Posted: 8/11/2024 8:55:40 PM EDT
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Hope it's OK to put this here. I've always found rescue dogs have some issues you need to work with. I've had a total of 3 so far. The latest one came from the streets right to us through my daughter picking him up off the road. DNA test shows part pit bull and has the head for it. He was very thin when we got him. Long enough without food that had a lot of muscle loss. He weights about 75 to 80 lbs now at a guess. I believe he was in the neighborhood of 45 lbs when we got him in November. Sorry, didn't expect to start with all that. Anyway the issues are trying to clean his ear and trim tails. When squirting ear cleaner in he yeps and pulls away. If I try again I can tell a bite is coming if I push it. I don't think he yelps due to pain. When lying on my lap I can lightly rub behind his ear and he will lean into it with no problems. Trimming nails went fine when we fist got him. Probably due to weakness is my guess. Now just touching his paw he pulls away and if you try again he moves his head in a biting motion towards your hand. No clue what he went through before getting picked up. I'm thinking if I can find something to knock him out I could trim his nails and clean his ears. I can take him to the vet to do it but would rather do it at home. Any experience and/or thoughts? Thanks |
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The ear probably needs the attention of a vet. They can anesthetize him if need be to deal with it. The nail trim... vet can deal with that at the same time, but in the mean time (or afterwards) perhaps you can distract him with something like a liberal shot of spray cheese on a Tupperware lid or something similar. |
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Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice. Moderation in pursuit of justice is no virtue.
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Do have him scheduled at the vet already. I gotta laugh about the distractions. I have had it work with other dogs but he will have no parts of it. Wife was using something like cheezewhiz and he loved it. All I had to do was reach for him and he would move. Add a picture of him now: Attached File |
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I would let professionals do it and, if possible, be there as part of the process. They can help you determine if he’s going to be open to you working your way up to doing it. He’s obviously got some sensitivities or trust issues and you don’t want to overstep and get bit. Neither of y’all will enjoy that. Sometimes you can work through it and sometimes you have to accept that boundary and let professionals handle it. The vet should deal with the ears, but I bet a local groomer can show you how to trim or grind his nails. Just be sure to let them know that he’s shown some anxiety/defensiveness with you. Good luck, my man. Pits get a terrible rap and I see mixes running around as strays more than I like to. They’re usually great dogs, despite the sensationalism. You just have to respect that they’re powerful animals. ETA: he’s a handsome guy! |
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| Looks just like mine when we got her 10 years ago. Skin and bones and all defeated. She is spoiled now and sharp as a tack. Getting grey in the face but still loves her long walks. I know nothing is going to touch the wife or son on their walks without Rue's approval. |
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@mudholestomper Agree, has some serious trust issues. Called and scheduled for the ear issue plus nails with sedation. Always do wonder with rescues what the history is. This one he has had some type of training. Never had an accident in the house from day one. We put him in a cage at night or when we went out during the day for about a week or two. He would go in with no issues. Started leaving the cages open and let him sleep wherever he wanted before I took them down. Took him to pet stores to get things after a few weeks and does great with people in the stores and on walks. Will look but never takes food from areas he can easily reach. Also can wash him in the tub or outside with no problems. Been scanned by different places for a chip with nothing found. |
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Originally Posted By VAbull: If you can use a dry cotton ball to gently rub the inside of the ear , he might not mind that. If you can and see a lot of debris , dirt etc.. you might have to let a vet clean them. If you are near Dover let me know - maybe I can help. When he is on my lap I can lightly rub behind his ears. Found which ear is the issue by him leaning into my hand while rubbing it with no issues. Try just touching his ears and he moves. @VAbull Work at a vets office? If so I'm not opposed to changing just drop me some info. Thanks |
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Originally Posted By thewrencher: @mudholestomper Agree, has some serious trust issues. Called and scheduled for the ear issue plus nails with sedation. Always do wonder with rescues what the history is. This one he has had some type of training. Never had an accident in the house from day one. We put him in a cage at night or when we went out during the day for about a week or two. He would go in with no issues. Started leaving the cages open and let him sleep wherever he wanted before I took them down. Took him to pet stores to get things after a few weeks and does great with people in the stores and on walks. Will look but never takes food from areas he can easily reach. Also can wash him in the tub or outside with no problems. Been scanned by different places for a chip with nothing found. He sounds really well mannered. Perhaps something about the environment is making him anxious. You’re obviously providing a loving and safe environment. Perhaps you’re feeling anxious and he’s picking up on that? My wife and I both love animals and connect deeply with them. Thank you for what you’re doing for him.  @thewrencher
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"Now none of the frightened soldiers moved, for they saw that cowardice and valor purchased equal plots in the sniper's killing field."
“Everything is hard before it is easy.”
“Everything is hard before it is easy.”
Since some have issues - not a veteran
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My German Shephard hated having her nails done, we do the light sedation at the vets twice a year for bath, clipped nails, and anything else needed. We have had to sedate her for yearly ever since she was a puppy (will be 14 in March), as my vet says, she is one of those dogs it is easier on everyone including her, if they do a light sedation. Something my mom started doing over the years was playing with her paws, when they were sitting together on the sofa or floor together. She slowly introduced one of the rotating nail files over time, by having it turned on and touching her leg with it. We now can trim a little every few days, 1-3 nails at a time, that way. Not sure if that will help any or not, but the playing with all the paws a bit each day was what got us able to even touch her paws. |
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Originally Posted By thewrencher: When squirting ear cleaner in he yeps and pulls away. Have the vet check his ears for injuries or problems. You can't do it without an otoscope, their ear canal effectively takes a 90 degree turn. Them being nervous of you getting in their ears is normal, yelping about it isn't. If that's cleared, here are the steps for putting something in a dog's ears without them fussing: - Get your laser thermometer or sous vide, get some water to 100-101F (dog body temperature), and let the cleaner sit in the water until it's the same temp. - Cover their eyes so they don't see it coming. I generally put an arm across their face, with my bicep covering their eyes, but you figure out how you want to do it. - DON'T TOUCH the hairs in their ears, that will tickle them like crazy. If you get all three of those on point, they don't even seem to realize that you've put something in their ears. Even the most fearful dog I've done it on (who would NOT let anything near his ears normally) was just like "Oh what? Hi again. Yeah, keep rubbing my ears." In the grand scheme of things, EVERY dog needs to be trained to let people handle their paws/nails. Don't jump into clipping, just give treats while you TOUCH, then HANDLE their paws. Keep it all successful, let them get used to the idea that "you touching their feet" means GOOD things, not BAD things. Also, take treats and work on bite inhibition. Put the treat in your hand, close your hand a little (not much to start), and let the dog try to get it. If their teeth even TOUCH your skin, say "OW!", close your hand, and pull it back so they don't get the treat. Close your hand just enough that they CAN get the treat with just a very small amount of work, you want them to succeed at it most of the time. As they get better and better, close your hand more and more. Do that as often as you can during the day, every day. Get the dog to learn that his teeth DON'T TOUCH HUMAN SKIN. Finally, keep doing normal obedience training with him. That alone will go a long way in helping him see that he works with you, that it isn't the "everyone for themself" life of the streets. Originally Posted By thewrencher: Funny you mention anxiety. Wife deals with it and I have known for many years the dogs do pick up on it. Times when she goes out of town the dogs were always more mellow for me. Dogs are absolutely stress radars. It's wild, I've seen dogs tell that two people were going to get in an argument before the people even realized they were going to get in an argument. |