Sruiser is one cool dude! This big boy
has recently come into rescue after spending some time at
the pound. Cruiser was found stray in the RM of Elton and
he spent several weeks in the impound waiting for someone
to come and pick him up - and no one came. He has now made
his way into rescue and this big fellow is awaiting an open
foster home. Cruiser is around the 78lbs and he is only about
1.5 years old. This big boy's youth is reflected in his bouncy
and carefree demeanor. Cruiser does jump up a fair bit - he
is one affectionate fellow! He is good with other dogs and
shows no interest in cats... Cruiser could be little too much
dog for young children - this is simply because he exhibits
a lot of puppy behaviors and he is a rather big boy! Cruiser
loves kids and if they are comfortable with his size and playfulness
- he is great with them! This big guy does get a little over
excited about passing vehicles when he is in the car, and
is best crated with in a vehicle. He will pull towards cars
on walks as well, and he is a strong fellow... He's a big
puppy and he is very eager to please. Cruiser is excellent
off leash, and he has great recall. Cruiser does love to be
outside, and he would be very happy in a home where he could
spend lots of time outdoors. Cruiser is a smart cookie and
has a lot of potential to learn tricks and commands. We Cruiser
entered the foster care program, we learned he was having
some difficulty keeping his food down, and we have since learned
he has megaesophagus. This basically means that is esophagus
is much larger than it should be and because of this food
can get caught in the esophagus and winds up brought back
up. The solution is quite simple. Cruiser needs to be fed
in a slightly elevated position - so his front feet need to
be slightly higher than the back ones, creating a 45 degree
angle. He needs to be kept atleast slightly elevated for about
10 minutes after he eats, which is pretty easy to do as he
loves to be up and really enjoys the affection. Having his
paws on the couch or your knees for a 10 minute patting session
is just a-okay with him! We have bloodwork out for Cruiser
to determine the source of this problem and will update his
description when we have learned more. This special feeding
process may remain a lifelong requirement for Cruiser - but
it's really not more than a 10 minute adjustment to your routine.
All in all - Cruiser is a very loving, sweet and affectionate
fellow. This is one awesome boy who would make a wonderful
addition to any family seeking a big, friendly dog. (Indoor
Home Only!)
CRUISER'S STORY...
Cruiser came in from
the pound and we did not learn of the problem until he entered
the foster care program. When Cruiser arrived, we noticed
a habit of clacking his jaw. We have since had him to a vet
clinic and learned he had a broken tooth and a resulting infection
in his mouth, but we've taken the tooth out and fixed up the
infection - and he's feeling great! Cruiser had a small hernia
which was not causing him any problems, but we also had this
fixed up when he was under anesthetic having his broken tooth
removed... We thought we were sailing clear - but after a
short time in foster care, we learned Cruiser was having trouble
keeping his food down...
Cruiser was diagnosed very quickly.
His foster mom was very diligent with recording her observations,
and this greatly assisted the clinic in his diagnosis. Cruiser
had a couple vet visits and was initially put on medication
to settle the stomach. When this did not work, he went back
and was quickly diagnosed when a barium flush was performed.
Cruiser will require one special set
of care instructions that could be lifelong. They will need
to eat with their front feet elevated slightly higher than
the back ones to allow the food a proper passage into the
stomach. By elevating the paws about 45 degrees (the height
of a single step would do) the food is given a proper route
to the stomach and will not come back up. Following the meal,
these boys would need to be kept up for about 10 minutes.
It is surprisingly easy to do, as most dogs are happy to place
their paws on the sofa and get a good after dinner pat session.
So all these boys need is an extra ten minutes after mealtimes
- and that is all the extra care required! More information
about megaesophagus (and a couple cool little interactive
videos) can be found at the Veterinary Partner website by
clicking here.
There are a few possible causes for
megaesophagus. The problem can be the result of Addison's
Disease, which the vets feel is not likely. It can also be
caused by a Hypothyroid, which is easily treated with medication
that is very inexpensive. Another cause can be Myasthenia
Gravis, a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disease characterized
by varying degrees of weakness of the voluntary muscles of
the body. This disorder is a very common cause of megaesophagus
and is treatable. The final possibility is damage to the opening
at the end of the esophagus, which can cause a stricture or
narrowing in the opening. This can be corrected with surgeries
and will be the last option we will explore.
To date, the rescue has spent $1300
for Cruiser's medical costs. We have had bloodwork performed
to determine the cause of Cruiser's medical problem, and we
have discovered he has a Hypothyroid. This is a simple and
straightforward condition to treat. Medication is given 2x
a day and costs $35.00 for two months worth of medication.
It is recommended that dogs with this condition have their
thyroid levels tested once a year and the cost of this is
only $55.00. We have been asked to bring Cruiser back into
the clinic in about a month's time for an x-ray to see if
his esophagus has contracted at all...
DONATIONS
FOR CRUISER CAN BE MADE THROUGH THE PAYPAL BUTTON BELOW:
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