Bailey 17

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Update 06/29/11:

Health conditions often change quickly in dogs as well as in people. Over the past three days, Bailey’s health worsened dramatically. He was more and more agitated and was unable to settle. Yesterday, he stopped eating and drinking. 

An appointment with the vet confirmed what Bailey’s foster parents already knew in their hearts: it was time for Bailey to cross over to the Bridge. With hugs, kisses, and tears, his family let him go to where there would be no more pain or confusion. As a MAESSR boy this past year, Bailey was greatly loved by both his West Virginia foster mom and his New Jersey foster parents. Life was good for this sweet, old boy and life still is good for him. Wait for us, good boy.

Update 06/23/11:

Spring has turned to summer and Bailey is continuing to do well for a boy his age. He still enjoys his strolls on the gated deck and his supervised meandering in the yard. Going straight in any direction is practically unheard of as Bailey does more circling to the left – a sign of neurological problems stemming from his arthritic spine. His pain medication continues to be effective, though, so Bailey is comfortable. 

Meal times are still the periods of the day when Bailey seems most alert and mentally and socially engaged. He stands near his mom or butts his head into her leg in anticipation of his pills in peanut butter and his canned dog food. (His intake of canned food has been increased to help keep weight on him since Bailey had lost a pound when his weight was checked at his last vet visit.) Bailey sometimes has trouble seeing that his dinner is actually served, so his foster parents usually prime the pump by hand-feeding a chunk or two of his canned food. For easier eating, his wet food is served on a flat plate that is placed on top of his elevated bowl. When Bailey is done eating, the plate is removed so that he can munch on his kibble – something he usually does during the evening. Those big jowls and lips mean that a fair amount of food ends up on the floor rather than in his tummy! His parents don’t mind the mess, though. They are just happy that Bailey still has a good appetite. 

The weakening of Bailey’s hind quarters is apparent when you watch him at his food bowl. The hind legs just do not hold him up that well anymore. They sink lower and lower until he sometimes goes into a sit— something he never does, probably due to arthritis. He does not like to stay in this sitting position, so his foster parents give him a boost if he is having trouble getting up himself. Bailey never cries out in pain, though; his only vocal sounds are still his groan when he stretches in bed.

If Bailey is restless and cannot settle, his foster parents know that it is time for him to go outside to relieve himself. If he goes outside right before bed, he is generally good through the night, but he is ready to go out as soon as his people are up in the morning. His foster parents still ease him onto his orthopedic dog bed at night and he stays there comfortably for a while. When it is warm, he sometimes prefers the cool tile floor in the kitchen where his family finds him in the morning. Night lights are left on for Bailey to help him navigate.

Bailey attended the MAESSR picnic at Core Creek Park in Langhorne, PA with his foster mom, canine brother, and neighbor and good friend. It was a beautiful day and he had a great time meeting people. All the excitement made him very tired so he had to nap under a sun umbrella his neighbor had brought along for him. Everyone loves this sweet old boy.

His veterinarian is making sure Bailey gets regular blood screens to make sure things still look good for him. His last urinalysis detected some blood in his urine, so he was given a course of antibiotics to see if that would eliminate the problem. It did not but, since the blood work looked good and Bailey is not displaying any signs of illness, there will just be a repeat urinalysis done in six weeks. 

Bailey is enjoying his summer by being outside and by sleeping in front of the fan on his dog bed inside. Life is good.

Update 04/21/11:

Sweet Bailey Boy or Bailey Boo, as he is known to his foster parents, is glad that the long, snowy winter is finally behind him and that the lawn is his once more, rather than belonging to the snowmen! Age and arthritis have somewhat slowed down this big, gentle boy; he no longer makes the quarter mile walk around the block, although he still gets exercise meandering around the yard and walking back and forth in front of his house with his foster parents in tow. 

Bailey’s eyesight and depth perception have diminished, too. When he goes down the three steps from the house to ground level, Bailey has a tendency to want to jump this distance. So, to prevent disastrous crashes, his foster parents lift him down. With a human hand on his side and one on his rear, Bailey makes it back up the stairs slowly. When he first gets up after reclining, his back legs still cross from nerve problems and his arthritis but, with a bit of a leg rub and repositioning of his feet, he does just fine. He does walk around and change position during the day and night without his foster parents’ intervention but, when they are present and he wants to get up and move, they help – oh, my, oh my.

In the past weeks, Bailey and his foster mom have discovered that they share something else in common besides loving each other – they both love to soak in the bathtub! This discovery came about after Bailey accidentally got his head and shoulders stuck under an antique dresser when he was sleeping. When he awoke, he tried to get up and could not. Since his parents were at work, Bailey had struggled to get out by himself and had soiled himself in the process. So, a bath was needed. Putting several bathmats down in the bottom of the tub, his mom drew a warm bath for him and washed him off as best she could – as he was already lying down in the tub. A change of water later, Bailey was obviously enjoying this warm soak! His mom had to hold his head up for him since he was so relaxed after his trauma with the dresser! Soon he was asleep!! When the water began to cool down, his mom drained it off and covered Bailey with towels to keep him warm since he was still sleeping. She massaged his body through the towels to begin the drying process. Then, wet towels were removed and warm, dry ones were tucked around the still sleeping senior. When he finally awoke in the tub, his towel drying was completed and he was set to walk around again. 

At a previous visit to the vet, it was recommended that Bailey have his teeth cleaned using a procedure that would not require anesthesia. An appointment was made and Bailey returned from the dog dental hygienist with pearly white teeth and compliments from her about his good behavior and sweet personality.

Bailey had another first recently – he was professionally groomed. His foster mom had been scissor trimming him up to this point, but he was turning into such a wooly boy that a spa treatment was needed – he didn’t want to scare the Easter bunny. To minimize the time he had to be there, he was bathed at home and combed thoroughly. He was a good boy for the groomer and her assistant, Bailey’s mom, who helped steady Bailey on the grooming table. What a handsome boy Bailey is!

Recently, his family temporarily fostered a female senior Springer and Bailey was a patient host for her, though basically he ignored her. He definitely enjoyed some human houseguests more since they lavished attention on him – something that is easy to do since he is such a sweetie! Bailey is going to attend the Langhorne Springer Fest, so you may see this sweetheart making loops throughout the picnic grounds with his foster mother in tow. Please come say hi to him and give him some loving!

Update 02/09/11:

When Bailey moved from West Virginia to New Jersey, he thought he had left winter snow behind and he was in store for life in the sun and sand on the Jersey shore. Wrong! A blizzard after Christmas brought two feet of snow and January continued with snowstorm after snowstorm. For a boy who likes to stroll around on the grass to find just the right place to relieve himself, getting around in the snow has been very difficult. Bailey now takes his strolls up and down the shoveled sidewalk and on the very quiet street accompanied by one of his foster parents. Spring cannot come too soon for Bailey!

Besides the stress of the snow, Bailey developed an infection that swelled up the left side of his face, causing his eye to matter continually. The discharge was so extreme that the vet took x-rays of his head, finding an ill-defined mass inside of his nasal cavity – probably the source of the infection. So, Bailey was started on four weeks of oral antibiotics and eye drops. He has responded very well to the antibiotics; the facial swelling is gone and so is the eye discharge. After a week of being off of antibiotics, Bailey will see the vet again for a recheck. 

Severe arthritis in his hind quarters makes sitting very hard for Bailey, so when he is awake, he strolls around the house checking the whereabouts of his foster parents so he can get some petting or he goes for a drink or some kibble. When his foster mom is going to be in one spot for some time, she brings one of the orthopedic dog beds next to her and lifts Bailey, lowering him onto his side on the bed. He will then stay there next to her, falling asleep. This is how Bailey is put to bed in his foster parents’ bedroom, too. Sometimes he remains sleeping there all night and sometimes he moves to the living room to lie on the rug or the bare floor. By morning, his pain meds must be wearing off because he gives a small whimpering cry when his foster mom greets him – one of the few sounds he makes other than stretching groans. After a quick trip out to pee, Bailey gets his pills in peanut butter and then he eats his breakfast. When his dad gets up, they go for a walk. Bailey’s hind legs need a few minutes to wake up before they are functional, so his foster parents often hold him up until he is ready to walk. The vet has said that this results from the arthritis in his back affecting his nerves. 

Bailey’s walks are still convoluted – going forward a bit, stopping, circling to the right, stopping, sniffing the air, circling to the left, going backward, stopping to sniff, then turning around. . . . Speed and distance are really of no consequence; Bailey and his walking companions just like being outside, enjoying each other’s company. Moving slowly can be a good thing since it gives this Springer boy time to look around and scent the breeze. Senior Springers like Bailey have much to teach their parents. Life is still good.

Update 12/14/10:

When you are a healthy old Springer boy, sometimes no news is good news. Sweet Bailey Boo continues to do well in his foster home, celebrating Thanksgiving with five house guests including another dog! Bailey enamored himself with the adult crowd, accepting additional petting with pleasure. Instead of a traditional turkey, his foster family had a standing rib roast to Bailey and the resident Springer’s glee. That meant rib bones! His foster mom helped Bailey by holding his bone so he could more easily chew off the meat! Once the bone was cleaned off, his foster mom had no problems taking away the bone from him. The company laughed when Bailey’s foster parents said how excited he was since to the untrained eye, Bailey does not emote much feeling. His people were able to see the sparkle in his eyes, though, when given his bone!

Arthritis in his spine and hind quarters continues to be Bailey’s nemesis, but his new pain medication keeps him comfortable. Arthritis does not stop Bailey from taking strolls around the yard and slow walks around the block with his foster parents. His slow pace encourages patience in his companions and reminds them that it is not the pace that one goes through life but the quality of life lived. There is no rushing Bailey; if he stops to rest or just observe his surroundings, a simple pat on the neck or circling in front of him reminds him that he is on a walk and he will keep going. Bailey does not get to go outside on his own since he will take off on a walk without you.

Bailey went to the vet for a check of his thyroid levels and everything looks good. His eyesight and hearing continue to deteriorate slowly, but motion and broad hand signals plus close physical contact still enable him to navigate well in the house and around the yard. Bailey sleeps a great deal, but not generally on the orthopedic dog beds available to him; he more often chooses to snooze on the area rug in the living room or the cool tile floor in the kitchen. While sleeping, he sometimes dreams and his big feet paddle as he runs along. Or, in his sleep, he often stretches with a long, loud groan – one of the few sounds he makes. He is a quiet boy who has never barked since he has been with his foster family. 

This very patient boy tolerates grooming very well. His foster mom has just trimmed him with scissors to keep him looking neat. Trimming his feet must tickle him because he will occasionally give a swift kick to get his mom to stop for a minute. Brushing regularly helps to keep this handsome boy’s coat looking good. 

Bailey really likes when his foster dad comes home from work. He follows him into the office where his foster dad greets him and gives him a good ear rub – something that Bailey adores. Bailey does not play with any toys and just chews on a rawhide or bone occasionally. That and walking, getting petted, eating, and of course sleeping make up Bailey’s day. Life is good!

Update 11/02/10:

Sweet Bailey continues to adapt nicely in his new foster home with his four-legged housemates. When he was resting in the kitchen recently, one of the resident cats came up to him and began grooming his face! Bailey just opened his eyes and accepted the face washing from his kitty friend. On the canine front, the resident male ESS continues to bond with Bailey. When the two go on a walk together with their mom, the resident Springer chases through the brush sniffing for critters, but he comes back to check on Bailey. His new foster brother will run up to Bailey, lightly bumping into his shoulder as if to say, Hi! How’s it going? When making a rest stop during one walk, Bailey met a neighbor and her three little children. Bailey went to stand among the kids and patiently received their petting – what a precious moment!

Daily strolls around the yard and a slow, quarter mile walk in the neighborhood show Bailey’s interest in that which is happening around him. Inside, he sleeps soundly with occasional running in his doggy dreams with paws moving. When mealtime comes, Bailey eats slowly from a raised food bowl and takes his medications hidden in peanut butter with gusto. He enjoys chewing on a rawhide or a big beef bone. Sometimes he does laps inside of the house, stopping near his foster parents for some pats and loving – more precious moments!

After getting their heads together on a walk with Bailey, his former and current foster moms thought that he might benefit from a change in medication to assist with his arthritis. That process has been started with a visit to his new vet. All are optimistic that Bailey will be more comfortable on his new meds. 

This sweet senior is a patient, low-key bundle of love. Arthritis may be taking a toll on his body but certainly not on his spirit. His temperament is sterling; his quality of life is acceptable. After thoughtful evaluation by MAESSR’s foster home coordinators and his current family, it was decided that Bailey will remain in care as a permanent foster dog. He will have everything he needs……….meds, care, and most importantly the love that he so deserves. He will be walking with his family and groomed by his family, both 2- and 4-footed, for as long as his days are good ones for him. 

May there be many, many updates on Bailey to come.

Update 10/21/10:

Part of Mr. Bailey’s dream has come true. By moving to another foster home recently, he is now enjoying one-story living. It’s considerably easier for him to go indoors and out now; half as many steps and a ramp are real gains for this senior. With this move, too, he can spend more time with his foster parents. 

Bailey met the resident ESS in his new foster home and was accepted for the easy-going gent that he is. The resident kitties are sizing him up too, and, though they haven’t embraced him yet, they do not seem too threatened by Bailey either. Hopefully, all will continue peacefully as they get to know one another better.

Before moving Bailey had another major home grooming and was soooo cooperative. The bathing left him so relaxed that he shook off and then just sat down in the shower – something he rarely does. To stand on the grooming table for long is not so much fun for him, but he is completely cool with laying down on his side, first one side and then the other, for clipping, ear cleaning, and having his nails done. 

More on this mountaineer as he settles into life on the eastern shore.

Update 09/22/10:

Bailey, or Bay Boy as he is often called these days, has welcomed the return of cooler weather. His pace is much the same as in summer but spending more time outdoors has appeal now. Rather than returning to the porch as soon as his business is done, he’ll stroll around, as long as his foster mom is out. If she sits down for a bit, he often continues strolling and an endearing pattern is emerging – without being called, Bay Boy circles back every few minutes. With each return, he gets a little massage. Then he strolls off again to tour another part of the yard but he’ll be back again, ever so quietly, for a little more attention. His foster mom isn’t sure which of them enjoys this little exchange more.

When it’s treat time, Bay Boy lines up beside the resident dogs and politely accepts when his turn comes around. His foster family had house guests over the summer and he was polite to all, letting them pet him and groom him to their hearts’ content. 

His health remains good. He takes his meds as an appetizer easily in a dollop of peanut butter or yogurt and eats his kibble right down. 

He had a skin irritation in late summer which remedied with an over-the-counter powder to relieve the itch. This annoyance was at his very back end, a place his foster mom did not think he could reach. He completely surprised her, though, so the ever-unpopular inflatable safety collar came out to assure proper healing. The lesson learned is that his arthritis med must be giving him full benefit! 

This senior is so mellow and adaptable. The only special need he has is fewer stairs than more in his life. He is comfortable doing 4-5 to go out into the yard but won’t attempt the full flight of narrow ones going to the second floor. One story living suits him just fine. If you have space on your first floor and a gentle hand to reward his returns in the yard, Bay might be a perfect match for you. He’s a real pleasure to have guarding “his” fridge!

Update 07/20/10:

Just as Bailey’s pace is slow but steady, so are the gains he is making health-wise. He revisited the vet recently to have his thyroid levels retested. The results were as hoped for and he is set to go for a year on a small, twice daily dose of medication. His skin is no longer flaky and a few rough spots on his nose have improved nicely. He is a leisurely eater and enjoys having his bowl set down where he can dine without competition from the other dogs in the house. Given 15-20 minutes, he will clean his bowl very time.

Because his mobility had not improved, the vet did x-rays which confirmed arthritis and pointed to why Bailey never “sits.” A basic medication was added to his daily routine and within a few days, you could see him moving with greater ease. He’s not faster but he is steadier on steps and does not dread being asked to do a half flight when it’s time to go out. He will stroll around the yard at his own ambling pace now and loves being outdoors. With a change in diet, his gums have improved and the consensus is that a dental is not needed at this time. Nor is removal of a cyst-like bump on his rump. It has healed and reduced to the point that his foster mom has to look for it, even under his short clip. 

Along with better health, Bailey is looking sharper. Improving stamina enabled him to stand on the grooming table and enjoy getting a summer clip a few weeks ago. And, with a few weeks of summer dust and dander having settled on his shortened coat, he was a star at the local humane society’s dog wash this week. He was completely calm as he was fawned over by 4 volunteers who dampened, lathered, massaged and rinsed him, ever so gently. In the midst of all, a youngster reached in to pet his face and Bailey never flinched………almost a Norman Rockwell moment.

The only little extra thing that Bailey requires is that a human accompanies him when it’s time to go out. If sent out by himself, he clears the door by a foot or two and gets on with his business. Putting on a leash, or, better yet, having a nice nugget of chicken in your hand gets him a respectable distance out…….always a good thing……:)).

In a short time Bailey will be ready for a family of his own. One level living and a spot to snooze beside the fridge are at the top of his wish list. He does like to sleep on his side so a 25 X 37 inch space would suffice. His adopting home could be a moderately busy one as he easily shares space with all around him. Bailey does not demand anything, unless mealtime is late. Then he has a big voice!! If you have a soft spot for gentle, peaceful seniors, you really will want to meet Bailey. If you give him a moment to lock eyes, he will easily lock up your heart!

Update 06/21/10:

Slowly Bailey, aka Rip Van Winkle, is coming out of his long, deep sleeps. This boy could snooze without a stir for 11 hours at a time during his first weeks in foster care. Suspecting that he needed more than the chance to rest up from his move, his thyroid levels were tested and found to be quite low. Daily medication was started to correct this and should lead to increased energy and improvement in some minor skin problems. At this point, Bailey doesn’t embrace activity in his foster home but he is more alert. He will be retested soon to assure that the thyroid dose is correct, and then, additional steps to improve his health will be taken.

His appetite is improving which may be a response to the thyroid medication too, or, it may be that offering softened kibble is helping. Bailey is a leisurely eater but will now clean his bowl twice daily, most days……..very good to see. 

Steps are still difficult for Bailey, and, unfortunately unavoidable in his foster home. He is doing a half flight to go outdoors but can now do that without assistance from his family. Once out in the level yard, he ambles around with greater ease but he will turn away from the woods where little hills confront him. He is continuing on supplements but may need an extra boost from the vet to ease his apparent arthritis. 

Bailey continues to love being an indoor dog and is an easy guest. He gets along with the 3 male ESSs in his home and has largely ignored a visiting hound. His attitude remains “rock solid” reliable, whether asked to do steps, spend some time on the grooming table, or share his space with a pack of more active dogs. 

Bailey is a treasure that will only improve with improving health. More to come as that happens……………

Original:

A shelter manager in southern West Virginia accepted Bailey from an owner who asked that he be euthanized because he was old and no longer wanted. Recognizing that Bailey had much love yet to share, the manager arranged his transfer to a local rescue in the northern part of the state where he would be safe in a foster home. He lived quietly amidst a very full house of dogs until the rescue asked if MAESSR could assist. They felt he needed more one-on-one than he was receiving so, within a few days, Bailey was back in southern West Virginia with a MAESSR foster family, a lot of moving around for a senior citizen!

When Bailey arrived at his MAESSR foster home, he did seem tired. He had a hard time eating for a few days and a challenge with steps. During his vet check, part of his problem was discovered. His molars are heavily tartared and there is a possibility of abscesses, so he will return to the vet for a dental. At the same time, a small lump that is infected on one flank will be removed. Though his fur is lush and shiny, Bailey’s skin is flaky. The vet recommended starting him on some basic supplements to improve his skin and to help with a very stiff walk. Through the entire exam, Bailey was very accepting of all touches, squeezes, injections, and a blood draw. What a champ!!!

Bailey shares his foster home with 3 other ESSs, all male, and gets along with each one after having gotten acquainted. He is house trained and has had no accidents. Bailey will go into a crate and rides in one when traveling. At home he prefers to stretch out on the kitchen floor and spends his time there when his family is away and at night, too many steps to the upstairs bedroom for Bailey right now.

A very handsome gent, Bailey is at 51 pounds, an ideal weight for him. He has been good with home grooming, even the clippers, in his foster home and must have been on a grooming table in the past. He is relaxed on a leash and is extending his distance with each daily walk. As he gets increasingly rested up and feeling better, his foster mom thinks he will be a great walking companion, sort of an ambler, like her!

More on Bailey to come!