Rocky Mountain Great Dane Rescue, Inc.

April 25, 2007

We got a call from Boulder Humane Society today regarding a very sweet old lady who had been turned into the shelter. She was not a candidate for adoption through the humane society due to her age and medical needs, so they asked for our help. One of our volunteers named Sonya was kind enough to rush over immediately to pick her up and get her to the vet for treatment.

Dr. Russell and the staff at TLC Animal Hospital in Lafayette were pretty horrified by her condition. She had 3 lacerations and was basically filleted open, supposed a wound caused by getting out of the car. You could see all the muscle and her skin was gangrene and rotting. They had to use gas anesthesia to put her all the way under and they had to put in drains to let the infection drain out gradually. She was on Clavamox from the shelter vet already, but they had to give her injections of antibiotics while she was under as well as move her over to a much stronger oral antibiotic. Her skin is very angry and red right now and it might sluff off, so they want to keep a very close eye on the wound and she will need constant care for a little while. Nikko is going to have to stay at TLC at least a week due to the severity of the infection before we can move her to a foster home.

Nikko also has a big knot on her left leg that looked like possible osteosarcoma, so they took an x-ray. It is not cancer, but she does have horrible arthritis in both knees. She is going to have to be on Rimadyl to help with the inflammation and pain for the rest of her life. In addition, her teeth are really bad and she needs a dental, but they did not want to keep her under anesthesia that long and didn't think she could handle all of that at once, so we are going to hold off on that for now. Dr. Russell sounded very concerned, but is hopeful that we can get her in a position where she is much more comfortable after her infection is gone.

Nikko has a very special spirit and deserves a chance to live a life of pampering for whatever time she has left! We are hopeful that we can give her a couple good years yet and anxious to find that special family who is willing to open their hearts and home to a senior Dane.

May 2, 2007

Nikko is doing very well! Her leg is looking MUCH better now and the infection is under control. They are taking the drain out today and will be vaccinating her. She will need to remain on antibiotics for another week and she will need her sutures removed in a week. She is fairly stressed out being kenneled, so they think she is ready to move to a foster home now.

May 7, 2007

Nikko is doing really well in her foster home. She was really nervous at first, but she is coming around quickly. She still isn't eating very much, but its getting a little better each day as she gets more comfortable. She gets to go for a few walks everyday and she loves being out and about! She really is the sweetest old lady! She is VERY well-mannered. She doesn't have a lot of obedience training, but she comes to a whistle and calling her name. She doesn't get up on furniture at all and when someone comes to the door, she comes with you to see who it is, but she stays back respectfully. She seems to be more timid of men that women. She will make a wonderful addition to her forever home!