My Beagle Abi

Question
Abi was pregnant when I found her at the local humane society and I expressed that I wanted to adopt her after the puppies were weaned.  She weaned the puppies at 5 weeks because their teeth were hurting her and I went through with the adoption and subsequent spaying and rabies shot (two days ago).  

She is still engorged with milk and the vet who spayed her said it would take two to three weeks for them to dry up, but she is so miserable.  Her teats are red and warm to the touch, and she licks the largest ones that she can reach frequently, giving the impression that they are sore.  There is no milk leaking and the nipples are healing well.

She is suspected to be just over a year old, if that.  I was informed by the administrative staff at the humane society that she was treated for whipworms just before she gave birth to seven large puppies (no idea what breed, but they are not beagles).  She was in labor from Friday afternoon to Sunday evening when she had the last one.  She weighs only 28 lbs so it had to be difficult.

She sleeps approximately 20 hours a day, eats only once in a while and drinks water infrequently.  She has defacated only twice since I have had her home and the first day she inhaled her food as if she were starving.  Yesterday she ate, but not so much and not as quickly.  Her stools are firm, but not hard and healthy looking.  We are walking in the morning and evening for short trips until the stitching heals well.  

Today, she has eaten only a few bites and drank very little water.
Her teeth are in very poor condition, I suspect that is because she was picked up as a stray and she cannot chew dry food.  I have tried rubbing her teeth with enzyme toothpaste but she gags and pulls away.  She has no interest in treats or toys, and when I leave her in the crate to go to the store, she cries, howls, and barks the entire time I am gone; this is also when she pees and poops.  

Abi is very timid and cowers down when I walk toward her to pet her.  She is afraid of new people and only potties when she is in the crate.  She is resistant to go into the crate when I need to go somewhere, but goes right in at bedtime and sleeps most of the night.  I have the impression that the crate was previously used for punishment instead of the intended purpose, though she could just be unsocialized.  She perks up when we are outdoors and she howls at sirens and sniffs the air, but she will not explore or anything.  She goes from the front door to the yard and lies down in the closest shade and eats grass.

I am getting ready to re-treat her for whipworms and put her on probiotics to help her digestive system.  I hear her intestinal noises and her eyes are somewhat bugged out.  Initially I thought it was from the anesthesia, but they have not changed and I worry that there is something seriously wrong with her.

Can you offer any advice on how to get Abi to eat and drink more so she can live a happy, healthy life?  Also, she has severe allergies and dandruff but I can't bathe her until the stitching heals.  I plan to try benadryl to see if that helps the itching, but I have noticed that the company that makes DermCaps has been closed by the FDA for lack of quality control.  Is there another recommended medication for allergies?

Thank you for all you do and I look forward to a reply.

Answer
Hi Connie, thanks for writing to me. I have to say that I was really struck by sadness reading all this, your little girl sounds like a previously abused dog and it breaks my heart when I hear these things, but I am so glad that you took her in and will help heal her emotional wounds! But right now I am more concerned about her medical issues....

First off, I am not a vet so I cannot legally answer anything about her milk or teats, or any of the other stuff. This is definately something to go to the vet about. As well I am seriously concerned about her lack of drinking water as she can QUICKLY become dehydrated. I think the humane society did way too much to this poor girl all at once. Birth to puppies then spayed her and then adopted her out. She is still recuperating from one let alone all three! Personally, I would hold off on the next deworming and take her to a new vet and have her evaluated ASAP! To top it off you are saying she has bad allergies. This poor girl just can't win..... please take her to a different vet and get a full evaluation, especially if she still isnt drinking water or eating. She may have an infection and if she is dehydrated can die from this. It isnt always obvious to the eye.

Once all the medical issues have calmed down and she is feeling better you will be able to see her real personality better. If she remains withdrawn and cowers then you know you have an emotionally scarred dog on your hands and it will take long persistent but SLOW work with her to teach her to trust again.

As far as the DermCaps, I didnt know that so thanks for the update, yes you can use any Omega3 fatty acid prep made for dogs. They sell them at the big box pet stores as well as places on line.

Please get her to a vet asap and as I said once the medical issues have calmed down you can write me back whenyou have a true idea about her personality.