Entered: 04/19/2015
Status: Adopted
Age: 7
Color: Liver/White
Weight: 50 lbs.
Gender: Altered Male
Location: Goochland, VA
Health: UTD, HW-, benefiting from NSAIDs and pain medication for spinal osteoarthritis, benefiting from a supplement for anxiety, dental complete
Temperament: Good with adults although initially anxious around strangers, good with other dogs, inconsistent with cats
Original: “He is not too excitable, but will cry out in happiness when the humans come down the stairs in the morning or get back from doing chores.”
Chance’s Pennsylvania owner went into the hospital and was not expected to return home. When taken in by the owner’s adult daughter, Chance (now understandably) snapped at her thirteen year old when being helped up on the couch. (After a vet visit, MAESSR has now found out why he snapped.) When he first arrived at his foster home after a long trip during which he met many strangers, this poor guy was initially fearful of the resident dogs; but once off leash, he soon warmed up after trotting around the yard with them.
A well-mannered dog, he is completely housetrained and sleeps uncrated on a kitchen rug. This handsome boy will stand by the back door when he needs to go out and bump into the door giving a “woof-woof” when ready to come back in. Since he had never had a fenced yard before coming into foster care, he initially thought he couldn’t go out unless the humans came with him as they always had in the past, but the resident dogs soon showed him what was what and where the bunnies could possibly be spotted. Chance has become more comfortable each day.
Though not crate trained, he has ridden in one in the car comfortably on several occasions. If not crated in the car, he needs to be tethered to avoid his wanting to come help navigate. He respects baby gates, knows “sit” and “comes” when called. His leash manners need some work because all the great smells seem to make him want to explore more quickly than that slow person at the other end of the leash. He’s a good runner and will trot along at a decent pace without too much Springer weaving for scents.
A bit of a Velcro boy, Chance prefers to eat slowly with his human nearby. He is not too excitable, but will cry out in happiness when the humans come down the stairs in the morning or get back from doing chores. But, since he’s also one of those Springers that likes to greet his folks with a soft toy or ball in his mouth, his sound is muffled. He will put his paws up on the counter if something smells really tasty but isn’t too much of a counter-surfer. He also doesn’t trash dive or chew anything inappropriate. He will fetch a tennis ball, but being a true gentleman, he will let the other dogs take it if there’s much competition. He has a soft mouth and takes treats gently. This handsome fellow loves being groomed and reportedly has no issues with nail clipping.
Chance’s foster mom noticed that his rear end seemed to give out on him occasionally, and he would yelp in pain. In addition, when she went to pet his back, he screamed in pain. During a complete check up at the vet, radiographs of his hips and spine “…found that he has significant osteoarthritis at his lumbosacral junction.” This is likely associated with some disk disease or spinal cord compression at the area (the likely source of his pain). His physical did show some pain and muscle atrophy in the caudal spine. For these reasons, Chance is being started on a joint supplement, an NSAID (to help with pain and inflammation in the spine), and a pain medication. He should feel better soon!!
Please send positive thoughts for Chance as he has a dental (for worn teeth with dental calculus) and is being neutered very shortly.
This wonderful guy has had so many changes in his life recently and is probably so confused and still in some pain. Life ahead for him should be much better as the sunny summer days shine down. Would you like to take a chance on Chance?