Long time lurker here. I've slowly ended up in a position I never thought I'd be in with my dog.
Hank is a 16 month old, tennis ball obsessed, high energy, smart, cute lab mix. I'm a recent college grad with a great job and work/life balance. Hank was returned to the shelter twice before he was 8 months old, and I have spent countless hours after working with him to break the behavioral issues which I believe to be the reason he was given up on both occasions. He's made significant strides but still has some things to improve on.
The first month after I adopted Hank he was chewing on a bone at my feet and swallowed a chunk he broke off before I could take it away. The vet for that visit cost me almost $800, but I assumed it was a one time cost that could be chalked up to a learning lesson for both myself and Hank. No more bones from then on. Hanks tennis ball obsession can be described as tennis ball destruction. Not only does he destroy tennis balls, but he also rips apart any toys I've ever bought him. This includes an "indestructible" duck he ripped apart before we got out of the Pets Mart parking lot. I purchased a toy that was advertised as to have a "lifetime" warranty, but the pet store told me they wouldn't replace it after replacing it for the 4th time. The point of this is I've spent a few hundred dollars on finding the best toys for him and right now it's limited to a Kong and 3 nylon bones.
Hank is extremely smart and curious but is obviously bored with a limited selection of toys. I tried leaving him in specific areas during the day but he managed to open the refrigerator last week and had a field day. (On a lighter note, knowing how to open the fridge is one of the negative results of teaching him to fetch a beer from the kitchen) He also opened my nightstand drawer yesterday after I tried limiting him to my room and balcony and chewed up a retainer and a few other things things. I take him to daycare one to two days a week because I feel bad leaving him home in a kennel with just those toys. I do walk him during lunch every day to give him a break from the kennel.
Hank has a sensitive stomach and requires limited ingredient food, which runs 50 dollars a bag. Lately, Hank has had UTI that has required several vet visits. Amoxicillin gave him severe diarrhea and we're still trying to find the best antibiotics to clear everything up. Throughout the infection Hank has had countless accidents on the carpet. From the way he looks at me immediately after I can tell he knows he shouldn't pee on the carpet and he knows it's wrong, but I don't think he can help it. I have to take him to the vet again tomorrow to determine whether or not he needs to goto a specialist. In the past 6 months of ownership I've spent more on Hank's medical bills than I have on my own.
I have a great job and can afford the vet bills, but at what point do I say enough is enough and start looking for an alternative forever home for Hank? It pains me to write this, but I don't know if I can do it anymore. I keep telling myself it's just a dog being a dog but I'm beyond frustrated with the constant vet visits and worrying about his health, well-being, and overall quality of life.
Has anyone ever been in a situation similar to this, and is there anything I can do to ensure I do the best for Hank?
Obligatory photo: http://ift.tt/1FLWBen
Submitted May 05, 2015 at 07:58AM by adggda http://ift.tt/1btJotR dogs
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