Checkers

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Update 03/11/09: As you can see from his Entered date, Checkers has been a MAESSR boy for some time. Health concerns have kept him with his foster family all these months. They have tried several avenues to determine what is happening with him medically.

Since June Checkers has lost close to 8 pounds. He has had numerous ultrasounds, x-rays and trips to the vet. It would be wonderful to share that there has been some real turnaround in his health, but that is not the case. He has been on several antibiotics repeatedly, the last course being for 2 months per a urologist’s recommendation. Checkers blood work remains all in the normal range. His prostate wash results were determined unremarkable. Yet, upon his most recent internal examine, the one side of his prostate is still enlarged. The decision has been made to not put him through a biopsy at the age of 13. Yes, he has also had a birthday while in foster care. His family is going to continue to monitor his weight and control his accidents by regulating his water intake and letting him out often.

Checkers is a very sweet boy, and he certainly has his moments when his foster mom can actually see his desire to play. He is very verbal with her. He lets her know he is happy when she comes home and spends time snuggling with him. He is now the happy recipient of all leftovers in the house and every fattening carb that he can have to keep weight on him. His family is thankful for all good thoughts sent Checkers way and has one last request that you join in wishing Checkers many more days to enjoy the sweet smells of the outdoors and time to bask in the warm rays of the sun.

Update 01/05/09: As for Checkers…………….he is still losing weight. Further testing has been done by his local veterinarian, including a prostate wash to check certain fluids. The test results came back negative. This, plus a recent prostate exam which detected an irregularity, have prompted a consultation with the University of Pennsylvania veterinarians. This is a tough way to start a new year but, hopefully, it will help Checkers get to the bottom of his problem.

Throughout his testing and treatment, Checkers continues to get bursts of happiness and energy. These are joyful moments to see. At other times he just looks so sad to his foster mom. He does not appear to be in pain but is surely hoping for an improved quality of life that the specialists may be able to provide. Fingers crossed for this sweetie.

Update 12/01/08: Some problems can be more difficult to resolve than others. Despite continuing treatment, there has been no change in the size of Checkers prostate or change in his bathroom habits His water supply after 8 PM has been decreased and that has helped with nighttime accidents, but a more effective therapy is the hope. Please keep him and his foster family in your thoughts.

Update 10/06/08: Checkers was not neutered until he was almost 13 years of age. Now he is struggling with issues of the prostate. His foster mom and veterinarian are slowly trying to pinpoint the exact cause of his problem by looking at the least invasive treatments first. Checkers is currently undergoing another month-long round of antibiotics to clear up a possible infection which has resulted in increased urination and accidents.

The difficulty Checkers is having is a good lesson as to the health benefits to neutering at a young age. One of the most important benefits of neutering earlier involves the prostate gland. When under the influence of testosterone, the prostate will gradually enlarge over the course of the dog’s life. As it enlarges, it is likely to become uncomfortable and often can become large enough to interfere with urination and defecation. Also, the prostate in an intact dog is predisposed to infection. When this occurs, it is almost impossible to clear up without neutering. Neutering normally causes the prostate to shrink in size, thus preventing both infection as well as the uncomfortable enlargement that occurs with aging. Other physical benefits of neutering include the prevention of certain types of hernias and tumors of the testicles and anus.

Keep Checkers and his family in good thought as they continue to work through a difficult problem.

Update 09/03/08: Checkers has made some great improvements in his health but still has a way to go. He has been waking up to go outside at 4:00 AM each night, so his water intake is being limited as the evening goes on. He has also been drinking a great deal of water so he will have a blood test to rule out any serious issues. His prostate continues to be enlarged and he still requires being wiped after going out to the bathroom…not a difficult task but an important one.

There are new foster brothers in Checkers’ home. He has accepted them without issue; however, he is making it clear that he sleeps on the sofa, and they need to remain on the floor. He has been enjoying the summer outings to a local field and, although he does not run like some of his foster siblings, Checkers does enjoy walking the perimeter with his foster mom and watching the others dash around. When he gets home, he takes a very long nap.

When his foster mom returns home from work, he meets her with the loudest groans and moans as if to say, “Where have you been?” Everyone who visits in Checkers’ foster home falls in love with this sweet old boy. Keep fingers crossed that he will whip this latest wrinkle in his health.

Update 07/21/08: Since Checkers UTI had been successfully treated, he has been neutered. During this surgery, he also had two growths removed and his teeth cleaned. He was one sore puppy! As a result of these procedures, Checkers is on a round of antibiotics for three weeks. The vet is also monitoring Checkers’ enlarged prostate to see if there is further reduction. Right now, he needs to be tidied up after each trip outside; being wiped is still part of his daily care.

Old habits sometimes are hard to change and despite his foster mom’s best efforts to persuade him otherwise, Checkers now sleeps on the bed with her. Now, he sleeps comfortably through the night with no more pacing and whining to protest his sleeping beside the bed. He still loves to go for car rides and if he goes to work with her, he settles down at his foster mom’s feet once she stays put at her desk during the day. He is undisturbed by any other dogs and instead wants all the attention he can get from his people.

When Checkers wakes from a nap and cannot see his foster mom, he starts in a panic and runs throughout the house until he finds her. As soon as he sees her, this frantic behavior stops. When left home for the day, however, he appears to settle in and sleep.

His foster mom has been helping Checkers watch his calorie intake and he has trimmed down to a good body weight. She may switch him to a higher calorie food since she does not want him to lose more. Checkers is one handsome boy!

Original: Due to a divorce and very long work schedules keeping family away from home, Checkers and his brother Oreo came into MAESSR’s care, looking for new homes where they can find the attention they love.

Checkers has great house manners, and he doesn’t counter surf, but he does get on the furniture and would prefer to sleep in bed with his foster mom! He will lie on the dog bed next to his foster mom’s bed after repeated commands to lie down. Chester dunks his whole chin in the water bowl and loves to drink water; however, water evaporates! He is very good on the leash but turns a deaf ear to any formal commands.

Checkers is totally housetrained but as with many seniors; he would prefer more frequent trips to the outside. He and the resident dogs have full reign of the downstairs when his foster mom is out and they have been fine, just sleeping all day. Checkers seems to be losing some of his hearing so his mom can usually get back in the house before he wakes up. When it’s time for a ride in the car, Checkers settles down after a few minutes of whining. His original family reported that he gets car sick; however, he was fine on the trip from New Jersey to Pittsburgh and back for a MAESSR picnic. He ate after the trip was over and that seemed to work.

Checkers is a handsome black and white senior who is looking for that family who has time to take him for walks, cuddle with him by the fire, and spend evenings snuggling together on the couch. Once this senior boy is feeling better and neutered, he will be looking for a forever home to call his own.