update on Minnie

[djsilvera]

The infection in her eye turned out to be "cherry eye" ... which means that sometime ago, poor Minnie was really really dehydrated (either her mean owners didn't give her water or she couldn't find water as a stray) so her eyes totally dried out. Her mucus membranes tried to compensate and somewhere along the way, an infection developed. I don't understand quite how that happens. It's not something other dogs can catch from her, and she still has her vision. However, it can only be fixed through surgery.

Does anybody have experience with this? Is this the sort of thing that comes back after surgery has been done? Is there anything else that we should know?

[djsilvera]

We just talked to the shelter lady again and we were told the good news that their vet would do the surgery for $240 for both eyes (how they do this I don't know ... maybe the vet gets tax credit for shelter surgeries or something).

Yippppeeee!!!!

I've spent the last 5 minutes trying to figure out if we could afford to spend $1200 (what we've been quoted by another vet) for a dog that we have not adopted yet.

So, on Friday, we will see if Ranger gets along with Minnie. Then we'll have a home visit this weekend. Then she'll have the surgery maybe around Tuesday of next week. If all goes well, we'll have a new toddler boxer girl at our house by Wednesday (depending on what the vet says is best for her to recover from both a spay and eye surgery).

Wish us and Minnie luck!

[Weileys]

Just an FYI Cherry eye doesn't come from an infection. It's a defect in the muscles that hold the 3rd eyelid in it's retracted state allowing it to cover the eye. Weiley had it when he was like 4 or 5 months old and his surgery was only like $120 for the 1 eye. There are also several different methods vets take on fixing this condition just make sure that if it is Cherry eye that the vet doesn't remove the entire 3rd eyelid cuz later down the road Minnie could have trouble producing moisture if the tear duct in the eyelid is removed or damaged in the surgery. Well good luck with the adoption and don't worry cherry eye looks a lot worse that what it really is as Weiley didn't seem to mind at all but me and the wife were freaking out and actually the trip to the emergency vet cost more that the trip to our regular vet with the surgery and all the emergency vet said was "yea it's cheery eye I'll run a dye test to make sure nothings scratched, put this ointment in his eye 2 or 3 times a day and call your vet to schedule treatment in the next few days"

[djsilvera]

cool ... thanks for the info!

[djsilvera]

Ranger and Minnie met for the first time on Friday. It was the cutest thing ever. The run was really close to the outdoors part of the kennels. So when they met, all the other dogs in the shelter ran out and started barking at both Ranger and Minnie. Minnie was really excited about meeting her future brother, but Ranger was distracted by all the other dogs barking at them.

Minnie kept trying to jump on him and play with him, and Ranger had this really annoyed look, as if he's saying "Get off me ... silly bunny rabbit ... I'm trying to stare down those pit bulls" But then they started playing, both of them were doing the boxer burn ... running one way ... stopping ... and running back the other way. Then they would get on their hind legs and "box" each other, but it was obvious that they were doing it at a rate much slower than they are capable of.

I'm so proud of Ranger. I was afraid that he would start humping her. Of course, Ranger's neutered. But Minnie was still a little swollen from being in heat. But no, he was the perfect gentledog. It made me swell up in pride (like the time he learned to swim by following the goldens around at the doggie beach).

Today, Minnie gets her two surgeries. Poor girl. She'll be spayed and have her cherry eye fixed. If the vet thinks it's better for her to recover at home, then we will be taking her tomorrow afternoon. OMG, it'll be hilarious to have two medium sized boxers running around our house. Especially one really smelly dog (we can't bathe Minnie for two weeks after she's spayed and she's been a stray for quite some time).

Has anyone else adopted a stray? Are there any extraordinary issues that we have to deal with? Minnie seems like the sweetest little girl. She warmed up to me almost immediately and she doesn't seem to have weird peeves, like distrusting men. We will have to potty train her, but I'm hoping that Ranger will be a good role model for her.

[foxboxchic]

sounds like she has a great home! For strays, one thing to watch for is feeding time.
I am fostering one that came in that was a stray, and with her, I have to watch her with the food. from living on the streets, she had to fight for her food and now does not realize she will be fed twice a day, every day. She's still worried she'll have to scrounge for food!
Good luck!

[VTbxrFan]

I'm really glad to hear that the meeting went well! I have not personally adopted a stray, but my rescue has had quite a few of them in the last year - they've all adjusted quite well. Mostly they just really need affection and good nutrition to get back on their feet. And the point about food is also a good one - she might show some food aggression, so you definitely want to feed her and your boy separately until you can get a feel for how she'll do.

Definitely get some doggie wipes - they really do help when you can't give a dog a full bath. You might also ask your vet if it would be ok to use a waterless shampoo. I have not used them but have seen several available at the pet stores.

[adeinert]

My first boxer, Jagger aka Sonny (super flashy in avatar and in my gallery) was picked up by AC as a stray. He was stunning to meet in person. He came in at around age four with heartworms, intact. He was the boxer who changed my life. He was perfect to me in every way. He came to me not housetrained, but he learned VERY quickly.

My fourth adopted boxer, Desi was also picked up by AC as a stray. He is the flashy brindle in my avatar. I guess him to be around four also. Lucky for him, he was neutered and HW negative. I doubt he was out long. I can tell someone was very harsh with him, but he is a complete angel. He was housebroken but completely covered in fleas - the worst I've ever seen. Every meal Desi still acts as if he's never been fed, but I feed them in crates now that I always have three or more in the house. When I only had Jagger and Jilly, I fed them side by side, oh those were the calm ol' days.


Yeah for Minnie and your entire family!!!

Ashlie
owned by the rescued boxertrio

[djsilvera]

We finally brought Minnie home today ... her homecoming was delayed by a few days because the vet also found out that she had demodectic mange, and he wanted to keep her around the office for observation.

She's soooo adorable. I highly recommend working with the DC Animal Shelter people. They are so sweet and they care so much about their dogs!

Well, without further adieu, here are pictures of Minnie:

Minnie sitting:
http://djsilvera.vwmafia.net/ranger_...niesitting.jpg

and bonding with Dan:
http://djsilvera.vwmafia.net/ranger_...danbonding.jpg

first, Ranger tried to play with her ... and she kinda wanted to play back
http://djsilvera.vwmafia.net/ranger_.../playtime1.jpg
http://djsilvera.vwmafia.net/ranger_.../playtime2.jpg

But Minnie kinda got tired and decided she didn't want to play anymore. So Ranger was pleading, "Plllleeeeaaaasssse play!!!"
http://djsilvera.vwmafia.net/ranger_...pleaseplay.jpg

As you can imagine, Minnie's still not feeling 100%. She's been in the shelter for two weeks and now, once again, she's in a brand new environment with strangers. Also, she gets injections for the mange once a week for the next 5 weeks, 2x daily applications of ointment for her cherry eye surgery, and limited playtime for her spay.

We can't wait to have her playing around, and we're looking forward to spoiling her. (She needs meat in her bones!)

[Cindy Creel]

I looked at all of the pictures. She is so adorable. For all she has been through I think she looks great. Ranger is beautiful . I know that you are so glad to finally have her home. She looks so sweet. Healing vibes to her. Give her a hug and kiss.

Cindy

[foxboxchic]

I love the 2nd please play picture!
my dogs usually do the same thing when I bring home a new foster!

[Holden's Mom]

Minnie's a real beauty. And Ranger is such handsome guy. Congratulations on the rescue. And good luck.

Pam and Pete