Horrible start to my birthday.. :( Poor Kaedyn..

[sasvermont]

Gosh, I understand your concern as I have been in your situation, only difference being with cats and not dogs.

I brought in a cat, one that I thought was going to do just fine, and it turned out that he, the newcomer, was a dominant male and continually fought with my older cat, Miley. I spent hundreds of dollars at the vet, getting Miley fixed up from the attacks. I just couldn't continue. I was going crazy.

I spent weeks finding just the right home for the male cat. I ended up selecting a woman living several states away from my home. I drove Ti, the kitty, to her home. It was and is the perfect place for him. I was so sad to give him up, but it was for the only option at the time. He is happy now, my home went back to being mostly peaceful. It was the right decision.

It sounds as though you could use some peace of mind and I think you may want to consider re-homing. Good homes are out there, you just need to take your time and be very selective. Luck also comes in to play here, and I wish you much of it right now.

I know how tight money is for many of us, and it is stressful thinking about one more vet bill along with the increase in everything else - and then working yourself to the bone. I worry about my pets and just getting the annual check ups, coming up soon. I am hoping that prices at the vet will drop a little as the economy goes down the tubes. We need a break in some expenses, soon.

The only free advice I can give you medically speaking is that drug stores carry a product that is wonderful for cuts and wounds, called Benedyne (sp). I use it for myself as well. I think it is the stuff the Drs. use when doing surgery etc. They swab the area with the stuff. Looks like Iodyne.... but does wonders keeping the area clean and cleans up the uglies. I learned about it when one of my bunnies, bit the hell out of the other and the wounds were not able to be stitched. The vet had me put the Benedyne on the wounds and wow, they cleared up nicely. I used it a couple of times. I have only one bunny now, so no more wounds!

Keep us posted - I hope things calm down for you.

Re-homing takes some real soul-searching, time and energy, and luck, but sometimes it is the best for you and your pet. Pets can be very forgiving if allowed to thrive in another environment.

[IRescue452]

I'm sorry to hear. Maybe you should crate them even if somebody else is home, provided they aren't really paying attention to the dogs as you would.

[Husky_mom]

I´m so sorry.... poor Kae....

so hard.... so sad... but you´ll do best for all... lets´just hope things get solved and no more fights arise...

Keeva.... behave!!...

[binka_nugget]

Thank you everyone. My little man is doing better today. His spirits have picked up a little but I can tell he's still not feeling quite himself. I put the Shelties in the basement (they get along famously and can't stand to be apart). Keeva has the entire upstairs to herself. When I had Nancy do a reading on Kaedyn, she said he just wants more time to rest and be an old dog.. without the "annoying young puppy" around. So hopefully this'll keep them safe and make him a little happier.

I'm taking Kaedyn to the vet after work today. Having an injury-prone Malinois, I'm certain he'll heal just fine. Keeva has had worse with little to no treatment other than keeping it clean. His wound isn't quite as bad.. I just worry about infection because it's deep and in such a central location. I will update you all as soon as we're back tonight

Sas: Thank you for your encouraging words. I don't feel like I've exhausted my options yet. Hopefully it won't come down to it because Kee and I are making a lot of progress with her training.. but if it needs to be done, I'd make sure it's the right home so that everyone, including her, is happy.

[pitc9]

Oh... I'm so sorry to hear this... I hope things work out and everyone can stay where they are!

[Daisy and Delilah]

OMG!! This is terrible. I'm sorry to hear this. I hope all will be normal soon. Maybe a later Happy Birthday celebration? {{{{{HUGS}}}}}

[Twisterdog]

Dog fights among your own dogs are one of the worst things to deal with, because you feel SO bad for the one that got the worst of it, yet you love the one that did the damage, too.

I just went through this exact thing last month. I rescued an ACD/border collie cross last Christmas, we found her wandering in a truck stop parking lot. Someone had dumped her. I had no intention of keeping her, but we just fell in love with her. She is the sweetest dog, but jealous and not used to other dogs. It should have been against my better judgement to keep her, but our hearts were talking louder than our heads.

We had a few scuffles, but nothing major, until last month. Then, my three female terriers ganged up on her, and beat the snot out of her. So, a thousand dollar vet bill later, she lived, but the aggression level was seriously ramped up around our house. We kept her in the living room away from the other dogs while she was healing, but that couldn't go on.

The vet tech who took care of her for her week of in-clinic ICU just fell in love with her. She has one old, mellow dog and has been looking for a year for the "perfect" second dog. Apparently, Karma was the one. So, I gave her to Stacey, and it's been a perfect situation. I miss her very much, but it's for the best.

I also found a home for one of the terriers involved in the attack. Same thing - we took two pups and their mother from a nasty BYB. Found a home for the mother, but my husband wanted to keep the puppies, "for the boys". Well, the boys are 15 and 17, and frankly could care less about puppies, they are into cars and girls now. I should have put my foot down, because from 4 weeks of age I could tell this puppy had very little canine social sense and was quite aggresive. In this dog fight, she was not just fighting, she was literally trying to kill Karma, she pretty much ripped her throat out. If I would have been one minute slower breaking up the fight, she would have killed her. Ugly. I gave her to a wonderful couple who own a ranch, where she can be an only house dog. Working out great.

So, I feel your pain very freshly. But, let me assure you, IF you do have to re-home your dog, the fact that all dogs and people involved are happier and in a better situation makes the loss bearable. Sometimes it's just the right thing to do.

[ramanth]

I'm so sorry they had a fight and hurt Kaedyn. Hope he heals up soon.

[Kfamr]

I, too, know how you feel. Nala and Mufasa got into it the other day. Moo's got a pretty decent puncture wound on his leg. I've been keeping it clean.

The vet wanted to give Nala stiches when she busted her lip, but I couldn't afford them, so I just went with antibiotics and keeping it clean myself. Turns out she healed perfectly fine without stitches.

Hugs to Kaedyn and Keeva (and Kai too!)