So, yep..we have two cats, but we fostered a dog who came up from Alabama (we are in MI) and is through the humane society. Katie (dog) has heartworms and kennel cough and needed to really be fostered out until she is adoptable. She goes back at the end of March and I was told she will get another injection for heartworms (or something like that) and that she will be ready for adoption at that point. She is given two anti-biotic tablets once a day and she has these cough tablets that she is supposed to be given upon hearing any coughs (which we haven't at all). We've had her since Wednesday night.
She truly is wonderful and it is apparent that she was someone else's pet at some time (there really is no background on her) as she knows "SIT" and is really well-behaved and great around my small kids...she is pretty submissive, as well. I wouldn't be surprised if we end up getting suckered into her loving ways and adopt her ourselves at the end of the month.
ANYWAY! With that background in mind, here is my question(s) since I know NOTHING about dogs, really.
--Katie only really goes out for potty maybe twice a day. That is once early in the morning and then again in the evening and MAYBE before we go to bed (although she doesn't always go at that point). Is it "normal" for a dog to only need to go out a couple times a day??
--She isn't eating a ton AT ALL. In fact, we put dry food in her bowl when she came here and we haven't had to refill it at all. She's been caught sneaking some out of the cat dishes, but not a lot at all. I've given her a couple of pig ears as a treat (she DIES for those things as nasty as they are) since then and maybe a couple of other treats since then, but nothing significant that would replace a meal. To give her the meds, I take some bread and butter and fold them up in that and she takes that (once a day). But really, again, nothing that would replace a meal in her dish. Now, last night I was out and about and my husband called to tell me that he thinks she was can fed due to the fact that she went NUTS when he (husband) opened up a can (something for my daughter). Would that be why she isn't eating the dry food??? Because she could've been can-fed? Man, I really don't want to go to can, obviously, but will this dog eventually eat if she gets hungry enough???? She doesn't have a runny nose that I notice so I don't know that not being able to smell with this kennel cough is a factor.
--Up until this afternoon, her potties have seemed normal. Today on her walk, she peed twice and poo'd once (usually has only poo'd once a day since being with us). Last night, the poo was of solid consistency (normal, I would say), but today it really wasn't solid yet it really wasn't too liquid-like, either..it was somewhat in between......what would cause that?? Do I need to be concerned and call because of that or wait it out? She is acting completely fine...
Any insight would be greatly appreciated!!! Thanks
She truly is wonderful and it is apparent that she was someone else's pet at some time (there really is no background on her) as she knows "SIT" and is really well-behaved and great around my small kids...she is pretty submissive, as well. I wouldn't be surprised if we end up getting suckered into her loving ways and adopt her ourselves at the end of the month.
ANYWAY! With that background in mind, here is my question(s) since I know NOTHING about dogs, really.
--Katie only really goes out for potty maybe twice a day. That is once early in the morning and then again in the evening and MAYBE before we go to bed (although she doesn't always go at that point). Is it "normal" for a dog to only need to go out a couple times a day??
--She isn't eating a ton AT ALL. In fact, we put dry food in her bowl when she came here and we haven't had to refill it at all. She's been caught sneaking some out of the cat dishes, but not a lot at all. I've given her a couple of pig ears as a treat (she DIES for those things as nasty as they are) since then and maybe a couple of other treats since then, but nothing significant that would replace a meal. To give her the meds, I take some bread and butter and fold them up in that and she takes that (once a day). But really, again, nothing that would replace a meal in her dish. Now, last night I was out and about and my husband called to tell me that he thinks she was can fed due to the fact that she went NUTS when he (husband) opened up a can (something for my daughter). Would that be why she isn't eating the dry food??? Because she could've been can-fed? Man, I really don't want to go to can, obviously, but will this dog eventually eat if she gets hungry enough???? She doesn't have a runny nose that I notice so I don't know that not being able to smell with this kennel cough is a factor.
--Up until this afternoon, her potties have seemed normal. Today on her walk, she peed twice and poo'd once (usually has only poo'd once a day since being with us). Last night, the poo was of solid consistency (normal, I would say), but today it really wasn't solid yet it really wasn't too liquid-like, either..it was somewhat in between......what would cause that?? Do I need to be concerned and call because of that or wait it out? She is acting completely fine...
Any insight would be greatly appreciated!!! Thanks