Max, the heartbroken dachshund trapped in his tiny cage

Meet Max, our latest rescue (owner surrendered).

 

Male dachshund, 12 years old, excessively overweight, visually impaired, and a huge tumour in his anus. He was locked up in a cramped dingy metal cage by his owner for 6 months or even more, just because he is blind. When our volunteers got hold of poor Max, he was awfully dirty and smelly.

Max was surrendered by his owner to us on 5th November. We were told, his owner had rescued him some years go, then adopted him. Unfortunately, her well intentioned efforts might have made matters worse for Max. While we understand that the owner is now ill and the dog is blind, this is no excuse for caging a dog with uncomfortable flooring for long periods, and severely overlooked.

As always, our rescues are plagued by sad stories, and Max is no exception. We wonder why people can do this to their dogs. His neglect was so bad, even our vet felt sad for his prolonged pain and suffering. His anal tumour which measures around 4 to 5 cm has apparently been there for at least a year (according to the owner). Yet, no attempt was made to seek medical treatment, or get help which could have averted the growth of the mass.

If you think this is bad, his suffering doesn't stop there.  He has ulceration in his bum causing him to smell quite bad, poor eyes which are extremely dry and inflamed, cataract in both eyes, and a urinary tract infection likely from a poor immune system, or not being sterilized. Unsurprisingly, he has rotten teeth due to little or no oral care, and a fistula in right oral nasal in his gum. He is also tested positive for ringworm which is a fungal infection on the skin. 

 

His chest x-ray showed blotches in his lungs, which would require further diagnosis. With a list of medical issues this long, and our limited resources, we have to prioritize the best course of action. At this point, our first priority will be his massive tumour. An abdominal ultrasound has also been done.

The good news is the tumour is a benign perianal adenoma (commonly occurs in unsterilized male dogs), but we still have to look at debulking it since it is ulcerated. It has many pockets of bloody fluids and necrotic (dying) tissues, and attached to the anal veins, which limits the extent of excision that can be done.  This makes removing the tumour very challenging and would require a very senior vet to look at it. Considering the discomfort that the mass is causing him, we will explore the removal of the growth despite its risk.

 

Max has since undergone sterilization and dental. There is a chance that the tumour can shrink after castration which allows for safer surgery, but it remains to be seen. He snaps when we touch his tail and bum area, but that is because he is in pain.

Horrible dental hygiene

Huge anal tumour left untreated

Severe skin issues & ringworms 

The day he started living his life! 

Despite all his pain and suffering, Max remains very sweet.  He loves attention, and is happy with human contact.  Often, we see this roly-poly rolling around on the floor playing with his toy, and we can't help but smile even though he is in a pitiable condition. We noticed his love for digging especially with his nose - for doxies, this is instinctual and one way to bring it under control is to ensure they get enough exercise.

 

Sadly, Max has no place to go, and is putting up at our regular vet.  We are urgently seeking a loving foster family to take him in so that he can get the care he needs.

Blind in both eyes 

 To ADOPT him, you should be able to:

 

• Provide 2 home-cooked meals daily (simple fare of boiled meat and vegetables)

• Bring him on 2 daily walks

• Have someone at home such that he is not left alone for more than 4 hours a day. Max has poor vision and will bump into things.

• Be able to feed oral meds, administer eye meds, and clean his ulcerated bum 3x daily

• Give regular medicated baths and mousse 

 

Contact us a hopedogrescue.com.sg if you are able give this poor dachshund a home.

Do Dogs Need Shoes?

Do dogs need shoes? The question may sound silly, but as it turns out, the answer is mostly NO.

In some situations, shoes can be beneficial for dogs, while in others they're unnecessary or even harmful. We noticed some pawrents buying shoes for their dogs as they are afraid that the ground is too hot for their dogs to walk on. If that’s the case, then the weather IS too hot for the dogs to enjoy the walk, as the heat may be too much for these furry pals. 

Dogs sweat through their paws to regulate their body temperature. When a dog’s body temperature rises, the moisture from its paw pads evaporates, cooling its body. By wearing shoes, the body is unable to release the heat which increases the risk of heatstroke. Another reason dogs sweat through their paws is to release toxins from their bodies. When dogs sweat through their paws, the moisture released contains not just water but also some toxins that need to be expelled from their bodies. Lastly shoes can also throw off a dog’s balance and friction as it restricts a dog’s natural ability to feel and grip the ground. 

                               

Our advice is to only get shoes for your dogs if they require it for medical reasons. Shoes and booties can provide support and comfort for dogs with mobility issues. Non-slip orthopedic booties are especially helpful for preventing falls and improving balance. These types of shoes are good for dogs with arthritis, hip dysplasia, or other conditions that make it hard for them to move around – especially on slippery surfaces. Hope this information helps before you purchase Furby a pair of WagWellies! 😝