CONNER
(07-081)

Conner (approx. 3 years/65 pounds) was rescued from a busy highway and brought into GRREAT in May, 2007.   His first foster family noticed that he had trouble with stairs and further testing showed that he had torn cruciate ligaments in both back legs.  GRREAT sent him for Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO) surgery on one leg and then he came to his current foster family for help with rehabilitation.  He was expected to bounce back quickly, have TPLO done on the other leg, and then move on to his forever home.  Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.  He had a lot of trouble healing from the first TPLO and didn’t want to walk on the leg for a long time – which isn’t normal for that surgery.  He developed an infection and then had to have a second surgery to remove the plate and screw that had been put in his leg.  Healing continued to progress slowly and we felt that something just wasn’t right.  Additional testing finally determined that Conner has degenerative myelopathy (progressive rear limb weakness or paralysis) – the doggie version of multiple sclerosis.

 http://www.dcvets.org/surgical/DegenerativeMyelopathy.pdf 

Degenerative myelopathy has been reported in almost all large breeds of dogs with the disease appearing with relative frequency in the German Shepherd.  The classic symptoms are painless, slowly progressive rear limb weakness or paralysis.  Over time the dog becomes progressively weaker as is evidenced by shuffling of the rear legs and lack of coordination.  In the final stages, full paralysis can develop.  This condition is not very common in Golden Retrievers.  Several vets we consulted said that this disease usually progresses quickly in German Shepherds but slowly in Goldens and that many Goldens can lead long, happy lives.  We don’t know what course it will take with Conner.   We do know that stress and additional surgeries can cause degenerative myelopathy to progress more quickly, so Conner is no longer a candidate for the second TPLO surgery.

As if degenerative Myelopathy wasn’t enough….. Conner recently had to have emergency surgery for stones in his bladder.   He came through the surgery well, but took about twice as long as usual to heal from it.  Next, he came down with kennel cough while he was being boarded – which kept him at the vet clinic until he was no longer contagious.  Conner is now on a prescription diet from the vet to prevent more stones from forming in his bladder.  He will need to stay on this diet for the rest of his life.  Fortunately, he is not a picky eater!  In fact, he gets just as excited when you toss him an ice cube as when you toss him a piece of kibble.

Conner is now ready and available for adoption.  What is he like right now?  He looks like a normal Golden boy, but he has a slight stiff legged gait in the back when he walks.  We have worked with him to build muscle in his back legs, and he is now able to trot and run after a ball – his favorite toy.  He enjoys going on leash walks, but doesn’t have the stamina to go quite as far as our other Goldens.  Continued short walks, and playtime in a yard will be necessary to keep him fit.  He can negotiate a couple of steps to get into and out of the house, and just recently learned to do a full flight of stairs!   Conner does not like to walk on slippery surfaces with his back legs, so our kitchen floor is a “Conner-free” zone, which is sort of nice because he has been known to countersurf on occasion.   If his tennis ball goes into the kitchen, he will stretch as far as he can into the room, without removing his back legs from the carpet.  If he still can’t reach the ball, he will bark until you rescue it for him.

Conner is housebroken and crate trained and goes in his crate on command when we leave the house.  He would love to have his own sofa to curl up on, but he’s not allowed on the furniture at our house.  At night he sleeps on our bedroom floor and almost every night he “dreams” and kicks his back feet.  He gets along fine with our two house cats and co-exists with his two Golden brothers.  Conner comes when called and is a Velcro dog.  He would really like to have a forever home where he would be the center of attention, but he can share nicely with a calm dog who doesn’t expect him to play with him/her.  Conner prefers to play with humans.  In our house, he thinks the sun rises and sets on his foster dad, so he’d probably prefer to bond with a man in his forever home.  He’s ok with other dogs, but he will grouch if they step on him, even accidentally.  For this reason, Conner should not go to a home with children under 12. With all the rehabilitation we’ve done with him, and baths and pedicures, he has been very tolerant and accepting with us because he has learned to trust that we won’t hurt him – plus we give him a tennis ball to chew on when we are doing something to him that he’s not so sure we should be doing!  Conner’s ideal forever family will have previous dog experience, a home with carpet and very few steps, and be willing to care for him if and when he has trouble getting around.  A calm, low stress family will help keep him in his best health.  An opportunity for swim therapy is also on his wish list.  Simply swimming in a pool to retrieve his tennis ball is good exercise for his legs.    

Conner wants to thank GRREAT for allowing him to have the medical care he needs, and for not giving up on him because of the cost of the surgeries and the testing.  In spite of his special needs, Conner is a sweetheart who has the Golden spirit.  If you look into his soulful eyes, you will see that he is ready to go to his very own loving forever home.   Will you give him that opportunity?

SAYLOR
(07-082)

UPDATE! UPDATE!! UPDATE!! 

We have GRREAT news!!  Saylor has been adopted by the wonderful owners of the Canine Fitness Center where she goes to "work" nearly every day as the office mascott and gets to swim several times a week!  Her legs are getting stronger every day and she's a happy, happy girl.  Thank you so much for your support!

August 2007:

Despite dealing with a few bouts of Murphy’s Law, Saylor is on her way to understanding firsthand what it means to be a 2 year old that can run and play with the Big Dogs.

Saylor’s journey toward a normal life began this past May after she was picked up as a stray, taken to an animal shelter and ultimately landed in GRREAT’s care. It was reported that Saylor walked in a crouched position “… as if she’s always getting ready to pee…” Arrangements were made for Saylor to be examined by a GRREAT-friendly orthopedic specialist and it was discovered that both of her kneecaps were locked out of position (even manual manipulation or movement wasn’t possible) which caused a lot of pressure on her legs and back. This precious little girl was born with the condition yet found ways to cope with the limitations it presented.

To provide adequate relief, both knees required reconstruction of the groove that held the knee as well as TPLOs (Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy.) This solution meant investing a lot of money (over $5000) and a long recovery period but the decision was easy due to Saylor’s determined spirit. Although it would be more intense for her, the specialist was hopeful that having both knees done at one time would reduce her recovery time

Enter Murphy. Routine blood work showed Saylor had Lyme’s disease. Surgery was postponed while Saylor underwent 30 days of antibiotic treatment. This was necessary because the disease has been known to increase the risk of bleeding during surgery.

Finally, the big day arrived!!

Enter Murphy… again. The doctor discovered the procedure would be far more intense than originally expected upon opening the first knee; the tendons, which had grown out of position, had to be stretched an incredible amount to get them back into the proper alignment over the newly reconstructed knee. The complexity of the operation coupled with the degree of discomfort she would experience during recovery, led to the reconsideration of having both knees operated on simultaneously. It was agreed that a 2 week recovery period would take place between surgeries.

The surgery appeared to be successful and Saylor began to recover slowly. Side effects from a medication, a surprise case of kennel cough, and a conflict in scheduling prevented the second surgery from occurring as initially planned, but at least Saylor was on her way.

Remember Murphy? He was still hanging around. Saylor’s leg began to swell and an x-ray revealed that one of her lower leg bones (the small fibula in the front) had broken. Unfortunately, this is not unheard of after this type of surgery because of the new pressure that is placed on the healing bones and tissue. Saylor was outfitted with a cast (Check out her pink cast in the picture) and on July 2nd she was able to go home to her foster family for a visit!

A week later Saylor was back at the vet for removal of the cast. Can you say, “Murphy?” Yep, he was back; this time in the form of an infection and a sprained back caused from trying to over-compensate her balance onto her front legs. These were both treated successfully and the second operation was completed on July 13th.

There was another joyous reunion when, on July 22nd, Saylor was reunited with a very happy and relieved foster Mom. Since then, Saylor has started physical therapy (see picture) and continues to grow stronger each day as she moves toward a full recovery. Over the last 4 months, everyone who has had contact with Saylor has been amazed by her courage and her immediate ability to melt hearts.

Saylor has been nothing but a trooper during this entire process even though she faced stumbling blocks almost every step of the way. She’s proven that sheer guts, perseverance, a highly-skilled surgeon, the intense love of a foster home and those infamous treats will beat Murphy any day.

UPDATE (November 5, 2007)

Saylor has been doing well! For the past two months, she has been swimming for longer and longer time periods at the Canine Fitness Center in Crownsville, MD (www.caninefitnesscenter.com.) When she first started, the trainer would have to get in the water with her and make sure that she was kicking her back legs. Now she’s having fun swimming on her own and playing fetch with her favorite toy – a squeaky turkey leg! IMaury throws her favorite toy and she swims to retrieve it. She starts out without a life vest and then towards the end of the 15 minute session, Maury will put a life vest on so that she can keep exercising her legs without getting too tired. When she’s done, she hits the showers for a quick bath and blow dry, and then it’s off to see George, one of her favorite people at the CFC. George does acupuncture and Saylor loves it. She races to the back as soon as she’s done with her bath and plops down on the bed for George to work his magic. Sometimes it’s hard for George to find the right spots because Saylor likes to talk, wiggle, and give lots of kisses while he’s working on her. Once she’s done there, Saylor races to the front desk area where she let’s herself behind the counter for a quick check in with Erma, a conversation (Saylor loves to “talk” and roo-roo) and a few cookies for the road.

Saylor recently had one of the plates in her knee removed and this should be the last surgery this sweet girl will need. She’s due to get her staples out on Tuesday, Nov 13th and she can’t wait to get back to her swimming! Thanks to all who have contributed their time and money to help her get better. There’s still a long way to go but she’s making great strides everyday!

If you’d like to help defray some of the costs GRREAT has incurred in the rescue of Saylor, please visit our Donation Center. Saylor has promised to write a personal thank-you note to anyone who is able to contribute toward the cost of her medical bills.

BAILEY
(04-092)

Bailey came to GRREAT in the Summer of 2004 as a happy 2-year-old Golden boy with an unusual medical condition - his gait was awkward, his balance was shaky, and he was incapable of navigating stairs.  Several tests conducted by Bailey’s original owners had not revealed much information other than this was a permanent “disability.”  Yet, what was this “disability,” how much would it affect his livelihood, and what was the prognosis for his future?   

Bailey’s diagnostic journey began with a three-fold hypothesis of potential conditions to either identify or rule out:  a lingering, lifelong symptom of a previous disease that had come and gone (e.g., exposure to the Corona virus); a symptom of a degenerative condition (e.g., brain tumor, lesions, or an ongoing disease); or a non-degenerative structural problem in his cerebellum—the area of the brain responsible for movement.  Dr. Walker from DC Vets conducted the first step, a spinal tap, which would indicate previous or current exposure to disease.  Thankfully, by running tests on the spinal fluid, he was able to rule out disease as a cause.   

The next step was to conduct a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) test, such as the ones that humans receive, to detect the presence of a possible brain tumor.  Bailey’s MRI was performed at the Iams Pet Imaging Center in Vienna, VA, the first-ever of its kind to provide state-of-the-art, non-invasive diagnostic care for D.C. area pets.  A few days after the MRI, GRREAT was pleased to learn that no brain tumor or lesions had been detected; therefore, the degenerative and life-threatening causes for his “disability” had been ruled out. 

So where does this leave Bailey?  By ruling out the two causes that would potentially have affected his livelihood and longevity, Dr. Walker was left with the conclusion that Bailey’s “disability” is caused by a structural problem in his cerebellum that he was likely born with.  The good news is that there is no reason to expect his life expectancy or quality to be affected. 

Bailey’s condition is known as cerebellar ataxia, an inefficiency in coordinating voluntary movements from the cerebellum, the portion of the brain that fine-tunes movement.  Essentially, this means that the signals from his brain to his body are not being translated properly. 

Dogs affected with ataxia may display one or all of the following symptoms:

• A drunken, staggering gait
• “Goose stepping” of the front limbs, which refers to the way in which affected dogs pick up their foot past their elbow, which means they then have to bring the foot down quickly to get it on the ground before they pick up the opposite foot
• A tendency to lose balance, especially when making a sudden turn or head movement
• Tremors when trying to make a movement or focus on something—dogs will develop a wobbling back and forth, which is most pronounced when they are hungry and trying to focus on food, or if they spot an object that they want to investigate.

Fortunately for Bailey, his ataxic condition, while lifelong, is not degenerative.  However, there are special considerations required for Bailey’s exercise needs given his unique physicality, which prompted us to involve Bailey in swim therapy.  Bailey has been swimming at the Canine Fitness Center in Crownsville, MD, which serves to not only build up his strength and endurance, but also to help him become more familiar with his own body’s capacity for motion. 

Bailey also receives weekly therapies which have been supported through the Simale-Finale fund, dedicated to natural and holistic treatments.  They include acupuncture, TENS, and healing touch.  Together, they have helped Bailey to lead a (mostly) normal life and to even improve his ability to navigate his environment and control his movements.  Bailey is not in pain, is expected to have a normal life expectancy, and is not even aware that he moves differently from any other dog. And, other than his sense of movement, he is hardly indistinguishable from any other Golden.  He is a dog who wiggles when happy; who prances and leaps across the yard; who loves to try to chase balls and play tug-of-war with his Golden sister; who sniffs the perimeter of his surroundings to make sure all is in order; who gazes longingly back at the pool once outside; who nuzzles his head against our necks for as long as we are willing to stay kneeled on the ground hugging him.  So what can Bailey NOT do?  “Climb stairs—he won’t ever be able to climb stairs,” is the only thing we’ve been able to say.  Anything else goes. 

Bailey is not unlike the everyday person with a pioneering spirit who takes the same path as lots of others; he just has his own way of getting there.  Your generous financial support helps us to continue his swimming and alternative treatments, which in turn, allow Bailey to continue his joie de vive!!

Notes and Acknowledgements:  Several websites and resources were consulted for this column in order to accurately portray Bailey’s background and lifestyle.  For those interested in more information about canine ataxia, please visit the website http://www.cvm.missouri.edu/ataxia/.  Please note that some information on canine ataxia illustrates severe cases which are not representative of Bailey’s condition.  For those interested in information about the Canine Fitness Center, please visit the website www.caninefitnesscenter.com.  For those interested in information about animal MRI technology at the Iams Pet Imaging Center, please visit the website http://www.tryiams.com/en_US/newsletters/VetLinks/MRI_article.htm\

Many, many thanks go out to the wonderful members of the GRREAT community who donated thousands of dollars to the Leo Fund, which paid for Bailey’s medical procedures, and to the Simile Finale Fund, which pays for Bailey’s swim therapy sessions and acupuncture.  Bailey would not have progressed to the smart, playful, beautiful, lively Golden he is without your generosity and support; you helped to bring out his best Golden.  Thank you!
 

PEACHES
(05-140)

Peaches is an incredibly sweet and cute, young Golden girl.  She was tearfully given up by her original family because she had been diagnosed with a digestive disorder, Pancreatic Enzyme Insuffiency, and the medicine that would be required to treat it was too expensive.

She came to GRREAT in August 2005 and was seen by a regular vet and an Internal Medicine Specialist.  The original diagnosis was confirmed, Peachey’s pancreas was unable to produce the enzymes required to digest her food.  This problem can be serious but with vigilance and proper medicines, it can be handled. 

However, a few months and a few up-and-down cycles later, a second visit to the specialist confirmed another problem; a poorly functioning Autonomic Nervous System.  Peachey’s digestive track wasn’t able to move properly so her food tended to collect in her intestine and had caused some damage to her colon.

This secondary problem meant more meds, more procedures, and much closer vigilance.  The “trick” is to give her small, frequent meals and to keep the food as soft as possible to promote an easy journey through the intestines, without causing the converse effect of diarrhea.  Exact combination of meds and daily re-evaluations is critical. 

Over the past six months, GRREAT has worked hard to find the perfect balance of prescription foods, meds, procedures, etc that work together to keep Peachey’s digestive track working.  It has been a struggle, not only to get closer to the right combination of all of the above, but also to watch this beautiful creature endure the low spots. 

On the second visit to the specialist, it was explained to us that we might be able to manage Peachey’s problems for a time but that ultimately, her condition would catch up with her and there will eventually be nothing we can do.  When asked to give an estimate of how long she had, the specialist was unable to predict.  You see, most families that have a dog like Peaches are forced into the reality of the situation very quickly.  Not only the dog’s comfort, but the expense, the time and trouble, and the worry all need to be considered.  Because of this, most of these dogs are sadly let go before their time and so there is not much evidence to support any prognosis of “how long.” 

However, Peaches is a very lucky girl.  She found her way to GRREAT which, because of the continued generous contributions of Golden lovers around the world, has the financial resources to try to help Peaches and dogs like her.  We were also able to locate a Foster Home that was able to commit to the reality of daily living with Peaches.  This reality includes constant surveillance of when and how much she eats, proper preparation of her food, proper administration of a variety of medicines, surveillance of her eliminations, and an ability to keep minutely adjusting all of the above to keep Peaches in balance. 

And so, why in the world would we work so hard and spend so much for a dog that will eventually succumb to her illness? 

The answer lies in her large, soulful eyes, in the way she plays with abandon in the backyard, in the way she is a loving but pesky little sister to her foster brother, and in the way she curls up in your lap at night, making grunting noises of contentment.  At only 42 lbs, it is easy to rock her to sleep.  It lies also in her age, Peaches is only two years old and is as full of light and energy and antics as any other two year old would be.

Peaches has many endearing qualities.  When she’s feeling too happy to contain herself (and her foster brother isn’t in easy reach) she loves to chase her tail.  She’ll even try to catch it when she’s lying on her back with her feet straight up in the air.  She loves playing with her rope toy, prancing around with it like a lion with a kill, dragging it between her front legs.  Peachey also loves to sit as close as possible to you and will scootch in and in and in until you risk toppling over if you’re not braced against a chair.  She does a happy dance, turning circles, when she’s about to be fed.  She knows that her food has to sit for 30 minutes before she can eat it so she lays quietly in front of the counter, just waiting for you to decide it’s time.  And don’t forget about it and let it run long!  Peaches has a very good inner clock and she will come find you to let you know that you’ve missed your appointment with her dinner! ;)

Even though Peaches has suffered in her short life, she has also known great happiness and contentment.  In her mind, she is no different from any of the dogs around her.  She has lived with these conditions for all of her life but with our help, she has the possibility of having many more good days than bad, bad days that aren’t as bad as they were, and the ability to enjoy life for as long as it is hers to enjoy. 

Peaches is not easy to live with, she can frequently have an odor associated with her condition, she must be fed small meals four or more times a day, each meal requires 30 minutes of prep, and there is a revolving calendar and schedule of about eight meds.  She also needs “wipey-butts” each time she produces a bowel movement.  This unpleasant task is actually made fun by her sweet and playful nature and the help from our friends in the baby-wipe industry ;)  It can be hard work but one look at her beautiful eyes and you know in your heart that it’s nothing compared to her happiness and well-being.  She seems to have a certain understanding of the extra effort that is being made on her behalf and she endures all with a sweet and gentle spirit. 

Peaches is looking for a special combination in a family.  It is absolutely critical that her food and meds be strictly regulated and scheduled.  There will also be times when she will need to be seen by a vet for tests and procedures in order to help keep her digestive balance.  This combination can be time-consuming and expensive.  Peaches would also love to have a young and tolerant, 4-legged brother to play with and lovingly tease throughout the day.  Because of her strict diet and sometimes cyclic medical issues, she would not do well in a home with kids.  Peaches loves to go with you and rides well in the car but she is also content to be a home-body so a fence is not absolutely necessary.

In her foster mom’s mind, Peachey’s charm and spirit far outweigh the inconveniences and expense of keeping her happy and healthy.  She is a remarkable girl with an indomitable spirit and everyone that meets her falls immediately in love.  As long as she has the will to live and we can maintain quality of life, we cannot abandon her to the excuses of too much time and too much money.  There is no comparison.  

If Peachey’s story has touched you in any way and you would like to contribute to her care, please consider a donation to GRREAT in her name.  Currently, her food and meds average around $600 per month, not counting semi-regular vet trips for certain procedures and checks.  However, we are currently negotiating with several reps from the various drug and prescription food companies to see if they might be able to consider some pricing breaks.  So far, the response has been positive and we are optimistic that they will be able to work with us.  We are also researching grants and special funds for her and dogs like her.  Please help us to help her, this Peach is worth every penny!