Entered: 06/07/2006
Status: Adopted
Age: 12
Color: Black/White/Tan
Weight:
Gender: Altered Male
Location: Wilmington, DE
Health: UTD, HW-, on medication for hypothyroidism and “dry eye”, compromised hearing and vision
Temperament: Good with people as young as 8 years, good with dogs, cats unknown
Updated 7/3/06: Jackson is doing well in foster care. He is getting along well with his foster brothers and did great at the dog park when meeting several new dogs while off-leash. When on leash he has reacted to some new dogs a little differently. He has charged two new ones while out on neighborhood walks, a large one and a small one, when they came close. When the people at the ends of the leashes stopped to chat though, Jackson laid down next to the large dog, another senior, and was quite content. He really LOVES going on walks and trots along for one-plus mile walks with great energy. He still prefers some tension on the leash but is no longer tripping.
There is welcome improvement in Jackson’s health. He is definitely seeing better. His eyes remain infected, so his medication is continuing. They will clear but then the infection comes back in a few days, so the vet is beginning to feel that allergies are part of his problem. The recheck on his thyroid levels was good so he will continue on thyroid hormone with a follow-up in 3 months.
Jackson is already thinking about what he would like the most from an adopting family. He has decided he would like a quiet home where he can go on long walks and enjoy the good life. His sweet manner and minor health concerns make him easy to live with and an attentive but undemanding companion. Can you help this senior make the very most of his golden years?????
Original: Jackson is a sweet older dog who was loved and well-treated for most of his life. Recently though, for some unknown reason, his owner decided to have him put down. The vet refused this request because, while Jackson does have some health issues that need attention, they are treatable ones. With this, the owner signed Jackson over to the vet and the vet contacted MAESSR.
One of Jackson’s health needs is regular cleaning of his ears. Though very important for all Springers, it is particularly necessary for Jackson. In 2003 Jackson had a surgery that removed the inner workings of his left ear. This is one approach to treating a dog who has chronic ear infections. Left with only one working ear, he appears to be mostly deaf in that one, hearing only high pitch noises. He is not in pain and is very good when his foster mom does the cleaning. Keeping those ears clean and infection-free is making Jackson feel much better.
Hypothyroidism is another of Jackson’s treatable health issues. He has been tested and put on a daily thyroid hormone. Once the dose is correct, this inexpensive treatment can have a big health benefit for him. The vet feels that his eye problem and some abnormalities in his bloodwork may both be related to this untreated condition.
Jackson has “dry eye” in both of his eyes which resulted in eye infections and almost blindness. With proper medication in his eyes, Jackson is actually regaining some sight. He can see to navigate into cars and through doors. He has limited depth-perception and can trip easily. When he is in bright sunlight or in a bright indoor setting, Jackson can see hand signals, but most of the time, he depends heavily on his nose to get around. He sniffs EVERYTHING. His foster mom can lead him with her hand in front of his nose, and sees that with compromised hearing and sight, touch is very, very important to this dog.
Using his strongest senses, Jackson is very much in touch with the world around him. He is doing most of the things that all Springers enjoy with their families. He is getting along great with his housemates which include three neutered male dogs, aging from 13 months to almost 14 yrs. old, and one resident 8-year-old human boy. Jackson has play postured with the resident puppy. Since he couldn’t see the response from the puppy, they haven’t gotten too rowdy, but the willingness to try on Jackson’s part is heartening. The older dogs are not quite so welcoming and since Jackson cannot hear their warning growls, his interactions with them are supervised. Jackson is fully housebroken and has mastered the doggy door in his foster home. He can navigate stairs once he knows where they are and keeps track of them – he must be counting??? He has located the garbage can, again depending on that wonderful nose of his, but hasn’t pulled anything out for further inspection. He’s largely quiet and rarely barks.
This boy loves attention and is good to the people around him. He also LOVES to go on walks and gets very excited when the leashes come out. He prefers to walk on a short leash and likes a little tension, so he knows right where his companion is. He can be a little stiff in the mornings, but he “loosens up” with activity and would love someone to be out with him every day so he can keep in shape. Mostly Jackson wants to be part of a family who wants him too. Can you make his dream come true?