Recently Diagnosed with question concering pets

[Llexi]

I am a 28 year old female that was just recently diagnosed with MS last Friday. I currently have just finished my first round of IV SOLU-MEDROL that completely has wiped me out (on top of the new diagnosis) emotionally and physically. I am also currently in the process of being placed on Neurontin to control my migraines as well as the dizziness/vertigo I have been suffering from. Needless to say I'm overwhelmed with all the medications I am on currently and just looking for a little insight into the disease. I have visited the National MS Society website-which coincidentally I have done the MS walk every year because of my best friend's dad having MS.

My biggest thing is staying active through everything. I am a very active person in the first place but the past couple of months while going through the diagnosis process I have found it harder and harder to get out of bed and keep active which makes me depressed.I have a cat but we all know that cat's don't like taking that long stroll in the park on a leash or go to the beach and play in the water. I have been contemplating getting a dog for years now and since my diagnosis I thought now would be a good as time as any. I was trying to find articles to support me getting a dog (as my boyfriend is completely opposed to having a dog because they shed and make messes) but if I can find information concerning that owning a dog does help those with MS by keeping their spirits up, keeping them active etc I think I would have a better chance of convincing him. I don't need a service dog or a therapy dog, just a companion pet to help me through all this when things get tough. Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you

Llexi

[doublevision1]

If you wanted to avoided puppyhood as per Alex's suggestion, but were keen on a non-shedding purebred, let's say, a poodle for instance, lol, you could seek out dogs retired from breeding. They will not have the needs of a puppy, ought to be well trained, will have many good years left, and often are available at a small fraction of the price of a purebred puppy.

[HVAC]

My suggestion is an older dog between nine months to three years. As a dog trainer you know the dogs personality and an older dog is easier to train. We got our first puppy a few years back and my husband was not happy with a young puppy. There are a lot of rescues. We got my Dalmatian Service Dog at 5 years old from a rescue. She has been the greatest dog and she was completely obedience trained. She stepped right into Service Dog training.

Alex

[Llexi]

Thank you all for your your thoughts and responses to my question. This is a first time for me in using a forum and I am finding it extremely helpful so bear with me a little and I apologize if my posts are a little erratic! I'll get better! I very much appreciate you all sharing your personal stories and dx. Thank you for welcoming me with open arms! I haven't brought the puppy up to my boyfriend as of yet I'm still waiting to see how I feel day to day at this time but hopefully in the future we will be able to welcome one as a great companion. We did get a chance to talk a little about my dx since I was but he promised to support me and we would get through this together which made me a little less anxious and depressed. Thank you all again!

Llexi

[KariB67]

One month after I was diagnosed with MS my son and husband went to the pound and got a 9 month old puppy.  That was the best thing
for me because I was depressed and did not want to do anything.  The puppy gave me a reason to get up and get moving.  

We already had a Golden but wanted a companion for her.  But the puppy ended up being my companion.  The puppy came into my life at the perfect time and helped me forget about the MS.  

[supermum_ms]

Hi and welcome to our little MS community,

I'm very sorry for your dx and i totally understand you wanting to maintain your active life style and thinking a dog would be a good companion, for walks and when your alone etc. Hobo is my very big boy companion, golden retriever x Labrador and he sheds more than our long haired Persians ever did, but it was the temperament of the breed that would be the right fit for our family, and we have no regrets about choosing him.

I did a lot of research on breeds, spoke to different breed owners, visited training centres, had every family member on the same page, and it still took nearly 2 years after making the decision to get a dog, before I found him and knew he was ours. In the first year, our focus was all on his (and our) training, we soon worked out, that dh had to be responsible for taking him to the training centre because it was too much for me.

My job was to learn each new command and establish Hobo compliance of both vocal and hand commands through out the day, we were lucky he was a very quick learner and loved training, he still shocks me with what he understands. I have no doubts, that 'I' would not be able to handle our big boy, if we had not put in the time, money and effort to get him trained properly.

Its 'never' a good idea to make significant life decisions, when you are dealing with the emotional upheaval of being newly dx, and because you are feeling wiped out and a little depressed, it would probably be best if you give your self the time to get through this rough patch, before taking on any additional responsibilities. I'm 'not' in anyway saying don't do it, just advising you to wait until your current situation, is well and truly behind you because along with all the good, they are also a lot of work and responsibility so you need to be sure!

Cheers..........JJ

ps could you please brake up your posts, so they are easier for the community to read :o)
    

[HVAC]

I have MS and cancer and having a dog keeps me walking. When I am real sick from the chemo my dog still wants to be walked. No matter how bad I feel I am better after a walk. My Service dog Polly is the hit of the Cancer Hospital. Every Thursday people smile when they see her. Even the nurses are happy to see Polly. People having chemo are happy to see a dog up in the waiting room. I think having pets is a great idea. My favorite time with my dogs is when I am sick when my husband is asleep. Those wee hours of the morning are better with a sympathetic friend.

Alex

[Llexi]

I am very sorry to hear about your puppy. It is very hard to lose an animal no matter what the circumstances. They are our children, I don't care what people say. You grow such a bond with them and their personalities.

[Llexi]

Thank you for your insight as well. The diagnosis has been a big change to my boyfriend and I. It would not be fair to bring a dog into the house when he is against and I am for but  we all have to make compromises which I am willing (such as we have a "cat room" for the cat so it is not roaming the house when we are not home) We definitely have the space so it will not be cooped up. He is a fact driven person. So if I could show him not statistics but I think he would be more understanding and more comfortable with having a dog. He grew up on a farm and had lots of animals so its not the case of him not liking them or having to take care of them. So we shall see. It was just on my mind and rather than focusing on my MS i wanted to focus on something happier such as maybe getting a dog to help with being me again.

[doublevision1]

lol, guess we were answering at the same time. :)

[Llexi]

Thank you. I have grown up with dogs my entire life. It was just until I moved out into an apartment from home that I couldn't have one for A) the financial reasons B) the time C) Not having the room in the living ( I couldn't see cooping up a poor dog in an apartment). Now that my boyfriend and I have purchased our first home that has enough space and yard to have a dog I feel more comfortable about getting one. I would a regular 9-5 shift that does not call for overtime and he stays home during the day. I would love to do a rescue puppy/dog but like you have mentioned I have to weigh my options and see what I am able to take on as well as what he is willing to help with too. He's been great with taking care of the cat (lets just say he loves animals but he's a bit OCD in the hair area and that is what bothers him the most) I was looking in to the poodle/poodle mixes because they do not have fur they have "hair" they do not shed like most dogs and are "mostly" hypoallergenic. With anything we all shed, poop, and make messes (this was his reason for not wanting pets...and my response was we all do that whats the difference). I'm not going to go out this week and get one because it is a big decision and picking the perfect pet takes time but I just wanted some information or pointed in the right direction to get more information. I have a ton of great blogs I found on how just having the companion alone has helped immensely.
The other thing is my boyfriend is gone during the weekends during the summer. It leaves me at home alone (well of course my neurotic cat who keeps me entertained who is a rescue :-) ) but I would love that companion to be able to take for walks, spend time training and learning with, well basically a companion to keep my mind focused on other things besides my MS and how even though I have just been diagnosed has definitely led to some changes. I am an avid soccer player and it has become increasingly difficult over the year of being diagnosed to play because of the symptoms. Our finances are stable (mine alone are stable so if god forbid he leaves me or something happens) I would be able to care for the dog with no issues. I would prefer a puppy and as luck has it my brother is actually a dog trainer for a living. So getting tips and help from him is awesome. I've been keeping an eye out in local rescues for young dogs that match what I am looking for. My parents have even said they would assist with the puppy if it needed to (we moved like 5 minutes down the road from both) So if need be on days my boyfriend is not home I do have someone that would be able to go and let the dog out.

Thank you for your response!

Llexi

[doublevision1]

Hi there, Ess has given you great advice. Having a dog can be wonderful for motivation to get out of the house, to keep you company when you're home ill, and generally to keep your spirits up with their unconditional love. However, yes, they are a lot of work.

We lost our 9 year old Standard Poodle to cancer in April; it was very fast and very sad. We'd lost her older brother suddenly, two years before. The grief is terrible but we decided is worth the joy they bring, and the house was so empty without a dog, so we brought home a Standard Poodle pup in August. I left the workforce two years ago so it is a good arrangement in that I'm home with him most of the time. I did work when I was training my first pup, but I was able to come home at lunch and let him out. But the more time you have available, especially early on, the better.

If your boyfriend isn't supportive (assuming he lives with you?), it's probably not a good idea. You need to be on the same page, otherwise it's not really fair to the dog. You can tell him that Standard Poodles do not shed! It's one of the reasons we've chosen this breed three times. Spending time at my friend's place, who has a Husky, I can tell you it makes a huge difference in terms of tidiness, laundry, etc. Even Labradoodles can shed, depending on how much Lab vs Poodle they have.; a mistake another friend made, assuming they are always shed-free.

And to echo Ess, yes dogs cost a lot. If it's in your budget, great, and I highly recommend pet health insurance. Our girl's demise from cancer cost us thousands in vet bills: blood transfusions, IV meds, MRI, etc.

If you decide to proceed, I strongly recommend puppy socialization and training classes. Some breeds, like poodles, are very smart, which means they can quickly learn bad behaviour as they can good. Especially if this is your first dog, it is really helpful to have professional guidance and advice.

I posted some pics of our newest pup on my profile. Privacy is set to public so you should be able to see them.

[essdipity]

Getting a dog is a great idea. I'm a dog person for sure, and have owned a dog (or maybe dog owned me) for most of my adult life.

I do need to caution you, though, that it's not all a bed of roses. Dogs cost a lot, even shelter dogs, when you consider food, heart worm pills, other vet bills, toys, and on and on. If finances are tight, this might not be a good move.

Another consideration is that puppies, if you get one, are a huge amount of work. You must be able to take them out frequently and train them properly, a real hassle in bad weather. Even grown dogs require a lot of care and fussing. You must be able to organize your life so the dog is not left alone too long. If you work, I really don't recommend getting a dog without someone there to care for it. Not constantly, of course, but a lot. Dogs and cats are really different that way.

Not all dogs are 'messy' or shed a lot, but still, if your boyfriend doesn't like them, that's a huge problem. He might not be willing to help out, especially if you go into an MS flare. If you two share the same household you could be at odds much of the time.

Dogs are like babies--they're not always cute and cuddly. They can determine to a large extent how you live your life. You really do need to face this reality.

I'm not saying all this to discourage you, but to get you to think of all the contingencies. It's only because I do love (most) dogs that I only want the best for them. That includes having happy owners. And what is more sad than a dog returned to a shelter?

Meanwhile, I've had trouble typing this because my adorable Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is having a love attack and getting between me and the keyboard. So many laps, so little time.

ess