Madison is safe and found, but you can still help her out!

Madison the Doberman mix (I think I saw somebody speculate the might be a Doberman-Kelpie cross?) is going to be staying with Illinois Doberman Rescue for the time being.

She was due to continue transport to Doberman Rescue Alliance Wisconsin, but in her veterinary checkup after she was found, the vet was concerned about her traveling any more. You see, the back injury they knew she had is apparently a broken L-7 vertebrae (like, literally in two pieces broken), and it could be considered a miracle that she still has continence and control of her tail.

Madison is also apparently heartworm positive and their vet has detected which might be an additional murmur. I've written about Doberman heart problems before; being a mix doesn't exempt her from such possibilities, unfortunately.

(picture from IDR Facebook page)

Donations for Madison can be made on her page on the Illinois Doberman Rescue Plus web page, via PayPal. She'll be staying in Illinois, as the vets think she's an excellent candidate for surgery, and they have access to good specialists that work with the rescue.

Arthritis and Supplements for Dogs , sponsored by Lintbells

How to spot the 7 visible signs of ageing

We don’t like to think that our dog is getting older but it is important to recognise the signs and remember that some signs of ageing are not always visible. Many of the following can be seen simply as ‘old age’ however many of these problems are treatable and your dog can still live an enjoyable life:

Stiffness and joint pain

Does your dog:

• Appear reluctant to walk, jump, or play?

• Limp? 

• Lag behind on walks? 

• Have difficulty rising from a resting position? 

• Yelp when touched?

• Sleep more?

If you answered YES to any of the above signs your dog could be suffering from joint stiffness and pain. This can occur as your dog gets older, a long walk may have strained their muscles or joints or, as in humans, joints can deteriorate over time (osteoarthritis).

To help your dog with their joint issues find out more about the UKs fastest selling joint supplement - YUMOVE

Change in coat colour and appearance

As a dog gets older more white hair will appear in their coat especially around the muzzle. The body also finds it harder to produce the natural oils needed to keep their coat healthy. Ask your vet or vet nurse to suggest an Omega 3 & 6 supplement to help your dog’s skin and coat restore its natural beauty.

Change in toilet frequency

Muscles in older dogs can weaken causing them to need the toilet more often. Let them out more frequently to prevent any accidents in the house.

Loss of sight or hearing

Older dogs can begin to lose their sight, you may notice they bump into things that have moved in the home. Try not to make any big changes in room layouts as this can be stressful for them. Dogs losing their hearing can often be mistaken for being old and stubborn so we shout instead. Why not try to retrain them with hand signals – old dogs CAN learn new tricks!

Losing or gaining weight

Older dogs have different nutritional needs to younger dogs. You may notice that your dog has started to gain or lose weight. Feed them a diet tailored to their needs, and take your dog in to see your vet nurse for regular weight checks to monitor any changes in weight and catch any problems early on.

Plaque build-up & eating less

You may notice that the smell of your dog’s breath has changed. If caught early enough, dental problems may be able to be managed at home with a dental diet or tooth cleaning so it is better to catch the problem sooner rather than later to prolong the need for full dental treatment.

Drinking more

An increase in thirst can be due to many conditions. It is best to discuss with your vet, or vet nurse if you have noticed your dog drinking more, as to what the cause could be.

It is still very important to go for regular checks at your vet practice during your dog's senior life to spot any underlying problems and keep them at them at their best.

Source: Lintbells.com and this page about supplement for dogs

The Cropping and Docking topic rears its head again

Dogster.com had an article this week, written by Annie Phenix of "Ask the Trainer" columnship, on her stance of cropping and docking. She seems to be of the opinion that it causes behavioral, emotional, and social problems for dogs, which is an interesting topic, to be sure, though not one any actual scientific research has been done on (that I know of; the body of research I have at my fingertips could be considered limited. I'd love to read it if such studies have been done and published!)

However, she also opens the article with the obviously-meant-to-be-facetious comparison that she wanted her (grown) German Shepherd to "look more tough", so decided to dock and crop the (adult) dog. This is simply not done. A tail dock at an adult age is a full on amputation, and that dog will miss his or her tail. A tail dock done to a puppy is minimal, done at 3ish days before the bones have ossified, and with appropriate pain management and anesthetic. Ears must be cropped prior to 12 weeks, or you'll end up with a crop and flop, so might as well have gone natural anyway. I also found the article to be rather anthropomorphic, but as I attribute thoughts and feelings to Elka all the time, I don't really want to be a hypocrite. Just thought I'd mention.

Mordecai! Special Needs Puppy with Doberman Rescue Minnesota

(picture from DRM blog)

Doberman Rescue Minnesota has Mordecai! He's a 16 week old male pup-super smart, great temperament, almost potty trained, crate trained, sweet little man, makes up for his disabilities! Breeder was going to euthanize as there was no money to care for him-we took him to the University of Minnesota Vet Center to get honest opinion on our options-The Docs at the U said we should give him a chance! So he is now with us and completely a joy to have in foster care! Mordy had a dislocated elbow that did not get placed back properly by the breeder, in fact breeder did not even notice it (!) until after Mordy was "sold", this will need to be addressed in the future and DRM is committed 100%.

Mordy also has congenital megaesophogus, which we are hoping he out grows one day-the vets are hopeful too! Mordy is super playful and acts like any other pup, he is just a little different as he eats in a high chair! We are also seeking donations to help defray his vet care as he grows. Mordy is currently eating Honest Kitchen-Embark, (we will take any donations for his food!) and we are looking at surgery for the future, the University estimates the cost to fix his leg at $3500. Please help us help Mordy! We are committed to helping him. If you are interested in adopting or helping us support Mordy with food or medical expenses please let us know!

(text from the DRM blog)

(picture from the DRM blog)

Roscoe update and DAN fundraisers

You'll be happy to know that Roscoe, the parvo affected Doberman, has been released from hospital care to one of the Doberman Assistance Network's foster mamas! This is great news; let's hope that the poor dude continues to improve, so that he might go on to rescue, and to a great forever home.

Doberman Assistance Network has a new case: Roscoe, who has Parvo

From the Doberman Assistance Network Facebook page:

D.A.N. has taken in a new boy who is in dire straits. Emaciated and sickly, test results have shown that poor Roscoe is Parvo-stricken. The next few days will be critical to Roscoe's recovery. You can directly help him by becoming a Gold, Silver or Bronze sponsor, helping pay for his veterinary care or food or making a general donation. No amount donated is too small. We also need to spread his story as the more people who know about his plight the bigger his support network will be. We are pulling for you sweet boy, hang in there and keep fighting.

To help Roscoe, and other Dobermans in need, please visit the sponsorship page on the DAN website.

Atlanta GA, Urgent Doberman Assistance Network case (be advised, graphic pictures)

A male Doberman currently being called "Manny" was found in a parking lot somewhere in Atlanta, wrapped in a blanket. Animal control picked him up, and while he's at the vet's now, he'll (hopefully) soon be in foster with one of the Doberman Assistance Network members.

Manny has a severe case of Demodetic mange, with a secondary infection, and is also severely underweight at 56 pounds (Elka is 75 pounds, to give you a frame of reference.) You can make a donation towards his care via PayPal at the DAN web site, and in the "special instructions" indicate that it is for Manny. Donations to DAN are tax deductible. At current, his vet bill is $220, being covered by the Atlanta Doberman Pinscher Rescue; not sure if it's likely to go up from there or not, but there's clearly a road of recovery for this guy. If you prefer not to use PayPal, donations can be sent via mail to


Doberman Assistance Network, Inc.
c/o Heidi Merriman
3852 La Colina Road
El Sobrante, CA 94803


I'm putting the pictures of him after the cut, because they are graphic, and extremely upsetting. Take my word for it, these are heartbreaking pictures, and I apologize if I upset or offend anybody, but I didn't want to not show him either. I wonder if he ended up dumped in a parking lot because his owners couldn't afford or didn't know how to cope with his medical issue. He is clearly a very sad and scared dog, and I really hope that with care and love, he'll recover into a fit, handsome, and confident Doberman.

These are the cases that DAN deals with daily, and they rely heavily upon and are thankful from donations from kind dog lovers. Please pass the story along. You can keep up with current info on the Doberman Assistance Network Facebook page.