Rags Has Arrived !!

[dbg10]

This is the post about his adoption
Adoption of Two Senior Dogs

Rags arrived at 1.30pm yesterday with his rescuer and his lifelong friend Mugs. She was only here to say good bye to him and returned to her foster home with her rescuer. Mugs looked a little better than last time I saw her because she is now on Prednisone for the Lymphoma. Apparently it is in all her lymph nodes so it is unlikely she will last very long. We will re-discuss her coming to live here if either dog has a big problem settling in alone.

He was happy as a clam when he arrived and stayed that way for the rest of the day. The rescuer had brought both dogs with coats on and he kept the one that Mugs wore so he has her scent in the house. i certainly won't be in any hurry to wash it. We have a totally different schedule than he's used to so we tried to compromise by adjusting to his needs. He ate well and is definitely a food & treat driven dog. Last night he settled on a bed that I had bought for Pepper, though the rescuer didn't think he'd want one as he had preferred to sleep on a bare floor or rug when he was with her. He seemed to like the bed which is made of foam like a mattress topper with a sheepskin top and waterproof nylon bottom. He doesn't seem to be at all interested in toys, but I gave him a couple of balls and a rubber parrot squeaky toy.

This morning he seemed sad at first until he ate and went outside, then when one of my friends came to visit, he got very excited to see her and followed her around the house. Then he went for a walk in his red coat that the rescuer made and is now settling down for a nap. I know he will have some separation anxiety but he is definitely better than I expected.

The cats obviously had a chase during the night and the female has gone nose to nose with him a couple of times and they seem happy with each other. The oldest male is ignoring him completely, not making any move to hide or avoid him. The other two are staying on the high furniture, so I imagine they were involved in the chase last night. He doesn't seem to care what the cats are doing or not doing so I think after a few days they will accept him into the animal family.

I have his complete vet record from birth and he turned 12 years old in November 2009. What made me laugh was the different breeds they labeled him at each annual visit. At 8 weeks he was a "cockapoo", next he was a Terrier X, then he was a Beagle X, then he was a Terrier X again, then a Hound X and last he was a spaniel X. He was seen at the same animal clinic throughout his life until his owner passed away, so I really wonder about those vets ability to identify breeds. See what you think by his pictures

I took a few pictures today, I didn't want to disturb him yesterday when he was trying to get used to our new home.

Here they are, enjoy:

[Jenkinsdjtg]

your such a selfless person , its great to hear he's finally found a Loving home where he can live out his life.

[BenMax]

YOU are an for accepting an older fellow into your lives. That is selfless! Seniors are my weakness. I continue to save the elderly whether it be cats or dogs as they are passed up so often.

He is absolutely devine. Still you can see his youth behind gentle frosting.

Bless you!

[Melinda]

what a sweetie....definately beagle in there somewhere

[rainbow]

LOL @ cockapoo .....no idea how someone came up with that. I agree with Melinda and would say Beagle cross as well.

Glad to hear that Rags has settled in well and the cats are accepting him. Once again, thank you for adopting a senior. He is such a cutie and looks like he still has lots of sparkle in his eyes and love his smiling face as well.

for Mugs.

[hazelrunpack]

He does have a lovely smile, dbg! Congratulations on your new arrival! I'm glad everything is going so smoothly and Rags is settling in so quickly!

[14+kitties]

I am so happy for Rags and so proud of you!!!

[dbg10]

Thanks everyone He really is doing well. He is showing some separation anxiety, as expected, when one of us goes out but I hope that will change over time. He whined and cried while my son was out last night, but when he was out this afternoon, though he whined for awhile, he did settle down eventually. I found it hard to distract him from his sadness last night but it was a little easier today. He really is a good dog and a lot of fun. We were very lucky to find him

He is eating and sleeping well, and the cats are getting used to him so far, so good. Our routine is quite different from the one he's used to but he seems to be adjusting without too much trouble.

I was pleased to hear from his rescuer this morning asking how he's doing and also asking for pictures. She said that Mugs is settling in and hasn't been looking for him. When Mugs was here the other day, she put her front paws up on my window seat to look out the window, so she seems to still have her strength now that she's on prednisone.
I hope she does well, but as most of you know prednisone is only a palliative treatment.

One thing I noticed immediately is that Rags has bare spots on both elbows. He lies with his elbows on the floor, and likes to sleep on hardwood so I'm not sure what to do about them, anyone have any ideas on how to get the hair to grow back? One elbow looks like it has a well healed scab on it, so I think it has been an open sore in the last month or too. I've tried to get him to lie on the rug and sleep in his bed, but he seems to prefer the hardwood floor or a thin carpet we have. Any ideas ?

[mirtilo]

As for the bare spots/well-healed scabs, I'm not sure if it's the case with your dog, but mine was was hit by a car and dragged underneath it down an entire street, when she was with her previous owner, but she recovered just fine (though she was immediately cleared by the vet as having no broken bones or any other injuries). The only sign of the accident is the little scabby area on her elbow, where her fur doesn't grow, but it's tiny and barely noticeable.

She likes the hardwood floor when it's warm out, but otherwise she does seem to prefer blankets and couches, though I don't think that has anything to do with her elbows, she's just a spoiled little girl

Rags looks so delightful!

[chico2]

dbg,Rags looks wonderful,I can see Spaniel in his face,I am so happy for him.
Hopefully he'll not miss his companion too much
You did a wonderful thing

[luckypenny]

Congratulations to both you and Rags, dbg10 . I see a Beagle X as well...what a handsome boy .

[the gang]

good for both of you, try some vitiame e for the elbow, brenda and the pins

[My Lodi Girl]

He is beautiful and such a smiler! Seniors rock!

[hazelrunpack]

Originally Posted by dbg10

One thing I noticed immediately is that Rags has bare spots on both elbows. He lies with his elbows on the floor, and likes to sleep on hardwood so I'm not sure what to do about them, anyone have any ideas on how to get the hair to grow back? One elbow looks like it has a well healed scab on it, so I think it has been an open sore in the last month or too. I've tried to get him to lie on the rug and sleep in his bed, but he seems to prefer the hardwood floor or a thin carpet we have. Any ideas ?

If you think he has any lab in him, these might just be normal elbow callouses, dbg. Many labs get them, even those that are indoor-only and have their own baby mattresses spread around the house like our old boy had The elbows get bald, thickened patches of skin on them, but they don't seem to bother the dog at all.

Sounds like he's doing very well otherwise, and it's nice to hear that Muggs seems to be, as well. You're such an to give this boy a loving home for his retirement years.

[TeriM]

Congrats on your new addition, she is adorable .

[budgrrl]

he is so handsome!!
you are an for adopting an older fellow - good on you!!

[Tundra_Queen]

I love the 3rd picture! What a sweetheart he is and you are an angel for taking him.

About the spots on his elbows,,,we had 2 black labs and they had them just from laying down. They were sores, just sort of hard skin without hair.

Debbie

[dbg10]

Rags has now been with us a week and is falling into our routine quite easily. Thanks for all the good wishes, I love seniors.

The one thing I notice is that he moves and looks younger than his age, I would say closer to 9 or 10 years and if I didn't have his birth records, I'd think he was younger.

The other day he started "talking" to me with little woofs and letting us know when he needs to go outside. He is a wonderful fellow.

I was told that he liked to sleep on rugs or bare floors but he has taken to his bed (foam with a sheepskin top and nylon bottom) and sleeps there beside my bed every night. He has tried to get up on my bed but it is one of those high beds that he might have been able to jump onto when he was young but I doubt it.

I have examined his elbows more closely and it appears it is callouses as you suggest from the way he lies down. I'm hoping the hair will grow back a bit now that he's using his bed.

He has his first appt on Thursday to see our vet and he looks so healthy I hope that's what she finds too.

[Chris21711]

So happy to hear that Rags is settling in so good, you are an angel, he couldn't want a better home......I remember well the good care you took of Pepper.......maybe you could try some bag balm on his elbows, at least it should stop the skin from cracking. The hair may never grow back though.

[rainbow]

Glad to hear that Rags is adjusting so well and it sounds like he is very happy with you.

I agree the bag balm is a good idea but, as Chris said, it will not help the hair to grow back ....nothing will.

[14+kitties]

Good job!! You are a wonderful for Rags.

[chico2]

dbg,that's great to hear
So,he does not seem to miss his companion too muchmaybe he's just sooo happy with all the love he is getting
Hope the vet-appointment goes well

[budgrrl]

glad to hear he is fitting in so well!

you can get lil steps to make it easier to snuggle on the bed i made some for my old kitty, zana, when she had a hard time

[Dee-O-Gee]

I adore the first picture. He has such a happy smile.

Best of luck with the Vet on Thursday, he looks like he'll check out a-o.k.!

[Frenchy]

arggg so sorry I'm so late !! Congratulations !!!! He looks like a great little dog He must be in heaven at your home I'm so glad you adopted him , kuddos to you !

can't wait to see MORE pics

[ancientgirl]

Oh, what a smile he's got! Such a handsome boy.

[hazelrunpack]

Sounds like Rags has decided he likes his new home! What a good boy he is, too! I hope you have many years together!

[Kay9]

What a beauty!!!!!!!!

I'm so happy for little Rags and for your whole family )