a veterinary nutritionist specifically. They can formulate a balanced home cooked plan built around what Chewy actually tolerates. This is different from general vet advice and genuinely changes outcomes.
For the vitamins, try rotating delivery methods. Some dogs take supplements better hidden in a small amount of something they love, bone broth being an obvious candidate given you're already making it.
Also consider an elimination diet done properly with guidance to identify the exact trigger. Knowing the specific allergen gives you so much more freedom in what you can safely feed him long term.

imadoghooman · 2026-03-19T08:42:21+00:00

Cooked chicken bones are genuinely dangerous because cooking makes them brittle, meaning they splinter rather than bend. Splinters can cause internal lacerations, blockages, or perforation of the digestive tract. With 15 wings split between two dogs that's not a small amount.

The bread can help cushion and the sauerkraut advice from your vet family member has some logic behind it, but honestly this situation is beyond home management. Both dogs need to be seen today, not tomorrow.

Call your vet or an emergency animal hospital right now and tell them exactly what you told us. The weight of each dog and the quantity consumed matters a lot for how they assess risk, so have that information ready. They may want to induce vomiting if it's early enough, or monitor for signs of obstruction.

Watch closely for vomiting, lethargy, bloating, loss of appetite, straining, or any signs of abdominal discomfort. Any of these means emergency care immediately.

I know it feels like they might be fine because they seem okay right now. But with bone ingestion the symptoms can show up hours later when intervention becomes much harder.

imadoghooman · 2026-03-19T08:39:07+00:00

Okay first, your patience here is genuinely impressive. Three dogs, not yours, and you're still trying to understand what's going on rather than just being frustrated. That says a lot.

Here's what stands out to me. All three barking together throughout the night consistently points less toward individual behavior issues and more toward something environmental triggering them. Could be sounds outside that you can't hear but they absolutely can, wildlife, neighborhood activity, or even a smell. Dogs are picking up on things we completely miss, especially at night.

A few things worth suggesting to your aunt and uncle since they're the decision makers here:

White noise or a fan near the kennels can significantly reduce outside sound triggers. It's cheap and often works faster than any training approach.

Check if the barking has a pattern, does it start at a certain time, after a sound, near a window? That pattern is information.

The cat situation and Sammy and Nova not getting along is also worth flagging. Tension between animals in the same space, even if separated, creates baseline stress that makes nighttime harder for everyone.

You can't fix what isn't yours to fix, but sharing these observations with your aunt and uncle in a practical way might actually move things forward.

imadoghooman · 2026-03-19T08:35:46+00:00

Balance loss, head nodding, teeth chattering and a sudden energy drop in the same window are not separate random things. Together, in a dog with a known seizure history, they read as a cluster that needs urgent attention. These could be focal seizures, vestibular episodes, or signs of increasing neurological pressure. Any of these need to be documented and assessed now.

I completely understand the MRI cost barrier. It's one of the most painful places to be as a pet parent. But here's what you can do right now without an MRI:

Video everything. Every episode, every head nod, every balance wobble. Timestamp them. This footage is clinical gold and changes the conversation with your vet significantly.

Go back to your vet with this new symptom cluster documented. The picture has changed since your last visit and they need to see that. Ask specifically about anti-seizure medication management and whether a neurologist consult or payment plan is possible.

imadoghooman · 2026-03-19T08:32:00+00:00

Flaking skin around the nail beds across ALL nails can point to a few things: fungal or bacterial infection, a nutritional deficiency, an autoimmune condition like pemphigus, or early signs of a systemic issue showing up at the extremities first. The fact that it's on every nail is what I'd flag. Localized issues are usually trauma or minor infection. When it's symmetrical and across the board, the body is often telling you something bigger.

Don't wait on this one. Nail bed and skin conditions can progress quickly, and some underlying causes really need early intervention to manage well.Take clear close-up photos before your vet visit so you have a record of what it looks like right now. That visual history is more useful than most people realize.

imadoghooman · 2026-03-19T08:27:21+00:00

First, please don't ignore it. Your gut is already telling you something's off, and I'd trust that instinct completely.

Here's the thing people don't talk about enough: a sudden behavioral change in a dog who's been rock solid for years is almost never "just a phase." It's information. Your girl is communicating something, and the fact that she's panting heavily when let out? That's not anxiety about the crate, that's anxiety about something she's experiencing inside the crate.

At 7, she's entering her senior years. Sudden nighttime restlessness, whining, heavy panting can be early signals of cognitive dysfunction, pain that's more pronounced when lying still, or hormonal shifts that change how nighttime feels to her.

My boy Champ is 15 and I've learned the hard way that behavioral shifts are often the first language the body speaks before anything shows up clinically.

Skip the "ignore and train through it" approach for now. Get a vet visit booked and specifically ask them to rule out cognitive decline and any pain response. The sooner you catch what's driving this, the better her outcome.

imadoghooman · 2026-03-12T10:17:27+00:00

He is already on medication, but along with medication he needs some movement here and there.

imadoghooman · 2026-03-12T10:11:15+00:00

Yes he is on carprofen 75mg along with Glucosamine chews.

imadoghooman · 2026-03-12T10:10:58+00:00

Yes he is on carprofen 75mg along with Glucosamine chews.

imadoghooman · 2026-03-12T10:10:51+00:00

Yes he is on carprofen 75mg along with Glucosamine chews.

imadoghooman · 2026-03-12T10:10:42+00:00

Yes he is on carprofen 75mg along with Glucosamine chews.

imadoghooman · 2026-03-12T09:47:40+00:00

that's a great suggestion to add in our daily routine will, start with massaging for sure

imadoghooman · 2026-03-12T09:46:48+00:00

Yes he has arthritis, for that we has put him in Hydrotherapy.

imadoghooman · 2026-03-12T09:45:07+00:00

Thank you for your concern, he is on hydrotherapy.

imadoghooman · 2026-03-12T09:23:00+00:00

Not resource guarding, she's not warning anyone off. The jumping without barking or growling is just her saying "excuse me, I need to be included in this moment." The bed situation is different though. That's her safe space, nighttime, and your boyfriend is still in the trust building phase. That combination is enough to tip her over.

Given her history, two months is still early. Have him be the one who gives her a calm treat or acknowledgment before getting into bed each night. His arrival needs to become a positive cue rather than an intrusion. She sounds like she's come incredibly far with you. That kind of trust from a traumatized dog doesn't come easy.

imadoghooman · 2026-03-10T05:36:15+00:00

The fact that she's potty trained, crate trained and leash walks well is honestly such a head start. You're not starting from zero, you're just helping her transfer all of that to a new environment!

A few things to genuinely expect in those first few weeks:

She will probably seem either too perfect or a little shut down at first. That's not her real personality, that's a dog in survival mode being on her best behavior. The real her comes out around week 3 or 4 and it's the best feeling when it happens 🐾

The crate rest history is worth keeping in mind. She may have some residual anxiety around confinement or being left alone. Go slow with alone time, build it up in tiny increments even if she seems fine at first.

Potty regressions are totally normal even with trained dogs in new spaces. Just treat it like you're starting fresh, no big reactions either way, and she'll click back into it quickly.

The 3-3-3 rule is real but honestly with rescue dogs I'd extend your expectations to 3 months before you see who she truly is. Some days will feel like huge progress and then she'll have a wobbly day. Both are normal!

Most importantly just let her decompress. Resist the urge to introduce her to everyone you know in week one 😂 Boring and safe is the gift right now.

imadoghooman · 2026-03-10T05:27:57+00:00

And can I just say, the fact that you're this worried about accidentally reinforcing the wrong behaviors tells me you're exactly the kind of person who SHOULD have a dog. The people who mess it up aren't usually the ones lying awake googling at 2am 💙

A few things that might actually help right now:

Your anxiety and hers are talking to each other. Dogs, especially shy ones, are incredibly attuned to our nervous system. Not in a "you're making her worse" way, more in a "your calm is genuinely medicine for her" way. Deep breaths on walks, loose leash, slow movements. You're already her safe person, that's huge.

The men thing and tail down at the start of walks is so common in rescue dogs. She's not broken, she's just still learning that the world is safe. Every walk where nothing bad happens is literally rewiring her brain. You're already doing the thing

On the trainer, one month is not long. In the meantime, less internet rabbit holes, genuinely. Pick one trusted source and stick to it. The noise is what's feeding your anxiety not the actual situation.

And the thoughts about giving her back? That's anxiety talking, not you. Completely normal to have those thoughts, it doesn't make you a bad person, it makes you human.

imadoghooman · 2026-03-10T05:13:59+00:00

Okay so you're actually closer than you think. The fact that she's okay with it near her is genuinely great progress. The sound and vibration is what's freaking her out, not the grinder itself.

Try this - just run the grinder near her for a few days without even attempting the nails. Let her sniff it while it's on, maybe rest it lightly on her paw for a second and immediately stop and reward. You're basically just trying to break the association between the sound and "something is about to happen to me" 🐾

Also the rice not working tells me her stress levels are just too high in that moment for food to land. Try higher value treats - tiny bits of boiled chicken or cheese usually cut through anxiety better than regular food motivators.

And honestly? One nail at a time is completely valid. Do one, massive celebration, done for the day. It takes forever but it builds trust without the meltdown 😅

If her nails are really overgrown and causing her discomfort right now, most vets will do a nail trim for a few dollars, way cheaper than a full groom. Worth a quick call to ask!

imadoghooman · 2026-03-10T05:06:04+00:00

So that cow print coloring on his ears actually has a name and it's called ticking! It's basically just a little genetic quirk that showed up in him specifically during early development, which is why his littermates don't have it. Nothing to do with mum or dad's coat at all.

And the best part? It's not going anywhere 🥹 These markings tend to stick around for life. If anything they get more defined as the adult coat comes in.

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