FINALLY a Toad update!
First, I'm so sorry for the long wait for an update on Mr. Toady.
Toad was back at the vet a few days ago. He got good and bad news there. The good: His skin is clearing up SO well and actually looks almost normal. No more red bumps, blotches, or itchiness it seems. Its peeling off along his sides and chest (like a sunburn almost) but its a good sign since underneath is new, healthy skin.
He acts like he feels so much better. He wants to be out and about, playing, chasing balls, meeting and slobbering on new people, snarfing up any and all food that crosses is path, eating bugs, and napping in the sun. He's not the sick little blob we brought home, that's for sure!
The not so good news is that there is little to no improvement with his ears. The inflammation has gone down from the first surgery which is a great sign but they are still consistently draining, itching, and bothering him. The infection is still very much there and very bad.
For now we'er going to continue the antibiotics, ear ointments, cleaners, and pain meds to see if there is any improvement given more time. He has another recheck in about a week and a half.
Even with his ears obviously still bothering him he is such a social dog. He wants to be out with us all, he loves to sleep by our feet, and he has the best personality. He definitely is a Bulldog...sassy, spunky, silly, and sweet.
Monday, May 28, 2012
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Vet Update
Toad went back into the vet and had his bandage removed and ears checked again yesterday. It seems like with poor Toad any good news always comes with some bad.
The good news...
His skin infection issues are almsot entirely cleared up. The dead skin is flaking away and his fur is soft and shiny.
He is definitely feeling and acting better. He loves to run in the yard and boss aroudn the other dog. He eats like a pig, snorts around, and loves to go for short walks. He's a bossy, stubborn, typical Bulldog!
The bad news...
His ears, while a large amount of scar tissue was removed, are still very infected. The pus is still draining out in huge amounts and they still are causing him massive itch attacks at times, to the point where he is screaming and can't stop even if he wants to.
No one is really sure what the next step is yet. His infection is coming from the scar tissue in the upper ear rather than from iwthin the ear canal so there is question to whether even an ear ablation would even work (meaning removing the ear canals may not even do anything for him infection and health wise). Removing more scar tissue is likely not an option due to the amount of blood loss and how deep the tissue is, plus the infection is already so deep in there it may not even help. We will likely try one or both of these surgeries if it comes down to nothing else helping because what we all know for sure is that Toad can't keep living how he is with how itchy and infected his ears are.
For now, Toad has 2 more medications to try for his ears, a special ear flush, and some supplements. He will go back in in a week for another check and we are hopinh beyond anything else for some improvement and good news.
Keep up the good thoughts and prayers for him. He is a sassy, spunky little bulldog so if anyone is tough enough to fight it its this guy!
Here's updated pictures of his ears. Other than the gunk and infection slime they look MUCH better!
The good news...
His skin infection issues are almsot entirely cleared up. The dead skin is flaking away and his fur is soft and shiny.
He is definitely feeling and acting better. He loves to run in the yard and boss aroudn the other dog. He eats like a pig, snorts around, and loves to go for short walks. He's a bossy, stubborn, typical Bulldog!
The bad news...
His ears, while a large amount of scar tissue was removed, are still very infected. The pus is still draining out in huge amounts and they still are causing him massive itch attacks at times, to the point where he is screaming and can't stop even if he wants to.
No one is really sure what the next step is yet. His infection is coming from the scar tissue in the upper ear rather than from iwthin the ear canal so there is question to whether even an ear ablation would even work (meaning removing the ear canals may not even do anything for him infection and health wise). Removing more scar tissue is likely not an option due to the amount of blood loss and how deep the tissue is, plus the infection is already so deep in there it may not even help. We will likely try one or both of these surgeries if it comes down to nothing else helping because what we all know for sure is that Toad can't keep living how he is with how itchy and infected his ears are.
For now, Toad has 2 more medications to try for his ears, a special ear flush, and some supplements. He will go back in in a week for another check and we are hopinh beyond anything else for some improvement and good news.
Keep up the good thoughts and prayers for him. He is a sassy, spunky little bulldog so if anyone is tough enough to fight it its this guy!
Here's updated pictures of his ears. Other than the gunk and infection slime they look MUCH better!
Left Ear
Right Ear
Monday, May 14, 2012
Quick Toady Update!
There are still so many unknowns with Toad's ears right now but one thing is for sure...he is feeling better already! He struts his stuff around the yard, sasses and bumps at his foster brother (who isn't quite sure what to make of this odd creature), and wiggles and wags anytime his foster family gets home from work. This guy is so full of personality we haven't even seen yet because he's felt so sick!
Right now he is snoring loudly and comfortably in his recovery kennel. He can't wait for the day he doesn't have to hang out in there...he will try to sneak towards the dog bed when he comes inside. Sadly, "Toad" and "sneak" do not belong in the same sentence together. He's about as subtle as smack in the face!
His skin seems to be better without the infection draining down onto it and on grain free food (and of course tons of antibiotics!). His ear bandages come off on Wednesday so we'll soon see what his ears look like too.
Thank you everyone for your continued support of Toad! Its pretty amazing that this little guy went from never being cared about to having a whole following of people who love him now. He deserves it!
Right now he is snoring loudly and comfortably in his recovery kennel. He can't wait for the day he doesn't have to hang out in there...he will try to sneak towards the dog bed when he comes inside. Sadly, "Toad" and "sneak" do not belong in the same sentence together. He's about as subtle as smack in the face!
His skin seems to be better without the infection draining down onto it and on grain free food (and of course tons of antibiotics!). His ear bandages come off on Wednesday so we'll soon see what his ears look like too.
Thank you everyone for your continued support of Toad! Its pretty amazing that this little guy went from never being cared about to having a whole following of people who love him now. He deserves it!
Friday, May 11, 2012
Surgery Day!
Toad is out of surgery and resting! He's got his ears all wrapped up and wearing the cone of shame. But he is barely shaking his head at all, happily walking around the yard, and hanging out in his recovery kennel.
It went pretty well...or as well as it could go when his ears were that bad. He has some of the scar tissue removed, as best they could but because the bleeding was so bad but there are now openings into his ear canals which is a huge improvement and it means they were able to put medication in his ears as well to hopefully help treat the infection from the inside out.
To give a better picture of how itchy he was: even under full anesthesia he was almost spastically trying to itch his ears with his legs. That's how much he has been suffering and hurting. He is still pretty itchy and keeps trying to rub his bandages against the sides of the kennel but its a lot less than it was before.
He's on antibiotics for the next 6 weeks, pain meds, and prednisone to help the itching. Thank you everyone for your donations! His medications were over $400!
As far as further surgeries or the ear ablation, no one knows yet. The infection is deep in there but the canals were open and able to be cleaned so it may not be necessary to remove his ears fully. He gets a recheck in a week to remove the bandages and we may know more then or it may take a few more weeks to clear up the infection and see how that heals.
For now...its just waiting and healing. So please keep sending Toady some good thoughts (maybe some anti-itch thoughts!)
It went pretty well...or as well as it could go when his ears were that bad. He has some of the scar tissue removed, as best they could but because the bleeding was so bad but there are now openings into his ear canals which is a huge improvement and it means they were able to put medication in his ears as well to hopefully help treat the infection from the inside out.
To give a better picture of how itchy he was: even under full anesthesia he was almost spastically trying to itch his ears with his legs. That's how much he has been suffering and hurting. He is still pretty itchy and keeps trying to rub his bandages against the sides of the kennel but its a lot less than it was before.
He's on antibiotics for the next 6 weeks, pain meds, and prednisone to help the itching. Thank you everyone for your donations! His medications were over $400!
As far as further surgeries or the ear ablation, no one knows yet. The infection is deep in there but the canals were open and able to be cleaned so it may not be necessary to remove his ears fully. He gets a recheck in a week to remove the bandages and we may know more then or it may take a few more weeks to clear up the infection and see how that heals.
For now...its just waiting and healing. So please keep sending Toady some good thoughts (maybe some anti-itch thoughts!)
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Toad's First Day
TOAD IS OUT OF THE POUND!
Welcome to the first day of the rest of your life, Toady!
This was a day of firsts for Toad.
-First car ride ever
-First walk
-First time on stairs
-First bath
-First time playing in a yard with another dog and a ball
-First time in a home
-First time on a dog bed
-First time with attention, love, and petting.
So far Toad has brought all of us more laughter than we ever would have thought possible. He is hilarious! The more we learn about him and get to know him, the more we love him.
2 volunteers spent a 45 minute car ride with Toad in the backseat. Now, most of you have never had the experience of the smell of Toad. He smells like nothing any of us have ever smelled. It hits you from about 10 feet away like a punch to the stomach. How Danielle managed to take care of him at all but especially while pregnant is incredible. So the car ride is already rather unpleasant from the smell. However, Toad is happy as can be. Happy to be out of the pound like a kid on Christmas. Happy Bulldogs slobber. A lot. Really happy bulldogs can flood homes with their slobber. Toad was a really, REALLY happy bulldog. Since his ears itch so much he shakes his head often. So along with the smell came a literal shower or drool and infected pus/ear tissue flung all over every few minutes. Thankfully these volunteers have a great sense of humor and saw the hilarity of a car ride with this poor guy. Toad loves car rides though. He happily stared out the window. He spread happiness because every passing car that happened to glance over seemed to pass by with a smile!
With good firsts came some scary firsts too....stairs were overwhelming at first though with a little coaxing and food he'll meander his way around them now, the house was a strange place and he spent a while wandering around and pacing (until he met the dog bed...then he was in love), he's not a huge fan of the leash quite yet either but working on it.
Toad found a few new "best things ever" in life...the dog bed is right up on the top of his list, other dogs (he wants so badly to play!), tennis balls (he plays a bulldog version to fetch!), and getting loved on. He LOVES to have belly rubs. His little back legs start flying all over and he grunts and snorts. Here he is with his new best friend Tink.
Toad had a big first day! A very good one though and we are sure loving having him so far too.
Tomorrow however is the biggest and most important day of Toad's life. Tomorrow he has surgery to remove the scar tissue and deal with the infection in his ears. We aren't really sure what to expect to be honest. Until some of the tissue is remove there is no real way to tell how deep the infection is, how serious, or how much hearing he has (if any at all).
Please send Toad some good thoughts tomorrow. We're hoping for really good news and a big step in the right direction towards health and a pain-free, itch-free life for him.
Welcome to the first day of the rest of your life, Toady!
This was a day of firsts for Toad.
-First car ride ever
-First walk
-First time on stairs
-First bath
-First time playing in a yard with another dog and a ball
-First time in a home
-First time on a dog bed
-First time with attention, love, and petting.
So far Toad has brought all of us more laughter than we ever would have thought possible. He is hilarious! The more we learn about him and get to know him, the more we love him.
2 volunteers spent a 45 minute car ride with Toad in the backseat. Now, most of you have never had the experience of the smell of Toad. He smells like nothing any of us have ever smelled. It hits you from about 10 feet away like a punch to the stomach. How Danielle managed to take care of him at all but especially while pregnant is incredible. So the car ride is already rather unpleasant from the smell. However, Toad is happy as can be. Happy to be out of the pound like a kid on Christmas. Happy Bulldogs slobber. A lot. Really happy bulldogs can flood homes with their slobber. Toad was a really, REALLY happy bulldog. Since his ears itch so much he shakes his head often. So along with the smell came a literal shower or drool and infected pus/ear tissue flung all over every few minutes. Thankfully these volunteers have a great sense of humor and saw the hilarity of a car ride with this poor guy. Toad loves car rides though. He happily stared out the window. He spread happiness because every passing car that happened to glance over seemed to pass by with a smile!
SLOBBER FACE!
We expected a little hesitation and fear when bathing him. Not the case. From the moment the water washed over him and we started to rub him down with shampoo he was in heaven. He moaned, groaned, rubbed against our legs, and enjoyed every single minute of what has to be his first time being clean in a very long time (seriously, the smell on this guy...wow!). He didn't seem to understand the whole water-soap concept but the petting and the cool water and the sudden lack of dirt and ick on him made him a very happy little Toady.
With good firsts came some scary firsts too....stairs were overwhelming at first though with a little coaxing and food he'll meander his way around them now, the house was a strange place and he spent a while wandering around and pacing (until he met the dog bed...then he was in love), he's not a huge fan of the leash quite yet either but working on it.
Toad found a few new "best things ever" in life...the dog bed is right up on the top of his list, other dogs (he wants so badly to play!), tennis balls (he plays a bulldog version to fetch!), and getting loved on. He LOVES to have belly rubs. His little back legs start flying all over and he grunts and snorts. Here he is with his new best friend Tink.
Toad had a big first day! A very good one though and we are sure loving having him so far too.
Tomorrow however is the biggest and most important day of Toad's life. Tomorrow he has surgery to remove the scar tissue and deal with the infection in his ears. We aren't really sure what to expect to be honest. Until some of the tissue is remove there is no real way to tell how deep the infection is, how serious, or how much hearing he has (if any at all).
Please send Toad some good thoughts tomorrow. We're hoping for really good news and a big step in the right direction towards health and a pain-free, itch-free life for him.
Toad (Before)
Toad has a story to tell and its not a happy one. He ended up in the pound with infected ears, dirty, covered in scabs, thin, and clearly sick. Poor dog has suffered years of neglect. His ears are so infected that scar tissue has formed what is basically a mass of infected tissue and pus over his ears. The poor dog cannot hear and is so itchy he can't go more than a few minutes without shaking his head and trying to scratch his ears.
He needs to have surgery to remove the infection and the built up tissue from his ears. In spite of everything this dog is a total love and wants nothing more than to be loved on.
Toad will be a longer term dog as he heals as well as an expensive one. We decided to start a blog to hopefully facilitate some donations for his medical costs as well as to update everyone who has supported him and us finanically and personally in helping to save this wonderful dog.
So...these are Toad's "before" pictures.
He needs to have surgery to remove the infection and the built up tissue from his ears. In spite of everything this dog is a total love and wants nothing more than to be loved on.
Toad will be a longer term dog as he heals as well as an expensive one. We decided to start a blog to hopefully facilitate some donations for his medical costs as well as to update everyone who has supported him and us finanically and personally in helping to save this wonderful dog.
So...these are Toad's "before" pictures.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)