I just need a little reassurance right now. My dog, is a 7-month-old German Shepherd/Staffy mix, and it feels like we’ve faced every possible challenge since the day we brought him home from the shelter in June.
Within the first 24 hours of owning him, he was lethargic, had discharge from his nose, and could barely stay awake. We rushed him to the vet, and he was diagnosed with a k9 Covid strain. That was the start of what’s become a long and expensive road, one vet quote alone was $8,000, and we’ve already been to the vet seven times in just a few months.
Since then, we’ve dealt with:
Chronic skin issues — constant itching around his tail and groin which has just now been managed with Cytopoint. But that was $160 and it only works for 30 days I believe is what they told me.
Food allergies, now managed with a fish-based diet.
Behavioral struggles — occasional resource guarding, stubbornness, eating EVERYTHING in the yard, especially rocks and leaves, and overexcitement that we’ve been addressing through desensitization and gentle training.
He’s still full of energy and affection, and I know none of this is his fault. Overall he’s a sweet, goofy, loving boy. But between the constant vet trips, allergy management, food issues, constant redirection and worry, I’m honestly tired and discouraged.
I love him so much, and I want to do right by him, but it’s hard not to feel defeated when it’s one thing after another.
If anyone has gone through a similar start where your puppy seemed to have constant health issues that finally got better with time — please tell me your experience. I just need to hear that it really can calm down once they mature and their immune system settles.
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