Need advice about emaciated dogs
 

They're not Yorkies, but this forum has so many helpful educated members I figured I would post this here. I have a neighbor who has 2 dogs...one black lab and another a Pit Bull. I myself have a Yorkie who barks from time to time, but these 2 bark nonstop and apparently fight with each other (I can hear them through my walls), so I decided today to pay my neighbor a visit and express my feelings on the level of noise.

To my horror, when she opened the door, I saw 2 VERY skinny dogs. Their rib cages were protruding severly and their spinal columns were fully visible. I was so shocked by their condition, I forgot to complain about the noise and immediately asked why they looked that way. She said they are well fed, but she mistakenly put them on an adult formula too soon because it was cheaper than puppy chow, and that is the reason they lost weight. Both dogs are well over a year old, so I don't buy that story! I asked her if she leaves food out and she said no because they would inhale it and want more. Hello!!!! I said then leave the food out! Obviously they are starving and need to gain weight, so who cares if they "over eat" right now! As for the cost of puppy food, I even offered to go right then to buy them some food and she refused.

Now I'm really worried about these dogs and I'm wondering if others with large breed dogs (or anyone with knowledge) can fill me in and tell me if it's normal for them to get sooooooo skinny from just eating an adult formula as an older "puppy." I switched JoJo at about 1 1/2 years old and not only did he not lose weight, he even got a bit thicker, so I have a hard time believing her. Should I contact someone? If so, who? I wish I had a picture because the image of those dogs made me sick to my stomach. Until today, I had only seen pictures and TV images of dogs that skinny. :(

If they are as skinny as you say you need to contact the ASPCA. I have had large breed dogs my whole life. This is not normal. The owner needs to have this explained to her. However, I would err on the side of caution. You don't want trouble with your neighbors I have seen and heard of horrible things done to other ppls dogs when neighbors are crossed. There is no reason for these dogs to be that skinny outside of health issues and if that is the case they need to see a vet.

How sad!!! That is not normal at all! I've had family members with pits all their lives and they don't just lose weight like that from switching to adult food. And, even if they did, it would have to have been a LONG time on that weight-reducing food to get that skinny..which means you would see it and quit feeding it to them.

I might talk to whomever in the area investigates animal abuse. Heck, call someone in on because you are worried they are fighting dogs and let them go in and see them...

We used to have big dogs. I agree with the previous posters that the weight lose is not normal.
I hope you contact the ASPCA, humane society, animal control, whoever is responsible for investigating animal neglect in your area, and that they investigate and help the puppies.
I would keep a close watch on your dogs as another poster mention, sometimes people get mad and will try and hurt your dog.
Hope everything works out for all involved.

This is not NORMAL at all. No ribs or for heaven's sake a spine should be visible - wit te exception of some of the sight hounds ... greyhounds whippets etc.

CAll your local Humane society. But perhaps go to your neighbour and show her what a good weight of a dog is.

Feed adult or puppy food that is a non starter... you feed your dog enough so that they are at a healthy weight.

I agree with every one else call the ASPCA and let them know or at least ask their opinion. Also as stated be very careful with your babies.

Another thing that could cause these dog's to be so skinny is they probably have Intestinal Parasites, that will certainly cause them to be skinny, besides not being fed properly.

I would call your city's Animal Control and tell them about the dog and ASPCA, Humane Society. In our city, AC has the obligation to see to it that all dogs within the city limits are housed and cared for properly and will visit, insist on vet care, recheck for compliance or take the dogs themselves right then if the situation warrants. And they recheck from time to time. They say something like "We've had several complaints and calls concerning the welfare of your dog(s)" so the people don't think it's just you who called. Our AC is truly wonderful in how helpful the are in trying to educate and involve problem owners but hammer-hard if the person is hopeless and won't put forth any effort. I hope these poor dogs get some help and a rehome. Anybody lets their dogs get like that shouldn't have a pet. Good for you for being willing to save these dogs by getting them help!

I appreciate everyone's responses. You all basically confirmed what I wanted to do, and that is to contact the Animal Control authorities. I wasn't sure which organization to contact for something like this, but I spoke with someone who told me that in my city it would be Animal Control. I know the leasing agent here so she's going to contact them for me because the complaint will carry more weight coming from the actual management company rather than just one person, and that will also help keep my anonymity in the matter since she was actually with me when I went over to complain (I was actually the property manager here until recently but I left for another management company).

Ughh...I went from being angry at them for all the ruckus to wanting to go over there and rescuing them myself! But I guess no matter what we do, there's always going to be jerks out there who abuse these poor animals, and as unfortunate as it is, it only makes me love and protect my little guy even more. Sigh.......

Boy, seeing situations like that - and even hearing about them - does make you so glad yours are okay and inspires you to do even more for them, if possibe.

Sounds like a good plan to help these poor dogs. Just imagine when they get some good meals in them, maybe a fecal done, wormed if there are parasites, tested for and started on heartworm preventative, bathed/treated for any fleas/ticks, vaxed if never done. They will be new dogs in 2 weeks time if helped and set up to flourish. I pray those people will see the light and change but likely, if the dogs are that bad, they aren't the kind who can easily change and see their dogs differently. They may have to be confiscated or given up, rehomed.

I think if she fed them a low enough quality adult food at a young enough age, and only fed them the recommended adult amount it could make them really skinny. Then with her continuing to restrict their food it could take ages for the to get back to normal.

My sister nearly killed her dog like that when she got pregnant. I was completely shocked when I saw the poor thing. I didn't know how the puppies could possibly make it... I took her we switched her food and free fed. She put on some weight, and had her puppies here. The dog and puppies are fine.

My sister was stupid not intentionally cruel. She really didn't seem to realize just how skinny the dog was, but the end result would have been the same intentional or not. If you aren't smart enough to care for an animal you shouldn't have one.

It sounds as if they may only occasionally get food as they were likely living off their own birth layer of fat at first and now using muscle tissue for energy, which means the cardiac muscle, too. These dogs will die unless they can get sufficient food to live off without their body using its own muscle. Most of the time when a dog is starved as these are, they don't have sufficient water either as the owner just doesn't care about those things. Do dehydration could kill before starvation.

I once rescued a very tall 65 lb. grown Great Dane thought to be about 3 years old from the pound who had coccidiosis, showed all her vertebrae, ribs, pelvis, etc. AND - get this - she still had a medium large, long chain attached to a leather collar! Of course, times for dogs were different back then but still! The workers said they were sure she was going to die anytime so they just didn't bother to cut off that collar/chain when they got her the day before. I was so aghast I had to sit on my tongue with those workers for fear I wouldn't get her if I were nasty with them but even back then I had to sign a special form or two and do a lot of pleading to get her. She was scheduled for gas that evening.

A lot of good vet care, excellent food and nutrition, a lot of rehab and she was 110 lbs. when she went to her new forever home on a ranch. She was one lucky dog as the vet said she was hours from death when we came in. Besides caring for Tanker, I spent all my spare time cleaning and doing all of that stuff to the back yard. I think it was 3 years and a load of new soil, sod before I chanced another dog out there. I didn't know she had cocci when I got her and how it would affect other dogs I might get or I would have paused a bit longer before taking her! But I couldn't have seen and then left her there to die like that even if I had known. So you can save even the worst off dog from certain death when just in time.

You did the right thing. I would still call to with a complaint. The more people call the better it is. Please keep us updated in what happens with the dogs. I hope the woman just doesn't know better and she starts feeding them right.

Sad, id call animal control right away.

What a wonderful thing you did! I applaud people like you because I can only imagine how much of an investment (emotionally, financially and time) it takes to rehab a dog on the brink of death.

Well, my young son Danny did well more than half of it and worked so faithfully with Tanker when she was so near death for days, couldn't even stand for a week. Our vet clinic didn't have a hospital so we were it. But it does go to show that very, very sick dogs with care and love can make it and live good lives on the leanest of odds.