Happy Birthday to one helluva dog. Buddy came to me, as his fourth home in under 2 years, blind with juvenile cataracts. He was hyperactive, peed on everything, jumped on everyone, and not leash trained. When I first saw him I thought he was so handsome. Perfect little muscled dog.
I think the others before me tried hard, and loved Buddy, but neither had the time nor finances to deal with all his needs. Myself and the rescue group coughed up the money for eye lens replacement surgery so he could see and I took good care of him for vet visits, and routine care as his foster mom.
Being able to see again dramatically changed his personality. He came to me so frightened and scared, seeing only see shadows. And he missed his last family- he seemed depressed. I have a big yard and other dogs, so lots to navigate as young, hyper pup without sight. There were fences, steps, curbs, slopes, large rocks, lake, dock, decks, trees, and so much more he could not see. To make matters worse, his retinas only work about 50% (birth defect) so he cannot see very well at dusk/dark. Thus he bugs his eyes out to try to see better.
Buddy now does fine on a leash. Has had his daily walks for years. He rides great but some of his other bad habits persisted no matter what I tried. It is stuff I can live with, so we cut a deal. He won.
It is important to mention, Buddy is a survivor. As his 4th home, no one wanted to put him down- just needed to find money to help him see again and work on his behavioral issues (Boston Terriers do not do well emotionally being transferred from owner to owner). Our first accident was after having him about a month (still on a waiting list for eye surgery), he somehow wandered out of my gate and walked right off my dock at dusk. I was outside but did not see him. When I noticed he was missing, it was too late. He was gone.
I knew he could not see to find the shore, and I also knew he could not swim....I had been trying to teach him enough to survive as I do all dogs I rescue. I was sick to my stomach thinking he had drown. Such a sweet, spunky, gorgeous dog. I ran around looking everywhere, hopeful he made it to shore somewhere. I incorporated the neighbors to help me look. I was in panic mode/ill. Then one neighbor said he heard his "gravel like" bark. I hadn't noticed how it sounded, distinctive. I didn't hear it at first, but eventually could hear it way down the cove. It did not sound like him to me but I had to try to see who it was barking. He sounded a mile away.
So I got in my kayak and started yelling for him. I had been yelling the whole time (now about 1 hour has passed) so he could find my voice and lead him "home". I was still just his foster, so he wasn't even my dog and I dreaded telling the rescue group the poor boy had drown on my watch. I could hear the barks coming closer, though it was dark and I could not really see now either (we were even). And yes, it was Buddy. Somehow instincts had kicked in and he dog paddled to the shoreline and then started walking, albeit away from home. The echoes can play tricks on your directional hearing.
I found him a bit cold, muddy, and scared but he was fine. That was EXPERIENCE #1. Number 2 you already know about from above. He was blind, after being able to see perfectly throughout puppy hood. Not all dogs are candidates for surgery and not all our successes, but skip to the chase, he was! His vision isn't perfect but fine to live a normal life after surgery. With his vision restored, so was his confidence.
Experience 3 has been the hardest. Two years ago Buddy, the hyper dog full of life and energy, slipped a disk peeing on a bush in the yard. Yep, at six years of age, simple as that. He could not move below the chest and was in sheer panic mode calling for me. I rushed him to the vet ER, then x-rays, MRI, etc. Three days in the ICU, then finally he came home. I tried everything and he was patient: laser therapy, electrical stimulation, acupuncture, swim therapy, exercise balls, harness walking, supplements, and nothing worked. His paralysis was permanent. Buddy could no longer pee on his own and needed bladder expression and could not feel or move his back legs ever again.
Buddy fought it for a while. I kept him calm as he would panic, not being able to do everything like walk, sit up (at first), roll over, etc. He couldn't scratch his own head or ears anymore so I do that for him now. Then one day, he just gave up. Gave in. He adjusted. He no longer was stressed out and freaking out because of his physical issues. He forgot he could ever walk or didn't wear a diaper and just became happy again overnight. It took me a lot longer to adjust. But like him, one day I just accepted the facts and dealt with it. We got a wheelchair, then others, built ramps, made special food bowls that tilt, got on amazon auto ship for diapers and such, and got a new dog sitter that was willing to manage his special needs.
Experience #4 and last one we hope forever....as said, I have a big yard. Trees. Woods. And snakes. I try to watch for them but almost impossible especially at night. This past Summer, Buddy was outside with the other dogs and me, and was bit by a copperhead on his back foot (2 fang marks). I rushed him to the ER again, as he was sluggish and throwing up within 5 minutes and his foot/leg was already huge. He was there for 2 days, touch and go. The vet asked me to sign a resuscitate order in case he went into anaphylaxis shock. I kinda laughed and signed it right away...if he can survive all this, heck yes try to bring him back so he can fight off this venom.
He came home looking worse than when he went in and I was unsure if he would make it. He would not eat or drink water. Finally I got him to take a little nourishment so he would not have to go to ER for IVs. It took 2 full weeks to get back to normal, but he did. No snake is going to kill this 19 lbs of energy.
So Buddy has lived a full life already. He aggravates his siblings with his playful energy. He tears up any and all toys and stuffed animals (none of the others can have nice things). I have special beds on the floor and ramps in my home for him. He has been on TV (WBTV Charlotte, NC). When we go out, HE gets all the attention- diapers and wheelchair, bouncing around like he owns the world. Kids love him, adults are inspired by him. I am in awe. Nothing gets him down or slows him down. He is famous around here, for his car seat beer cooler, his red cape, his dominant personality (will chase any dog or car now that he has a metal shield around his body- OMG).
I just call him Buddy.
I think the others before me tried hard, and loved Buddy, but neither had the time nor finances to deal with all his needs. Myself and the rescue group coughed up the money for eye lens replacement surgery so he could see and I took good care of him for vet visits, and routine care as his foster mom.
Being able to see again dramatically changed his personality. He came to me so frightened and scared, seeing only see shadows. And he missed his last family- he seemed depressed. I have a big yard and other dogs, so lots to navigate as young, hyper pup without sight. There were fences, steps, curbs, slopes, large rocks, lake, dock, decks, trees, and so much more he could not see. To make matters worse, his retinas only work about 50% (birth defect) so he cannot see very well at dusk/dark. Thus he bugs his eyes out to try to see better.
Buddy now does fine on a leash. Has had his daily walks for years. He rides great but some of his other bad habits persisted no matter what I tried. It is stuff I can live with, so we cut a deal. He won.
It is important to mention, Buddy is a survivor. As his 4th home, no one wanted to put him down- just needed to find money to help him see again and work on his behavioral issues (Boston Terriers do not do well emotionally being transferred from owner to owner). Our first accident was after having him about a month (still on a waiting list for eye surgery), he somehow wandered out of my gate and walked right off my dock at dusk. I was outside but did not see him. When I noticed he was missing, it was too late. He was gone.
I knew he could not see to find the shore, and I also knew he could not swim....I had been trying to teach him enough to survive as I do all dogs I rescue. I was sick to my stomach thinking he had drown. Such a sweet, spunky, gorgeous dog. I ran around looking everywhere, hopeful he made it to shore somewhere. I incorporated the neighbors to help me look. I was in panic mode/ill. Then one neighbor said he heard his "gravel like" bark. I hadn't noticed how it sounded, distinctive. I didn't hear it at first, but eventually could hear it way down the cove. It did not sound like him to me but I had to try to see who it was barking. He sounded a mile away.
So I got in my kayak and started yelling for him. I had been yelling the whole time (now about 1 hour has passed) so he could find my voice and lead him "home". I was still just his foster, so he wasn't even my dog and I dreaded telling the rescue group the poor boy had drown on my watch. I could hear the barks coming closer, though it was dark and I could not really see now either (we were even). And yes, it was Buddy. Somehow instincts had kicked in and he dog paddled to the shoreline and then started walking, albeit away from home. The echoes can play tricks on your directional hearing.
I found him a bit cold, muddy, and scared but he was fine. That was EXPERIENCE #1. Number 2 you already know about from above. He was blind, after being able to see perfectly throughout puppy hood. Not all dogs are candidates for surgery and not all our successes, but skip to the chase, he was! His vision isn't perfect but fine to live a normal life after surgery. With his vision restored, so was his confidence.
Experience 3 has been the hardest. Two years ago Buddy, the hyper dog full of life and energy, slipped a disk peeing on a bush in the yard. Yep, at six years of age, simple as that. He could not move below the chest and was in sheer panic mode calling for me. I rushed him to the vet ER, then x-rays, MRI, etc. Three days in the ICU, then finally he came home. I tried everything and he was patient: laser therapy, electrical stimulation, acupuncture, swim therapy, exercise balls, harness walking, supplements, and nothing worked. His paralysis was permanent. Buddy could no longer pee on his own and needed bladder expression and could not feel or move his back legs ever again.
Buddy fought it for a while. I kept him calm as he would panic, not being able to do everything like walk, sit up (at first), roll over, etc. He couldn't scratch his own head or ears anymore so I do that for him now. Then one day, he just gave up. Gave in. He adjusted. He no longer was stressed out and freaking out because of his physical issues. He forgot he could ever walk or didn't wear a diaper and just became happy again overnight. It took me a lot longer to adjust. But like him, one day I just accepted the facts and dealt with it. We got a wheelchair, then others, built ramps, made special food bowls that tilt, got on amazon auto ship for diapers and such, and got a new dog sitter that was willing to manage his special needs.
Experience #4 and last one we hope forever....as said, I have a big yard. Trees. Woods. And snakes. I try to watch for them but almost impossible especially at night. This past Summer, Buddy was outside with the other dogs and me, and was bit by a copperhead on his back foot (2 fang marks). I rushed him to the ER again, as he was sluggish and throwing up within 5 minutes and his foot/leg was already huge. He was there for 2 days, touch and go. The vet asked me to sign a resuscitate order in case he went into anaphylaxis shock. I kinda laughed and signed it right away...if he can survive all this, heck yes try to bring him back so he can fight off this venom.
He came home looking worse than when he went in and I was unsure if he would make it. He would not eat or drink water. Finally I got him to take a little nourishment so he would not have to go to ER for IVs. It took 2 full weeks to get back to normal, but he did. No snake is going to kill this 19 lbs of energy.
So Buddy has lived a full life already. He aggravates his siblings with his playful energy. He tears up any and all toys and stuffed animals (none of the others can have nice things). I have special beds on the floor and ramps in my home for him. He has been on TV (WBTV Charlotte, NC). When we go out, HE gets all the attention- diapers and wheelchair, bouncing around like he owns the world. Kids love him, adults are inspired by him. I am in awe. Nothing gets him down or slows him down. He is famous around here, for his car seat beer cooler, his red cape, his dominant personality (will chase any dog or car now that he has a metal shield around his body- OMG).
I just call him Buddy.
