Angus, the Wonder Dog!
Photo by Notlob86
Yesterday, we were lucky enough to enjoy a perfect spring day—sunny, clear, warm, and fragrant with blooming flowers. After all the rain we’ve had, it was nice to be able to take a leisurely walk with our golden retriever, Angus.
As he happily trotted along smelling everything in his path, I remembered that around this time last year, he couldn’t walk at all. He had blown one knee out and within days the other one gave out as well. He was too big to carry so I had to help him move around by looping and lifting a towel in front of his hind legs.
After a trip to the veterinarian’s office we got the bad news that both cruciate ligaments were torn. Surgery was recommended because of his size but it wasn’t going to prevent arthritis from setting in down the road. After evaluating the pros and cons of putting an older dog through major invasive surgery, we explored other treatment options.
We knew that with or without surgery, we needed a way to rehabilitate his muscles and provide enough exercise to keep his weight down. After doing some research, we found a great physical therapy clinic with cutting edge equipment and methods. They put Angus on a water treadmill program and we took him in three days a week. Basically, they put him in a tank and filled it with warm water up to his shoulders. That took the weight off his legs and he was able to walk slowly on the treadmill installed in the floor of the tank. His first sessions only lasted about 7 minutes, but over the months, he worked up to 45 minutes. He built the muscles back up in his legs which helped to support the knees, and the warm water helped to alleviate arthritis symptoms. After about four months, he was a new (and very soggy) doggie. Even the doctors were amazed at his progress.
While the water therapy approach alone may not work in all situations, it seemed to work wonders for Angus. If surgery is required after all, water therapy may help with the post-op healing process. And of course, a consultation with your veterinarian should always be your first step in finding the appropriate treatment for your treasured pet.
Angus will never be completely recovered—we will have to keep his weight down, make sure he gets regular exercise, and watch for signs of arthritis. But he is otherwise a happy, healthy, and very mobile dog enjoying walks through the neighborhood once again.
Do you have any stories to share about caring for an injured pet?
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This is a most wonderful story. It is not often you hear about such caring for animals. There is so much abuse in the world.
All our dogs (Poodle,Australion Shepherd, Sui Sitsui) and one cat lived to be 19-1/2,14,20,19, reapectively. It takes a lot of love and care for our pets.
Jehovah God gave the animals to us to care for.
Thanks for such love,
Rene
nice?
I first want to say, I normally don’t get the urge to comment, but it’s wonderful to hear of someone that worked hard for their dog instead of automatically going to the idea of putting them down. Too many people look at pets as commodities instead family members and it really makes me happy to hear the length you went to, just like you would if it was someone in your family.
When I was growing up we had a dog that was very sick and couldn’t walk and the vet told us to put him down. My dad and mom searched other options and as we lived near Cornell we were recommended to talk to them about a new treatment that they were looking into. We brought him out there and they had a new treatment for his disease that they wanted to try… the alternative was putting him down so we gave it a shot. We had to leave him there during the week and brought him home on weekends, he had to be carried everywhere (and he wasn’t a small dog) but after a couple weeks he started to be able to walk again and after 2 months he was completely healthy. That was when he was 7 and he ended up living another 6 years with us, something that we wouldn’t have had if we hadn’t have tried alternatives.
Thanks for showing that animals are worth the time!
totally awesome!!!
usually people dont give animals respect so i really like how you cared for ur dog unlike most people would.
woow thats sweat poor and lucky dog
That is similar to my dog, Bear. He is a 12 YEAR OLD MASTIFF! That is very old for a mastiff. He is still kicking. Four years ago he was in so much pain that you couldn’t touch him without him crying. He has arthritis. We put him on Rimadyl and next thing you know he was spinning and running. Last summer he went under surgery to have 9 lumps, that had opened up, taken off. The vet was amazed he made it through that surgery at that age. Now he is perfect and he has no problems. He is amazing, just a marvel. We cannot believe he is still kicking.
What a great story!!I am so glad your dog is doing better and walking!It’s great to hear how other people take care of animals!I personally have 10 dogs and 30 some cats,which i take care of!
Anyway,I’ll tell you one story…
Here in Greece,they don’t love animals that much,i teach English at an English school.
A cat would always come to the window where i taught and sit there.
Well,one day a month ago,the cat came to the window,but i couldn’t see his face very well cause it was night time.
After the lesson,i called him to come and he just sat there,so i went to see.
To my horror,somebody had kicked him and broken his jaw!!!There was blood on his face,in his mouth,up his nose!
I took him to the vet,and I told the vet that i will not put the cat down and what can be done.
Well,he had surgery and i had to feed him with a syringe cause he couldn’t eat,this was done for 25 days.
His jaw didn’t mend so we did another surgery done,that was done and the cat is doing fine and eating on his own!
I am so glad i am alive to help animals!
And thanks for this wonderful blog!
ok i just read this from yahoo answers and im like what the ?????????
My dog Lee had an unhappy puppyhood. My ex-husband got him at a pet store adoption fair as a companion for their alpha dog. When my ex moved to Florida, he did not want to take Lee so I adopted him. As a pup, Lee had been in a terrible fire — the top of his head is scarred, and he had broken both hind legs. Guess they did not mend correctly, one is an inch shorter than the other. It makes him a bit crooked and lame. I try to keep his weight down, and we walk a lot! He is unable to take rimadyl. I give him Cosequin (glucosamine) each day. This dog has so enriched my life.
Beautiful story! Im glad your dog is o.k. That treatment must have been expensive, im glad it worked out for you.
Good story! Shows that some people don’t just skip straight to putting the animal down – though sometimes that is a better alternative.
I remember, growing up, we had a dog live to be about 15. And I lived out in the country, so there were all sorts of other critters – badgers, skunks, rabbits, you name it. This particular dog hunted for his food and was good at protecting the homestead from badgers – which is no easy task. As you know (or perhaps not), badgers are fighters.
Lucky for us, this dog was a fighter as well. But after 15 summers of fighting off badgers, this old dog had had it. We speculated he was almost blind (he had cataracts at any rate), one of his ears looked like it had been damaged, and he had arthritis. His gait slowed progressively over his last two years of life, but he kept kicking – without much veterinary assistance, if any. Call us inhumane, but he hadn’t really had any broken bones or been hit by a truck, so time healed his wounds (which, other than the ones mentioned, were very few – mostly just scratches and bruises).
One day, we caught one of my other, younger dogs attacking a skunk. Turns out the skunk had rabies. We had to put the other dog down (much to my regret – that dog had been mine since I was 11, and at this time I’d say I was about 15), and so we decided we’d put this one down too. He’d been a fighter, but was just too old and nature had taken its toll on him.
Good to see yours is still alive and kicking though! And may you have many more years with Angus.
Usually, I don’t comment either. I just read and think, “Oh, that’s nice..” But this time, I needed to write. I wish when my cat was sick 10 years ago, my parents would have done more research. Maybe she wouldn’t have been put down…
I see all my cats and animals like family members. Always have, always will. But what about my human family? Do they? No. It’s so hard being 13 – I can’t make the decision that could have otherwise saved my cat, Friday. Of course, then I was three.
We all have our moments when we wish we knew, we wish we could go back in time. This is one of mine.
I used to foster dogs awaiting a new home. I received a chihuahua that was crippled and no one would foster because she was so pathetic. The humane society had her leg removed at the shoulder- 78 stitches and a grueling 5 hour operation. Today she is is a well adjusted sweetheart- yes I kept her. Her doctor told me that in his 30 years of practice he had never seen an animal love some one as she loved me. Quite the opposite- she is my heart throb and i adore her. Amazing what love can do, not just for the animal but for the human heart.
that is so sweet, good for you for putting forth time and effort to take care of your wonderful dog
I have a shepherd mix and she was diagnosed with diabetes and over 85% blind. Everyone said put her down. She is 12 years old and I give her 2 shots of insulin everyday, mix her low diet dog food with the boneless chicken that I get at Cosco (mix 1/2 can with her food). She did weigh 55, now 44 and we walk 45 minutes every night–she knows where all of th curbs are, all of the trees and we walk at night as she does better. She is great,I love her so much as she is my best and dearest friend . There are always other options–find them–they are so worth it.
I want truly friend
I want good frien. But i dont know fluent english.I like
do good practice english
This is so wonderful to read, I am really glad to hear that your dog is doing so well. It is nice to hear of people that care as much as you do. I am pleased that the treatment that you chose instead of euthanasia worked out so well.
Good Luck to Angus in the future and bless you for loving him so much.
where are you from ?
i want tomake the accquaintance of you
Are you agree ?
i thank you !
i’m from england
3 years ago, my dog ran away from our garden. An hour later, he came back ‘crying’ with some mad dogs after him. We managed to get him to safety, but he had been bitten in a vengeance. We got him to the vet, and hopefully everything went ok. It took 3 months for the would to close completely though.
We also have a dog named Angus – an 8 yr. old Lab mix shelter dog. He is starting to have walking problems but we are nipping it in the bud with love, gentle exercise and nutrients. Each day Angus gets pretty much the same selection of wide-spectrum anti-oxidants as we take. Since he’s been on Vit C (a non-acidic form like Ester C or calcium ascorbate), about 1500 mgs. per day in 2 or 3 divided doses, and the Glucosamine and Chondroitin, Vit E (as D-alpha, not DL-alpha), Fish Oil, and others – WOW – has he ever improved! Like a miracle, almost. I wish we could also afford the place you talk about in your blog, but folks who love their dogs might want to throw in some of these vitamins and watch their dogs almost return to puppyhood sometimes! Great story!
he’s such a beautiful dog. he looks like my beloved golden, Shanna (she passed on in 2003). I’m glad he is doing better. he gets to enjoy life now one day at a time. that’s all that matters.
Your dog is beautiful, and obviously well-loved, as it should be.
We have a yellow lab named Babe. She turned 7 in October. Last year, she had a sebaceous cyst removed from her tail, and had to wear an Elizabethan collar.I remember the day she went home. It was as if she didn’t understand why we’d done this to her. She was so subdued and for some reason kept licking the floor. And her poor tail was shaved and bandaged.
Idiots that we were, when we thought it was safe we took the collar off, but then she started licking her wound at night when we were asleep and not allowing it to close up. The vet told us she might have to have her tail docked. But we took her home in another Elizabethan collar, and that one stayed on!
Eventually she healed, and we were so happy the first time she wagged her (full sized) tail! We thought we might never see her do that again.
I love this
Hi, I’m Aengus too! I’m as furry as you are, but I’m a border collie. I’m sorry you were sick. YOu have a good mom. Good luck. Love, Aengus
http://www.dogster.com/dogs/441315
I am so happy that Angus healed. My Chelsea, a sheltie–has problems with her back legs—she is only 8 years old, I am worried about her. I’ve tried everything, weight control, exercise nothing helps.
Great Story i like reading it over and over again
http://sportsdude90.wordpress.com/
http://sportsdude90.wordpress.com/
I had just finished fostering 3 puppies last March and my friend had told me about a little 3 month old puppy that was in desperate need for a foster home and that she needed extra special care. The puppy had been beaten so bad that surgery had to be done to replace her hip/joint. I knew it was a big commitment but it was one of the best things I have ever done. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I went to pick her up and was shocked that something so small and precious had already been through so much. She had around 30 staples along her hip and was under weight from the stress she had been under, and was no more than 23 pounds. I was to give her pain medicine twice a day along with another medicine for 8 weeks or so. I was to keep her activities to a minimum – take her outside to potty, then back in the crate to heal and rest – for 12-16 weeks! She’s still cautious of some people, but she has improved and is so amazing – I would be cautious of people too if someone beat the s*** out of me when I was 3 months old, breaking my hip, wouldn’t you? She ‘waggles’ which is a wag and a wiggle at the same time – it’s adorable!
I ended up keeping her, and I couldn’t see it any other way, neither could she. She turned 1 in January and has grown a lot. She is so loving and obedient and graduated Pit Bull University over the summer. We love to go to PetCo where she shows off how awesome she is. Her leg will always be a little shorter than the other 3, but she doesn’t seem to notice and that’s fine with me. I’m just thrilled that they were able to save her leg in the first place.
You are truly a wonderful person! My dogs are my life and there is nothing I wouldn’t do for them to make them happy and healthy! One of my dogs, a beautiful full bred German Shepherd, suffered from bad knees. My magnificinet vet, gifted in the art of acupuncture and other holistic techniques, restored my Nicholas’s ability to walk again and become pain free. Additionally she advised that I give him Glucosamine Synergy (Standard Process) which rebuilds and strengthens cartilage. What a natural wonder that supplement is! I have recommended it to friends and family and, as it is a “people”supplement, they took it and have experienced wonderful results. You may want to add this to Angus’s regimen. You will be amazed! May God bless you and Angus with an extraordinarily long, happy, healthy life!
You are a wonderful person. I ache for the cat in Greece. What a wonderful person the teacher was! If I had a lot of money, I would spend it all on a place to save and nurture all unwanted and abused animals. I do not understand how anyone can hurt something so innocent! There is no difference in that and injuring a helpless child or old person. The animal has a central nervous system just as we do and feel pain.
I’m so glad Angus was healed. I am such an avid dog lover and it breaks my heart to see animals suffer.
hi im glad angus is better we lost our beloved dog seamus of old age 13 wonderful years
what a wonderful story! thanks so much for sharing that!
that dog is so cute that is the kind of dog i have always wanted
“Do you have any stories to share about caring for an injured pet?” We would love to share our story, but are not sure other than leaving a comment on how to get in touch with you. Moki’s story is pretty amazing and we think you’ll like it!
I agree with patti herrington. It’s horrible to watch animals (pets) to go through that. PS why was he named angus?
This brings memories of my girl. She passed last year this week. She had bladder cancer. Not even at the end was there a whimper from her. It got so she would colapse at times and I had to help her up. The day I took her to be put to sleep she showed so much energy that I could not do it, the trip to the vet took all she had left and she collapsed at home that evening. I took her back the next day and this time there was no question, I let her go, miss her still today.
So glad Angus is okay. I’m a huge animal lover and i hate that every single day that an animal out there is suffering because of cruel and harsh treatment.
And my hamster died last week and i gave the best care i could but he was suffering because of an old age so we were glad that we kept him until he grew old as he was.
R.I.P Bibble
P.S. Your dog looks so adorable =)
One of my dogs,Tank was a bearded collie chow mix and the cutest thing ever. Tank was still a puppy of just under a year, my fiance took him to the beach and the poor dog ended up getting rolled over by a friend’s car. My fiance took him to the local vet, who said, Tank was in shock and he could either take him to the Emergency clinic for over $1000, or just let him give him a shot and see if it helped. After that, he drove around with him for hours, thinking that he would probably die. At the time, he didn’t tell me what had happened until he got home. By then, the dog seemed fine, but the Vet said to keep him quiet for a few days. He looked fine, but one day I noticed that his belly was very big. Since my fiance couldn’t afford to spend a lot of money, I took him to my Vet. He took an x-ray and saw that Tank was bleeding internally. The only hope was immediate surgery to remove part of his liver. I called my fiance and told him. I told him that I would pay for it, no matter what the cost. He said that Tank now belonged to me. We went ahead with the surgery and his week long hospital stay, Tank came out of it better than new. That was 14 years ago, and Tank is now an old man, Alpha dog to four others. He has given us years of love and now that he is in his senior years, I am glad I did it. He has be a loving and loyal companion to both of us.
Running a rescue/rehab, I have more stories than space. But my favorite is Baron’s.
As usual, August in Arizona brings monsoons. One evening we were inside as this HUGE storm was raging, and we hear this CRACK! and seconds later, our house shuddered as something slammed on the ground in the front yard. One of the approximately 40′ tall Cottonwood trees that lined our yard had been struck by lightening and crashed to the ground. Cora, our female Rottie, came running in the house when I opened the door but Baron was nowhere to be found. I finally stood in the middle of the yard and SCREAMED his name, then saw him as he tried to rear up from under the tree. It took a floor jack from my husband’s shop to lift the tree and pull him out. He naturally came in the house. I examined him, and since it was Friday evening, we lived in the middle of nowhere outside a small town with no emergency services, decided to treat him myself until Monday. Then, we’d get him to a vet. He wouldn’t walk. I was worried he’d broken his back.
My kids hand fed him. They would pick the little bones out of the dry food and give them to him one at a time. He had a more luxurious bed than I did. He ate rice, cubed round steak and beef broth. He had a pillow and a flannel blanket, and the kids took turns sleeping with him Friday, Saturday and Sunday night. When I went to bed Sunday, he still had refused to move.
Worry got me up early. I snuck out of my bedroom and went to check on Baron. As I walked down the hall, I spot Baron casually strolling out from the kitchen with one of the cats. THE MINUTE that dog saw me, he dropped on his belly and started crawling to his bed, crying like he was going to die any second.
Needless to say, he didn’t go to the vet. He did, however, go back outside! Never showed any ill effects from his accident. But what an actor!
adoption az dog…
Are you sure it will give the results expected?…
my dog had a toumor or. Elepsia or what ever causes random seziurs