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ossomed into a happy, bouncy boy. He eats twice daily on his time, and currently has puppy pads in his room because he is limited in his mobility due to health treatment mentioned above. He loves walks, and will do his business while outside. He loves children (my grandchildren are 4 and 11), and can't wait to sit on their laps to cuddle and give them his tummy for belly rubs. He loves his very sturdy toys, and brings them so we can toss them for him to fetch. He sleeps in his dog bed, and pulls his blanket into the bed so he can burrow. He loves car rides, and watches his world go by, not missing a thing! When we've found furniture for him to sit on in his room, he loves looking out the window there, too. Rudy wants to sit on our chest while we're lying on the sofa, and will put his nose against mine while he stares into my eyes, breathing my air as I breathe his. I've never had a dog do that before, and it seems as if he's saying that he's glad to be alive.
Since Rudy has a stage 3-4 heart murmur, he can't undergo anesthesia. His mouth was bad when we picked him up, but with team work with my veterinarian and good diet, his breath is good now. We have him on 'pulse dosage' of antibiotic....administered daily for one week a month....to minimize bacterial issues in his mouth.
He began his monthly slow-kill treatment for heartworms in January, and takes his Heartgard Plus on the first of every month. He'll need to be retested in December, 2019, to determine the success of this treatment,
He was symptomatic for both existing conditions when he arrived in our home....a persistent hacking, but dry, cough. Our vet worked frequently with us to find the medications that helped the most. Rudy no longer has a cough, and the only reason he goes to the vet is for his nail clipping.
His current medications are:
Furosemide12.5mg - 1 tablet every 12 hours
Enalapril 2.5mg - One tablet twice a day
VetMedin 5mg - 1/4 tablet every 12 hours
Clindamycin - one tablet every 12 hours for seven days first week of every month
(I wrap the pills into wet food or American cheese)
I knew when he arrived that Rudy would be with us for the rest of his life, which I anticipated would only be weeks due to the prognosis given me at the shelter.
But now that he is so full of life he needs to have normal companionship of a family, he needs to find that loving home.
When he does leave his room, he runs to the gate to meet the others, but his activity level being with him would literally be hazardous to his health...
Ideally, I'd like to see a home where he can be with his adult humans a lot throughout the day (retired, maybe?), no other dogs or cats in the home, although he'd love the companionship, and occasional 4+ year old visitors. He has so much love and life to offer.
Health issues:
HANGING LIPOMA FROM RIBCAGE
GRADE 3 HEART MURMUR
HW+ ON SLOW KILL SINCE 1/19
NO SEDATION - ONE WEEK/MONTH PULSE ORAL ANTIBIOTICS FOR DENTAL HEALTH
If you know that I am your forever dog please fill out an application at: daretorescue/adoption-application.html **Please don't forget to put my name on your application!
If you can not adopt me but would like to help DARE pay for my care while I am in their care you can donate online daretorescue/donation.html
or send check or money order made payable to DARE to:
DARE
PO BOX 21161
TAMPA, FL 32210
You can also contact us at infoDAREtoRescue
Even if you do not see a dog that matches what you're looking for, you may fill out a no obligation application and we will work to find a match for you. We receive dogs into foster care almost daily, so it is impossible to have every available or soon-to-be-available dog on the website.