Beau – Pratt, KS
ESRA Special Needs Springer
ESRA #2009-1230MI
Age: 8-9 years
Gender: Male
Color: Black and white
Beau was a stray that was "lucky" enough to end up in a shelter that has worked with ESRA before and the shelter workers called us immediately to see if we could help this boy. Of course we responded with a hearty "Yes!" Although the shelter workers were honest with us about what they thought his issues were, none of us knew at the time the extent of his problems. Beau's foster mom took him straight to the vet's office because she was so concerned about his appearance and his lethargy.
This poor boy had double ear infections that were so bad there was pus running out of his ears. We know that he cannot hear but we do not know yet if he will ever regain his hearing. His cloudy, mucous-coated, runny eyes only see dim shadows, mostly the result of untreated dry-eye — a condition easily maintained with simple eye drops if caught/treated early on. We do not know yet if he will ever see anything but shadows again, but it is doubtful. His underbelly skin, from his chin to his tail, is inflamed, with scabs and oozing sores. His toenails were so long and curled that he shuffled along as best he could. He bears a scar across his forehead that indicates some of the pain this young boy has had to endure. Now we will top all of this off with a low thyroid condition and being heartworm positive. Through all of the vet procedures of cleaning, medicating, poking and prodding, this wonderful boy sat there stoically enduring it all — even giving the occasional look of a loving "thank you for helping me!"
Finally home with his foster mom, he got a nice warm bath, a good meal, his meds and quiet night's sleep … and sleep he did. He was obviously exhausted from all the ordeals he has been through — probably some we can't even fathom — and was relieved to finally have a safe place to sleep in peace.
His second day in his foster home and he is showing some "life," even a few tail wags. This boy is so smart he has already figured out how to go up and down the stairs on the porch after only a couple of lessons with his foster mom, feeling his way along. He actually went for a few little walks around the yard, enjoying the crisp wintery day and sunshine. But those little outings tire him out, so then he needs his naps.
At this time, we only know that he is heartworm positive, we don't yet know the extent of the damage. The vet wants him to be stronger and a little healthier before they run any more tests to determine how extensive his treatment for that will be. He also has a growth on his abdomen that needs to be removed and we will have that done when he is neutered. The vet does not think it is malignant, but she feels it needs to be removed because it is questionable.
This poor boy has a long road ahead of him, but he's a "fighter" and we're confident that he will blossom into that very handsome, happy boy we see hiding behind the sad, broken creature before us now.
UPDATE 12/20/09 Beau went to the vet this week for his two-week checkup. We are seeing some small progress, and we are thrilled with every little bit of improvement in his condition.
After only two days of "quarantine" — mostly so the other animals wouldn't bother him while he rested up — he became quite vocal about being separate from the rest of the family, making it quite clear he no longer wanted to be alone! He now spends his days moving from doggie bed to doggie bed to be where the action is, and sleeps on his bed next to his foster mom at night. He has a great appetite and gets quite excited about meal time. The tail wags more often, and we've even seen a little "run" — more like a galumphing walk — usually when the food dishes are being passed around.
His eyes are almost totally clear now and he can see! Although it's apparent he does not have 100% vision, he does look for his foster mom both in the house and during their outside time on the farm. He gets to wander loose when out with her, but he never strays far from her or the other dogs, constantly looking to see where they are. We are so excited that he has this much of his sight back!
His ears are nearly cleared up as well. The vet was actually able to see the eardrum in both ears this time and we now know the eardrums are intact, and he feels there is a good chance Beau will regain at least some hearing. Although at this time Beau still has no hearing, we at least now are hopeful about that.
The medications and medicated baths are helping with the skin condition, but it is a slow process. Most of the skin now has a healthier pink look rather than the angry red it was, but there are still crusty, cracked areas on his legs that obviously are very uncomfortable for him.
The vet wants all of his infections completely cleared up before we discuss heartworm treatment, as any weakness in his system could cause serious complications. Getting him back to a healthy, happy boy is the "order of the day" for now, and we still have a long road ahead of us to reach that "destination."
This boy is so loving and so special that it is heart wrenching to watch him. Although he is slowly getting better, he is still lethargic and looks sad, and when he gets up and lies down it's obvious he hurts. Those moments of tail-wagging happiness of being outside in the snow and sunshine with everyone do bring great joy!
We want to thank everyone for their kind words, their prayers and their generous donations for the healing of this special little soul! We wish you all a joyous and peaceful holiday and a New Year.
UPDATE 1/28/10 Beau got an A+ on his check-up with the veterinarian today! He has been taken off all medications for now except the eye medications, which he will probably have to have the rest of his life for his dry-eye condition. Of course, if there are any "flare ups" they will immediately put him back on the antibiotics. His eyes look great — and he can see!! I'm not sure how far he can see, but I know he can see at least 50-60 feet as he will look for me when we are outside filling bird feeders, feeding the horses, etc. This is so exciting for us!
His ears are finally almost 100% clear, but there is still no indication that he can hear. There have been a couple of times that he turned and looked when there was a "clang" noise (like metal against metal), but it may have been coincidental as he doesn't always do it. But he doesn't seem to mind, and he functions just fine without his hearing.
Even though he is so much better, he still plays the sympathy card quite well, and has the "Eyeore impersonation" down pat. He performs it especially well when there is someone new to fall for it and give "that poor little dog" some hugs and kisses.
However, I have seen the evidence that he is no longer nearly as depressed as he would have you think. At dinner time, he runs down the hall to his special eating place (he likes to sit on his bed while he eats) — not trot, not "gallump" … RUN! And he has "run away" from me when outside and he is not ready to come in. He's quite adept at stealing the cats' food dish, the other dogs' food dishes, and carrying THEM to his bed as well. The other night when we went to bed he had stockpiled THREE dishes on his bed! He is quite the character!
If Beau is able to remain infection free without antibiotics for the next two weeks, we will start the discussion of when to do his heartworm treatment. Dr. Tim wants him completely free of any infections before they begin.
Thank you for the emails of support.and the prayers! We are so grateful to have this wonderful boy in our home and we are thankful that he is coming along so well. It is joy to watch him grow stronger — and funnier — every day!
UPDATE 3/21/10 Beau's various infections all seem to be under control now and he has completed his first round of heartworm treatment and did very well. He will have his second treatment in a couple more weeks and then we will schedule his neuter and then he will be ready for his very own Forever Home! Although his demeanor is still reminiscent of Eeyore, he is getting healthier every day. He is still showing no signs of regaining his hearing, so he most likely is permanently deaf but he does very well and this is not a real problem for him in his daily life. He has continued to show some discomfort in his hindquarters. X-rays showed that he does have spondylosis of the lumbar spine. He is now taking Rimadyl, a pain medication, and this has helped his mobility and comfort.
Beau is a lump of love demanding pats on the head, demanding his food be put where HE wants it, and otherwise running our lives to fit his whims and desires. But he is so darn cute and sweet we don't even object! Yes, Beau has medical needs due to his prior life of neglect and he will need to be on certain meds the rest of his life, but those huge brown eyes and endearing face make it all worth it.
He likes to be near his family so he moves around the house to be with us, sleeping near us when we're watching TV and sleeping next to our beds at night. Stairs are really difficult for him, so his Forever Home should probably be one with limited (or no) stairs.
Unlike many Springers, he is not fond of riding in the car, or at least is not at this time. Of course most of his car trips have been to the vet office so perhaps if he were going someplace more fun he might feel different about the car, only time will give us that answer. He doesn't show any real desire to go for walks, although he was so sick when he came into ESRA's care and is now undergoing heartworm treatment and needs to be quiet, so there has not been any real opportunity to see if this might be an enjoyable adventure for him. He likes to wander around the yard loose to do his 'business' and then goes right back to the door into the house and heads straight to one of the doggie beds. He also has shown no real interest in playing with toys, with people, or with the other dogs but again, this may very well change as he becomes a healthier boy.
UPDATE 4/28/10 Beau is a new man! He completed his heartworm treatments April 5 and is now heartworm negative. He was neutered this week and they removed the growth on his belly. So he is now ready to find his Forever Home!
We have continued to have some outbreaks of ear infections, but the veterinarian feels these were mostly due to the weakness of his immune system, first from the heartworm and then from the treatment, and he feels that constant battle will be over now. The Rimadyl seems to be helping with his spondylosis-related discomfort. Some days he actually shows a little bit of spunk! Keeping Beau on an anti-inflammatory medicine, and his inexpensive thyroid medicine, will help to keep him feeling quite well. A home with one level would be ideal for Beau. His eyes are doing well and he seems to have 100% vision again. We no longer use the medicated ointment, only the "dry eye" drops every other day. He is a "super trooper" about taking his medications and having the drops put in his eyes. Just take a look at the "then and now" closeups to see just how much improvement he has made!
Although he still shows no interest in playing with toys or with the other animals, he does like to be near his people, moving from room to room to be with us. He also now goes out to supervise the feeding of the horses to make sure I am doing it right, sitting quietly outside the fence, but taking it all in with great interest.
Beau cohabitates nicely with the resident female Springer, is wonderful with kids, and fine with cats. He has shown some dominance tendencies with other male dogs, so it may be best if there are no male dogs in his Forever Home unless they are submissive in nature. He does not get on furniture or the beds, and does not beg for food. He has come such a long way and is quite well-behaved.
Could you open your heart and your home to a quiet boy that just wants to be loved and cared for, a yard to explore, and maybe some leisurely strolls through the neighborhood? If so, please complete and submit our on-line adoption application, and make sure to note in the comments section that you are interested in Beau.
For more information on Beau, please contact his foster mom, Janice Scarbrough at scarbrough_janice@yahoo.com
CLICK HERE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPONSOR BEAU
| BEAU’S GENEROUS SPONSORS TO DATE: | |
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 Jan Scarbrough |
In memory of Farview's Just George. It will be a long haul, Beau, but with your heart and my tenacity, we'll give it all we've got! |
| Karl and Linda Lintz |
Beau, you are a strong yet sweet boy. Love is being sent your way. |
| Eric and Lori Hammond |
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| Debra Westrick |
In memory of Paulie |
| Diane Chmielewski |
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| Kim Marvin |
In memory of Otie |
| Michelle Wargo |
In memory of our buddy, Buster! |
| The Cunningham Family |
In memory of Maddy |
| Angela Mesarchik |
With positive thoughts coming your way, sweet Beau. |
| Hiromi Takahashi |
Im memory of Gaea |
| Alisa M. Runyan |
In memory of our loving baby boy Scooter |
| Neal Szpatura |
In memory of MacDuff and Hamlet |
| William and Linda Knish |
In memory of Gregg Hollanitsch |
| Heidi Thomas-Dunn |
In honor of our foster girl, Macy, who survived rat poison and is now in her Forever Home |
| Shelley and Ken McNew |
In memory of Cooper, the love of our lives |
| Mary Lynn Poirier |
In memory of our Beau-Dog |
| Sheila Weidner |
In memory of my English Springer Spaniel Buffy |
| Merrie Corbett |
To honor all the senior Springers helped by the Michigan ESRA team |
| Kathy Armstrong |
In memory of Dave Powers, a dear friend to Springer and Brittany Rescue |
| Mary Dobbins |
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| Mary Lyons |
In memory of Jazzie and Little Jessie |
| Mary Lyons |
A gift for Sonia Kologie and Keith Porter in memory of Bo, their Collie |
| Mary Lyons |
A gift for Jill and Kevin Kellbach in memory of their Wirehaired Terrier Vince |
| Terri and Steve Schmidt |
In memory of Penny and Bailey |
| Megan Brown |
With thanks to all the ESRA members who have been faithfully voting for Camp Triumph |
| Michelle Boytim |
A gift for Jodi Goldberg in memory of Maxwell |
| Debra Ouellette |
A gift for Tim and Coleen Tweten, Ali, Maggie and Tanner to honor their senior Springer Abby |
| Meredith Sidman |
In memory of Jake |
| Adam Stillwell |
A gift for Marian Stillwell |
| Diane and Larry Mars |
In honor of Lena, our own ESRA Special Needs “graduate.” May Beau’s recovery be as successful as Lena’s. |
| Suzy and Glenn Dundas |
In memory of our beloved adopted ESRA Springer, Bauer |
| Rebecca J. Thompson |
In memory of Pepper Puppy Pearson |
| Simone and Lilo McInerney |
In honor of all Springers that capture our hearts |
| Maggie Ford |
Merry, merry Christmas, Dad!!! |
| David Santacroce |
In memory of Casey |
| Kelly Shively |
In memory of Alice Redlin |
| Sheila Powers |
In memory of Kahlua |
| Carol Lundy |
In memory of Crackers and Barney |
| Michelle Boytim |
In honor of Jodi Goldberg's birthday |
| Ruth Libbey |
In memory of Bella, aka Minnie, my sweet, loving ESRA friend and companion |
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