25 Quick Fire FAQs About Rodney

The miracle puppy

The last 7 days has seen one of the most remarkable recoveries ever by a tiny puppy called Rodney. If you haven’t seen his turnaround I’d urge you to watch it here or here.

He caused sleepless nights and things really didn’t look good at the start but he has made it and people are obsessed with him. Something about his sweet little eyes and gentle demeanour has captivated us all. He is just a baby but he has been through so much already.

I get asked lots of questions about him so I thought I’d round them all up here…

1. Where Did His Name Come From?

We already had Derek with a similar illness so Rodney was the natural fit. Del Boy and Rodney from TV show “Only Fools And Horses”. My friend who found him also happened to be called Rodney.

2. How Close Was Rodney To Dying?

Based on my own opinion and people watching him it was 95% over for Rodney. He was close to taking his last breath during a very tough 6 hour period when he was on the edge.

3. What Is He Suffering From?

Pemphigus. A skin scrape is being tested to make sure as it was originally thought to be severe mange.

4. Where Was He Found?

Wandering along the side of the road poking his head out hiding in a mechanic shop. He was starving and looking for food and water. His days were numbered.

5. Has Rodney Been Accepted By The Other Dogs?

Yes. King Whacker is the big boss and accepted him. They stayed away from him when he was very sick and sore sort of knowing there was an issue. He is slowly getting to know them, just like the first week at school.

6. What Colour Will He Be?

Hard to say but he has a black tail and some brown and gold fur starting to grow. He could be a mix.

7. Will His Fur Grow Back?

It has already started in tiny places. It has taken 3 months for Derek to start getting his back but the hope is as a puppy it might happen faster for Rodney.

8. What Does He Like Doing?

Sleeping. Eating. Drinking lots of water. Smelling the flowers and small 10 minute bursts of exploring a couple of times per day.

9. Will He Be Leaving The Land When Better?

He will never be going back on the streets again.

10. Will Rodney Get Medicated Baths?

His skin was too sore and the open wounds too severe. He can now get gentle bathing but it is also healing naturally which is great. Coconut oil will also help.

11. Why Was He Alone On The Streets?

We have no idea as this is common with sick dogs. Maybe he was dumped as he was sick. Maybe his family didn’t make it and he was the last survivor. There was no sign of any other dogs in the area. There were no other clues. He was alone.

12. What Is The Rodney Shuffle?

It’s a little dance he starting doing to show how happy he is to be alive.

13. How Long Will He Take To Get Better?

As an educated guess I would say 4-6 weeks. That is based on the strides he has taken in a week, his age, vet advice and my gut feeling. There may be hiccups along the way of course.

14. Do Derek And Rodney Get On well?

Absolutely. Derek was just as close to death and had also lost all his fur. He is helping young Rodney with advice.

15. Will Rodney Be Adopted?

Yes. I will find him a home in Thailand or abroad that is fit for such a special dog. I just need to make sure he fully recovers first before starting this process.

16. Is Rodney Fully In The Clear Yet?

Not yet. He was too sick to get all tests he needed and vaccinated etc. He will have multiple vet visits and a full recovery schedule that is ongoing.

17. How Old Is Rodney

Just under 3 months old.

18. How Much Does Rodney Weigh?

4.7 KG

19. What Medical Care Does He Need?

Ongoing treatment of the skin. Vaccinating when well enough. Neutering when old enough. Full set of blood tests etc on ongoing treatment as needed.

20. What Are His Nicknames?

Rodders. Lil Rod. Big Paws. Dave (joke from Only Fools and Horses)

21. Who Is Rodney’s Best Friend?

Although the pack all hang as a group they pair off sometimes into smaller groups. Rodney is best friends with McMuffin. They go everywhere together.

22. What Breed And Size Will Rodney Be?

Judging by his paws he is going to be a big dog. I still have no idea what breed or type of dog he will be.

23. What Does Rodney Eat?

He was started on a special diet of Oily mackerel and fatty beef to fix the skin. He now eats the home cooked healthy food all the dogs eat.

24. Is Rodney In Pain?

He was in huge pain for the first 3-4 days. He could barely lay down it hurt so much. While his body still has a lot of recovering to do he is no longer has that excruciating pain. Medicines and soft blankets etc are helping him.

25. Who Is The Best Boy?

Lil Rodney.

People tend to have their little favourites from the dogs I share but I can safely say that Rodney has captured all our hearts. I think it is the fact he was so young, just how visible his suffering and wounds were and also how close he came to death.

I was actually a little annoyed with myself for sharing him on the first day as he quickly went downhill. I thought I was about to have to tell everybody the bad news about his death the following morning and upset everybody. I really was sure he was gone. Thankfully Rodney was able to battle on and give us all something to smile about.

In a world where there is so much bad news and doom and gloom little Rodney has given us all something to smile about. If only he knew just how many people around the world willing him on checking in on him.

The best little boy there ever was.

Have a great weekend.

Niall

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