DODGER 2 1/2 years since rescue

Today marks the 2 ½ year anniversary of Dodger’s rescue.

I think the word that applies is “serendipity” as in making desirable discoveries by accident or good fortune or luck. And I think that is how you explain that Dodger (originally known as Pat) is laying down in my living room.

On Sept 14th I was part of a group being given a tour of a large shelter in New York City. During part of that tour we were shown the hospital and vet care area. There in one of the bottom cages was an 11 year old abused, neglected, injured and broken dog. He was starving to death, had the worst case of matted coat I had ever seen and pressure sores the size of a silver dollar on each of his hips.
We never imagined that he would be still with us 2 ½ years later and we are grateful for ever one of those days. His will to live played a large part in his survival and recovery. But without the dedication and care of Dr Steven Immerblum and his entire staff at Golden’s Bridge Vet Care Center we are sure that this happy result would never have happened.

Some then and now photos showing his remarkable recovery

Dodger Wishes you A Happy Holiday

As we approach 27 months of having Dodger in our lives I thought I would post a quick update-he is GREAT. The combination of diet, medications, supplements and medicated baths has kept his 2 diseases under control and he has a wonderful life- and he makes us smile.

I also want to take this opportunity to thank all the people who played a part in saving this wonderful dog. There are tens of thousands of people working all the time to save animals and through their efforts (although some times we are a bit over the top) thousands and thousands of dogs and cats are saved every year. To that vast network of rescuers, supporters, donors, shelters and rescue groups and on behalf of Dodger and what he has come to mean to so many of us- “The dogs thank you, the cats thanks you, the shelters and rescues thank you and I thank you.

Dodger lining up for dinner last night (with Dusty and Dora)

And after a delicious dinner what is better than a nap in front of the TV?

Dodger-Two year Anniversary

It has been a while since I posted an updated on Dodger so I thought you should all know he is still doing great. Almost 2 years since he was saved he is going strong and having a great life.
A combination of diet, medicated baths, supplements, medicine (ATOPICA) and great support from his care givers has allowed Dodger to return to a normal and happy life. We cannot thank Dr. Steven Immerblum and his entire staff enough for their dedication and care of Dodger over these last 2 years.
Dodger has been a joy to be with and we are so glad he has been able to spend his senior years in a safe place surrounded by people who care for him.
For those of you who have forgotten what he looked like when we pulled him in Sept of 2012-check out the photos or click thru the various posts until you get to the beginning of his story

Dodger-15 months and Counting

The Halo Pet Food Company, owned by Ellen DeGeneres, made a substantial food donation in Greenwich CT to the Shelter & Rescue Partnership IN HONOR OF DODGER

This years theme is the “Inspire Tour” and as part of that effort Halo picks a pet who has a special, inspirational story in that area-Dodger is tickled pink to receive this honor.

From the Halo Press Release
“At each Kibble Drop location, 5-8 shelters will receive a substantial food donation in honor of a special, inspirational story in that city. At the Greenwich stop, donations are being made in honor of Dodger, an abandoned, senior dog who seemed like he’d never know happiness again…until John Iannuzzi of the Shelter/Rescue Partnership and his wife adopted him. A year later, Dodger’s thriving and enjoying his golden years in bliss.”

His transformation has been remarkable and we are so happy that his story has been an inspiration for so many people and has resulted in rescues and shelters receiving the donated food from Halo in his honor.

Dodger-Today is One Year

Today is the one year anniversary of us pulling Dodger off of death row and getting him to our vets.  It has been a challenging year but I am glad to say that we finally have come up with a combination of food, medications, supplements and weekly medicated baths that seems to have his auto immune and skinl issues almost completely under control.   He is a happy little guy who gives us much joy.  He has become portrait worthy and his portrait will be framed and be added to out “rescue Wall of fame”

 

This photo taken today seems like he is giving me a “Thank You”kiss

Dodger -Then & Now

A number of people have asked if I could post a photo of Dodger when we first got him in Sept 2102 and what he looks like now- as you wish

Portrait Worthy and 8 month update

After a horrific April of problems and heart break I am happy to let you all know that Dodger is doing great.
After we thought we lost him on 5 separate occasions in early April he has responded and is just super. He collapsed 5 times within 21 hours (2 seizure like and 3 just fell over as in complete exhaustion). Turned out to be a deadly reaction to a drug which caused a heart arrhythmia (he was on a heart monitoring halter for 2 days) we took him immediately off that drug and his condition stabilized then we put him on a drug for his heart arrhythmia and he reacted badly to that as well. We decided (and it was not easy) to stop all meds except his Atopica and within 3 days he was back to “normal”.
For those about 10 days we were on pins and needles. Since those episodes in early April he has never had another episode.
His skin is 99% improved with little or no dry patches. He is just a great buddy and has completely settled into his new life. He has a new trick. When we are having something to drink he taps his bowl with his paws so he can get some.
He has now been elevated to a “portrait worthy” status and went for his “sitting” on the 18th. Should have the portrait back in early July
Here are a few recent photos

Dodgers Story Winning the War

Part 16- Winning the War

Sorry for the delay in posting a new blog-we were waiting for good news

Early January

All things considered Dodger is doing great. He is up to 43 pounds, his coat is coming back in like gang busters and his is just an absolute joy to be around. He makes us smile every time he “shimmies” his tail. So nice to see him happy and comfortable

However he has developed another skin issue. The EM auto immune disease is under control (using Atopica) but his skin has developed many areas of crusty patches. This could be an old underlying issue that was masked by the EM auto immune, a reaction to a drug he was being treated with, or any series or combinations of issues. He underwent three biopsy punches. Will be sent out for analysis and hopefully we will have the issue identified by sometime next week.

Feb 26

Dodger is doing marvelous

His autoimmune disease (EM) is under control and we have begun the process of weaning him off (or at least to a much lower dose) of Atopic

The biopsy results indicated multiple strains of Staph within the crusty skin patches, but not on his skin, and he has responded magnificently to the antibiotics and almost all the dry patches are gone.

Check out his back and coat on 9/17th

Check out a month ago

Check it out today 2/26

Eventually we will wean him off the antibiotics. At that point we will have to monitor him for both the EM and the dry patches. He will continue to receive weekly medicated baths-

His coat and skin are almost back to normal and he can be petted, touched and held

His coat is back with the exception of 2 areas of scar tissue on his back. The hair on his nose is finally starting to come back in. The tail will be the last part of his body to get the coat back

Check out nose and face on 9/17 (notice no brown shades)

Check out last month

Check out today

He is a happy go lucky dog that constantly makes us laugh and smile (and with me that is not easy)

Last night he jumped on our bed (all by himself) and slept there the entire night-occasionally looking to make sure we were both still there

For those of you who have never had the ability or good fortune to rescue and rehabilitate an old sick dog-you have missed out on one of the great pleasures of life

Hopefully Dodgers blog has provided you with a chance to gain a little insight into the challenges but also the great joy that saving a broken dog like Dodger can bring.

To all those who have followed his battle to become a dog again and to those who have cared and treated him

Dodger thanks you and we thank you

Part 15 – 3 month Update

Part 15 –   3 month Progress Report

 We now have Dodger for 3 months and he continues to make progress-although slowly.  He gets up and down the stairs, jumps up on the guest bed for a nap aqnd hangs with our other 2 rescues

 We are still making adjustments to his meds (for his auto immune disease) but he does continue to make slow progress-Dr Immerblum calls it healing from the inside out.  He sees Dr I every 2 weeks for bath and assessment

The difference in Dodger over the 3 months we have him is remarkable 

Check out the differences in his eyes

Sept 14th

 

Check out his eyes on Dec 7th

 

Check out his posture and back on Sept 17th

 

Check out his posture (he has a straight back again) on Dec 7th

He is interactive, alert, full of fire and head stong

We did an DNA test on him because a lot of people were curious

 Seems he is mostly Belgian Malinois and Border Collie

 Check out this link to see his photo in the DAN gallery and read about his makeup

 http://www.wisdompanel.com/photo_gallery/ and type in Dodger in the dog name box

Thanks for you interest in Dodger

Part 14-Dodger IS A DOG AGAIN

Nov 5th Monday

 Just back from Dr I for Dodgers first visit in 10 days-great improvement

Dodgers chest sores are all healed hence no more oozing so we can actually hold him now

The sores on his “armpits” are about 75% improved and should be gone in next 2 weeks

He has gained weight and is now 40 pounds

Prednisone is being changed to every other day as we make the transition to see if the Atopica is having the anticipated effect on his auto immune disease

His ears have improved significantly from what was hard cracked leather to soft glove leather

His skin is still flaking and peeling but almost all of the ulcerated areas have resolved

Body condition score is 4.25 out of 9 (low side of normal)

Got a medicated bath today

And he is starting to really act like a dog

Super interactive and interested in everything-laser beam

Hurricane Sandy Pizza Party

Follows us around like a puppy dog

He can actually sit now (could not do that before)

Jumps up and lays on the couch

 

Goes up and down the 5 steps that lead to the back of the house

 Sleep in the master bed room with us at night 

 Hangs with the other two dogs

His coat is coming back in stages

-his head and front half of his body it is growing in full and consistent

-on the back half of his body (and rear legs) it is spare and weak fur-this is also part of his disease which might get better as we get further along in his treatments

 Looks a little like a lion

 He has gone from daily visits to Dr I to what will now be once every two weeks

 So I think we have reached a point that unless something significant happens Dodger is basically a dog again-no longer in a life threatening situation- and just with a number of old age things that can be managed and cared for.  So the posts will be few and far between

 To all of you who put Dodger in your thoughts –we thank you

 You can’t save them all but we were able to save Dodger