I recently agreed to re-home a 7 YO red Doberman; a beloved pet, but in a busy young growing family who realized they were too 'on the go' to give her the attention she needs and craves. "Dayna" is a 'perfect' dog for me; loyal, loving, obedient, doesn't challenge the fences, gets along fine w/ my two elderly tiny dogs, totally happy to be able to 'be where her human is', up close and personal! I have come to love her dearly(and she, me), and feel blessed to have her.
She does have some 'anxieties', I feel,though most have dropped off since she settled in here. One was 'chewing her nails', according to her former owner; I noticed some licking of a couple of her feet; gently chided/redirected her when I observed this, and it does seem to have dropped off quite a bit. After being a city dog, who had access to only a part of the home via a dog door, but spent most of her time in the back yard w/ a couple of other dogs, she LOVES going out w/ me to the barn, barking at the cottontails and the barn swallows, then making sure to relax nearby while I go about whatever I am doing. She is on a 50 MG "Proin" for incontinence 1X daily, per previous owner, who offered to continue to pay for that for her; does fine, no issues at all. I 'blow her off' daily to remove the DUST of drought and the tiny 'hook' grass seeds she gets from rolling in last year's dry stuff; wash her feet and face at the end of the day when we come back to the house 'for the day...seems to help prevent the licking, and I think, makes her more comfortable.
Shortly after she arrived, I realized she was licking ONE front toe and ONE back toe.She has left off on the front one, but was continuing to want to lick the back one, the outside back right, which I noticed was becoing more and more swollen, and the pad seemed almost to be'split and bulging' in a couple of places just behind the nail. I have been washing off,w/ plain water, then toweling dry,her feet each evening when we come into the house for the last time, and occasionally dabbing on some 'Bag Balm'(which I found was recommended for pad health).The licking and (resulting?) raw spot seems to have abated, but now I'm noticing that the toe seems even more swollen, and is obviously tender; she 'hops' on it every few steps, and flinches a bit from touch. This AM I took her to my local pet vet...who stated that he has almost always had to AMPUTATE the toe in situtations like this, and that we 'could try' antibiotics, but he doesn't think that would help. He quoted a cost of $450-500 for the procedure.He said something about this being a 'growth', something about connective tissue 'overgrowing'??
Anyone ever run into this, and if so, how was it resolved? The surgery would be a big financial 'hit' for someone like me, but if it IS the only viable option, I will go into savings and do it, because I REALLY love this dog, and want her with me. I plan to get a second opinion,trying a clinic in Albuq. that was recommended to me by one of the folks at Doberman Rescue as being both good and reasonable in cost...then go from there..but would appreciate input from anyone who might have knowledge of such a condition.
Thanks,
Margo
She does have some 'anxieties', I feel,though most have dropped off since she settled in here. One was 'chewing her nails', according to her former owner; I noticed some licking of a couple of her feet; gently chided/redirected her when I observed this, and it does seem to have dropped off quite a bit. After being a city dog, who had access to only a part of the home via a dog door, but spent most of her time in the back yard w/ a couple of other dogs, she LOVES going out w/ me to the barn, barking at the cottontails and the barn swallows, then making sure to relax nearby while I go about whatever I am doing. She is on a 50 MG "Proin" for incontinence 1X daily, per previous owner, who offered to continue to pay for that for her; does fine, no issues at all. I 'blow her off' daily to remove the DUST of drought and the tiny 'hook' grass seeds she gets from rolling in last year's dry stuff; wash her feet and face at the end of the day when we come back to the house 'for the day...seems to help prevent the licking, and I think, makes her more comfortable.
Shortly after she arrived, I realized she was licking ONE front toe and ONE back toe.She has left off on the front one, but was continuing to want to lick the back one, the outside back right, which I noticed was becoing more and more swollen, and the pad seemed almost to be'split and bulging' in a couple of places just behind the nail. I have been washing off,w/ plain water, then toweling dry,her feet each evening when we come into the house for the last time, and occasionally dabbing on some 'Bag Balm'(which I found was recommended for pad health).The licking and (resulting?) raw spot seems to have abated, but now I'm noticing that the toe seems even more swollen, and is obviously tender; she 'hops' on it every few steps, and flinches a bit from touch. This AM I took her to my local pet vet...who stated that he has almost always had to AMPUTATE the toe in situtations like this, and that we 'could try' antibiotics, but he doesn't think that would help. He quoted a cost of $450-500 for the procedure.He said something about this being a 'growth', something about connective tissue 'overgrowing'??
Anyone ever run into this, and if so, how was it resolved? The surgery would be a big financial 'hit' for someone like me, but if it IS the only viable option, I will go into savings and do it, because I REALLY love this dog, and want her with me. I plan to get a second opinion,trying a clinic in Albuq. that was recommended to me by one of the folks at Doberman Rescue as being both good and reasonable in cost...then go from there..but would appreciate input from anyone who might have knowledge of such a condition.
Thanks,
Margo