Need a little advice on the care of a stray dog. It had been hanging around my ex in-laws for a week and they couldn't locate her family. My daughter brought her home to us. She is a beagle, I am venturing to guess an older dog but that's only because she has some stiffness when getting up after sleeping.

This dog is very skittish. Might have been abused, or maybe just was not socialized? Not sure, but noises both inside and out scare her. It took me several hours to get her used to being in the same room as the TV. When you ask her to come, she does, but creeping over to you almost to the point of crawling sometimes. She knocked over my drink and I yelled "NO" without thinking and the poor dog took off for the hills. I think a little time and effort will help these behaviors as I've seen a turn around already just in a few hours.

The main thing I'm concerned about is illness. I can't get the dog to drink or eat. Might be nerves, I dunno. I did get a few cc's of water down her by use of a syringe. Should I continue to try that over the weekend? She also hasn't urinated, but if you don't drink, you can't pee.

Right now, she's decided she likes my couch and I've decided that's fine with me. Poor thing just seems really really tired.

Any advice in how I should proceed? I'll tell you upfront I'm not spending hundreds of dollars at an after hours vet clinic. I'll take her to the vet next week, but for now this will be me doing the care.

Heather - she may ne exhausted and very nervous. I would just watch her and let her get comfortable. When she is hungry/thirsty, she will eat/drink. If she becomes very ill (convulsions, unresponsive, etc.) then I would go from there.

But a reg check up should be able to wait.

Does she look malnourished?

No, not really....she looks about the right weight and her belly isn't distended.

Probably just really scared. Have food and water and maybe a blanket in a quiet part of the house. She just might not be use to a home with lots of noise and action. As long as the dog doesn't appear sick, you just might want to wait until normal vet hours to take her in. But just know that she might be really sick, cancer or something, for an owner to put her out.

Just take care of her to the best of your knowledge. All of the "natural" instincts will come later. Show her love and companionship.

Take her to the vet...she may be sick and in need of some meds. The vet would know how to deal with your situation the best way.

I'll take her to the vet, but like I said, not this weekend. I was reading online where people have had luck with sugar water. I think tomorrow if she doesn't drink, I'll try that.

I highly recommend that you keep an out for fleas. I've had that problem with a stray.

Yes, I hear ya there. I checked her out earlier and couldn't find any. Thank goodness her underbelly is white.

shot it

BACON!!!

make some bacon and he'll love you

Awwwwwww, no.......she's a sweet lil' doggy. Even if she's dying, at least she'll have someone to love her for the moment.

If she will allow you, give a quick once over. Make sure there is nothing obvious, no wounds, lumps and such. You can try to take a rectal temperature, rule out fever and possible infection. Not eating, drinking, urinating, or defecating is just not normal. Especially if she is a stray, she must be hungry. It could be that she's just scared or she's lethargic and depressed ("tired"). And she's most likely dehydrated as well. If you pull up on the skin behind her neck it should pull back immediately. If it stays tented then she's dehydrated. You should put her in a a quiet place and leave water and food. If she hasn't touched either overnight then I would be concerned. You might have better luck with canned than dry food.

I can do that....
Bacon is awfully tasty.

shot it

I was just reading about that tent test...might give me a bit more to go on. Thank you for this great advice!

if he is not malnourished and seems to be well fed he prolly only recently lost his family. he's prolly really traumatized and freaking out.

lots of love and occaisional bits of bacon will relax him


EDIT: and somewhere a little kid is crying himself to sleep

I hope not......my ex MIL did call around to the humane society and checked the lost and found dog places. She let the dog stay outside her house for a week, only letting her in the garage at night to sleep and the dog just kept coming back.

If you take her to the Humane Society or Vet, they should scan her for a microchip. If she's registered they should be able to find her owners.

Ok, thank you.