News Flash!!!

Copper has gained 6 pounds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
.... Jill isn't sure where he is keeping them?....but the scale said they're there.

I think this is the first time I've ever celebrated a 6 pound weight gain. Nice to be happy about it for a change =0)

Progressing Recovery

Copper in need of  TLC !

Copper is doing much better.  He's starting to look forward to meals of vanned, kibble and suppliments.  His little personality is starting to come out. 
Copper is completely house trained. 

He is starting to get a bit picky about taking his pills & getting very good at removing the them from his peanut butter sandwiches.  Most of his days are spent snoozing.  He is still not putting much, if any weight on his rear leg.  The wound is still open and draining-- a good sing.

Copper got to go to Daphneyland last weekend when we attended the Santa Monica Strut Your Mutt.  He has not missed any meals and tried out the carriage.  It received his seal of approval.

~ Jill & the hounds

Diagnosis - Bone Infection

Copper is very underweight and one sick boy.  The condensed version (or maybe not) is that he does not have a fracture but he does have an open draining tract and an infection in the bone and surrounding soft tissue.  So he will be on two antibiotics for a minimum of 6 months and more likely one year.

Nutritional rehab is going to speed things up, but boy do we have a long way to go.  I will be putting up a first giving page to get some funds in for him.

His appetite is off for multiple reasons, infection and not feeling well and then there are the antibiotics.  I give him his pills in little cracker sandwiches.  Peanut butter between two saltines. 

It was so sad when I first gave him his pills that way.  He stayed as far away as possible and then stretched as close as he could.  You could just see the thoughts go through his brain.  "Boy that sure smells good, can I take it fast enough so I can keep it even if I get hit for taking it?  Is it going to be worth it??"

He finally took them and now he still is not as hesitant but he is still obviously waiting for the catch.

When I get off work tomorrow, I am going to head into the big city, Bakersfield, and pick up some canned food.  I picked up some canned organic beaver.  It comes in a small can, think small cat food can, Fancy Feast?, and has 4000 calories per can.  Of course since that would be great for putting weight on Copper, he will not eat it.  Vern on the other hand scarfed it and whew!, talk about bad breath.

-Jill

Wandering Lamont - Copper meets Jill

Mr. Copper was found wandering the street of Lamont (outskirts of east Bakersfield). A kind family took him in and attempted to get some weight on him. We' re not sure how long he has been with this family but they've finally had to admit that he needs more help than they can provide.

Copper is a very sweet boy, about 2 to 3 years old. He is very skinny and weighs in at 35lbs. More than I thought he would after I picked him up. He has a profound limp on his hind left leg. He will bear some weight while walking but will not apply any weight if it involves any stress such as putting his feet up on the vehicle to get lifted into the vehicle. He about hit the ceiling when Dr. Stout tried to touch his leg.
He is currently (9/9/10) overnight at Dr. Stouts and has had some pain meds and will be sedated and have an xray tomorrow. Dr. Stout suspects a left femur fracture as the femur feels slightly thicker and shorter than the right one. His temp is 102.5.
 So, the drooling and waiting game begins.......

-Jill