The Senior Dogs Project

While tidying up the lady's affairs, her family took care of a 'loose end' by dropping their mom's little friend off at the vet saying, 'We don't care; you can put him to sleep.' 'He's in pretty bad health,' the vet said, 'but we all like him and he seems like a nice guy. He does have some behavior problems.'

"My wife and I took him home the next day. Poor old 'Swartzie' looked like a skeleton and was afraid of everything. But the 'behavior problems' turned out, on closer observation, to be be minsunderstandings. The dog was actually gentle and kind. He was terrified and obviously trying hard to be good. Within a couple of days we realized he was deaf! No wonder he hadn't responded too well!

"Swartzie had been treated well by his old lady and was used to kindness. Someone hadn't been good to him at one point, though, and he did not like men in baseball caps. So we stopped wearing ball caps around him. Also, we figured out a sign language to communicate and spent a lot of time petting him and giving him positive reinforcement tactilely. You couldn't tell him he was a 'Good Dog!' like you could the others, because he could not hear you.

"He got along well with the other dogs. The 'bad habits' we'd been warned about included 'stealing kibbles.' Alas, poor old Swartzie was simply not in the same league as our Doxies, especially 'Eva the queen,' who can push a chair to a table, leap up and get a roast, or little Nickie who can pull a trash can down, or Sasha who unzips purses, opens up tubes and eats chapstick. At his very baddest, Swartzue was nowhere near as wicked as our three.

"We thought Swartzie was a dumb name, and, of course, it didn't matter what we called him because he was deaf. We found his leathery old ears made a flapping sound as he shook his head, so we called him 'Flappy,' and it stuck. Flappy filled out and began to look quite elegant. He seemed to get younger every week. His confidence increased and he began to trust and love us. He was a very cuddly guy and liked to sit on laps and curl up on the couch. He especiually loved my wife, because she was a 'lady,' and he'd been used to a woman. He would play with us, and we had fun, but we never seemed to get the game just right. At times he would wander around the house, searching, and we think he was looking for his old lady. We tried to contact the lady so that we could visit or at least tell her that her friend was okay, but we found out that her health had deteriorated and she had passed away.

"Flappy got healthier and handsomer. His energy level went up, and he remained gentle, although he picked up some bad habits from Eva. He travelled with us and got to play on beaches. He romped in the snow. He chased squirrels in the yard. And he was very content and happy, seeming to smile, calm and trusting. He turned 21 in the winter of 2002.

"One day in early August 2002, he had been happy all day and happy at dinner, but at 8:00 PM he wasn't walking very well. At 11:00 PM, he wasn't walking at all. We took him to the emergency clinic at 3:00 AM, completely unconscious. The X-rays showed he had a fast-growing tumor in his belly and he was dying. At 21-and-a-half, you wouldn't cut him open, so we held him while they put him to sleep.

"Now he's back with his old lady, and I hope he speaks kindly of us, the nice people who took care of him, loved him and miss him a lot. If anyone is thinking about rescuing an older Dachshund, my advice is be understanding and patient, but to do it. Too many old pups lose their home through no fault of their own, and are gentle and good friends. You may not have them as long, but the time you spend with them is golden and you'll know you've done a good and innocent creature a very good turn. That dog will repay your efforts with love and gratitude. Remember Swartzie, who could have put down, alone and frightened, never having done anything wrong. Instead, he came to bless another family on his way to heaven with his guardian. I'm sure the old lady is grateful, too. But she's not going to be very happy with the bad tricks Eva taught him." Contributed by C. Moss. October 2002.

News.... October/November 2002
*In this issue:* Issues & Announcements....Senior Dog Health.....Rescue and Adoption Notes
Issues & Announcements
Spay/Neuter Services Will Soon Be Free Hearts United for Animals' website has wonderful news! The new Spay/Neuter Clinic is under construction. It will be the first spay/neuter clinic in Nebraska open to the public at which every dog or cat will be served, regardless of a guardian's ability to pay for the surgery. It will be especially effective in the rural areas of Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, and Missouri. HUA is a leading activist organization in the campaign to shut down puppy mills. Be sure to visit the website to keep abreast of the latest news and to find out how you can help the campaign. We particularly liked this idea of HUA's: "Everyone knows Dear Abby. Her column is the most widely syndicated column in the world. When she speaks millions listen. If we could get her to write a column about the horrors of the mills, it could make a huge difference. Please take a few minutes to E-mail Dear Abby and ask her to help the dogs suffering in the mills. Tell her about the hundreds of thousands of dogs in commercial kennels who live their lives in misery and who never have a good holiday. Tell her about the families who suffer because the cute little puppy they bought dies of disease or suffers from a genetic defect that costs hundreds of dollars in vet bills. Ask her to tell the public that puppymills do exist and people should adopt a dog in need... This will only take a few minutes of your time. Please help the dogs by E-mailing Dear Abby at http://www.uexpress.com/dearabby/ The link to send email is down the left side."
Missouri Animal Watch Targets Petland -- IDA Offers Support
A new Petland store opened in Creve Coeur, at 12577 Olive Street Road, on Olive west of 270. Protests are scheduled for every Saturday from now through the holiday season. For more information on how to participate, E-mail: kgolab@mail.win.org
If you can't attend the Petland rallies (and even if you can) you can still register a protest with Petland headquarters. In Defense of Animals is encouraging all of us to call each Thursday and voice concerns about Petland selling puppy mill animals. We would like to continue this through the shopping season. IDA recommends as follows: Call Petland every Thursday. Make them aware of the large number of animals who are abused and killed for the "pet" industry. Petland is the nation's largest pet store chain, and a major retailer of puppies, kittens, and other small animals such as rabbits and guinea pigs. Each Thursday for the next three months, IDA is organizing a phone-call day to the Executive Offices at Petland. Make as many calls as you possibly can each Thursday and ask the Executives to stop participating in the cruel "pet" industry by halting sales of all animals. Petland: 1-800-221-5935. Ed Kunzelman, President and CEO of Petland For leafleting, and other educational events to raise awareness in your community contact Marshall Smith, IDA's Director of Investigations, at (573) 636-9291, or E-mail him at msmith@idausa.org to get involved with the campaign. For more information about IDA's campaign, please visit: http://www.idausa.org/petland.html
Senior Dog Health
*PROHEART 6 SHOT CONTINUES TO BE SUSPECT!* *....people to contact if you think your dog has suffered from this shot....*

Last month we posted information about the possible dangerous side effects of the ProHeart6 shot. ProHeart6 is a long-lasting heartworm preventative, intended to prevent heartworm for six months. Reports of deaths associated with the shot have continued to arrive at the Senior Dogs Project. We have also been asked to help establish communication among people who suspect their dogs have been negatively affected by the shot. Here is the E-mail message we received "My name is Janice Storey. My dog, too, became ill because of the ProHeart6 shot and died on October 17. Along with Myra Kirkland, I am on a mission to save other dogs and making it mandatory that veterinarians present the ProHeart6 label for review prior to a consumer making a decision about this shot. My dog, Trouble, received his annual vaccinations along with the ProHeart6 shot. He began coughing shortly thereafter and was dead within weeks. If you would like to know Trouble's story, please notify me at my E-mail site and I will be happy to forward the document to you." If you suspect your dog has had an adverse reaction to the ProHeart6 shot, and you would like to be in touch with others like you, here are the people to contact: Myra Kirkland, MKirkland@carolina.rr.com Janice Storey, jstorey1@swbell.net You may also wish to join the "doghealth2" E-mail list, which has ongoing discussions about canine medications and health. doghealth2@yahoogroups.com Additional reports appear on a website focused on disseminating information about the potential adverse effects of the Proheart 6 shot. Here is the URL: http://bewareofproheart6.freecyberzone.com As with any medication prescribed by your veterinarian, the Senior Dogs Project recommends that you: (1) Discuss with your veterinarian the potential side effects versus the benefits of the drug before deciding to administer it. (2) Request and read the package insert or consumer information sheet that should always accompany any medication that your veterinarian dispenses. (3) When the drug has been administered, observe your dog carefully and be alert to the appearance of any of the side effects described in the insert or sheet. (4) Report any side effects to your veterinarian immediately and get veterinary attention for your dog. (5) Follow up with a report of the side effects to the drug's manufacturer and to the FDA.
EtoGesic Causes Tear Ducts/Glands to Atrophy After posting several reports of negative reactions to Rimadyl and to EtoGesic last month -- just as a reminder of the types of potential side effects to be alert to -- another report arrived just this week, and we felt it important to warn about the special side effect of EteoGesic that causes a dog's tear ducts/glands to atrophy, which requires lifelong medication to preserve the dog's sight. The report follows. As always, we advise that you weigh the risks versus the benefits of any drug recommended by your veterinarian; become informed; be alert to signs of side effects; report the side effects and get veterinary attention. "My Portuguese Water Dog was on Etogesic 300 mg. for only a few months. It was given to him as an anti-inflammatory aid for his hip dysplasia. It completely atrophied his tear ducts! Irreversible! Apparently, the drug company (Fort Dodge) knew of the problem. Apparently, the vets did not. There is a group of vet opthalmologist specialists that have been trying to get EtoGesic off the market (to no avail). They are doing tests and writing research papers. Not much help for the dogs afflicted in the meantime." lllindsey@earthlink.net
Auto-immune Hemolytic Anemia -- a New Fund for Research and a Source of Information and Help
The Morris Animal Foundation has started the Meisha's Hope AIHA Fund # 338. The fund's sole purpose is to support humane AIHA studies. To learn more, you can read the recent press release from Morris Animal Foundation http://www.morrisanimalfoundation.org/press.html#Meisha You can also read about the fund on the NEW HOPE page at http://www.cloudnet.com/~jdickson. Senior dogs seem to be increasingly susceptible to AIHA. Guardians need to become aware of what to look for and where to find help, should their dog should get the disease. Source: Joanne Dickson, jdickson@cloudnet.com
It's Dinner Time! Please Be Seated!
	Alexis Stegall generously offered to share her family's solution to her senior's problem with standing: "To All at Sr. Dogs -- We have a 14-year-old Old English Sheepdog who is having a hard time with back problems and arthritis.
She is unable to stand unassisted at her food and water bowls to eat or drink. We have been holding her hind end up, and for as little as she weighs (40 lbs.), it's amazing how heavy she can get when you are bending over. My husband and I designed a little bench/seat to help her and save our backs. Maybe some of your readers can benefit from our experiment. God Bless You All, Alexis Stegall, Las Cruces, NM. alexisb@zianet.com
Rescue & Adoption Notes
Flappy Blessed Another Family
	*Contributed to the Senior Dogs Project's Senior Dog Stories collection by C. Moss:* "We have three female long-haired mini Dachshunds, all of them horribly spoiled. In the early winter of 1999, we took the two of them to the vet for their shots. While there, the vet said, 'You like Dachshunds, eh?' He told us they had an 18- year-old black smooth male Doxie in the kennel who had belonged to an old woman who went into a nursing home.
While tidying up the lady's affairs, her family took care of a 'loose end' by dropping their mom's little friend off at the vet saying, 'We don't care; you can put him to sleep.' 'He's in pretty bad health,' the vet said, 'but we all like him and he seems like a nice guy. He does have some behavior problems.' "My wife and I took him home the next day. Poor old 'Swartzie' looked like a skeleton and was afraid of everything. But the 'behavior problems' turned out, on closer observation, to be be minsunderstandings. The dog was actually gentle and kind. He was terrified and obviously trying hard to be good. Within a couple of days we realized he was deaf! No wonder he hadn't responded too well! "Swartzie had been treated well by his old lady and was used to kindness. Someone hadn't been good to him at one point, though, and he did not like men in baseball caps. So we stopped wearing ball caps around him. Also, we figured out a sign language to communicate and spent a lot of time petting him and giving him positive reinforcement tactilely. You couldn't tell him he was a 'Good Dog!' like you could the others, because he could not hear you. "He got along well with the other dogs. The 'bad habits' we'd been warned about included 'stealing kibbles.' Alas, poor old Swartzie was simply not in the same league as our Doxies, especially 'Eva the queen,' who can push a chair to a table, leap up and get a roast, or little Nickie who can pull a trash can down, or Sasha who unzips purses, opens up tubes and eats chapstick. At his very baddest, Swartzue was nowhere near as wicked as our three. "We thought Swartzie was a dumb name, and, of course, it didn't matter what we called him because he was deaf. We found his leathery old ears made a flapping sound as he shook his head, so we called him 'Flappy,' and it stuck. Flappy filled out and began to look quite elegant. He seemed to get younger every week. His confidence increased and he began to trust and love us. He was a very cuddly guy and liked to sit on laps and curl up on the couch. He especiually loved my wife, because she was a 'lady,' and he'd been used to a woman. He would play with us, and we had fun, but we never seemed to get the game just right. At times he would wander around the house, searching, and we think he was looking for his old lady. We tried to contact the lady so that we could visit or at least tell her that her friend was okay, but we found out that her health had deteriorated and she had passed away. "Flappy got healthier and handsomer. His energy level went up, and he remained gentle, although he picked up some bad habits from Eva. He travelled with us and got to play on beaches. He romped in the snow. He chased squirrels in the yard. And he was very content and happy, seeming to smile, calm and trusting. He turned 21 in the winter of 2002. "One day in early August 2002, he had been happy all day and happy at dinner, but at 8:00 PM he wasn't walking very well. At 11:00 PM, he wasn't walking at all. We took him to the emergency clinic at 3:00 AM, completely unconscious. The X-rays showed he had a fast-growing tumor in his belly and he was dying. At 21-and-a-half, you wouldn't cut him open, so we held him while they put him to sleep. "Now he's back with his old lady, and I hope he speaks kindly of us, the nice people who took care of him, loved him and miss him a lot. If anyone is thinking about rescuing an older Dachshund, my advice is be understanding and patient, but to do it. Too many old pups lose their home through no fault of their own, and are gentle and good friends. You may not have them as long, but the time you spend with them is golden and you'll know you've done a good and innocent creature a very good turn. That dog will repay your efforts with love and gratitude. Remember Swartzie, who could have put down, alone and frightened, never having done anything wrong. Instead, he came to bless another family on his way to heaven with his guardian. I'm sure the old lady is grateful, too. But she's not going to be very happy with the bad tricks Eva taught him." Contributed by C. Moss. October 2002.
San Jose, CA -- Taffy Was Adopted by Taffy -- and Two Families Are Now Friends
In February 2002, we ran the following ad on the srdogs site: San Jose, CA -- February 22, 2002 -- Elderly Guardians Must Give Up Cockapoo Taffy -- Taffy is a 9-year-old Cockapoo (Toy Poodle and Cocker mix). Her guardians, who are 85 and 91, can no longer care for her due to their recent poor health and current living situation. A placement with a senior adult would be perfect! She is quite a sweetheart! On May 8, 2002, we received this report of Taffy's adoption: "Thank you so much for all you do! You have helped us place Taffy (my grandparent's senior dog) into a wonderful home in Southern California. I received a number of inquiries, thanks to your web site. Thank you again for your service...you are doing a wonderful thing!" -- Debbie Candau, dcandau@ict.org
And now we have this October 2002 update: "This is just a note to update you on the adoption of Taffy. My name is Taffy, too, and, when I saw Taffy needed a home, I drove from Burbank, CA, to Livermore, CA, to adopt her back in April 2002. Her guardians were no longer able to care for her. She is so precious and I felt so bad for 'Grammy and Grampy,' that I drove her up to San Jose a couple of weeks ago so that they could see her again. I know that they were thrilled, and I feel as if I have made some very special friends. The trip may have been a long one, but it brought a lot of joy. I do keep in contact with them, and I send them pictures of her from time to time. It is so amazing that one little dog can bring so much love and happiness to so many people. I feel blessed that I found her on the srdogs site, and I love seeing the story of her being adopted. I can only hope that every dog that needs a home will find one. Keep up your good work. You are a guardian angel for many dogs." Taffy@areatradeco.com
Want to read the ....... September/October 2002 Newsletter?