Deadbeat dude ditches dog
Dear Dr. Forsythe: I hope you can help me with a little problem I’m having with my brother’s dog “Murphy.” He has been staying with me for the past four months while my brother has been straightening out some problems with his personal life. At first I was happy to help out, but recently Murphy has been acting out around the house and causing a lot of stress to me and my infant daughter. Also, my brother promised to pay for Murphy’s food and bills while his dog was living under my roof, but so far I haven’t seen a single penny. And it’s not like my brother lives around the corner – he brought Murphy 600 miles from where he lives so I could “take care of him” on a temporary basis.
The problem is that I was recently laid off and can no longer care for Murphy. And my brother is not returning my calls and seems to be turning a deaf ear to my problems now that I really can’t help him anymore. I really don’t know what to do, but I know I can’t keep Murphy any longer. Do you have some advice that could help? – Pissed off Sister
Dear Sister: Well this sounds like a huge “pile” you’ve stepped in. Although it may be tempting to think about finding him a home, you can’t really give his dog away to someone because, in the state of California, pets are considered property. So by giving away his “property” you could be opening yourself up for legal action. He sounds like a real dumbo for not answering your calls after you’ve done him such a big favor by taking care of his dog – but perhaps his personal problems are much bigger than anyone realizes. I suggest you send him a certified letter stating that you can no longer care for Murphy. Then I suggest that you drive Murphy back to him or hire a pet delivery service to return the dog.
By the way, I know what if feels like to have brothers and sisters that couldn’t care less about a sibling. While hopefully your brother isn’t really in that category, I suspect he may be in a really bad way to get to the point of abandoning his pet and not returning your calls. I don’t believe that enabling him is the answer, and I hope he will care for Murphy after you return the dog to him. Thanks for caring for Murphy for the last few months. Chalk it up to the experience of being selfless and a Good Samaritan. – Dr. F
Dear Dr. Forsythe: My Shar Pei was recently diagnosed some rare type of fever that is special to her breed. Can you discuss her type of fever in your column so other people will know about this disease, look it up on line and not have to go from vet to vet asking the same questions over and over about their Shar Pei?
– CK loves her Shar Pei, Novato
Dear CK: Yes indeed. The specific disease I believe you are referring to is known as known as “Shar Pei Fever.” This is an auto-inflammatory (not auto immune) disease that occurs in this breed and is familial or inherited. The dogs get very high fever (104-105 degrees) and swollen achy joints and become very sick. The clinical signs usually last for several days and can then go away for a period of time. There is no specific test to diagnose Shar Pei fever, but rather the veterinarian rules out other illnesses and confirms the diagnosis based on history and the condition of the pet. This is known as a “back in diagnosis.” Along with the fever itself, there are some associated conditions that can cause serious complications. Some dogs develop large deposits of protein in their internal organs – specifically their kidneys – called amyloidosis. This condition, when present, is difficult to treat and can prove lethal. For this reason, patients with suspected Shar Pei fever usually require thorough workups. If the diagnosis is made, specific treatments and medications can help. Thank you for your important question regarding a very special and very wrinkled breed. – Dr. F.
