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Old 09-13-2011, 05:23 PM   #20
Mom to Hot Rod
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: MD
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Hi and welcome to YT. Congrats on Sparta and Thank you for rescuing him from his situation.

[quote
1. Will it harm him to change his food right away?(what he is on is sub-par to say the least) As others have said, mix his food with the new food for a few days. I would say start with a little of the new and gradually increase the new in the mixture.

2. He has not had ANY of his shots,but my Vet can't get him in till Teus, will he be ok, or do i find another vet?(i trust my vet) It's wise to get him to see the vet as soon as you can from what you have said about his living conditions. I would definitely keep the 2 dogs separated until you get the all clear from your vet.

3. What is the best way to introduce him to my Chocolate Lab? Personally, I would suggest a neutral area. Your lab may be great with other dogs but keep in mind that this little guy is having his whole world turned upside down. You might want to make sure that he's okay with other dogs. Can you bring something with your labs scent on it when you pick him up so he can become familiar with it?

4. Any suggestions for how to handle the first night home? Sleeping with me in bed or in a crate?I'm not a big advocate of crating...it broke my heart to have Hot Rod in one until we got an expen for him but we didn't have another dog to deal with either. I would just make sure that they are separated (just in case of any health issues). The crate beside your bed is a good thought or can you gate off your bathroom?

5. We keep our house cool, should i get a warming pad for him or just PJs?keep in mind, your little one is going to be scared and confused, pjs might be so foreign to him. I would suggest some fleece blankets if your house is really cool.

I could go on with ?s all day!

I am so scared i will mess this up. He really needs to be loved and SAFE. I have named him Sparta due to his fighting spirit[/quote]

It sounds as though Sparta is going to love his new home and family. I would also suggest bring some blankets and towels and water with you when you pick him up. Mine love to burrow in blankies. lol I didn't have any towels with me when we picked Maggie May up and she threw up the entire ride home. Poor baby. All that I had with me was the baby blanket that her breeder gave me. Hot Rod never had any carsickness so I didn't even think about that.

Good luck with picking him and please let us know how everything works out for all of you.
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