Kip

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Update 01/19/10: Mr. Kip has had 2 rechecks at the veterinary teaching hospital where his first hernia was repaired. Each time some of the staff who met him during the first visit have commented on how improved he is; Kip must agree! He has gained some weight, eats easily, his coat is softer, his gait is springier, and most of the time there is an easy sparkle in his eyes.

At his most recent checkup, the expectation was that he could proceed with repair of the second hernia. But, once again, an unexpected setback. Ultrasound screening revealed a second mass on his spleen. The first was found at his first recheck. This, coupled with his firmly diagnosed prostate cancer, has led to the difficult decision that further surgery is not a good choice for him.

Kip returned home with his foster family where he will remain as previously planned. The only change is that his family knows his time with them is likely to be less than more. He is moderately active and still enjoying his days. He recently spent time at a dog park in the company of other springers. In true fieldie fashion, he continues to search the snow-covered brush at his foster home for bunnies and what ever else that intensely sensitive nose of his detects. Indoors he snoozes a lot, or, is nosing his foster mom for some extra loving. He enjoys couch time and warms the top of the comforter for his family at night.

This one will be sorely missed when his time to cross the Bridge arrives, but the pleasure of knowing him and the improved life he’s enjoyed as a MAESSR boy will be the lasting memories for those he’s touched.

Update 11/17/09: A worrisome neck lump delayed Mr. Kip for a month before it was finally determined to be inactive. This was most welcomed news and within days, he was off to a veterinary teaching hospital for evaluation of his hernias. The surgeon there found Kip’s case to be most extreme, i.e., the largest hernias he had encountered in long years of practice. Nonetheless, he felt surgery could improve Kip’s quality of life and treatment moved ahead. The surgery, though long and complicated, went well and resulted in putting vital organs back into their normal positions. Several days in the ICU followed and back home, Kip has continued a very good recovery.

Since surgery Kip’s appetite has vastly improved, he’s eating well, his difficulty with elimination has eased unbelievably and he’s bumped the resident ESS for first place on the couch…………….all an improvement in Kip’s quality of life! With the larger hernia repaired and all of the swelling gone, you can actually see his tail wiggle now!! Actually, before it was really very hard to even find his tail. Kip is on a very low residue diet and is beginning to gain much needed weight. Overall, he feels incredibly better, and, through all, his attitude has been sterling.

A bittersweet outcome of this progress is that cancer cells were found in a routine screening of prostate tissue post-surgery. If the prostate had not been within the first hernia, the existence of a tiny tumor would be completely unknown such an incidental yet altering find.

For now, Kip is good and probably much healthier than he has been in a long time. He will remain in his foster home permanently with continuing attention to health needs and a huge measure of spoiling. He is an easy dog to love. Kip will have a family and a home and all he needs for as long as he is comfortable with his stay. Hopefully that will be for a very long time and possible through MAESSR’s unwavering commitment to Springers in need.

Update 09/28/09: While petting this sweetie one evening, his foster mom felt a small lump in Kip’s neck. When the vet examined Kip a few days later, he found the lump too and, hoping for an infection, prescribed antibiotics. One week later with no change for the better, infection was ruled out. The next step was a needle aspiration. This caused only momentary discomfort for Kip and showed normal tissue which still left the lump unexplained. The decision was to delay Kip’s assessment for hernia repair until this worry can be further sorted out.

On a much brighter note, Kip has been his normal self in all other ways, so he got to step out for some real fun. Each fall when municipal pools in the area close down, dogs are welcomed. The pool of choice is Olympic-size and just 4 feet deep, absolutely perfect for a water lover like Kip. He stepped in without a second thought and paddled around with complete ease.

There were 15-20 dogs and as many humans in the mix that afternoon. Kip met other dogs in appropriate fashion……..sniffing all parts by way of introducing himself and accepting similar greetings. He largely ignored people and didn’t seek their attention, but he wasn’t afraid either. He was very comfortable in the hands of another MAESSR family that was also at the gathering. Indeed, he seemed to barely notice as his leash was passed between people. He just loved swimming, even on leash.

Kip is a classic fieldy. At home when he’s out on a long line, no underbrush is too thick, no fence is too low to crawl under, and no briers are too sharp to deter him. His pace is moderate and a half hour outing per day satisfies, but he is always ready to go. He’s not a quick study. Kip has to think through requests at times but you can see him thinking which only makes him more endearing. He nuzzles for affection and shares his foster mom well with the resident dogs. Temperament-wise, he’s a very soft, uncomplicated sweetheart. Please keep good thoughts coming his way.

Update 08/28/09: Brief but heartening news on Mr. Kip. When he returned to his vet for blood work, even the vet was surprised at how very good the test results were. Kip’s dental proceeded and, despite the loss of 2 molars, he quickly gained an appetite not seen since his arrival. To help this along, his kibble had been mixed with chicken, vegetables and broth, so a real joy this week was seeing Kip empty his bowl when just kibble was offered! He is eating 4 moderate meals a day now and has gained a pound. He has several pounds to pick up yet but needs to do that slowly so as not to strain the hernias in his digestive tract.

With bad teeth gone and a healthy appetite back, Kip is looking so much brighter. You can see it in his eyes and lightened steps. His foster family had doggie-friendly house guests recently and Kip was easily accepting of new people and a somewhat altered daily routine in the house. He especially befriended the female visitor and got lots of extra walks with her during the visit.

Kip is stable, active, and loving but not out of the woods yet. He will visit a veterinary teaching hospital soon for evaluation of the hernias. Fingers crossed that surgery would bring this sweetie dog back to full health. More news will come.

Original: When a southern West Virginia shelter received Kip as a stray, the director contacted MAESSR immediately. He knew Kip needed medical attention quickly, which the shelter could not provide, and that Kip was a friendly boy who deserved a chance at better health. Very shortly this freshly bathed senior arrived at his foster home.

Since then Kip has visited a vet for a full exam. Overall his health is good. However, he does need a dental which is not unusual for a dog his age. More worrisome is that he has 2 perianal hernias. They make relieving himself very, very difficult and are potentially life-threatening. The only treatment is surgery so Kip will revisit the vet for further testing and hopefully will get the all-clear to undergo anesthesia. In the meantime, he is taking laxatives twice daily and is getting moderate exercise to keep his digestive system working as smoothly as possible.

Despite this, Kip is a happy and active boy whose nose turns on full speed when he is outdoors or when something is left on the kitchen counter! He has not had a chance at a trash can but would surely check one out. His foster mom opened a lower kitchen cabinet door and Kip stepped right in; he is curious about everything. Kip is housebroken but is still learning that marking indoors is not necessary, so, when alone, he is crated. When his family is home, he is watched closely but he’s beginning to be allowed off leash.

Kip lives with 2 ESS and gets along peacefully with both. He travels quietly in a crate and has gone to town with his family for errands. He did banking by walking through the drive-thru, greeted venders at Farmer’s Market and was completely comfortable with the people and traffic in the middle of a small town on a Saturday morning. At home he is at ease with the sounds and activities of a small household. Evenings Kip will notice TV or his reflection in a window when he’s not shredding soft toys. What a hoot!

Kip is a good boy with immediate health needs. For him surgery is not without risk but without it, his prognosis is not bright. Please keep him in your thoughts over the coming days. Hopefully the next news on this sweetie will be all good.