Entered: 09/16/2017
Status: Adopted
Age: 5; Born 06/27/2012
Color: Liver/White
Weight: 40 lbs.
Gender: Altered Female
Location: Spring Grove, PA
Health: UTD, HW-, surgery for left hip dysplasia complete with right hip surgery pending, treatment for Lyme and skin infection complete, treatment for intestinal parasites and conjunctivitis complete
Temperament: Good with adults, successfully met children as young as 10 and reportedly lived with young ones,
Temp. Cont.: good with other dogs, showed interest but no aggression when introduced to a cat
Update 01/08/2018: “Recovery has been a bit slower for Layla because she was able to get around quite well on just three legs.”
Layla is such a joy and a pleasure to have in her foster home. She has a very healthy appetite and now uses a special bowl to slow her down when eating. Layla is learning to be a very good little Springer girl. A big accomplishment: she no longer attempts to drink out of the toilet…way to go, Layla! She also has learned to lie down and wait for the “okay” command to begin eating. She has learned to “sit” at the door before going out for her morning walk and knows to wait for the “okay” command to walk out the door. She also “sits” when she gets back into the house to wait for her foster mom to take off her leash. Although she still does not signal to go outside on her own, the resident spaniel makes many trips out to the back yard so Layla really has not had a need to signal for herself!
Treatment for parasites is now complete as Layla’s last two fecal samples were negative. Her treatment for Lyme is complete and her conjunctivitis is healed. Unfortunately this little girl had a more serious medical issue.
On the first day that Layla came to stay with her foster family, they noticed there was something wrong with her hips. She seemed stiff when she walked. An x-ray taken several weeks after she came into MAESSR’s care confirmed the suspicion: at only five years of age, Layla had severe bi-lateral hip dysplasia. It was decided that she was a good candidate for FHO hip surgery. So, on November 21, Layla had surgery on her left hip. Recovery has been a bit slower for Layla because she was able to get around quite well on just three legs. She had become so skilled at carrying the bulk of her body weight on her front legs and shoulders because of her hip pain that it was not necessary for her to use that leg. She currently is being treated for a bacterial skin infection that is thought to have come from holding her leg up against her body for five weeks, causing a lack of air flow. Her foster mom had to start leg stretching exercises three times a day. Layla goes for indoor swim therapy and began a stringent routine of daily walks through the woods. Layla walks through piles of leaves, over rocks, over fallen trees, up hills…walking on very uneven surfaces to force her to need and use the left leg. She loves these walks! This new routine seems to be successful therapy and Layla is scheduled for FHO surgery on her right hip later this month.
Layla’s story is just one example of MAESSR’s willingness to provide dogs with the necessary health care that they deserve. When her right hip is completely healed, Layla can get on with a normal Springer life! She has a lot more love to give! Keep posted for Layla’s news as she recovers from her second surgery and begins the next chapter of her life…one without pain.
Original: “She likes to run after the Frisbee with the resident Springer, and they sometimes run together in the yard and flip up each other’s ears when first engaging in play. So cute!”
Layla and her two Springer brothers previously lived in West Virginia with her family who faced losing their home. A local shelter was contacted to help find the dogs a good home and the shelter reached out to MAESSR to ensure that all three pups would find new forever families.
A true Velcro Springer, Layla’s greatest need is just to be near her people. She flourishes when receiving attention. She follows her foster mom all around the house, settling down nicely whenever her mom finally sits still!
Layla loves riding in the car and was a very good girl at the vet. She was pleasant and cooperative with all of the staff. All of Layla’s vaccines have been updated. It was discovered that she was Lyme positive and is receiving treatment for that was well as for hookworms, whipworms, and conjunctivitis. She’s very cooperative when the eye drops are inserted.
Layla has not shown any signs of aggression and gets along very well with the resident Springer and every dog she has encountered. She was introduced to a cat while at the vet’s office and, while she showed interest in smelling the cat, she was not aggressive nor made any attempt to chase it. She was a perfect lady when meeting the neighbors’ 10 and 12 year old children, but has not yet been introduced to any young children.
She loves going for walks and does not pull; she just needs a little more “practice” in being conscious of where her human is so her feet don’t get stepped on! Her previous family reported that she loves to swim and this seems evident as she always wants to walk in the fish pond whenever she is outside!
This good girl is housetrained and had only one accident in her first week, which her foster mom believes was caused by her medication for fecal worms. She has not yet started to signal when she has to go outside to go potty, but visits the yard every time the resident Springer needs to go out…and always obliges! Layla is comfortable in a crate when her foster parents are at work and also rides comfortably in a crate in the car. Her foster mom is pretty confident that it’s not necessary for Layla to be in a crate at all when she is not home, but is just being cautious until she is confident the relationship between Layla and the resident Springer is safe. It’s important to note that there hasn’t been anything worrisome….just a little soft growling when competing for Mom’s attention. Layla and the resident Springer are very comfortable together and play very well together. At night time, Layla sleeps uncrated in the sunroom with the resident Springer where she sleeps quietly. She is very excited when morning comes and she gets to see her people again!
Layla does not counter-surf, does not get in garbage cans, and does not beg. She does occasionally have a notion to steal a drink out of the toilet, but fully understands the word “no” when she hears it. Occasionally Layla does want to jump up on the furniture, and is learning the word “off”. She understands the command “sit” very well and is quickly learning “down” and “wait.” Her previously family reported that she was afraid of fireworks, thunderstorms, and gunshots. Her foster family has not experienced any of these three circumstances to confirm personally, but a recent attempt to introduce her to “clicker” training quickly confirmed that she is afraid of the clicker noise. Her foster mom is working on noise sensitivity training at this time. A recent visit to the pet store showed just a bit of timidity, but her foster family believes this can be corrected with more field trips and social functions and will work on this in the next few weeks.
Layla did not mind having her mouth and teeth checked, her ears examined, and feet touched by her foster mom; but the experience at the groomer was pretty scary for her. Her mom suspects it was her first time at a groomer. She was fine for the bath, but didn’t like having her toe nails cut or ears examined. Because the groomer didn’t know her and Layla had an unhappy look on her face, the groomer chose to use a muzzle as a precaution…and Layla really didn’t like that! Also, the fan that was blowing her dry while she was in her crate made her shake. So all in all, this wasn’t a wonderful spa day for her. In time, maybe she’ll come to enjoy it.
Layla does not resource guard and does like playing occasionally with dog toys…when the resident Springer is playing throw, fetch, and tug. She likes to run after the Frisbee with the resident Springer, and they sometimes run together in the yard and flip up each other’s ears when first engaging in play. So cute! She also is very content to just lie at her humans’ feet or outside the shower door when they are getting ready for work! She doesn’t want to lose sight of her people!
She is still learning that the time to eat is when the dish is first placed on the floor. Layla is always interested in training treats – just not nearly as interested in her kibble – and always thinks the resident Springer has something better in her dish! For the moment, she is fed separately from her canine pal so she can concentrate better on the task at hand. She is an avid water drinker and needs a towel kept close by to wipe up the dribbles she leaves several feet away from her bowl!
This little girl is such a love bug, well-rounded, and very well mannered. She will fit easily into a home with people who have time to share the love and attention she deserves.