Minding a dog for a neighbour

claregal1

Hi all

My elderly neighbour was admitted to hospital last week and I've been minding her dog for her . Lovely little thing , about 13 years old a springer . Anyways I've just noticed that he is breathing very heavily and now his nose is running but he is in great form still eating etc and very sociable . Anyone have any idea what would have caused the runny nose or any advise what to do . I haven't mentioned it to my neighbour yet as she is quite ill and don't want to worry her .

TIA

RebelButtMunch

He's probably all right if hes eating/drinkin/moving as normal. Might be just a cold

claregal1

RebelButtMunch wrote: »

He's probably all right if hes eating/drinkin/moving as normal. Might be just a cold

His breathing sounds kinda like there is something caught in his throat , but he is breathing okay its just noisy or something .

If it is just a cold , is there any home remedies that I could give him ? My mother suggested giving him a spoon of honey for his throat ? Is this safe in dogs ?

Or should I just bring him to the vet and not worry my neighbour ?

RebelButtMunch

claregal1 wrote: »

His breathing sounds kinda like there is something caught in his throat , but he is breathing okay its just noisy or something .

If it is just a cold , is there any home remedies that I could give him ? My mother suggested giving him a spoon of honey for his throat ? Is this safe in dogs ?

Or should I just bring him to the vet and not worry my neighbour ?

In your shoes I'd go the vet route, at the very least, to put your mind at rest. Maybe give him a wheetabix with milk, or something sofy to eat to see if it clears the throat.

claregal1

RebelButtMunch wrote: »

In your shoes I'd go the vet route, at the very least, to put your mind at rest. Maybe give him a wheetabix with milk, or something sofy to eat to see if it clears the throat.

Yeah think I will bring him to the vet - Will any vet see him I wonder or would I have to bring him to his own Vet ? I don't want to worry my neighbour, because before I offered to take him, she was refusing to go to hospital cos she didn't want to leave him and the only other option was to bring him to the pound

muddypaws

Maybe phone the nearest vet and see if he's registered there. If not, any vet would do.
Personally I wouldn't give milk, it's not great for dogs and could actually make things worse. Honey is good.

RebelButtMunch

muddypaws wrote: »

Maybe phone the nearest vet and see if he's registered there. If not, any vet would do.
Personally I wouldn't give milk, it's not great for dogs and could actually make things worse. Honey is good.

Actually, you're probably right on the milk. It has a tenancy to increase phlegmeyness...

claregal1

RebelButtMunch wrote: »

Actually, you're probably right on the milk. It has a tenancy to increase phlegmeyness...

Thanks for the comments everyone . I rang a vet near me and have an apt for Sat morning as that is the earliest I can bring him . Hopefully it isn't any thing too serious

cocker5

claregal1 wrote: »

Hi all

My elderly neighbour was admitted to hospital last week and I've been minding her dog for her . Lovely little thing , about 13 years old a springer . Anyways I've just noticed that he is breathing very heavily and now his nose is running but he is in great form still eating etc and very sociable . Anyone have any idea what would have caused the runny nose or any advise what to do . I haven't mentioned it to my neighbour yet as she is quite ill and don't want to worry her .

TIA

personally id go to the vet... noisy breathing can be all sorts of things.. heart murmur, infections, head cold etc

Blogger50

Don't have any advice really, I just wanted to say you're lovely to do such a nice thing for your neighbour.

bertsmom

Same as Blogger50 really. Your a great neighbour and a lovely person, it's a lucky doggie that has you to mind him. I HAVE a Springer too and just to say he's in and out of the vets all the time lately with a leg injury and he ALWAYS has a runny nose but they've said that normal for him and nothing to be worrying about.
Best of luck.

claregal1

Just a quick update - it was a tumour in his nose . My neighbour passed away shortly after going into hospital and we kept her dog . He passed away in my arms today with my son's with me . Although we only had him 5 months we are devastated. Thanks everyone x

mymo

claregal1 wrote: »

Just a quick update - it was a tumour in his nose . My neighbour passed away shortly after going into hospital and we kept her dog . He passed away in my arms today with my son's with me . Although we only had him 5 months we are devastated. Thanks everyone x

You gave the old boy a good last few months, a wonderful thing to do. You're a very kind person, I know it always hurts, but I'm sure he was happy with you.

bertsmom

So sorry. You did a wonderful thing. It will be so hard and horribly upsetting for a while but I hope in time ye get comfort from being there for him at what could have been the hardest loneliest time of his life but ye gave him a warm welcome and security and comfort for his last few months. Imsure he was happy to have been with ye and lucky to have known such caring people. Take care of yerselves.

bubbles o hara

claregal1 wrote: »

Just a quick update - it was a tumour in his nose . My neighbour passed away shortly after going into hospital and we kept her dog . He passed away in my arms today with my son's with me . Although we only had him 5 months we are devastated. Thanks everyone x

I'm so sorry for your loss. My heart is broken from seeing all the animal abuse that goes on around us, sometimes it feels as though this world gets worse by the day. And then I read about people like you. By taking in her fur baby, you gave peace to your neighbour as her life neared an end, then you gave love and care to her little dog for the remainder of his life.

I know the pain of losing a beloved fur baby, and I send you and your family my deepest sympathy. But thank God there are people with hearts as kind as yours in this world today. Be kind to yourself as your grieve, you are a very special person.

kathleen37

I'm so very sorry for your loss. I'm know your neighbour was comforted by you and your family loving her dog. Please take comfort knowing that you gave a great home to a very loved dog.

He'll always be with you's.

Take care

xxxx