Andy's Story

It's absolutely no secret that I have no shortage of love and compassion in my heart for furry lil' friends. Mike and I consider ourselves to be a "bulldog family" and we've always talked about expanding our clan to include more furballs. We hadn't made any plans to adopt any time soon as we just weren't sure if we were ready. Plus finding the perfect pup to add to an already full house takes time. We took Georgia with us when we met Pipkin, just to make sure they got along. We went back home and slept on it before making the final decision to say yes and welcome her into our lives. That was over a year ago and I can say without any hesitation that bringing another bulldog into our family was the best decision we've made. Georgia is always ecstatic to have a playmate, and the chemistry between the two is undeniable. It's smart to be wary of messing that up. But when a reader asked me on Tumblr yesterday if I knew of any shelters that had Frenchies, I never expected the outcome to be this. Another Tumblr friend left a comment to PetFinder, and I clicked out of sheer interest. A sweet little pup named Andy popped up from Tennessee and I went into love-sick mode. This little pup was part of the French Bulldog Rescue Network and I was amazed at this organization. Mike came home from a photo job and instantly let out an "Aww!". We were sold. We read his bio, learned that he was a "special needs" pup and we talked about it. We talked about adopting him and if we'd be a good match. We learned that these pups often have 150+ applications for forever homes. We decided to throw our name into the hat anyway. Just in case.



We knew that even if we didn't hear back, he'd go to a good home. He would find a forever family that could deal with his condition and give him unconditional love no matter what. If we weren't those people, we were totally fine with that. If we were those people, then that simply meant that maybe, just maybe, we were the perfect match for him. Believe me when I say a lot goes into adopting from the FBRN. It's on par with adopting a child in terms of the application, the questions, the home evaluation (yep!), etc. They also say it could take up to 8 weeks to hear anything back. Imagine my surprise when I had an email from Andy's foster mom today! Less than 24 hours after! His foster mom wanted to touch base with us and make sure we were aware of the severity of his condition, and everything it entailed. With that we decided to drive over to our vet and have a chat with him. To our relief he was very familiar with Andy's condition and he offered some really great insight into just how serious it is.



Andy has mega-esophagus, often referred to as mega-e. What this means is that his esophagus is enlarged, or partially collapsed, and it makes it much much harder for him to swallow/consume food. Andy is only 13 weeks old and he just happened to be born with the condition. He comes from a champion blood line, but something simply went wrong with him. The only way to treat Andy's condition is to feed him a raw diet with the consistency of "mush" and to hold him, like a small child, in your lap for the immediate 15 minutes following so gravity can help pull the food into his stomach. All sorts of things can go wrong, including getting pneumonia and even choking to death. I emailed his foster mom back with a million and one questions and she was sweet enough to call me so we could chat. We sat on the phone for a half hour and talked about everything under the sun. She assured me he was a perfectly normal pup with the exception of his eating. He's litter box trained (yep, a dog!), hyper, and really really fat (aw!). 


She expressed her appreciation that we went as far as to even speak with our vet to make sure this is something we could handle as a family, and medically speaking. That's not to say he won't have major side effects from the mega-e in the future, but we have to finally weigh our decision on whether or not we feel equipped to handle his situation. Apparently we are the front runners, as she said if we feel like the right fit for Andy she didn't want to call anyone else. Of course we're welcome to say no, too, simply so he goes to the best family. We have a big decision to make. It's obvious that there is no shortage of love for this little pup, and I know G and Pip would love a little brother. We simply must decide if we're in the position to give Andy the attention he needs. We're lucky that we work from home and can monitor his feedings, but we also have to take into consideration the financial aspect for the future. His foster mom sent us 6 (!!!) wonderfully adorable videos of him today and our hearts are positively melting. He's such a doll and we hope that we can be his forever family. It would take a lot out of us, but we feel so incredibly drawn to him that it's almost impossible to say no.

We're trying to remain objective in the situation and make the best decision for everyone involved. Hard right? If we decide to push forward with the process then our application will be submitted by his foster mom to the board at FBRN and they will conduct a home-study/home-evaluation/inspection to make sure our home/family is suitable for Andy. There's a ton of hoops to jump through but it's a process with a wonderful payoff.

Do you have any special needs pets? Or ever had a dog with Mega-e? Any words of wisdom for our big decision?

PS; We know about the Bailey Chair and other items meant to help with the passage of food from the throat to the stomach. If we adopt Andy we will absolutely be looking into purchasing a Bailey chair or making our own!

47 comments:

  1. my little frenchie/boston mix (Boogers!) is blind in one eye, we rescued him that way and I think it makes me love him even more! :)

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  2. I have 2 beautiful german shepherds, one- my Lucy- has hip dysplasia. Lucy is only 3 and Leon is only 1 and already Lu's hips are starting to get painful and slow her down. it breaks my heart that such a beautiful breed that is full of energy and just wants to run run run all day is slowed down because of it. She will be getting a hip replacement very soon though as the younger the better and I hope she is full of new life then, just like her brother Leon who's hips are fine.

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  3. Oh the poor thing, he looks so sweet! I hope you get to care for him. Our family cat at my parents' house has epilepsy- we got him from the SPCA as a kitten and they think he was thrown against a wall by his previous owners. He has pretty regular episodes which are terrifying- when someone's with him he's retrained so he doesn't hurt himself but he has had a few when no one's home and makes a big mess :-( The rest of the time he's the most snuggly kitty ever, and he must be almost 10 years old now. I can't say whether or not my parents would have adopted him if they'd known about his condition, but of course we wouldn't trade him for anything now. Good on you guys for wanting him so badly, but also recognising what a huge commitment it would/will be. Good luck!

    http://www.niceties.co.nz

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  4. First off, Andy is ADORABLE! Oh my gosh, what a cutie pie!!

    Secondly, I have a special needs cat. When we got Hypatia in 2007 we were told she was 3 years old and seemed to be in good condition. But then a couple months later her health just deteriorated almost overnight. She totally stopped eating, and our vet was at a total loss about what was wrong. We took her to a specialist for an ultrasound and found out that she had a growth on her liver that was only found in cats 9+. But it wasn't malignant, and it wasn't causing her problems so she was still just getting sicker and sicker. After a month she had gone from about 12 pounds to 6 pounds.. the vet was injecting vitamins and fluids to keep her alive, and I was doing everything I could think of to get her to eat. Just when we were about to give up hope, our vet discovered she had severe gingivitis and that ended up being the cause of her not eating!

    (Sorry this is so long!) Anyway, he started her on a regiment of monthly (sometimes bi-monthly if she isn't doing well) shots to treat it, and we had all but 4 of her teeth pulled. I have to give her medicine every day, and because of the gingivitis her breath isn't really pleasant.. but she sleeps with me every night. Every few weeks she stops eating again, and I have to hurry her to the vet for another shot. I have to keep a close eye on her because it happens so suddenly, and sporadically. She also can't groom herself anymore, so I have to get her shaved. And she has trouble going to the bathroom sometimes but I don't want to go into that lol..

    But honestly, I'd do it all over again if I had the chance. Hypatia has ended up being the sweetest cat to ever live, and just the thought of her living with another family instead of me breaks my heart. It's tough living with the reality that your pet isn't going to live as long as other pets, but I think special needs pets leave a huge pawprint on your heart and they need people like us to love them! I'm looking for a sister for Hypatia and Chloe, and while I want a healthy little kitten, I know that --even after my experience with Hypatia -- if I see a damaged little kitty up for adoption I'll probably be bringing her home :)

    I think you and Mike seem like perfect guardians for a special needs pet. Honestly, the fact that you're even considering bringing him home, in my opinion, means you're ready to do it :) But whatever decision you end up making will be the right one, and it warms my heart to know that there are so many people that want Andy to be a part of their family :)

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  5. You two are so sweet and amazing! I think it was meant to be. :) i don't think that the majority of people would be able to take care of a dog with that condition. At least I wouldn't be able to. Precious Andy would be lucky to be a part of your lovely family! It would be so cute to see pictures of Georgia and Pipkin with him! :) and how awesome that he's potty trained!

    Fillmyheartup.blogspot.com

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  6. Our dog, Biggie (after Biggie smalls...he's a big black lab :P) came from a meth house. The house had caught on fire & they were just going to take all the animals to the shelter. It wasn't a big deal for the other animals because they were puppies, but biggie is about 4-5 years old, so it'd be a lot harder for him to get adopted. We took him in & he is the sweetest dog I've ever met :)

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  7. Oh how adorable is he! It's so wonderful you're even considering adopting this lil chap, and I know you'll make the decision that is best for you and him. So if it turns out you can't take him on he will still be going to a wonderful home who will love him. If you do take him you'll be totally fab at looking after him. He'd make a wonderful addition to the family by the looks of things.

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  8. Kaelah,
    I had a pup with mega-esophagus back when I worked at a vet. Unfortunately, he didn't make it.

    It's a tricky, tricky condition. If you know you can be this pup's forever home even if forever isn't too long, then I encourage you to take him on. But if you don't think you're up for the risk of heart break, let him go elsewhere.

    Obviously, I hope he's one of the success stories!
    xoxo

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  9. What a sweet baby!!!

    My little boy was born with a cleft, and so I freaked out when I saw a posting for a dog with a cleft on Craig's List. Sadly the people only posted to share a picture of the cute dog they had just adopted, meaning the little cutie wasn't for sale. This was back before my son had his first surgery, and I thought about asking to borrow the dog for a photo shoot. A baby with a cleft and a dog with a cleft... How cute would that be?

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  10. I have 3 dogs, one of which is deaf. My mother had found him on Petfinder and knew that we had to have him. He was the tiniest little ball of fluff that I had even seen. It wasn't until 3 weeks after we got him that we noticed he wasn't catching on to his name, or really any sounds at all. We found out he was deaf but that really didn't change anything. He stays close to the house and is an absolute dream. He's perfect and has taught me so much.

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  11. I have 3 dogs, one of which is deaf. My mother had found him on Petfinder and knew that we had to have him. He was the tiniest little ball of fluff that I had even seen. It wasn't until 3 weeks after we got him that we noticed he wasn't catching on to his name, or really any sounds at all. We found out he was deaf but that really didn't change anything. He stays close to the house and is an absolute dream. He's perfect and has taught me so much.

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  12. He's adorable. Goodness. I see why it'd be hard to say no to being his mommy! Personally I know that I would read "special needs" and know that I would not have the time or possibly the money (depending) to care for him- it wouldn't even be an option for my husband and I. So to me- if you're considering it and feeling like you could really do this- I feel like you already know what your answer is!

    I want another pet (we have two bunnies), and every time I get all googly-eyed over a puppy or anything I just try and think about all that I already have on my plate + the fact that we will be having a baby within the next 3 or 4 years. It seems like a long time away but an extra pet to care for (pay for) will still be here in 4 years- so it usually helps me to think of this when I need to say no!

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  13. What a hard decision to make...I really don't want to be in your shoes at the moment.

    Well, I don't know any dogs that have this particular problem, so I don't know if my advice is any good. BUT.... My dog Boots has a mental issue. I know it sounds funny, but it's not. It's a long story and I don't want to get in to detail here (you can email me if you want to know more)...getting to the bone: she was and still is a special needs dog. I Love my Dog to bits. She is my family. BUT...It is hard work...a lot of hard work...It needs constant attention, 24/7. And although everybody nods their head and says "yaya" when they hear this...it is NOTHING like living with a healthy, "normal" dog. It is extremely time consuming and nerve wrecking and there where several times where I lost huge job etc opportunities because of her. And no matter how much you love your dog, this is a terrible thing. I don't know this little guys illness but it sounds like it will be very hard. What if the buddy swallows something while he is outside playing?? Those two seconds you are not watching could be exactly those two seconds that he swallows something that is lying on the floor. I will be honest here and tell you that this CRAZY attention that my special dog needs almost caused me a mental breakdown (I'm serious). We worked on it every minute of every day and now it is much more relaxed...but if it would have stayed the way it was in the beginning...I couldn't have accomplished it.

    You should really think long and hard if you can give this pup 100% attention every second for the next decade.

    Like I said...I don't know that special illness and it could be that it becomes routine in two days and everything will be just wonderful bliss :)

    like I said...hard decision.

    xoxoxo
    Melanie

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  14. We have five doggies and love them so! Our eldest developed diabetes, and is now blind...and old...and not his body doesn't always adapt to the insulin and he'll lose bladder control. He was a sickly puppy, it was so hard to keep food in him. He'd get sick all the time. It took extra work but he has made my life beautiful...and continues to the day its time to let him go. Not having him is inconceivable. Not having any of our babies would be insane to us...it is sometime challenging but they are our babies. I can tell you have already made your decision...this is your baby. I hope the home study goes well...and I love you both for having such huge hearts and loving this little guy! Hearts, Janna Lynn

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  15. When I adopted my little dog Hewitt I knew that he would be a challenge...but he is totally worth it. He was hit by a car and had some brain damage, but thankfully, he's almost back to complete normalcy (for a dog). There is a lot of learning what special needs dogs can and can't do but they are just as loving and sweet as any other.

    If this pup does get adopted by you and Mike, I suggest keeping a journal of when stuff goes right and wrong so you'll be able to keep track of what to do and what not to do. (what foods do and don't agree with him, what kind of play he can tolerate and what he can't, weather that troubles his condition, phobias, etc.)

    Good luck!

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  16. what a little sweetie. that IS a big decision to make. the only thing i can think of you that you didn't post about is what will happen if you have to go out of town? your parents watch the girls right? will they be comfortable feeding him how he needs to be fed? does he live close enough that they will let you visit him and see what it is really like to deal with him?

    i'm not sure what I would do in the situation. we adopted both of our pugs and they are both special needs. phyllis is blind in one eye and has just three legs, which doesn't really slow her down now, but as she gets older she will need help. and priscilla is a senior who is almost blind, almost deaf, and has really really bad arthritis and both of her knee caps are totally blown. and i love them. it is really rewarding to me to be able to give them a home when they might have not made it out of the shelter because they weren't perfect. i think you have to REALLY think about if he will fit into your life, and if he will, go for it! and the nice thing about most rescues that are so thorough is they really support you and give you advice.

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  17. This is such a tricky one. When we went from a two dog family to a three dog family it was a big adjustment (and big increase in medical bills) but we would never give any of our pooches up. I kind of consider our long-haired chihuahua Leroy special needs because he came to us from a puppy mill rescue with him having lived in a wire cage with no real interaction for four years. He had to have teeth removed and has food problems from standing on wire for so long. Those things can add up, along with any other little issues along the way, and he needed special attention in being held for periods of time, simply to get him comfortable with humans, but it really is all worth it. I agree with being objective in your situation though and really weighing out the cost and how this will work into your future work plans and moving plans and so on. Just all angles. But I also realize when you fall in love it's hard not to fall in head first. :) Good luck with whatever you decide and know that if you're not ready than his foster mom will make sure he goes to someone who will love him with all their heart as well.

    -Sara-

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  18. No advice or wisdom to offer, just a little encouragement. : )

    Like you said, there is no shortage of love in your home. I just wanted to tell you--that is SO obvious. You guys are such great pet owners!
    No matter what decision you guys make, you are making the right one for not only you, but for this little guy, too.
    That being said, I think you'd be the perfect family for him! : )

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  19. Aw, French Bulldogs are the sweetest, cutest dogs ever. Just seeing these photos of little Andy are making me utter a bazillion "awwww!"s and smile a ton.

    My Boston Terrier that I've had for 10 years just got put to sleep 11 days ago, and he had had ear problems, and tumors, and ended up being incredibly sick with cancer that spread to his lungs, and so he was basically suffocating. I miss him so much. Anyway, I guess where this is going, is that I would jump at this wonderful chance to give this sweet puppy a family who would love and care for him. If I were you (but I'm not ;) ) I would decide to adopt Andy in a heartbeat. I think you shouldn't let a beautiful opportunity like this pass...

    Yes, it would be a challenge because of his special needs, but I think that makes the opportunity to adopt him, get to know him, and make him part of your family even more beautiful. ♥

    Good luck with your decision! I know that whatever happens, Andy will end up in a wonderful, loving home. :)

    xo
    Maria Elyse
    First Impressions
    Flying Ships Vintage

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  20. What a sweetheart. And how adorable! I think that he'd be super lucky to live with you. Especially mentioning that you are able to take care of him in the working from home aspect.
    And you really seem to want him - you seem to know so much about his condition! I hope that either way that cutie is safe, happy and healthy! :) Good luck!

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  21. He is seriously so cute! My dog has some physical disabilities as a result of a car accident, along with diabetes, so he requires some special attention. But it's not too much work and it's still so worth it. I love him so much. And I'm sure you'd be great for Andy, should you choose to go that route.

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  22. SO CHUNKY AND CUUUUUUUTE.
    (That's enough, Sarah.)

    Seriously though, he is adorable! I have two "special needs" dogs. (I don't know if it would technically classify as special needs, but I know that they need more attention than normal pups.)

    My one Boston just turned 14 and she is losing sight and hearing but otherwise she is perfectly healthy and energetic. My other Boston we just adopted this summer and she comes from a mill.

    Even though they both require extra special attention, it makes it that much more worth it in the end. One thing that really helped was playing with each dog one-on-one, especially when we first introduced them together. Extra snuggles go a long way! Remember to be patient and that it won't happen overnight but when it does, your pup will love you forever!

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  23. Aww,he's so cute!! I don't have any pets with special needs. If it were me though,I would definitely sleep on it,especially with medical bills and whatnot. I hope you guys get him,though! :)

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  24. Andy is an absolute cutie patootie. watching that first video with him bounding around the yard, his chubby lil 13 week old self, too much!

    I can't even imagine how hard you and Mike must be thinking right now. It truly is a life changing decision. It's like you said, almost like adopting a child. You are considering expanding your family.

    It's hard when they are special needs because if for some horrible reason you had to get rid of him, you couldn't just give him to anyone, you have to make sure someone is equipped to love him fully.

    I am with the person somewhere above me who mentioned that they know you and Mike would give him a blessed life, whether it's long or short. I totally agree... When I used to volunteer at the SPCA regularly, I would always take time to pet and love on all the dogs, and if they didn't have a name attached to them, I'd give them one.... Someone once asked me why, and I said "because, I don't know if I am the last person this animal will ever get love from if it doesn't get adopted, and I just want to make their stay at the shelter as loving as possible. they all deserve love and a furever home'

    I think it may be an awesome match since you and Mike would have the ability to ensure his feedings are done properly.

    I wonder if they foster family would let you bring him home for a few days to get to know Pip and G? That's very important so I am assuming that it'd be mandatory anyways.

    I have a dog (my baby!) that has epilepsy. The first time he had a seizure in Jan of 2010 I freaked!!!! I'd had him for 3 years and no problems... but, you know what? I'd do ANYTHING for my furbabies... and vet bills are not cheap. I've also had one of my dogs have a ligament surgery on a hind leg. You gotta do what you gotta do to keep them healthy and outta pain.

    The fact that you and Mike are even considering a special needs dogs speaks wonders for your hearts. You are both such kind hearted, beautiful souls. I know you will make the decision that is not only best for you, but for that precious lil' pup as well.

    Good luck friends!

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  25. so i have 4 yorkiesa, and the dad has a collapsing trachea. he weezes sometimes and coughs alot. we talked to the vet and he said not to put a throat collar on him. but we put a harness on him when he goes out or when he is on walks with us. we feed him regular soft dog food. he is fine, we just dont let him have the throat collar on, and all of our other dogs love the dog food. its not super hard but not much either. but since you would be getting a puppy, i would feed him the mush stuff until he is older and to see how bad his condition really is.

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  26. I have an epileptic cat who was only given 7-9 years to live when she was a kitten and is currently thirteen and a half. We think she has permanent brain damage from falling on her head from high places when she has seizures, but in the past few years she has been able to stay on couches or beds. We have extra blankets on all our furniture for easy clean up.

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  27. I've heard that any pups with short noses tend to have a higher chance of having esophagus issues, so you always have to use a harness on them (which I'm sure you're familiar with)
    god he is so cute.

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  28. Sometimes the conditions do improve with age. We have a special needs Golden. When I saw her I knew I had to have her. She has epilepsy and needs meds twice a day, along with regular vet visits, extra water, mid day snacks (her medication makes her hungry) etc. She is the best dog ever and she has just become certified for pet assisted therapy. I say you are probably exactly the home this dog needs! Sometimes in life you just have to jump and I believe this is one of those times.

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  29. you should totally adopt him!! how cute!!! he was a lucky find. finding dogs of that breed are very rare and hard to come by.

    BTW- are you and this girl friends by chance? I came across her blog today and for a split second I thought it was you!!-- take a look------> http://theadventuresoftwosams.blogspot.com/

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  30. very happy to say that I just found your blog! And I'm from Nashville too! :) Cute pup... I have a BIG Bernese Mountain Puppy named, Minnie, She's a DOLL

    -grace
    http://herumbrella.com

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  31. Oh my goodness! He is so adorable (I think I went "eee!" about 30 times watching those videos).

    I have a one-eyed lab/chow/terrier mix with special needs. People are often telling me how sweet it is that my partner and I chose to adopt our dog, special needs and all. I have to laugh a little when that happens because the work I've put into taking care of my pup is nothing compared to the immense joy he brings to my life.

    Reading your blog, it's obvious that you're an awesome dog mom. If anyone could handle a puppy with such specific needs, it's a person who, like you, has experience with dogs and a whole bunch of compassion!

    Whatever you decide, I'm sure Andy will find a loving forever home. Good luck with this tough decision!

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  32. Oh my! He's such a cutiepie! I love french bulldogs! Me and my boyfriend are planning to get one when we're settled down. I've never got a pet with health problems before so I think it might be hard to take care of their health. But other than that, I think you could handle it! I mean, you're already thinking to consider to take him home. And you went to your vet for extra information. I think he could be the perfect pet in your happy family. :)

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  33. Being a fellow animal owner and lover I say go for it! As you stated in your blog you do work from home so making sure he eats wouldn't be hard to monitor. I really admire that you are opening your heart to hopefully adopting him, You'll make a great mom some day!!! <3 Takecare and follow your heart

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  34. oh my gosh he is so adorable! i hope adopting him works out for you guys! having a dog with health issues is scary but you guys seem to know what you're getting into :)

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  35. What a sweet little boy! I have never been a small dog fan but you might've just turned me with all of those pictures...

    I second what a lot of people are saying here - it's really easy to commit to take care of a special needs beastie but the daily reality is time-consuming and can be draining (financially, etc.). I think it's amazing that you guys are taking the time to think this through rather than rushing into it like a lot of people do (with normal or special needs dogs).

    My in-laws had a basset hound that went blind at age 2. She had to re-learn how to maneuver about the house, gained a ton of weight (because she couldn't exercise), etc. My FIL is a doctor and rather than have her eyes removed, he would give her human glaucoma drops every day to keep the pain at bay. She lived until 11 and then passed, and I know my in-laws wouldn't have done anything differently (except maybe not buy her from a pet store).

    One of the big things I'd be concerned about (and what my in-laws had a hard time with) is the ability for you and Mike to up and leave if you decide to go on vacation, or take the Honeybean to a market out of town or out of state? Molasses (the blind basset) couldn't go to a kennel because of her blindness and subsequent disorientation, and my guess is this little guy would have similar issues. Would a kennel know exactly how to feed him to make sure he didn't choke or develop an infection? Would you worry the entire time you were gone? Could you afford to keep him with a vet, which may offer fewer exercise opportunities for him during your absence? Maybe these aren't concerns for you, just speaking from the secondhand experience I have with my in-laws :)

    Whatever you decide I wish you and your little family all the best. I'm sure that whether or not you adopt Andy he will be adopted by a loving home. :)

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  36. My boyfriend's family has a springer spaniel, named Sia, with mega-esophagus. I have dogsat for them plenty of times and feed all the time. She is so sweet. She was also born with the condition. She is now almost four and super healthy and active and lovey-dovey. She is always running around with her brother and sister. It isn't the easiest thing, in fact it is probably easier with her because she just puts her paws on the sink and we feed her that way. They have been looking into making a chair for her, you might want to look into that since Andy is a smaller dog. She has gotten into large amount of food, I think one time with was raw beef, some burgers, an entire loaf of bread, and the garbage, and she has managed to get it all down with minimal issues. Good luck. It is so awesome of you to be willing to take in a special needs pup. They most certainly need extra love sometimes.

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  37. My boyfriend's family has a springer spaniel, named Sia, with mega-esophagus. I have dogsat for them plenty of times and feed all the time. She is so sweet. She was also born with the condition. She is now almost four and super healthy and active and lovey-dovey. She is always running around with her brother and sister. It isn't the easiest thing, in fact it is probably easier with her because she just puts her paws on the sink and we feed her that way. They have been looking into making a chair for her, you might want to look into that since Andy is a smaller dog. She has gotten into large amount of food, I think one time with was raw beef, some burgers, an entire loaf of bread, and the garbage, and she has managed to get it all down with minimal issues. Good luck. It is so awesome of you to be willing to take in a special needs pup. They most certainly need extra love sometimes.

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  38. what a cutie! i can see why you fell head over heels for him. i have no advice on what to do, all i have to say is that it seems like you've aldready made up your mind. (or is it just me hoping to see more cute puppy pictures on your blog?) let us know what you'll decide!

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  39. I seem to attract animals with 'special needs' so they have a very special place in my heart. My last cat had diabetes so we had to inject her with insulin and monitor her blood sugar levels. Sadly we lost her to pancreatic cancer so it was a hard journey.

    My little bunny also has very specific health needs. She has to be nebulised twice per day for chronic respiratory problems and we thinks she has mega colon. Which is very similar to meag-E except she has to have her bottom end monitored. Her raw diet is very seasonal and unpredictable.

    We are at the vets almost every week as her needs change from week to week. I cannot tell you how many people have asked me why I spend so much time and money caring for her as she is so needy but she is part of our family. We had no idea of her heath needs when we rescued her but I would not have disregarded her in spite of that.

    The love that is received from our companions is enough, we just take each day as it comes. I read somewhere that animals don't think of tomorrow today is their tomorrow so we make each say as special as we can!

    Wishing you lots of love and happiness with your new family member x

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  40. I really hope you get Andy, as I think you guys will be amazing parents to him :) He definitely deserves a wonderful family.

    I know I mentioned this to you on Twitter already, but my younger sister and I received a shitzu/toy poodle dog for Christmas or Easter, 6 years ago. This little dog, who we named Izzy, could fit into your palm, she was so small! She wasn't even big enough to read our fingers in our palms. A day after my mom brought her home, she started having seizures. Thinking about it now still makes me want to cry and makes me want to hold her. I stayed home from school that day and monitored her. Eventually, I called my friend's mom (my mom couldn't leave work) to take me and Izzy to the vet. The vet took her overnight and warned me that she may not make it to the morning. She turned 6 this past October!! We found out from the vet that Izzy has hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and hydrosyphilis (water around her brain..so her head is too big for her body), blind in one eye...and personally, I think she's also half blind in the other. She spins in circles no matter her emotion, always to the left (we have no idea why) and barks. She also needs to wear a diaper, as we've tried and tried and tried to train her to go on pee pads, but she just won't learn. We cut a hole in the back for her tail and for her to poop, of course. She also has early signs of dementia. She sits and stares at walls, or the book case. I've read and heard from dog groomers, that when dogs or cats stare at walls, it is an early sign of dementia for them.

    We found out even later, that the breeders had revived her twice before selling her to us. We got our money back, because they never told us that before we bought her.

    I would like to mention to you, that no matter a special need in an animal, they can survive longer than what is expected. Especially if they're given lots of love and care and attention.

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  41. He is adorable. I have a pug, and I think all smushy face dogs ate super sweet. I'm glad Andy will have a good home!

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  42. He is so cute!

    I have 4 cats and one of them I adopted from a friends neighbor, but she we took him in he was so sick and had his back skin falling off. We had to take care of him for a long time, we still do, another one of our cats has skin cancer and her nose is kind of falling off too, the vet said there's nothing we could have done to prevent this, but we can help making her life and the other kitties easier by applying sunscreen to their noses so that's what we do...

    Hope you get to adopt Andy, I think all you need is patience when it comes to this kind of situations. You already have so much love to give! :)

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  43. I have a few special kitties. Three of my cats were rescued from the wild. When I tried to adopt out the first one, it was clear that he would not fit in any other home. So those cats are staying with us. They're mostly fine, but they've adjusted to us and fit well with us, so they're staying.

    The second one I rescued from a neglectful owner. She has some serious allergies that were never taken care of. The poor kitty has scratched away fur on her face and ears and groomed away fur on her legs. I've got her on a limited ingredient diet and am working with my vet to help her stop being so itchy! I'm hoping I can get her allergies under control so she can live a more comfortable life.

    I know I wouldn't be able to make the commitment is sounds like Andy needs, but I think that if you believe you can then you should definitely go for it.

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  44. How adorable!!! i think that is wonderful. I wish I could have a bunch of dogs but they aren't allowed where I live so mine lives with my parents. :( I have a feeling I'd have about 5 dogs otherwise. Your dogs are so sweet!

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  45. I'm so behind in my reader that I just saw this. He is adorable! I know you guys will (or have?) make the best decision.

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  46. I'm sure you already saw this, or maybe it's just a hype in my country but...

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=qUcCZTnImCI

    A dog with what seems to be Andy's condition.

    If I'm wrong, as I'm a complete noob on the subject I'm risking my chances of being completely no help at all with this post :3
    Of course I'm hoping it is somehow helpful.

    The best to you and Andy!

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  47. Andy is so beautiful and completely loveable. I have an American Bulldog who came from the breeder with Mega-E.

    Here is what I have found:
    Dealing with the disease can be tiring at times as regurge can happen regardless of how careful you are with the feedings. Some days will be better than others as far as that goes. The main thing is to monitor them and ensure that pneumonia doesn't set in as that is what will take them.

    Make sure that they stay at a healthy weight. I like to give her extra vitamins and omega supplements that help keep her healthy. She has gotten much better since I began giving her the supplements.

    She is more sensitive to chemicals whether they are you cleansers or flea and tick preventative, I usually try to put her in her box to rest while I clean to keep her away from the chemicals and I clean her special area with just water.

    She loves to run and play outside, but tires easily and extreme temp changes have a negative impact on her. I try to limit the exposure to the extremes as much as possible which helps.

    My best advice is to be very patient with Andy. I know that my bully-girl is worth every effort and is the best dog I have had. She is so loving and happy go lucky. I wouldn't trade her for the world. If you feel you can deal with the extra work, stick with it. If Andy is anything like my Maddy, he will rock your world (in the best possible way)!

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HEY! Thanks for dropping by. xo KB