Dog Lovers Community

01/18/2025

Said goodbye to my homegirl yesterday 😞
Cooper the pooper crossed the rainbow bridge at 14 years young. I knew it would be hard, but not THIS hard. I truly feel like a massive chunk of my soul is missing. She's been with me my entire adult life and even moved with me to The Netherlands. I would have never, in my wildest dreams, imagined all of the wonderful adventures we would share. It really hurts when you realize just how important they are to your daily routine. I woke up this morning and instantly thought "time to get the old lady's breakfast ready!" While I do not regret the decision to bring her some lasting peace, it feels so empty and I hate it. I hope I feel better soon. The second pic is of her enjoying one of her last meals: lamb chops and strawberries! I just hope she realized how special she is to me and that I'll never stop thinking of her.

01/18/2025

My heart dog, Berkeley, crossed rainbow bridge last night.
Ten years of nudges, morning smooches, shenanigans, adventures, walkies, welcome barks, tail wags and an endless supply of Labrador love. His kindness and love are forever imprinted on my heart. I’m forever grateful he chose me (literally) to be his person. Rest easy my sweet boy. Rest easy 🕊️

01/18/2025

Name advice for this dude
This lil dude is a heeler/shepherd/corgi mix. Dad was heeler, mom was shepherd/corgi mix. He has partial heterochromia. I think it looks like he has a tiger eye and I laaaave tigers! I need a fitting name for a cute little buddy that hangs out while I throw pottery at the art studio.
Names I’ve tried but aren’t quite right: •Harvey (as in two face) •Phineas (Finn) - too common and sounds similar to my other dog, Bowen.
I got Phineas from a search on “oracle names” as the one blue eye has mythological meaning for seeing into the heavens and earth simultaneously.
I appreciate the thoughts and advice! Lov.

01/17/2025

Got him from the shelter a few days ago. Staff said he was a mix, i’m not sure because he’s got a huge head and jaws, i was curious because I’ve heard most pitbulls aren’t this big, idk what he could be a mix of. He weighs around 65 pounds

01/17/2025

Had to say Goodbye to my girl this morning
I'm devastated. We went to the vet last week for a routine check-up, and it turned out she was suffering from severe arthritis, even though she wasn’t showing her pain. Based on what the vet said, I decided that today would be the day to put her down. Her arthritis was in its early stages back in August, and I’m shocked at how quickly it worsened. We had been giving her the medication the vet prescribed at the time, and I thought it was working wonders. I believed I still had some time left with her. I’m completely stunned by how quickly everything happened. Rest in peace, my angel. I will love you forever, and I miss you so much.

01/17/2025

Impossibly Heartbroken
Tiger, our 14 year old "puppy" was put to rest on 12/31/2024 after his dignified battle with cancerous tumors. He was suffering terribly and we couldn't let him struggle anymore. He was a gentle boy with a heart of gold. Always so gentle. Goodnight sweet prince.

01/17/2025

Gretel, my cross-eyed foster pibble is the sweetest girl ever
I run a dog boarding kennel and we have also taken in about 200 dogs for fostering over the last five years for several local orgs (north of Seattle, WA (Washington, not Western Australia!). In Gretel’s case, I read about a dog running loose on a local internet bulletin board and my dad and I ran out to see if we could catch her. I got very close that night but she wouldn’t let us get close. But then next morning we were finally able to catch her.
So I talked with my friends at a local pittie rescue and they agreed to have her be one of “their” dogs that I’d foster until adoption.
She turned out to be amazingly sweet; she LOVES other doggies and is not reactive at all. And she might be be best doggie on a leash I’ve ever known.
But damn can she chew! I filled a black Kong with kibble and peanut butter and she managed to chew this “unchewable” Kong into small pieces 😋
She’s basically perfect!

01/17/2025

01/17/2025

Cleo crossed the rainbow bridge Tuesday.
Cleo started losing weight about 2 months ago and was eating less and less. We took her to the v.e.t and they noticed something was wrong with her liver. We tried to treat her but she wasn't recovering. Her liver just kept shrinking and she was refusing to eat. We had to make the choice to put her to sleep the last visit.

01/17/2025

Dog ate 8 slices of raisin bread
Dog ate 8 slices of raisin bread
My son, 8 year 9 month male neutered Siberian Husky ate approx. 8 slices (highest possible amount he could have eaten) of cinnamon raisin bread on 12/30 around 9 pm. Once discovered, I took him to the emergency vet to induce vomiting around 12:30am. He threw up a good amount of bread and they counted 18 raisins. They didn’t give him any medicine, didn’t do any blood work, and sent him home. He pooped twice 12/31 and has been peeing, drinking, and eating as normal. He went on a walk yesterday and has been tail wagging as normal. The only symptom I have seen, is he was gassy yesterday; which he typically isn’t.
After getting home, I started getting into an internet research rabbit hole. I saw a lot of people online strongly encouraging doing blood work. I took my dog back to the emergency vet last night ( I don’t have to pay the exam fee again within 24 hours) and the vet tech was confused why I came back. She said since we didn’t do blood work at the initial visit, they wouldn’t be able to compare any labs to any thing. ( my dog had a routine comprehensive blood and urine panel done 8/2024 but she said that this could not be used as a baseline) she also stated that the doctor was extremely confident in sending him home since he threw up a good amount. My best friend is a vet tech and is worrying be a bit. She said that they sound like a horrible vet.
Should I go to another emergency vet to do bloodwork today? I will have to pay another exam fee and for the blood work (approx. $400). Should I wait on the blood work since he isn’t showing any symptoms? It is now 36 hours post ingestion. Should I wait until Friday, (I can get him into a 12:30 pm general vet for an exam plus comp blood exam for $190-$250 total)? Any and all advice or suggestions are appreciated. I just want to make sure my little guy is okay and gets the help he needs.
Here’s some post ER trip pics for a boost:

01/17/2025

Massive house hippo looking for a safe place to call home after brutal owner surrender over-breeding case. Dolce is a tired mama who has worked hard her whole life. She is great with people, kids, and other dogs. Needs a safe place to call home after everything she’s been through.
Located in Georgia but don’t want to discourage anyone from applying if you know this is your girl. This hippo is as sweet as her name! Dolce is estimated to be 4 years old and is pure Cane Corso. She is brindle, beautiful, gentle, and has the largest paws I have ever seen. Dolce came to our rescue as an owner surrender due to a court case against him. The man who used to own her was only using her for breeding, keeping her locked in a trailer with at least 10 other big dogs her size as part of a puppy mill. After spending the day with her yesterday, I am amazed by her temperament. She is gentle, smart, and very very strong. She will need an experienced dog owner simply due to her sheer size. She loves to cuddle, give kisses, and lay on you with her whole body. She doesn’t know she is 107lbs lol. Dolce is amazingly well behaved in public, she stops people in their tracks and everyone is in awe of her. She is friendly towards every kind of person, including children. She is also dog friendly and loves to play with other dogs. If you have room in your heart and your home for this regal beauty, please fill out the adoption application in the comments. She desperately needs placement by Halloween since that is when our paid boarding runs out.

01/17/2025

What is wrong with this dog?
This guy who lives with my friend has this dog he’s very old and now he has a very red eye. He won’t take him to the vet despite multiple people telling him to and I’m worried about him and don’t know what to do!! Worried it’s urgent and it looks p.ainful.

01/17/2025

How to make sure my dog knows he's really loved?
Hey everyone! Not sure if this is the right place to ask this, but this is my bestest boy, who I raised from a puppy to be a guide dog, but was released from guide dog school about a month ago for medical reasons. I love him to death!
I still go over commands and train with him a couple times a week for fun and to keep working those brain muscles, and he still hangs with his old sitters from before going to guide dog school who he absolutely loves. He also plays a ton with the new puppy I'm raising for the same org. I've been letting him up on the bed and giving him tons of pets and love. So my question or rather the advice I'm looking for is, is this enough to make sure he knows I love and care for him and that he has the best time possible?
He's always been an unnaturally chill dog, he spends most of his time sleeping and laying wherever you are by your feet and doesn't get all that excited for much other than breakfast and dinner so I have a hard time telling if he's happy with the hugs and pets I give him and all the new freedoms he has now that he's not training for guide work.

01/17/2025

I lost my best buddy
Exactly one week ago today, I had to say goodbye to my best buddy Muji, who was 17 years old. That morning, we had a wonderful 1.5 mile walk and he was sprinting down the hallway as always. However, by that evening, his condition had worsened to the point where I had to take him to V.e.t. They were very caring and compassionate, and after a blood test, several other tests, and a very frank discussion with the doctor, I made the very difficult decision to send him to the rainbow bridge. He loved people and was the sweetest dog. My own grief comes and goes in waves, but I always smile when I think about all the wonderful times we had.

01/17/2025

Ear Infection
My dog has an ear infection, it’s not horrible, but it does have a little stink to it. I gently cleaned it out and diluted some alcohol in some water and cleaned it again, and then I diluted some white vinegar and gently cleaned his ear again, I wasn’t scratching or being rough, just gently rubbing and trying to make sure I didn’t miss a spot. His ear started bleeding a bit but then it stopped, he didn’t c.r.y or act like it hurt, but I’m scared I did something wrong. I did use some aloe to soothe the irritation, but I just need some advice. He’s fine now and laying down, but I was just doing what it said to do online.

01/17/2025

My Ex's Dog
He goes by Pooples. But his real name is Duke. He's a chocolate lab mix. I think he's a good chunk of Husky in him, he's very vocal and sounds like he's trying to talk at times. He has a very pronounced "NO!" if he doesn't want to do something.
My ex begged me for a dog for 1½ years before I agreed. I never considered myself a dog person. We've had him for nearly 2 years now and he'll be 3 in April.
Buuuuut... my ex and I broke up in mid November and he couldn't take him with him when he moved out. He also left an elderly cat.
The problem for me is that I'm not sure I'm the best person for my Pooples. He's very attached to me, he has been. He now sleeps directly beside me every night. But I'm not terribly active and he would like to be. I just hate being outside in the winter. Lol. Not my schtick. We do play inside but I still feel bad for him, like he needs more.
He also tends to be aggressive with strangers on our property. If he is taken OFF the property, like on a walk, and he encounters someone, he's fine. But anyone who comes to the door is a problem. If he decides you're OK as a person on his own accord, he will love you for life and remember you next time. It's just the first 3 minutes that are constantly an issue.
He's bit two people in the last 8 months: a pizza delivery guy and a friend of mine.
My daughter is getting to the point where she would like to maybe have friends over. Maybe someday in a year, I want to date. I have to lock him in the basement when other people come over for short term things. I hate having to do that but he gets so territorial. He hates if I show the cat or my daughter attention -- he doesn't get aggressive for that, he just whines and moans.
Classes or training aren't really an option. I don't make a lot of money and now I'm living alone with one income.
Any thoughts? I love him. I really do. I'm not a "having a pet" guy (to me, it's just another thing to take care of), but I'd give him the best home I can and keep him for life if it makes sense -- no dog should be tossed around home to home if it can be helped. I feel responsible for him even if I didn't necessarily ask for him.
He's a good boy who gives a lot of love besides all that... and stealing food from the trash and the counters. But that's par for the course perhaps.

01/17/2025

What’s wrong with my german shepard
My german shepard is 6 years old
She got skinny and didn’t want to eat her kibble anymore about a month ago so i’ve been feeding her just homemade meals for a month
(consists of carrots,chicken,potatoes,sweet potatoes, and i’ve replaced the chicken with beef sometimes)
it got cold around the same time so she had a sweater on and when i took it off today she looks like she’s gaining weight but just from the bottom half of her body
her stomach feels like large bouncy ball, im not sure if she’s pregnant somehow(we have a new fence so im not sure how a dog could get through)
and she goes on a walk every day so it wouldn’t be because of lack of exercise
our vet opens tomorrow so im going to call then but before that does anyone have any idea what’s wrong

01/17/2025

Hug your labs tight for me
Just lost our beautiful girl yesterday. She loved to wander, and unfortunately wandered out in the road in the dark. She was 10 years old and my first dog. I still can’t believe this is real, and can’t imagine life without her. Until we meet again, Opal. ❤️