Winston 21

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Update 10/08/12:

Since mid-summer, Winston has enjoyed stable health and has been active. When his family began planning a fall road trip to the English Springer Spaniel Field Trial Association’s National Specialty at Purina Farms in Missouri, Wag was ready to go. He made one last visit to his vet who found a little arthritis emerging but nothing that would keep a dog home. The vet said “go for it” and Wag packed up.

On the road, travel was leisurely with frequent stops for walks in parks, interstate rest stops and neighborhoods of family and friends. Wag eagerly met new people and enjoyed all the attention coming his way. He was in and out of motels like a seasoned traveler. At the Specialty he settled in MAESSR’s Marketplace every day and was a great ambassador for rescue. When a last minute opening in the Specialty’s rescue parade popped up, Wag was asked to participate. MAESSR volunteers gave him a quick bath and a wonderful breeder made time to give him a tidy pet clip. Wag circled in the confirmation ring as he and other rescue dogs were presented. He even kicked up his heels on his last pass. Yeah for Wag!! 

Wag’s travels continued westward with his family. He’s hiked over plains, sniffed through tree belts for game birds, mixed with other dogs and horses, and sleeps well every night. He’ll be back in MAESSR country a well-traveled and happy boy soon. 

In February when his foster mom first met Wag, she truly wondered “if this dog would make it.” There have been surprises along the way but vetting, good nutrition, care and lovins’ have led to amazing improvement in health and quality of life for this shelter stray from rural West Virginia. Wag is lucky to have found MAESSR and epitomizes some of the best of outcomes for its foster dogs.

Update 07/17/12:

Great news has come Wag’s way…….when his first round of antibiotics was completed in mid-May, his jaw was x-rayed to determine if the mass found during his dental had responded to medication. In short, it did, supporting the diagnosis of a deep bone infection. To be sure the infection was completely eradicated, Wag took a second round of antibiotics and was then x-rayed one last time. The images showed that bone was beginning to fill back into the previously infected area, putting to rest the worry of bone cancer……:)). Even Wag seemed to understand the good news!!!! 

Wag’s bone infection was likely related to his bad teeth, and, most certainly was the cause of much pain. The bad teeth and infection may have contributed to his kidney condition. Correcting both won’t reverse his renal failure but letting either continue would have exacerbated it. With these health gains and a close watch on what he eats, Wag’s kidney disease has stabilized.

At home Wag’s a hugely happy boy. He has 4 canine housemates now, ages 15 months through 12 years. He gets along easily with everyone. A two-footed house guest visited for 10 days recently and Wag welcomed her as family. He loves petting, cool wood floors, strolling through the woodlot and is a dream to groom. Wag’s a very good boy and deserving of all the good days that come his way……..

Update 05/19/12:

Everyone loves good news, especially when it’s not necessarily expected. So it was with guarded optimism that bloodwork was done for “Wag” after he’d been on a specialized diet for a month to address his renal failure. The results were more than hoped for………some important values were improved and others were, at the least, no worse. His foster mom almost cried; his vet was also quite pleased. 

This progress enabled doing a much needed dental for Wag which included 3 extractions. He snarfed up softened wet food for 3 weeks and made a smooth recovery. Unfortunately, a worrisome discovery was made as the vet worked with Wag’s mouth. A suspicious abnormality was found in his lower jaw. Subsequent xrays and a biopsy were inconclusive as to the nature of this, so it was treated as a deep bone infection. With antibiotics complete, one more set of xrays will be done to see how the mass has responded. Once again, there is guarded optimism for Wag.

Fortunately, Wag is oblivious to the drama surrounding his health. He’s done a complete turnaround since becoming a MAESSR boy. He’s willing to go anywhere for anything, as long as it’s not into the vet’s exam room! Recently he traveled to the Springerfest at Richmond. The picnic day was a long one for him………not even a mid-day nap………but he did great amidst all the new faces. He was a house guest in the home of another foster family that weekend and blended right into the pack there too; not one grumble or wrinkled lip!

At home he enjoys a daily stroll around the woodlot and had been overseeing the daily tug-of-war between 2 other springers in his home. Much to the surprise of those 2 dogs, Wag got off the couch one recent evening and joined in. He put an amazing effort into the 3-way contest and was competitive! Watching him have so much fun was absolutely heartening. He was noticeably slow at getting out of bed the next morning but went right back for another round that evening………:)).

There are times when life is best taken one day at a time. That outlook works for Wag right now. He’s a good boy and deserving of every good day that comes his way. When life is good……play tug!

Update 03/11/12:

When he arrived, Winston was the most agitated foster his new mom had ever met. He tossed his head, kept to himself and grumbled about most efforts to touch him. He was painfully thin, smelled horrible, was possibly in pain, and looked incredibly fatigued. It was clear he felt bad, yet his tail did wag, an encouraging sign as his family pondered where to begin.

Regular meals, 5-star treats, several baths, a quiet corner in the kitchen to call his own, and few demands on him slowly led to the real “Winnie.” He wags with his whole body now! Often he is downright frisky in the house and has become a pleasurable companion on short daily walks. He vies with another ESS for couch time in the evenings. The two literally climb over one another for the choice spot, yet neither grumbles at the outcome. At other times Winnie stands beside the computer for half an hour so his foster mom’s free hand can pet, rub, and scratch him. Then he’ll sink down to the floor, even if a dog bed’s not there. 

As Winnie began to relax, the effort to reintroduce him to crating began. When his bowl moved into a crate, Winston followed………good boy!! The next step was loading this 55 pounder for his first trip to the vet………..no small task……..but one accomplished when he followed chicken bits up a ramp into the SUV. Settling into a travel crate, he rode fairly calmly and has improved with each road trip.

When out in public, Winnie’s demonstrated an eagerness to meet strangers. He loves the owner of the local doggie wash. When a large, ball-capped man in the vet’s lobby smiled at him, Winnie bee lined into his hands and sucked up lovin’s until called for his exam. He remains less comfortable once in the exam room but that is improving too.

During his initial exam, Winnie’s estimated age was increased from 4 to 8 years. His need for weight gain and a dental were noted. The results of bloodwork suggested chronic renal failure. Further testing firmed the diagnosis. With an incurable disease that typically limits life span, Winston has become a permanent foster. He has started a special diet which may slow the progression of his CRF. Fortunately, he likes his new menu and is eating well. He seems to feel better and may even be gaining a little weight! 

The turnaround in this dog is heartening but not uncommon. Were it not for his health, he would be moving steadily toward “availability.” As is, MAESSR will assure he’s clean, safe, warm, well fed, and, yes……….loved too, for as long as his days are good ones. With a little luck, he may take in a Springerfest picnic this season, hoping to meet some of the volunteers who help make commitments to dogs like him possible. If you spot a large, lean, handsome black/white with quite a wag, please introduce yourself. It would likely make his day!!

Original:

Winston picked one on this winter’s worst days to journey from a shelter in the high country of West Virginia to his foster home. It may have been a first road trip for this stray; it may have been that he did not feel well………or both, but this boy barked during most of the miles. A comfy, warm crate and the offering of burgers were lost on Winston, but the patience of his MAESSR transport volunteer endured. Hours down the icy interstate when Winston met up with his foster mom, the dog looked spent but his transporter was smiling!! Absolutely amazing!!

Two ESSs, a middle-age resident and an elderly foster, met Winston eagerly when he arrived. He didn’t return their enthusiasm but did meet with appropriate doggie manners and quickly learned that sitting politely alongside them at treat time brought good things his way too. At 55 pounds, Winston is quite underweight, so his willingness to do this impressed his foster mom as did his wiggling tail. Winston’s adjusted to eating 3-4 smaller meals daily in the effort to begin a healthy weight gain. He’s fed alone so as not to feel any need to protect his food from the other dogs. He doesn’t guard it from his foster mom either and is learning to wait patiently when it’s put down before diving in. Of course, he doesn’t miss a bite!!

Winston seemed instantly comfortable with indoor life. He wanted no part of further crating so his family settled him into the confines of a gated kitchen. He’s only had one accident and has made no attempts to mark, despite a very recent neutering. Basic home grooming has begun as this boy was long overdue……….long nails, long fur between the toes, tender ears, etc. His bath was completed, despite some efforts to escape on his part, but Winston stood quietly while being blow dried. Good boy!! He has been wary of some touching but is allowing it increasingly as trust builds in the new human in his life. 

More to come on Winston…………….