www.Straydog.org UPDATE posted MONDAY 11/17/03 at ~7:21 p.m. CT

Bill Arnold's Daily Straydog Log

A report from Erin ...

MONDAY NOVEMBER 17 2003

Great news on Nikki: NO MORE HEARTWORMS!

     On Friday we took Nikki into the clinic to get an update on her blood work. When Nikki first came to us last March, a stray from Tenison Golf Course in Dallas, she had heartworms. The doctor gave her one treatment of immiticide, but Nikki was too ill to receive the second treatment. She even coughed up blood after the first treatment, and Dr. Morton was concerned we might lose Nikki.

     Dr. Morton called today with the good news: No heartworms now, and Nikki's blood work shows everything in the normal range.

Nikki's still a very timid dog

     For the first two or three months after we rescued Nikki, she would run and hide from everyone. Slowly (over a great deal of time) Nikki began coming to the caregivers for cookies, and when we finally found a kennel mate Nikki approved of (Puppy Rex, one of Rosie's eight pups), she really began to come out of her shell.

Nikki smiles now

     Now Nikki seems to have a smile on her face all the time. She likes to play chase-around-the-park and tug-a-rope with the caregivers. Though she's still very cautious, she now loves to run and play. We're all so happy that Nikki doesn't have to go through anymore heartworm treatment and can continue to run and play without restrictions.