04/12/12: Zoot is ADOPTED !!!!!

 

04/03/12: Zoot Has Recovered Nicely

Zoot has survived his ordeal, has healed well, and is ready to be adopted. Below is an update from his foster mom:

"Zoot is an amazing little boy, so sweet and liked by my 3 Boxers. They accepted him the first day he arrived in our home from the Vet hospital where he had his emergency surgery to remove the blockage/sock from his stomach. Being a young dog, he is recovered from surgery very quickly. His incision healed nicely and, now that he is well enough, he likes to climb on the couch and bed - just like my dogs. I had to keep him from jumping on furniture for 2 weeks, but since he has recovered he enjoys joining the group in this activity. I slowly weaned him off his pain medication and completely stopped giving it to him when it was clear that he didn't need it anymore.

My dogs are 8, 10 and 11 1/2. Two out of three LOVE to play rough with foster dogs and they all do very well together loose in my fenced in yard. My female is extremely dominant and rough on the boys in general; she is bossy and takes toys away from Zoot and gives him frequent corrections for his puppy antics. I monitor her bossiness to make sure she isn't being too rough on the new guy. The nice thing about Zoot is that he isn't challenging her which is smart on his part; he backs down and all is well. She tolerates him climbing into bed with us and snuggling up with me. He likes to tuck his head into my shoulder and goes to sleep curled up to me as close as he can get. It's getting crowded in my bed!

Zoot's personality is amazing. He is so sweet, he follows me from room to room. He sits next to me or under the kitchen table when I eat, and follows me into my home office and likes to sit next to my desk. I don't think he is needier than your average Boxer, he loves people and other dogs. I take him out as frequently as possible and he is doing great in the house-training department. He is handsome, smart, sweet and loving and deserves a family that will give him loving attention in return. I love this little boy!"

 

03/30/12: New Pictures!

 

03/13/2012: Zoot Required Emergency Surgery

Zoot is a 7 month old male boxer who was brought to the emergency department of a specialty hospital on Monday for a possible gastrointestinal blockage. He had been vomiting since the previous Friday; he was uncomfortable and in pain. An ultrasound confirmed that Zoot had what appeared to be a foreign body that looked like fabric blocking his stomach and upper intestine. Immediate surgery was indicated, but the estimated $3,000 surgery cost proved too expensive for his family.

We received a call from the ER doctor who examined Zoot asking if we would be willing to pay for the cost of his surgery and take him into our Rescue program. The prognosis was good for Zoot's survival if the surgery was performed swiftly and we did not hesitate to say “Yes”. Surgery was started immediately and we held our breath waiting for the surgeon's call.

The surgeon did not know what exactly he would find during the operation. There are significant dangers related to the GI tract being blocked by a foreign body such as perforation and/or the destruction of tissue caused by lack of blood supply. The outcome following GI foreign body surgery depends on how stable the patient was at the time of surgery, how compromised the gut has become, and whether or not there was any leakage of GI tract material into the abdomen.

We were greatly relieved when the doctor called and said they had good news. The foreign object they found when they opened Zoot's belly was a person's sock. They were able to push the sock back into the stomach cavity where it was safely removed. Cutting into the stomach always carries less risk than opening up the intestine. The doctor could not completely rule out complications but, because the intestine was only lightly bruised, chances for a complete recovery are high.

In true boxer spirit, Zoot was sitting up soon after surgery. He was feeling much better this morning and the typical boxer wiggles freely given to everyone has returned. Zoot will be leaving the hospital in the morning and going to one of our foster homes where he will be watched closely for any complications while he recovers. He will need to be kept calm for
two weeks until he heals completely.

Please remember, GI foreign body obstruction is an emergency that necessitates immediate veterinary attention. Time is often of the essence in these cases, so be certain not to hesitate in seeking veterinary attention for your canine companions if a GI foreign body obstruction is suspected.