[ad_1]

When her owners dropped her off at the Inland Valley Humane Society in California, the 3-year-old pit bull appeared to be absolutely heart.broken.

“There seemed to be no reason,” Tiffany Tan, the founder of JL Rescue, and the person who helped save Electra’s life, told The Dodo. “She hadn’t bitten anybody. They just took her to the shelter.”

“She was just so sad,” Tan added. “I really believe that sometimes they realize they’ve been left, and they give up.”

Electra may have felt hopeless and desperate inside her concrete kennel, but there was an upside to her dilemma — her sad-faced photograph was quickly shared across Facebook, which helped her find a new home. Tan first saw the picture on Next Door, a private social network.

“Someone I know had posted her picture from Facebook on [Next Door],” Tan said. “I couldn’t stand it. I was like, ‘Oh my god, we’ve got to go get this dog.’”

Tan knew she had to work quickly to save Electra’s life.

Luckily for Electra, everything worked out. Tan’s friend, Adriane Silvano, offered to foster her, and another volunteer from JL Rescue went to pick up Electra from the shelter.

Electra couldn’t be happier. Or more relieved. Tan, who’s been rescuing dogs for over seven years, was amazed by Electra’s transformation.

“She became a completely different dog,” Tan said. “She was happy, she was on the couch, she wanted to snuggle. She was just the sweetest thing ever.”

“If you look at the ‘before’ picture and the pictures from today, it does not look like the same dog,” Tan added.

And what started out as Electra’s foster home ended up becoming her forever home.

“My friend was going to foster her, but she fell in love with her, so she’s adopting her,” Tan said. “She’s an amazing dog. She is sweet and loving and there’s no aggression whatsoever. She’s very well-mannered. She loves other dogs. She loves kids. She’s great.”

While Electra has found her happy ending, there are plenty of dogs who still need homes. To learn about some of them, visit JL Rescue’s website or Instagram page.

Originally appeared on: The Dodo

---------

10 Common Dog Health Problems

Some health problems are specific to certain breeds, such as breathing complications for flat-faced dogs. But several other canine health issues can affect any dog. Here are 10 typical health conditions you need to watch out for in your four-legged best friend:

Top 10 Common Dog Health Problems

Skin Problems

One of the most obvious signs that your dog has a skin condition is itching. Other symptoms that may suggest that your dog has a skin problem include rashes, redness, dry skin, lumps, bumps, skin sores, dandruff, and hair loss.

Ear Diseases

Approximately 20 percent of dogs suffer from ear disease. It’s particularly common in breeds with floppy ears like cocker spaniels and basset hounds. It’s common to see wax buildup or discharge in their ear canal. But others may experience pain, itchiness, redness, swelling, and crusting in the ears.

Urinary Tract Infections

Simply known as UTI, this condition can make it uncomfortable for your beloved companion to pass urine. Signs of urinary tract infection include drinking water more than usual and passing urine more often than usual. Your dog may also only pass a small amount or lose bladder control. Additionally, you may see blood in their urine or notice a strong smell to it.

Vomiting

There are countless reasons why your pet may throw up. You don’t need to visit the vet each time your dog vomits. But it’s also not something you can just ignore. Don’t try to guess. If the vomiting persists or occurs with other symptoms like diarrhea or lethargy, you need to rush to the vet. It could be a sign of severe health problems, such as poisoning or gastrointestinal blockage.

Diarrhea

This symptom may occur on its own or be accompanied by vomiting. Its potential causes are similar to vomiting. One or two episodes of diarrhea may not be a pet emergency. But recurring diarrhea can result in dehydration.

Parasites

At some point in their lives, your pet may have to deal with discomfort due to internal or external parasites. Symptoms of parasites generally vary, depending on a few factors. These include the kind of parasite that has plagued your pet, where it lives, and how severe its infestation is.

Dental Issues

Like us, your dog can develop canine dental diseases due to high levels of plaque buildup. Several signs indicate that your pet may have dental disease. These include difficulty eating, bleeding of the gums or teeth, loose teeth, and bad breath.

Obesity

Nearly 30 percent of the general dog population is considered obese. Several factors contribute to a pet’s risk. These include age, genetic predisposition, lack of exercise, and overfeeding, among others.

Arthritis

This joint problem can restrict your dog’s mobility. Bring Fido to the vet if you see your dog slow down or limp before and after walks. Other signs include licking or chewing on tender areas and behavioral changes.

Poisoning

Symptoms of dog poisoning vary widely, depending on the kind of toxin a pet has been exposed to. The signs can range from vomiting to drooling, breathing difficulties, seizures, or worse, coma. Some of the most common poisonous substances are human foods like chocolates, grapes, raisins, onions, and caffeine. Other known culprits are human medications, household cleaning products, pesticides, and some plants.