Newbie Lab owner
Hi everyone I have just become the new owner of a chocolate Labrador. I've never actually actively wanted a Lab :oops: so this has come as a bit of a shock to the system :) I have always had a golden retriever as well as other breeds but I just couldn't pass this chap up. I currently have 5 other dogs, 2 standard poodles, a goldie, a mini poodle and a staffie x. I heard about him on a rescue list. He was due to be pts at a dogs home so I said I'd go and meet him as I have a soft spot for elderly dogs. He was listed as 8-9 but that was an obvious lie. He has been aged by my vet at 12-14. He has terrible scurfy flakey skin, he'd been treated for conjunctivitis and ear infections, he has arthritis and a skin condition on his face. He currently has a terrible cough and sounds like he's on his last legs when he's coughing bless him. When he's sleeping theres no coughing so we're creeping round him trying not to wake him all the time lol. So far all he's wanted to do is sleep eat and nap :D I would say this is pretty normal for an old lab but I guess he has some comfort to catch up on. We don't have any history but I'd say it's not good. He doesn't look for attention so I figure he's never really been given any. I am getting closer and he let me give his face a little kiss last night. If you approach him from the front he backs right away from you, but from the side is ok. When he first met my dogs he showed a bit of interest but since then he seems to keep himself to himself (unless you are eating :) ) I am keen to get him out of his shell slowly but surely and help him for as long as he has left. I had just got some nzymes as I was told they were very good for general health of dogs, especially arthritis. He is currently on antibiotics for a month for the cough, and we are going to look at the legs next when we have a better idea of the severity of his problem. Anyway, heres Howard

Oh I nearly cried when I saw the photos!! :( Well done for taking him on ...I am sure he will slowly come out of his shell, with all the love you have to offer. Keep us posted would be great to hear how he does :)

Oh that poor, anxious boy, looking so down and bewildered. I had tears in my eyes looking at the first photo. :cry: Let's hope that with lots of rest and your TLC he quickly recoveres both mentally and physically You are wonderful to give him a home, Lucy. :P Do keep us posted on how he gets on

Thanks guys, I'm sure he'll be fine. Lots of rest to get him over his ailments seems to be the order of the day at the moment :D

Im so glad Howard got a chance off a good home,poor old boy looks so sad!

:lol: He just did a strange woofy noise for his dinner which is the first noise I've heard out of him except coughing! He must think his throats been cut, poor sod :cry:

What wonderful people you are giving him a last chance of happiness. He looks like a lovely old fella whose seen some tough times. There's something about the mature dogs that really pulls at me. I wish you all the luck in the world with him. Sue x

He's been play fighting tonight and has come out of his shell a few more inches :D He decided he was going to claim the sofa so his arthritis can't be that bloody bad :D I think he may have been trying to camoflage himself!

:shock: OOh dont sit on him! :lol:

:lol: Got up there ok then!

awww. looks like it was made for him.... well certainly as far as HE's concerned :D

:lol: We've found out Howard likes to try to drag his bed round the living room. I even saw him try to hump it last night which as you can imagine was cause for much hilarity! Who says old dogs are boring :D He had practically pulled the cover off when we came back downstairs earlier with a very guilty look on his face :lol: he's interacting loads more with us now, as if he's clicked that unlike the dogs home we're not just caring for him, but we're actually interested in interacting with him. My boyfriend who pretended to be mostly disinterested is now following Howard around saying how lovely he is :P He's really fallen for him and keeps saying what a lovely dog he would have been when he was younger (I think he's lovely as he is though).

I've said it before and i'll say it again. I think you are really wonderful giving him such a lovely home at his time of life. Sue x

What a lovely old gent! I can recommend Green Lipped Muscle Extract for the joints also and Bess (our very arthritic 15 year old) wears a magnetic collar but as you say he can manage to get up on the sofa - perhaps his arithritis is being greatly improved just through having a better diet and some exercise to get him moving. He may not have been your first choice as a dog but these labs just happen to get under your skin! :wink:

He seems to have had a new lease of life over the weekend, so maybe the Nzymes are helping him. He's been more alert, more awake and doing loads more bed humping :shock: I've been very shocked by this 'old gent' :lol: I was trying to root out my old magnetic collars, I had 2 but I can't find them. I may have to invest in a new one.