Update on Toby the Bodeguero

[Emily_Babbelhund]

How is he with other dogs @Emily_Babbelhund ? Does he play nicely with them or is he a bit stroppy?

I can't really say because I had him as an only dog. He was great with other dogs on the beach when we went out. He's in a household now with (I think) five other Bods and seems to be doing fine. If you know someone who may be interested, I can get more info for you from the foster home.

Did the foster mum surprise him in some way?

No, it's really down to pain or some issue in his hindquarters. He was doing some nipping due to behavioural issues he was having with his original adopter, but the foster mum made a distinction between that (which had already improved it sounds like) and her getting bitten after she touched his hindquarters. She knew it was a reaction to pain which is why she took him to the vet.

I’d be pushing for more vet checks, too. If it’s sudden and out of character, I would want to investigate that avenue further.

Yes, have just finished having a FB chat with Miry and we both agree that there really has to be some medical issue. Toby did a lot of things with me - he's no super easy dog - but nipping or biting was not one of them. He's the opposite: just wanted to be held all day long.

However when pressed, his original adopter said he'd had the same back end issue with her. I suspect that he was injured at some point after his arrival in the UK - likely unbeknownst to her - and has now had a long time to learn how to protect himself. Poor guy.

So our next step will be to try to get the foster mum to see another vet or specialist.

I’d take him in a minute if the twins were better with other dogs. I think another might just push them over the edge!

Aww, I do appreciate the thought. He's such a fun little guy but you are right - not a good fit with your bunch. Besides, you've got enough nails to trim.

 

[Jen]

Oh no - poor Toby

If I didn’t have Rory I would take him in a heartbeat. I hope he finds a home x

 

[Stacia]

Poor little Toby, heartbreaking, would she not give him a second chance and keep him as one of her own?

 

[kateincornwall]

I am so terribly sorry , poor lad, and after the effort put into him too , totally heart wrenching xx

 

[edzbird]

Oh gosh Emily, I don't know what to say. Our wee Meg(an) Sparkle is definitely a biter and takes very careful management. It's very stressful at times, but she's a delight otherwise. I hope there is a glimmer for Toby. There are other people out there as mad as us.

 

[Beanwood]

That sounds like a defensive pain reaction. I would not be touching him or placing hands/body near him, but giving him an inflammatory in his food plus thinking about an anxiolytic to help in conjunction with behaviour rehab. Poor, poor guy

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

Poor little Toby, heartbreaking, would she not give him a second chance and keep him as one of her own?

It's a lovely idea in theory but she's the head of the rescue and already has 5-6 (I can't keep track). If a fosterer keeps becoming a foster fail, there's no more room for fosters, so it's not fair to expect her to keep him.

There are other people out there as mad as us.

Oh, I really hope so!

That sounds like a defensive pain reaction. I would not be touching him or placing hands/body near him, but giving him an inflammatory in his food plus thinking about an anxiolytic to help in conjunction with behaviour rehab. Poor, poor guy

Thank you, Kate. Very good advice - I'll copy/paste your reply directly to her. She also immediately thought it was a defensive pain reaction, but just because the vet says he doesn't see anything doesn't mean the pain isn't there. If it would be improved by the anti-inflammatory, that makes then a good case for it being real/active instead of something that he's still defending from a past injury.

 

[Beanwood]

@Emily_Babbelhund absolutely! Painkillers will do no harm. When Casper when through a bad phase with his back and hip, he would react to the slightest touch on his back, now, combine that with a good dollop of mistrust and anxiety, that could easily convert to a snap. Dogs are incredibly stoic, some more than others. I have found if we think something is going on...then it probably is somewhere.

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

Just got an update on Toby. Guess what? He's doing a test week with a potential adopter in Yorkshire! In what at has to be the most bizarre twist to his story yet, it seems that his painfulness and protecting his backside was due to extremely impacted anal glands that the first vet didn't notice!

Since they've been emptied, he's not had a single incident, so foster mum proposed a trial week to the potential adopter. Foster mum says he's very welcome back to stay with her if it doesn't work out but she has a good feeling about it.

Sending lots of lambie power your way, Toby. So far it's working for you, you little man with nine lives...

 

[SwampDonkey]

Good luck little fella. His bum must have hurt loads

 

[Jacqui-S]

Oh poor Toby.
Glad he's on the right track again.

 

[snowbunny]

Oh, so glad that there was a clear reason for it, poor little man!

 

[Aitch]

I really hope this works out, I was about to ask if I could him myself but my husband would go ballistic. He's the one that goes to sleep standing up if I remember rightly? In which case the diagnoses makes sense. Poor Toby. Have his original owners been told?

 

[Lisa]

Oh my, the adventure continues!

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

I really hope this works out, I was about to ask if I could him myself but my husband would go ballistic. He's the one that goes to sleep standing up if I remember rightly? In which case the diagnoses makes sense. Poor Toby. Have his original owners been told?

I really appreciate you wanting to give him a home, that's so kind of you. With the rollercoaster he's been on, I'm not making any assumptions about this trial week. We'll just see how it goes. However fingers crossed that Toby will have found his forever home without any need to make your husband go ballistic.

Yes, he's the one who used to go to sleep standing up. I've since learned it's something that isn't that rare for dogs who have spent a long time chained outdoors. A wise self-preservation instinct to always look awake. I'd think Toby doesn't do this anymore, but I haven't asked - let's hope not for his sake. Yes, his first adopter is in on the same FB chat as I am, along with Miry who heads the original Spanish rescue group, so we all get updated from Foster Mum at once.

 

[Beanwood]

Poor lad, that must have been so uncomfortable! Everything crossed for his trial run up in Scotland. Good that there is a fall back plan in place

 

[edzbird]

Oh this is just brilliant news. Sorry the poor wee chap was suffering so much, but at least he's sorted and happy again.

 

[MellowYellow]

Poor little boy, but glad it's been dealt with. Hopefully the trial week will go well!

 

[Stacia]

It is tragic that he could have been put to sleep just because he had impacted anal glands which were painful, so growled and snapped when approached in that area. I wonder how many other dogs in the world suffer the same fate :-( So pleased the other vet discovered the problem.

It does sound that his future is looking bright and his foster Mum will have him back if it doesn't work out,

 

[Charlie]

Oh poor Toby, I'm glad his glands have been sorted. Something so simple has caused him all this trouble. I'm surprised nobody noticed. Hope all goes well, he deserves it. xx