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~ Rex ~
a special boy
adopted May 2008
| ~ Introducing ~
Rex's new friend, Lina
["Catalina"]
Adopted June 2009
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Pupdate from their mom ~ June 15, 2010
Hi Aneita and Linda,
I just got Rex's results back on his bile acid test which was a follow up to the surgery he had a little over a month ago. According to the specialist who did the surgery, the results are fantastic. A normal value on the bile acid test they use is 10 (and forgive me for not being exact here) and Rex's values presurgery were over 300. His values are at 66 now, so still a little high, but down very dramatically. He'll be on his special diet for a few more months as well as his liver medication, and we'll see what it's like after that. But his prognosis is excellent and he is expected to have the same lifespan and quality of life as any normal dog. The only thing I have to watch now is his weight, because after the surgery his appetite increased dramatically. He's at a very solid 20lbs and that is where he's going to stay. Quite a change from the 12 lb munchkin I brought home 2 years ago. He's really well behaved too, and loves to learn new things. That took a bit of patience, he was something of a brat when he came home.
As for Catalina or Cat or Lina (doesn't matter really, she doesn't hear very well anymore), her outlook is not quite as rosy. Her kidney disease is progressing so now it's about making sure she has a good quality of life. She's on a special diet, she's getting pettinic for her anemia, proin for her incontinence, epakatin for her kidneys and I've just started her on something else for her arthritis. Since her blood work came back worse than the last time I'll be increasing her fluids from 500 ML 2x per week to 500 ML per day. Luckily for me, she is a very laid back dog and accepts getting fluid under her skin without a fuss, which seems to surprise the vet's office. I didn't think I'd be able to do it, but I guess when you have to you can do anything. Aside from that, she sleeps a lot more, walks a lot slower, but with all that, she always seems happy, still plays with Rex, still walks around with her tail wagging so we take it day by day with her.
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Feburary 2010 pictures of Rex & Lina ~ being just as cute as can be :)
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| Lina waiting for Mom to get dinner ready |
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| Hi Mom ~ we didn't do anything wrong while you were gone ... honest |
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| Lina wants to sleep ~ Rex wants to PLAY PLAY PLAY |
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| someone turn him off so Lina can go to sleep LOL |
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Summer 2009 ~ what a great couple !!!
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| Their mom refers to this as "SHELTIES ON PATROL" |
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| Lina's favorite spot ~ THIS window, watching everything going on outside :) |
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| Little Rex snoozing in the sun..... |
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| Lina has her own page, click on picture |
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| New pictures from "mom" December 2008 |
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Pup-Date December 2008
Things are going really well with Rex. When he had blood tests done recently, the vet said that his blood work was nearly normal. In fact, he said that if he had not had the results of his prior exams he would not have believed Rex had a liver shunt problem. The diet is working very well and he won't need surgery for the liver shunt.
I took some time off during the summer, and Rex and I did some obedience classes. He was doing really well and it kept him busy, in fact he made a game of it and really enjoyed the game he made out of sit/stay/come. He did, however, begin to start chewing on things when I went back to work, which was a little mystifying since he did not do so before I took time off. He's chewed every single corner of the moldings and on some of the dining room chairs. I didn't notice right away since it was so small. He got through that phase with a minimum of damage.
Rex is quite the ball of fun. Not a day goes by that he doesn't make me laugh. He loves mornings and is raring to go at 4. When he's done with his morning walk, he will come and and race around at his top speed ....and when he's done, he'll bring his toys over for a tug of war. He loves to be held and loves to curl up in a little ball next to me at night. He's a bit reserved around people he doesn't know, but he's friendly with other dogs. When we're walking in "his territory" he barks at everyone and at all the other dogs and he's got a little jaunty trot going on all the while. He's really just a nice little dog (with some moments of youthful brattiness mixed in but he's gotten a lot better with that over time).
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Rex was adopted in May 2008 ~ he's doing great in his new home, as you can see from the pictures above :)
*** Rex's mom, Helen has been one of our sheltie guardian angels for quite some time. She adopted Zippy in October 2004 and kept in contact through the years with pup-dates & pictures. When Zippy crossed over the Rainbow Bridge, she honored his memory by adopting a 'special needs' sheltie.
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Momma Marie said I need to introduce myself. So here goes!
I'm a tiny Sheltie only 12lbs., but don't let that fool you.... I'm just as cute as the bigger shelties.
Being a sheltie I like to run around and jump ~ looking at me you would never know that I'm sick.
My first Mommy brought me here last night and I was scared when my human family left. But guess what? There are shelties here and they made me feel right at home. Cassie is closer to my age and she like to play with me. And Momma Angel keeps an eye on both of us to make sure we don't get into trouble. I would never do that. LOL!!!!!!!!!
I was told I was a very good boy last night. I sleeped all night and did not bark or anything to wake anyone else up. That's being a good boy! Right? I did throw up a little bit, but Momma Marie said not to worry, that she was going to get me special food today that will help me feel better. And that soon I will not be sick anymore. Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!
Hope you like my pictures. And thank you for helping me.
Love to all,
Rex
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Rex is a tiny sheltie ~ all of 12 pounds and about a year old [we were told he's 16 months, but he acts more like an 8 to 10 month old puppy]. His owners gave him up for adoption due to his liver shunt ~ they could not afford the special diet, medication, and vet visits.
A liver shunt is a blood vessel that did not attach itself correctly to the liver after birth. So, the blood is not being filtered by the liver before being returned to the body for use. In some cases this will cause neurological symptoms, seizures, head pressing, staring into space and possible coma like state. Rex is NOT exhibiting any of these signs. Surgery is often recommended for this condition. However, it would be placing Rex’s life in great danger. Once the shunt is closed off the liver receives more pressure and this in turn could cause seizures and death. Rex’s life is not in danger at this time and we do not want to place it in any danger by electing to have this very dangerous surgery performed on a dog that can have his condition controlled with a low protein diet.
Rex is very active and loves to play in the yard with his "foster brothers" ( 2 other shelties , Golden Retriever, Samoyed and a German Shepherd). He is very friendly and everyone who has met him at the different vet offices has fallen in love with his cute face. He needs someone very special ..... to provide a forever home where he will be loved & cuddled and properly cared for all of his live.
Are you Rex’s special person? Can you give this little boy all the love and care he deserves? Please consider adopting this special needs Sheltie. He will return your love and kindness a million times over.
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Pup-Date May 1st from foster mom Marie
Rex is a very hyper nipping Sheltie. He should not go to a home with children, nor to someone that is elderly. Even with his illness he is full of energy. He loves to jump and when he jumps, he nips at you. He will do this for your attention and literally try to jump in your arms.
Observing him over the last few days I feel that this was encouraged, because he was [is] so tiny, and it was "cute". Like all bad behavior, it starts out cute, but then the puppy grows into an adult, and it is not cute anymore and hurts. Rex does like to cuddle in your arms and is very content there. He needs a single person or a couple who are active, willing to have him as part of their activity, and willing to continue the obedience training that I have started with him. I feel that Rex was removed from his mother and littermates too early and did not have the chance to learn from them.
Since Fri. he has learned to sit to have his leash put on and off. He knows the sit and down, but gets a little confused..... sometimes will do a sit, but go into the down. Rex is a very smart boy and learns very fast. We are currently working on the "leave it" command to help him with the nipping issue.
Right now, Rex is living with 2 other Shelties, a Goldie, Samoyed, and German Shepherd. He gets along great and is actually learning from them what he should have learned as a pup from his mom and littermates. He loves to sit in the window and look outside. I don’t see an issue with him going to home where there is another dog. Not sure about cats.
This little guy deserves a very special home and person to take care of him. He has had a rough start in the world.
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