Bill Arnold's Daily Straydog Log

WEDNESDAY APRIL 21 2004

Erin's report on Tuesday afternoon's vet visit to Dr. Reeves' clinic in Tyler

   Rocky is doing better

     When we arrived at the clinic, Rocky was doing okay! He was having only his second meal since he's been sick (a very small meal of chicken). Upon our arrival Dr. Reeves, Tina and I walked Rocky first thing, and the doctor saw that Rocky wanted to get back in our van! His eyes were clear, and he seemed alert. Dr. Reeves said Rocky wasn't out of the woods yet though, so the doctor will continue to administer the fluids, blood transfusions if Rocky needs more, and all the other things he's doing for old Rocky Boy.

     We met Nick, Rocky's blood donor, and took a picture of Nick with Mrs. Reeves.

   Katie

     Katie had just recently been bitten on her face by insects and was developing a hot spot. The doctor shaved her a little bit and gave us ointment to put on the area. He also gave Katie vitamin injections and IV fluids for the stress that she had endured. Katie got a treatment of acupuncture today too. She ate all of her meal this evening after we got home from Dr. Reeves' clinic, and after we administered subcutaneous fluids, she was up and walking around enjoying an outing in the park. We kept Katie in the park with Toby for part of the evening as she really enjoys being outside--especially in the beautiful weather we're having. The park is grassy, and Katie won't have to wear an E-collar to keep her sore spot from getting dirty.

   Toby, Rudy and Julie

     Dr. Reeves gave Toby, Rudy and Julie their second injections of hormones. Dr. Plechner, (who is the author of this protocol) would take more blood at this time, Dr. Reeves told us, in order to see how the first shot three weeks ago had affected the dogs, but we can wait till next time (in three weeks) to do more blood work, the doctor said. The second tests for blood work aren't quite as expensive as the first tests were, so that will be good.

   Beagle Pup

     Tina had told us last week that she had seen a wandering puppy who had probably been dumped in her neighborhood. I told Tina that Volunteer Melissa (whom we wrote about on February 24 when she was moving from Mesquite to Crandall in order to be able to keep and care for more than the Mesquite limit on dogs) might be interested in a puppy, as Melissa had told me last Saturday that she really had room for one more dog (and preferably a puppy) to complete her animal family at a population of 10 dogs. Tina had become afraid for the stray puppy this week, seeing it resting sometimes in the road, so when she heard we had a possible home for the Beagle pup, Tina went door to door and found out that other people in her neighborhood thought the pup had been dumped too. Tina found out that one family had been feeding the pup but shutting it out of their yard at night.

     Knowing we were going to the vet today (Tuesday), Tina rescued the puppy in the morning, and took it to the family who had been feeding it and asked one more time if they wanted the pup, but they said no. So Tina brought the cute Beagle pup to Straydog this afternoon, and we loaded him in the van with the other dogs going to the vet.

     Dr. Reeves began to get vaccinations ready for the five-month-old, but first wanted to take the pup's temperature. Beagle Pup had a fever and also had loose, somewhat bloody stools. The doctor had Tina finish up mixing the fecal sample, and they began to check for worms. There were no worms.

     The combination of loose, bloody stools, fever and no worms lead the doctor to believe we might have Parvo on our hands again. It was too early to take a Parvo test, he said, so we aren't absolutely positive, but there is a lot of Parvo going around here in Texas. The doctor had a pup with Parvo in a kennel above where Rocky was staying. This is one of two brother pups the doctor has saved this week, but a third sibling died.

     We got more IV fluids in case the puppy gets lethargic, and we also stocked up on all the supplements and antibiotics we'll need to combat Parvo. We're to keep Beagle Pup quiet, same as we did with Holly and Grace and will begin most of these anti-Parvo remedies as soon as more symptoms begin to show--if he indeed does have Parvo.

     For now we've named the puppy Beagle Pup. We want Melissa to see the puppy's photo and see what she thinks a better name might be.

Late evening update on Beagle Pup ...

     It's 11:45p.m. and I [Erin] need to be getting home to my own menagerie. (I've got four dogs and a bunch of cats at home.) We're walking Beagle Pup outside the shelter fence while he is in quarantine from the other dogs, and he is staying in a hospital kennel in the big hospital ward off the kitchen. The pup did eat twice tonight so far--two small meals. We gave him supplements in the meals, and Tina gave him the antibiotic pill. I've taken him out twice so far, so he seems to be potty trained! We may have to take him out every two or three hours, and this would be a perfect way to potty train a puppy! The puppy is very sweet and loving. He whines a little, but we just fed him and took him outside, and now he's quiet again and lying down asleep.

Emailed report on Puppy William, adopted a month ago

Subject: Willie (Formerly Puppy William)
Date: Tue, 20 Apr 2004 14:25:11 -0500
From: "Sharon Pierce"
To: <straydog@straydog.org>

Well, it has been one month since Willie came home. Slash (our original dog) has never been happier. The two of them are just like father and son or big brother, little brother.

Willie has turned out to be a very smart puppy. He has been sleeping in the house since he was brought home and has never had an accident. He tries to open the door by himself. He watches everything we all do, and he has tried on several occasions to open the back door. I figure give him a few more months and he will be letting himself out.

He has brought nothing but love and laughter to our home.

Thank you

Sharon Pierce