4/06/07 -She was in the shelter about a month. She has put on very little weight during that time. She presently weighs 46 pounds. She has infections in both ears, especially the left. It appears the left ear infection has been chronic since there is some calcification at the base of the ear.
The vet described her as cachexic with a grade 1/5 body score. She has tartar on the teeth. The right ear shows erythemia and dark waxy debris. The left ear is inflamed, outer canal has "malodorous purulent exudate present; painful ear." Heart and lungs are within normal limits.
A fecal smear was done to check for worms and nothing was found but a few flagellates in float. To be sure there's no danger of whip worms, I was given a broad range antiworm medication to give to her tomorrow. The pill is big enough to choke a horse. Blood was drawn for heartworms/Lyme/Erlichia test. All results were negative. She has never had puppies, but it also appears she has not yet been spayed. The doctor could find no obvious scar.
The doctor recommended that she be put on a good puppy chow to see if she gains weight in the next 4-6 weeks. If she doesn't, there's a list of recommended next steps.
Despite the hell she's been through, she's a big sweetheart. She comes up to the people in the room, albeit with mild interest. I don't think she has the energy yet to be enthusiastic about much of anything (although we've gotten her to wag her tail now and then). She's eaten a little bit, but only a little. We'll keep trying. Fostered by Kurt in WV.
4/07/07 - I've got to tell you, this girl is an incredible Irish setter. She decided she was hungry an hour or so after we arrived home yesterday and hasn't decided she's full since. I don't think she has any bonding issues either. I awakened about 2 a.m. to find her lying in our bed between my wife and I, with her head on my chest, snoring away. Oh, did I mention she was lying across the bed? Thank goodness the bed is 8 feet wide! When she walks, she holds her head high and prances like royalty. I'm trying to figure out whether the dog is wagging the tail or the tail is wagging the dog.
The antibiotics are already having an effect on her ears. She scarcely whimpered this morning when I put it into her left ear, whereas yesterday, she howled and yowled like she was being boiled in oil. Since I put it in this morning, she's been following me around like she was attached with Velcro, dog wagging tail or tail wagging dog. It seems she has very good taste, too: she's decided I'm the "dog's bark". It is absolutely unfathomable to me that anyone could have abused a dog like this. She's skinny, but she sure is wonderful! -- Kurt
