Size
(when grown) Med. 26-60 lbs (12-27 kg)
Details
Spayed or Neutered,
Story
PLEASE READ ENTIRE POST: Denver is a 4-year-old, 37-pound, neutered pointer mixed breed dog. He is up to date on rabies dhLpp 4dx and fecal. Denver is very sweet, and he easily becomes attached to his caretakers. Denver doesn’t mind older children and he is an absolute love-bug and loves to be around his pack, however, it does take some time for him to warm up to strangers/and new people, but, if you have treats he will be your new best friend! Denver would prefer a home with no cats as he does not appreciate their company, but a home with another dog could be possible provided some time to adjust to his new housemate. Denver’s favorites include: Treats! Playing ball, (yes, he can even run again to retrieve his ball and play fetch with you!) He is also a huge fan of sunbathing outside and rolling around in the grass to his heart's content. Denver walks well on a leash, he is very curious about the world and loves to go for walks and sniff around! Denver was presented to MountainView Veterinary Hospital in the beginning of March in a critical state. His owners reported the night before, Denver had come into the house limping and, the next morning, could not walk at all. On physical exam, he had no feeling in his hind legs, had absent reflexes, and was in quite a bit of pain. Pain medications were given, x-rays taken, and treatment was started for suspected Intervertebral Disc Disease. His owners were given his prognosis, which was grave. He may respond to conservative treatment (steroids, acupuncture, physical therapy, muscle relaxants, etc.), but surgery was the best option given his age and the severity of the injury. Regrettably, we were unable to give the owners an idea of recovery. Denver could have surgery and still not be able to walk, may still need his bladder expressed manually to urinate, and could require a great deal of care for the remainder of his life. The owners elected to manage him medically for a week and see how much improvement he had. Unfortunately, by the end of the week, while there was no further decline, there was also little to no improvement either. He still could not stand up, bear weight, urinate, or defecate on his own and was being hand fed. Denver needed care 24/7. Given his age, our team collectively decided that they would like to provide his care and see how he does on a day-by-day basis. Denver’s owners made the heartbreaking decision to sign him over to MVH with the knowledge he may need to be put to sleep. Over the next few weeks, the team was dedicated to providing him with his treatments which included acupuncture, electroacupuncture, physical therapy, PEMF therapy, massage therapy, bladder expression, and pain management. We all took turns bringing him home on the weekends to continue his care and ensure he was not alone. Little by little, Denver started to improve. Today, he is a happy-go-lucky pup who loves to play and has a determined spirit. It’s time to find Denver’s forever home with a family who is equipped to manage his special needs. While he can urinate on his own, he does require bladder expression twice a day to be sure he empties his bladder completely. He does defecate on his own, occasionally not quite making it outside, but not too often. He needs daily physical therapy (walking outside) and takes herbal medications and joint supplements. If you'd like to be Denver's guardian angel and provide the love and care that this very special boy needs, please email barbara@MtnViewVets.comJune 3, 2023, 6:35 am
