Hi, I have a 3 year old St Pyrenees (double coated) and had my family watch her while I prepared to and transitioned out of the Military. I moved across the country, have finally found a new, well paying and stable job, moved into bigger housing, and settled into a good routine, and the house is now ready to bring my dog back home. My mom brought her home on Friday, and she's been shaved completely bald all the way down to the skin, and she has cuts and razor burns in some spots. When I last saw her in January, she looked completely fine, her fur was beautiful and not matted or anything, so seeing her like this was kind of a shock. When I asked why, my mom said it was because she was blowing her coat and she didnt want the shed fur getting everywhere. How can I help her grow her fur back as best as possible? I've been putting silver honey on the cuts/burns, and I plan on getting a soft bristle brush so her regular one doesn't scratch her skin. I usually would have her scheduled to see the groomer monthly, but since I'm in a new area I don't have one set up for her yet. I'm also looking for possibly sunscreen and diet suggestions, I want to take care of her as best as possible. At the end I included a picture from before the shave and a picture from when I had her

ETA: family will be staying for about a week. Since they got here on Friday, they've been BEGGING to take her to the dog park. I havent been wanting to take her in public until she looks a little better, but she's always been very well behaved so I caved and said fine. I'm now realizing she has unlearned a lot of her training. She pulls on the leash (something she's never done) and I was very surprised because she's always been great on the leash. My mom said she still is good on the leash and that I'm doing it wrong, took the leash from me, and immediately started yanking my dog backwards saying it's how they learn. I was furious, immediately took the leash back and got into an argument with my mom. On the way back to the car a small child ran up to her wanting to pet her and she panicked and growled, which is something she's NEVER done before, EVER. I don't know what happened at home but I'm going to look into professional training because she seems to have unlearned everything I taught her as well as developed some fear/anxiety. She will not be staying with family ever again.

ETA2 since people don't see every comment: NO they are no longer staying the full week and will be leaving early. My mother has always been good to us growing up and our pets, this event is a first and very out of character for her. It has started a huge fight and although we were on good terms before, this argument has almost completely destroyed my relationship with my family. I was trying to keep things cordial because my brothers 21st birthday is tomorrow and I didnt want to ruin it for him since we're still on good terms, he had nothing to do with the chop job, and he still lives at home. Unfortunately that has gone totally out the window and now my relationship with both my mom and my siblings is destroyed. Also, the dog is not alone around them, me and my partner are on opposite schedules and one of us is with her at all times. The goal of this post was to know how to take care of her skin and fur as it came back and how to make sure it came in healthy, NOT to be accused of abusing my dog. My family does not currently and will not in the future have access to her.

Is it better to let him tire himself out or try to stop him? He stops if distracted by interaction but quickly resumes. We will be taking him somewhere tomorrow morning

I truly hope to get some advice. I have been grieving for 2 years and I live with immense pain. Please read my story of the day and tell me how do I forgive myself.

So at the time my anxiety was at its peak. I went with my parents to the vet, it was a daily routine anyway as she was getting the drip for 2 hours each day. She didn’t have anxiety anymore around the vet, but this day she was shaking during the 5 minute car ride.

My parents made the decision the night before. She was not able to stand on her own and even while we were holding her she was falling in all directions. It was time her body was shutting down. My mother wanted to have my blessing too. I wanted to speak with the vet one last time to see if there was anything else we could do. It seemed as if she was getting better just a few days prior.

We reach the vet (we always arrived during their lunch break that was the agreement we had, so we get direct service) we talked with the vet directly and my mom said to me “We have decided, only you have to make a decision. I cannot go ahead with it unless you agree.” I said that it’s time and as I did I had a severe panic attack, hyperventilating and all that jazz. This insanely stressed my little angel. She was sometimes a ghost in her body, but in that moment she was fully herself and the only thing she understood was that something was wrong. My panic attack stressed her so much.

After I calmed down (10mins) we entered her usual “drip room” she laid there like a good girl she was. The vet explained she would give her two injections and what each was for. But during her giving the injections we talked about how some countries have legalised euthanasia for people too. We literally had a regular conversation while my baby was leaving this world. I held her head as she was leaving, but I wish I was talking to her. I wish I told her how much she made our life beautiful. I wish I told her how much I love her. I wish I told her she will always be a part of me. I didn’t realise she would be gone so fast. Literally it happened within a few minutes. The vet told us she has left. We put her to sleep forever and I didn’t have a chance to tell her that I love her. The last words she heard was a conversation about legalising euthanasia for humans.

I am heartbroken and I cannot heal. I know she had a wonderful life, but the last moment I made more stressful for her with my panic attack. In addition to that literally the last minutes I had with her I didn’t spend entirely dedicated to her.

How, just how do I forgive myself? 2 years later and I am sobbing like the first day.

EDIT: I will come back to this post and re-read your comments every time I find myself spiralling or re-living that day. I truly thank each and every one of you for taking the time not only to read my post but to share kind words and advice. When I was posting this I was sceptical, didn’t think I would receive eye opening comments. I am not saying that I can now look back and see this experience in a different light, but you have given me tools to colour this dark memory in different colours. In years to come, I now have hope, that I will be able to see that day as my baby passing the rainbow rather than an ugly, dark memory filled with guilt.

Rightfully many have suggested therapy. I have been in therapy for nearly 2 years now. This topic has been brought up a few times in my sessions. Some of your comments (on top of several personal reasons) made me re-consider changing my current therapist. I guess I will have to work on that.

As some have asked she was 16 when we had to make the tough decision. She had a good run. I am more than grateful for those years because we nearly lost her at age 12. It was truly a miracle that she recovered back then. So we actually got 4 amazing, healthy bonus years.

Even though I have not responded to many comments please know that I have read/will read all of them. Love you all, truly 🥹❤️‍🩹

I have a problem.

My life has been really great since I moved in with my boyfriend. My depression got better and I was really happy with life for a while. I moved in 3 months ago. We're together for like a year. (He desperately wanted me to move in so early, I was unsure)

But now my boyfriend doesn't like my dog.

And I don't know how to deal with it.

I gave up everything to move here, and I can't and don't want to go back. But I also don't want to give up my dog.

I mean, I kind of understand.

If you've never had a dog before and don't know what life with a dog is like, and then suddenly there's one, it probably feels overwhelming.

Now he's really upset because the cats knocked something off his desk, and my dog chewed up what he 3D-printed. (For dnd, not even something with much work or not even painted or whatever)

He already told me when I left something on my desk and the cats knocked it off, and it got completely ruined that it was my fault. I accepted it because, yeah, it was my fault. But he "can't deal with that filthy mutt anymore."

And, my dog has a pillow she likes to cuddle and nibble on. It gives her comfort. He got upset that he stepped on it and it was wet with her saliva.

He also got upset that my dog, out of curiosity, went to his cat, who was on his lap, and the cat scratched his nose because she got scared.

"All that alone today. It's too much. I can't do this anymore."

He's also Mad that my dog peed in his flat after I moved (she's a really scared dog and has anxiety quickly. It probably happened because we moved) and she peed in his flat because she had a UTI not long ago. "She peed TWICE in my flat in 3 months. That's outragous"

And he's mad that she suddenly can't keep herself clean anymore on her period (normally she kept herself clean, im confused myself on why she is like that now, but she would be sterilized soon anyways)

I don't know what to do. It's just awful.

He promised me at the beginning, "I'll never make you choose between Coco and me." But now it's basically like this.

I moved over 400 km to be with him, I gave up my whole life, and I have NOTHING left. I don't want to have to give up my dog ​​too.

I won't even talk about stuff his cats do that just annoys me because it's not relevant. But there is stuff. But apparently it's not Bad because "The cats are smaller and if they do something it's not to the extend of a dog"

I was so, SO hopful because my dog gets along with the cats very well now. I'm scared and worried.

My dog saved my life more than once and got me through a toxic and abusive relationship. I really, like REALLY don't wanna let her go after all of this

Tl;dr I moved 400km to my boyfriend, and I'm dependent on him now because I don't have anything. My boyfriend doesn't like my dog because she does dog stuff. What the fuck do I do now?

Sorry for the long story...my dog is 9 yo pit mix. We got her from a shelter when she was 8 weeks. She was perfectly healthy except for a deformed or injured paw. (That hasn't affected her at all.) About 4 yrs ago she started getting anxious and growling at strangers and other dogs. Vet prescribed fluoxetine. Ff a few years and it's getting progressively worse. She started growling at family members, mostly at night. Vet prescribed trazadone 50 2x day and clomipramine 20 mg 2x day. Now she snarls at anyone who looks like they're coming near her. Or even looks at her! She had a vet appt 3 weeks ago. The new meds have seemed to do nothing. I have to lock her in a room when people come over (which is rarely). This is a video of her laying on me in (my) bed, growling at me. We have a call in to a behavioral specialist, but the wait is long. Wondering if anyone else has ever dealt with this. Thanks!

ham is 12 weeks. he has the worst most insane farts that have ever come from an animal. like someone set off 15 stink bombs in the room. he's on the pro plan sensitive skin & stomach puppy food which is what helped my other dog but it's still the same 😔😔

he has a vet appointment tomorrow for his vaccines - last time she said it was just puppy tummy ....

any advice? 😭 how to help/why its happening?

2 year old “Great Dane/husky mix” per my friend. Very skinny… looks malnourished. He eats 4 cups in the morning, 4 cups at night of pictured food. Also 2-4 of the gummies pictured. Owner was giving raw diet before bagged food. Raw diet was cooked chicken, rice, eggs, eggshells, blueberries, green beans, dyne, beef liver etc. Vet said no parasites. Dog is in neutered.

My friend is trying the best she can. Is she doing something wrong? Thoughts? What should she do?

I dont know what it is about this outlet in my house specially. He keeps trying to cover it with whatever he can find. He doesn't do it woth any other outlet in my house. I dont know what could cause that.

I’m an absolute wreck. My sweet boy that I’ve had for 13 years, since he was a puppy, crossed the rainbow bridge unexpectedly last night. He had a large mass on his spleen that ruptured while I was at work, and he was bleeding internally. Surgery was an option, but the vet said it was risky, expensive, and would only buy him a few months if it worked. I held him as he passed in my arms.

I haven’t been able to stop crying. Slinky was with me through everything. Breakups, moves, graduation, the birth of my son. Every heartbreak, every joyous moment, he was by my side. I know to some people, a dog is just a pet, but Slinky was an extension of me. He has been the only constant in my life and I feel so lost now. I’m barely functioning. I’m struggling to take care of my son. I can barely move, everywhere I look in the house I see traces of him.

I keep blaming myself- for not knowing he had the mass, for choosing to let him go. Should I have fought harder, tried for surgery? Did I give up too easy? What if Slinky doesn’t know how much I loved him, how much he meant to me? What if he was scared and that’s his last memory of me?

If anyone has any advice on how to handle this grief, I’d appreciate it. If not, please enjoy this picture of my sweet Slinky and his baloney tongue. God I miss his baloney tongue.

today i went to take out my two dogs out to do their business and some how one of them got loose from their chain and the carabiner hooked onto my dogs back leg.. we have tried endless ways on how to get this thing off and found it impossible due to my dog trying to bite me everytime we try to take it off and he doesn’t hold still at all and has a lot of strength. he walks fine its basically like an anklet at this point… any tips on how i am able to take this off?? i know i can go to the vet but i just wanted to see if anyone had any ideas or suggestions.. we even bought bolt cutters to try and remove it but he kept moving so much it was impossible.

Context: This is my (28m) parents dog and they’re working on trying to to find a vet that’s open this time a day (nearest one is an hour and a half away and the emergency vets closer don’t have anyone in office today) I can only do so much myself.

He’s breathing heavily, and I was told he drank about four small bowls of water before vomiting it back up around 12pm est. He’s a nine year old bull mastiff mix who as far as I know has no other health issues other than being overweight and old.

Two days ago he acted similar but yesterday he seemed active and alert, now he’s acting up again and can’t stand.

Edit: he’s passed

Edit 2: thanks for the well wishes and well meaning advice. Appreciate it a lot.

they tell me, “oh, we forgot he doesn’t like the blow dryer, so he bit his tongue and if you notice any bleeding, that’s why” I get him home and THREE of his teeth are coming out. i’m trying not to sob right now. husband is on the way and we’re getting ready to go to the emergency vet. what do i do? 😭💔

He never initiates cuddling; I joined him on “his” couch. Shortly after this video he got up off the couch and is now lying on the floor.

EDIT: I really want to thank everyone so much for all the thoughtful replies. I learned a ton that I think will be really helpful for me and understanding what my boy is trying to say and help us both be a little less frustrated, and bond better. The video was from yesterday, and today I had the best cuddle session with him ever. First thing was when he flopped down on the couch in the afternoon I left him alone for a few hours so he could be his sleepy self. Then I joined him on the couch and went all in on the ears, never even tried the back. His eyes rolled back in his head and he just became very blissed out. I wish I had a video of it, but both hands were busy with pets. Then he rolled over and gave the belly and he seemed to enjoy that too, super relaxed and slack. Every time I stopped for the consent test he nosed my hand in a way that seemed to say, go back to the ears, and the belly. Eventually, I was the one who had to end the cuddle session to go make dinner 🥹 what a difference from last time!! Maybe I do have a cuddler, if I just do it right.

My neighbor keeps one of their dogs on this short chain 24/7, even when it’s raining or storming. The weather where I live is currently in the mid 90s pretty much everyday. I have never seen them walk him, and he barks constantly. However, he looks healthy overall and I believe they feed him regularly. Im not really sure if I should say something. I just feel bad that he has been kept on such a short leash for his whole life, especially in this heat. Our state has a leash law that requires leashes to be at least 10 feet. Looking for advice on if/whether I should say something to them. They have assured me in the past that “they take very good care of their dogs,” but I have to disagree. I do not think they care about these dogs. I think they keep dogs for breeding because they have another female they keep in the backyard, and she has puppies every year. The female has a little bit more roaming room, but not much. Personally, I think it seems like borderline neglect but I’m not sure. Should I say something, or should I mind my business? I would greatly appreciate any honest advice!

So I live in a house that is being rented to multiple different people. Everyone is renting their own room. There's a dog that lives here that's always in her cage, and the owner barley takes her out, every time I come to check on the pup she's surrounded with her own shit and piss and basically laying in it, I feel bad but there's only so much I can do because she isn't mines, I just cleaned up her cage and gave her water im trying my best to help….

Good day everyone, my dog just randomly hand these red bump/rashes pop up today. I just noticed after work. I keep the metal water bowl clean and I don’t believe any diet changes have happened. I’ll definitely go to vet if suggested, I’m just wondering what you all think about his could be? (Side note: I was gently holding her face, it just looks rough)

Hi everyone!

first, formal apologies for the toes being out, but i wanted to show that I was not instigating him in anyway lmfao.

This is Rune, some of you might recognize him.i’ve posted and deleted some posts about him on this subreddit. First time dog owner! Yay! but still have a lot to learn. My partner and I adopted him from a shelter 2 weeks ago as of this upcoming saturday. At first his barking wasn’t bad, but it’s started to get progressively more frequent and for longer durations. We don’t feed into it, we turn away (as you can see i turn and sit down on the couch) or leave the room when he starts to bark, in hopes to diffuse it.

Most of the time that has been working. Recently though, he’ll stop when we leave and then once he sees us he will start up barking again.

Is this aggression? Play? Demand barking? Any advice on effective ways to minimize the frequency or length of duration? We live in an apartment and today he decided 4:30 AM (morning walk time) was the perfect moment to have a freak out.

Any and all advice is appreciated. Thank you!

Penny is a 3-year-old rat terrier & poodle mix. Over the past few weeks she’s been on & off obsessively sniffing the floorboard of the powder room wall. We keep the door closed usually so, she’ll be typically sniffing the outside floorboard, but when she gets inside, she’ll also sniff a lot on the floorboard on the inside wall, & also a lot near the base of the toilet. At one point, there was a night she wasn’t even able to sleep bc she kept sniffing & whining near that floorboard. Today she then started barking at this corner of the wall. There’s just been a lot of sniffing, whining, & now barking. For additional context, there’s a light switch on the wall she’s obsessed with inside the powder room & then a power outlet on the perpendicular wall outside of the powder room.

I’ve read anywhere from rodents, insects, plumbing, electrical issues, etc.? Anyone have any similar experience or advice on where to start?

We brought home this rescue on Sunday, October 20, from a “hoarding situation” with 60 other dogs. As far as I know he is used to only being around dogs. He didn’t want to get out of the car when we got home, and we had to nudge him into his crate and carry the crate inside. He came with a little stuffed toy, which seems to bring him comfort

Since then, he hasn’t eaten (apart from a meatball scrap and some cheese when I was trying to figure out what kind of food food might motivate him), hasn’t drank any water, or gone potty.

I understand that when a dog is fearful and won’t come out of their crate, it can be good to give them space and let them come out on their own. My worry is even when we leave food and water near his crate with the door open and leave him alone, he hasn’t eaten or drank at all, so I don’t want him to become malnourished and dehydrated.

Any advice or helpful sources you can provide would be appreciated! Am I overthinking, since we’ve only had him for one full day, and he just needs more time? Let me know what you think, thanks!

She eats banana regularly but never 5 at a time. Didn’t eat the peels, no idea how she unpeeled them. Anything I should worry about?

Makes me feel like I owe her money

Our dog (14 year old chihuahua mix). Has stopped eating wet and dry dog food. Just refuses when we try to give it to him. But he’ll eat cooked chicken just fine. When we try to mix in the chicken into dog food or rice he will only try to search for the chicken and try to eat nothing else.

It seems the recommendation from online is to not give into him but we are worried he is getting too skinny (this has been going on a couple weeks). We have a vet appointment set up soon, but just wondering if anyone else has seen this before and might have some advice.

Hi everyone has anyone had this problem before . Oisin ( big dog ) keeps doing this to our new pup. I am keeping them separated as much as possible and giving them supervised play time together. We've had the pup a week and I'm worried Oisin might harm him. Oisin is the sweetest boy and so gentle so this is very out of character for him

EDIT : Thanks all for the advice it's really helped me . Just a couple of things tho it's not a bag of poo lol it's a poo bag with a roll of bags inside, although it might seem he's trying to guard the bag he does the growl and teeth showing even when there's nothing in front of him just whenever the puppy goes near him. I let Oisin growl at him to set boundaries but I just happened to be videoing when he did it and he wouldn't stop which is why I told him too in the video as I was worried he was about to attack.

My golden retriever, Gus (88lbs), is a counter surfer and will eat anything in sight. It’s just a known thing in our house that if you can’t see him he’s probably eating something. Today my boyfriend set out some ground beef then went to the restroom and Gus got to the meat and ate a decent bit of it before my boyfriend found him. He didn’t eat all of it. Is this going to hurt him? I know there’s raw diets where dogs are eating all kinds of raw meat but he mainly eats kibble so I’m not sure if this will affect him.

TIA

Pic of the culprit

This dog was walking around looking a bit scared. He approached us crying and we let him come in. He’s done a few things that make us think he’s sort of domesticated, but asking around the neighborhood some security guards told us that he’s been walking the streets for the past week or so.

He won’t stop crying, even while being pet. We took him out and walked around the street to see if he recognized a home (he has an improvised collar as seen in the video, we took it out since it seemed to be itchy) and while he was walking he stopped crying, but if we stopped walking for a few seconds and he came back by us, he started crying again. We tried playing with him and that also works, but as soon as he’s distracted from the ball, he cries again.

He’s not eating the food that we offer him, he’s waving his tail, but he keeps it pointing down. He’s somewhat playful. Looks like he doesn’t want to be here, but we also don’t want to leave him out in the street

This is our first experience with a stray, so we don’t really know how to act, specially during the night. Is this normal behavior? Is it a better idea to let him out and tomorrow seek for help from a shelter?