Entered: 01/27/2018
Status: Permanent Foster; Rainbow Bridge
Age: 9
Color: Liver/White
Weight: 48 lbs.
Gender: Altered Female
Location: Goochland, VA
Health: UTD, HW-, receiving weekly allergy injections, skin infections cleared, eye and ear infections cleared, mammary and perianal masses successfully removed with monitoring recommended
Temperament: Good with people as young as 12 (younger unknown), good with other dogs, cats unknown
Update 03/24/2021: “Fly free Pen Pen. You are loved and you are missed.”
With a sad heart Penny Anna’s foster mom writes–
“Penny Anna went to the bridge today. My heart is broken. She had been such a valued member of our family for three years. I don’t know how any of us will make it without Penny Anna to tell us what to do and when to do it. Penny knew what time everything was supposed to happen and if I was running late, she would bark at me to let me know that I needed to hurry up. Penny Anna trained many foster dogs on correct behavior. She would let them know how they were supposed to act.
Fly free Pen Pen. You are loved and you are missed.”
Update 12/27/2019: “The decision was made to make Penny Anna a permanent foster so a close eye can be kept on her to ensure she remains healthy.”
Penny Anna was returned to MAESSR when the adopting family determined that they could not keep up with her skin and ear condition. She was happily received back into her foster home. They immediately started working on her skin and ears and we are glad to say that everything is clear and in good shape now.
The decision was made to make Penny Anna a permanent foster so a close eye can be kept on her to ensure she remains healthy. What a lucky girl – a MAESSR girl for life!
Update 12/10/2018: “Her foster family will miss her terribly, but Penny Anna deserves a home where she does not always have to compete with so many other dogs for attention.“
Penny Anna has been through so much since her last update. Since her skin, ear, and eye infections were unable to be cleared totally, the decision was made to send her to a dermatologist. Allergy testing determined that she was allergic to pretty much all trees, all grasses, and most weeds. Poor girl!
So, the journey began to finally clear her infections. She received medicated baths every three days. Her ears had to be flushed every three days. She received ear drops twice a day every day. She took oral medications and steroids. Her ears were repeatedly cultured since there were so many different types of bacteria living in them. That would mean different oral meds and different specially compounded ear drops. Whew! But…GREAT NEWS! It was all worth it. Her ears are now wonderfully clear. Her hair has grown in and looks fabulous. Her eyes are clear.
Penny has been so cooperative through the entire journey. (Of course, the “Brave Girl” treats she gets every time her ears are touched might have something to do with that.) The many vet staff members that have worked with her are amazed that she is so sweet and that you can do anything to her!
As she has started to feel better, Penny Anna has started acting more like a Springer. Her counter-surfing skills have been finely honed! She will steal a dish out of the sink that has food on it…and she likes to steal paper and tear it up. She is such a little imp that you cannot stay mad at her.
This girl needs a wonderful home where the family can give her the weekly allergy injections and make sure that her ears stay clear. She is worth every bit of effort! Her foster family will miss her terribly, but Penny Anna deserves a home where she does not always have to compete with so many other dogs for attention.
Penny Anna is a wonderful example of the lengths that MAESSR and the dedicated foster families will go to in order to return a Springer to optimal health. This little gem just got polished and is ready to sparkle in your family. Penny Anna is part of the Home for the Holidays promotion and her adoption fee is waived through December! How about making her that extra special present for your family this holiday season?
Update 04/30/2018: “A shout out to a wonderful senior citizen and the MAESSR folks who are helping her live in the absolutely best possible ways and in the most healthy environment.”
Oh, my!!! Here’s to Penny Anna who has the most incredibly unique markings and the sweetest personality!!
This wonderful girl is just about cleared of her ear and eye infections. She’s tolerated all the treatments gently administered by her foster family like a champ—you go, girl!!
Penny’s vet said that her removed mammary mass was low to intermediate grade with marginal excisions but no visible invasion of the lymphatics. This means that there is a chance that it could spread but, hopefully, it will not. Chest rad monitoring is recommended every six months. Her perianal mass was a low grade cystadenocarcinoma, also with marginal excision but with no note of lymphatic invasion. There is a small chance that this could spread. Regional lymph nodes should be monitored.
So, this love has successfully completed the surgeries, and her outlook, with monitoring, is reasonable. A shout out to a wonderful Springer senior citizen and the MAESSR folks who are helping her live in the absolutely best possible ways and in the most healthy environment.
As previously mentioned, Penny’s sweet temperament always shines through.
Original: “Penny Anna’s wonderful temperament has shown through during this entire process. She has taken all of the poking, prodding, and bathing with sweet acceptance.“
Penny Anna came to MAESSR when her New Jersey owner, who has health issues, realized she needed help to care for her three Springers. Although Penny Anna and her sisters had limited exposure to other people and life outside of their yard, she has adjusted amazing well in her short time in foster care.
When Penny came into MAESSR, she immediately went to a wonderful vet in New Jersey. They started treatment on her very nasty skin infection, ear infections, and eye infections. They all had to be improved before the large mammary mass could be removed safely. She spent several days within this caring environment before moving on to her foster home.
This was MAESSR’s vet’s response after Penny Anna’s visit for surgery:
“Penny Anna had a big day today. She is an absolute sweetheart. In addition to the previously diagnosed mammary mass, perianal mass, dry eye and skin condition she still has a significant bacterial infection in her ears. (Not sure if this is a new infection or if the previous infection had not fully resolved.) Her skin sounds as though it’s improving though she still has a ways to go. Her tear test indicates a good response to the cyclosporine. The lab work and urinalysis done in New Jersey look good overall. We proceeded with the spay, mammary mass removal, and the perianal mass removal. She handled everything beautifully.”
Penny Anna’s wonderful temperament has shown through during this entire process. She has taken all of the poking, prodding, and bathing with sweet acceptance. It is going to be a little while until Penny Anna’s health issues have resolved enough for her to be adopted. Please keep this sweet little lady in your thoughts.