Why Dogs Make the Best Friends

Nurses General Nursing

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  1. My favorite pet is

    • 169
      Dog
    • 35
      Cat
    • 54
      Both
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http://men.msn.com/articlemh.aspx?cp-documentid=5558017&page=1

I was just wondering if there was a relationship between pet type, gender and nursing specialty....Post your responses...

I am a new grad female nurse working in L&D/Postpartum. I have always loved dogs and currently have two: a corgi mix rescued from a shelter and a dachshund mix. I have also been fostering dogs and puppies from crowded high kill shelters, keeping them until they are adopted out through Petfinder.com. We have had foster dogs in every shape and size, and I really can't pick a favorite breed. I find it fascinating to see a heading instinct in a sheltie, a prey drive in a rat terrier, etc, and I think every dog has such a neat unique personality. However, even before I got my job in OB, my favorite dogs from the shelters have been the new mama dogs whose puppies all got adopted out and who were now in need of a home themselves. I have found these dogs to be the sweetest ever and to have a certain maturity about them. I have also taken in puppies, either one at a time or as a litter during my school breaks. The babies are so cute but are a ton of work! Unfortunately, I have had to take a break from fostering since I am working full-time and in orientation. People thought I was crazy fostering during nursing school, but it was something gave me a lot of pleasure and was a break from slogging through the books.

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Specializes in Med surg, Critical Care, LTC.

Okay, need suggestions.

Long story short. We got rid of our beloved dogs Sandy - a 9 y/o lab mix and Cappuccino (Cappy) a pure bred lab of 6 y/o. Our grandson was allergic to the dogs. He would come over and eyes would water, it progress to wheezing and hives. It was hard to do, but I found loving homes for our dogs - and I keep tabs on them from afar.

Interestingly enough, after the dogs were gone, all of my "seasonal allergies" went away. So I had some allergic reactions to the dogs without realizing it. (I have had dogs all my life).

Well, in the past week, our grandson has been around two dogs without any problems as all!! Hugging them, spending the night in the home with a dog in it, etc... So, obviously, he was allergic to something else.

I miss having a dog. The unconditional love, not to mention the protection a large dogs affords you. Cappy had such a ferocious bark, and at 125 lbs, he was quite imposing (inside he was one big chocolate marshmallow).

I would like to know for those with allergies, what would be the best approach for me to get a dog and reduce my symptoms so I'm not miserably all the time. The clariton, zyrtec etc... didn't work well.

Second, I like to get a larger dog, short haired, but one that doesn't drool a lot. Any suggestions as to breed?

My two cats I adopted from our local shelter, and while I've grown to love them, they are not the lap cats I wanted. I read a book on cats, that talks about how cats were socialized as kittens can determine how they will behave as adults. My two were raised in cages, so they didn't get much socialization. They love to be pet, and played with, but not picked up or cuddled. They stay on the floor, and will let you pet them.

Anyhow, it makes me uneasy to adopt a shelter dog. The one shelter dog I did adopt, I couldn't house break. I tried crating ( which worked with the other two) and even tying him to my waist so I could "catch" him in the act, but he managed to pee on the floor with my back turned.

So any suggestion on the allergy factor and breed would be appreciated.

Thanks

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Ive had my two jack russell's for about a year now and love love love them to death. One is a girl, with a lot of attitude, and the other is a boy who is the perfect lap dog (total opposite of the usual jack). He was adopted from a terrier rescue. I too have allergies to pretty much any animal with dander, so claritin seems to be working great for me. I always make sure to wash them every 3 days, depending on how long they are playing outside for. This decreases the amount of pollen and other allergens they bring back in the house when I get home. I also try to keep their fur super short too when they get groomed, almost down to a short shave. Hope this helps, I don't know what I would do if I had to give them up! :)

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Specializes in ER, TRAUMA, MED-SURG.
Ive had my two jack russell's for about a year now and love love love them to death. One is a girl, with a lot of attitude, and the other is a boy who is the perfect lap dog (total opposite of the usual jack). He was adopted from a terrier rescue. I too have allergies to pretty much any animal with dander, so claritin seems to be working great for me. I always make sure to wash them every 3 days, depending on how long they are playing outside for. This decreases the amount of pollen and other allergens they bring back in the house when I get home. I also try to keep their fur super short too when they get groomed, almost down to a short shave. Hope this helps, I don't know what I would do if I had to give them up! :)

Hey! Sounds like you really love your "babies" like I do. Please feel free to pm me if you do one day decide to give yours up. I would be honored to let them live with me and my puppies.

Thanks, Anne

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Specializes in ED, ICU, PACU.
Female, ER nurse, 1 male Newfoundland/Border Collie mix & 1 anxiety ridden, female Lab/Doberman mix who have become the substitute children during empty nest syndrome. Used to have a German Shepard which was my husband's "buddy" & felt that the article you provided described him and his relationship with his 'buddy' to a tee.

I came across this thread just now as I am on allnurses to try and take my mind off of losing my Newfoundland less than a week ago to status epilepticus :crying2:& finding out the anxiety ridden female has inoperable tumors (12 years old). I can tell you for sure that the grief I feel is like losing a child. Sorry if I depressed anyone, I just had to share it as a way to try and cope.

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Specializes in NICU.

I'm a NICU nurse. We have three dogs, all strays that we found (two in our front yard). We now have four cats. We had five until Monday night when I had a phone call from my DH to say that one of our cats had collapsed and he thought that he was dead. Shadow was a big beautiful orange and white feral cat that we took in five years ago when he had an infection in his paw. He was always timid, but was a healthy cat. I think it must have been cardiac, he went so fast. He was about seven years old.

:( We will miss him.

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It's was one of "those" days. I got to work in stress due to traffic, couldn't find my tour plan, had to listen to stupid complaints from a co-worker who needed to be in the limelight for the 20th time that week, got grunted at from an grumpy doctor who didn't appreciate my suggestions, caused a patient to yelp out in pain in front of her husband who accused me of being rough.........I just wanted to go home.....home......home.......Garage door opens slowly up, I drive in and see him coming towards me. Big, brown, fuzzy,warm and HAPPY TO SEE ME!! No if's and's or but's, just acceptance. My husband always jokes and says that there is nothing worse than a woman with her dog. Do you think he's jealous?:chuckle

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Specializes in Trauma.

I'm a new graduate RN who owns the cutest white boxer puppy you've ever seen:)

He weighs 51lbs and is only 5 1/2 months. He's a handful, but he's super fun and loving!!

Boxer #2 for me.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Female

Ob nurse

Dogs and cats both. Love em all.

Currently have:

1 cat and 1 black lab pup

Just lost 1 persian cat last fall and my precious golden retriever, 8 years old, 3 weeks ago.

I have owned 4 dogs and 6 cats.

love em all. I am an animal person.

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new grad. ltc skilled. fiance got me a Mini dachshund Piebald "Turbo" for graduation. Been wanting a dog for YEARS and under much debate in our house. He hates inside animals but I love them. He named her everyone thinks she is a boy so sometimes we call her "Turba". She has got him wrapped around her little paw. LOL. She gets so excited when she sees him if he has been gone and pees all over him. She only has spastic bladder with him so they meet outside when he comes home. she has never been so excited to pee on me. HEHEHE.

Everyone thinks she is a beagle b/c of her piebald markings. She is so cute.

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I came across this thread just now as I am on allnurses to try and take my mind off of losing my Newfoundland less than a week ago to status epilepticus :crying2:& finding out the anxiety ridden female has inoperable tumors (12 years old). I can tell you for sure that the grief I feel is like losing a child. Sorry if I depressed anyone, I just had to share it as a way to try and cope.

Aww so sry to hear this. We are here to help support you. Sorry for your loss. It is hard to cope, my new mini dachshund is like a only child. lol. so i totally understand

Hugs

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Because they are always happy to see you when you get home...unlike some spouses!

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