Cesar's Update Page
Updates provided by Cesar's foster caregiver, Marietta
March 7, 2008
All of us at Heart of Michigan Animal Rescue love and will miss you Cesar!
January 31, 2008
Cesar had his surgery for neutering and dew claw removal on Monday, January 14th. He went through surgery great! With all four legs bandaged and a silly lampshade around his head we headed home to heal. The first few days with that lampshade were quite comical as he tried to maneuver around the house. But soon he figured out how to manage, of course my moving everything out of his way certainly helped!
On Monday, January 21st Cesar went for a follow up visit with the vet. He was healing just fine and when they went to put new bandages on him the only color they had was pink. PINK! I was having a fit. I said, "you can't put pink bandages on him - he's a boy". I made such a fuss about the pink bandages. We laughed a lot about that one!
Then on Monday, January 28th he had his stitches removed.
We weighed Cesar the day his stitches were removed and he weighed 51.3 pounds. Cesar is growing by the minute and doing really well.
He is still slow at learning but learn he does learn. Cesar is going to make someone a great family pet. He is loving, affectionate, and playful. He makes it very clear how much he wants to be right with you and how much he wants to please. If I could handle another full time dog of my own I would keep this little sweetie but in all fairness to Cesar he needs a kind and loving home of his own. Cesar needs someone with patience to teach him all the things he needs to know, and in return Cesar will provide you with so much love!
If you are interested in Cesar as an addition to your family please complete the Pre-Adopton Application and his foster mom will contact you.
A note of thanks to all those who sent donations to help care for Cesar. I am certain he would like to thank each one of you personally. All of Cesar's care though exceeded the current donations so we are still in the red on that. If you can spare even a small donation to help cover his current medical expenses and care, we would greatly appreciate it. We understand that things are tight all over so any donation, no matter how big or small is of great help.
We took a risk with Cesar, but we had great faith that he would pull through and be a wonderful boy.
Again, from Cesar and myself, thanks to all those that have already contributed.
December 27, 2007
Cesar had his check up today with the neurology veterinarian. On Cesar’s first visit his prognosis was guarded and doubtful. On his first visit he weighed in at 14 lbs.
Cesar has grown to a very handsome 42.3 pounds and his future is looking up! His scull has come together and firmed up as it should and the vet’s opinion is that Cesar does indeed have the type of Hydrocephalus that he will fully outgrow. That is not to say that there are not additional obstacles that may need to be over come down the road though.
Cesar is slow to learn his commands and in understanding his house training. I continue to work with him patiently on these. Cesar goes up and down small numbers of stairs, comes when called by name, plays well with the other dogs and cats in the house, plays well with children, walks well on a leash, and loves his toys. Other commands I am working with him on are “sit” and “leave it”, slow going but he is starting to understand those commands.
Based on the neurologic exam the following conclusions were made:
- Mentation: Bright and alert
- Gait/Posture: Normal
- Postural reactions: Intact
- Spinal reflexes: Intact in all limbs
- Muscle tone: Normal
- Nociception: Intact pain perception in all limbs
- Spinal pain: No spinal hyperesthesia
Vet Assessment: The difficulty with house training is likely due to decreased cortical function secondary to hydropcephalus. Cesar may take longer to house train, or may always have difficulty. Due to the fact that Cesar is doing well in all other areas, it is expected that he will have a good quality of life. Potentially, he could develop seizures later in life but there is no way to tell for sure.
I layman’s terms: Cesar is doing well and is expected to go into his adulthood as a happy boy. Due to the water condition on his brain there seems to be some effects in regard to his learning which is slower but he does “get it” with patience and consistent reinforcement in training.
Cesar will soon be scheduled for his neutering and dew claw removal, then he will be placed up for adoption.
Donations are still needed for this baby though. There are medical expenses which still need to be covered and daily care. Because of Cesar’s slower learning ability we will also soon start him in puppy classes as it is believed that the added structure will help him to develop much better.
Thank you for everyone’s prayers and support during this development time for Cesar. Without them I am certain he would have met an untimely fate. He was given a second chance at life and he is responding well by giving back loads of puppy-luv!
Video of Cesar Now Available! Click Here.
December 9, 2007
I continue keeping in contact with the veterinary neurologist. We are keeping Cesar on the one steroid per day and that seems to keep him doing fairly well. Cesar still is not understanding the housebreaking thing but I continue to remain hopeful. His next check up with the vet is scheduled for December 26th. Without the funds to get the MRI done on Cesar I continue on a wish and prayer each day. I can only continue to play the waiting game to see if this is something he will outgrow, knowing every day that I may at some point need to make a fateful decision. In the meantime we play with his toys, we run around outside, and Cesar plays with the other doggies in the house.
As always - please keep Cesar in your prayers.