Re-home Cockapoo-Need your help

[Margaret Erwin]

I am posting this for my daughter who is looking to rehome her 3 year old cockatoo "Tucker".   Tucker has food allergies and must be on a Prescription diet that costs $70/month.  She has contacted all the rescue organizations and has been turned away due to tuckers health problems.  He is as cute as can be, loves to cuddle and chase his ball.  They have a 1 1/2 year old child, a 6 year old cockatoo, car loans, school loans, mortgage----it keeps going.  I would take him, but have Harry and Ella, 85 lb bernedoodles. I was just down there (Dallas) for Xmas and can't tell you how cute he is. I will pay shipping.  If you know of anyone or have suggestions, I would appreciate your help

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Margaret, there are a lot of limited ingredient foods that are a lot cheaper than the Rx crap the vet sells that would probably work just as well for Tucker. We have found alternatives for other dogs with serious health issues in The Food Group here.

How do they know that he has a food allergy? There are no diagnostic tests for that, and true food allergies are relatively rare in dogs. It's possible that a couple of dietary changes and the addition of some supplements would completely eliminate the problem. Do you know what the symptoms are? Does he itch, develop skin infections, get GI issues like diarrhea, etc?

Of course, if it's an autoimmune issue like IBD or Atopic Dermatitis, it's a whole other ballgame. Many dogs with those conditions are considered unadoptable, but there has to be an accurate diagnosis to know.

Is Tucker on any medications?

It would be a shame for a dog to have to go through the stress and trauma of being rehomed, especially if he has health problems, just because of the cost of food that he probably doesn't need anyway.

If you want to send me a PM, maybe I can help.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

karen, you are such a good person. I hope you can help this poor guy.

[Margaret Erwin]

He licks and chews his paws and butt, developing yeast infections in his paws and on his behind.  He is on a rabbit and potato diet.  since on this food, he has definitely gotten better. I will look up Atopic Dermatitis.  

Thanks

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

There are many other limited ingredient diets that can be purchased in the pet supply stores that might help just as much. If he was previously eating something with wheat, corn, by-products, etc., a change to any high quality food would have helped. If we know what animal proteins he had eaten in the past, we can find a good food that will be less expensive and will work just as well for him, it doesn't have to be rabbit. Anything that he's never eaten before would not trigger his allergies, if in fact he does have them.

And since the Rx food is grain-free, if he was previously eating a food that contained grains, any grain-free food would work. There are a lot of options, we just need to know what his diet history has been.

 

[Margaret Erwin]

Ive asked my daughter to respond to you.  I do know that both dogs  had been on a grain free diet.  Beyond that, she will have to fill you in.

[Margaret Erwin]

Karen - This is from my daughter Rachel

We tried grain free and switching proteins (we tried almost every protein out there, speficially a fish diet, and nothing helped). "Diagnosis" was seasonal allergies and food allergies.  Vet said if the PR helped, we could then do trials on other proteins, but we are too scared too since he is slightly better on this.  He also takes an omega supplement daily and temaril P as needed for itchiness.  When allergies flair he gets itchy on paws, butt, and ears, which often result in infections. It isn't just the food that is expensive, it is the other costs of having 2 dogs, and then unexpected vet visits and medications on top of that.  

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Seasonal allergies  bad enough to require Temaril- P does sound like Atopic Dermatitis, and dogs who have been diagnosed with Atopy are indeed considered unadoptable. The correct treatment is skin testing to determine the exact allergens (blood tests are useless) and then the treatment options are limited to immunotherapy shots or Atopica. You cannot keep them on steroids (Temaril) for long periods of time without damaging the liver and kidneys. Allergies cannot be cured, they can get worse as the dog ages, and the treatment to manage them is for life. This is all very expensive and no rescue group would take this on; whether an individual adopter would be willing to do so, I don't know. The dog has already been diagnosed, so he could not get insurance to cover anything related to allergies. I do know that I have an adopted dog with severe immune-mediated diseases, which include allergies, and as much as I love him, I would never have taken this on if I'd known what we were facing. It's not just expensive, it's heartbreaking to watch a dog suffer.

I had hoped that I could help with food allergies, but if seasonal allergies are also involved, I'm sorry to say there isn't anything I can do or suggest. Dogs with these kinds of issues need committed owners, these issues can't be addressed by a shelter, rescue group, or foster on a temporary basis.

[Traci -Bexter & Maggie]

I SURE am hoping that there is another solution out there for Tucker.  OMD.  He is simply adorable and I wish I could take him in myself!  It seems like it would just devastate the little guy to be rehomed - and probably will be upsetting to the other dog too.  Good luck!

[Margaret Erwin]

She doesn't want to take him to the shelter because they will not doubt feed him regular dog food and he will then have a flare up.  He would be a wonderful pet for someone.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Hi Margaret, my dog Winston has the exact same problem. I totally understand. I just came back fro buying a $100 bag of kangaroo and red lentil kibble from the store. I've spent hundreds of dollars in vet bills for medicine and consults and will be consulting a dermatologist this week. I'm racking up quite a debt for this boy that I adopted in September. I love him to pieces and couldn't imagine life without him even though it's only been a few months. I'm having to look at my finances and make some serious cut backs, and am thinking up ways to earn extra money on the side, so I know how hard it is. I just wanted to say hang in there to your daughter and that I totally understand what you're all going through.

[Tom Higgins]

Margaret -

I hope you're able to find a solution that keeps Tucker at home, but if not, I've communicated with the director of IDOG (International Doodle Owners Group) and received this response, 

"Hi Tom,

we can certainly help her rehome this little guy if she wants. I'm not on Doodle Kisses, but maybe you could respond on our behalf and ask the daughter to email us at [e-mail]?

cheers,

Jo"

IDOG is an international organization, that is now based in Texas, so they're close enough to assist your daughter if necessary.

Best of luck to Tucker & your family,

- Tom

[Adina P]

If a rescue organization could find someone with the resources to keep this dog, awesome.  I think it is important for IDOG to fully understand what Atopy is about, though.  As Karen can attest it is xtremely costly emotionally AND financially to care for a dog with atopic dermatitis which is what this sounds like.   I don't imagine anyone but the most big hearted, big walleted person would CHOOSE to adopt a dog like this with full pre-knowledge.  So I don't want to get anyone's hopes up because too often such a dog is considered to have ONLY allergies to food which is not too often the case.y