That's our new arrival Tanner with our internal medicine specialist at Peak, Dr. Marielle Goossens, who shepherded Tanner through a series of diagnostics last Tuesday. Other than the need to gain weight, his physical condition was pretty good. On ultrasound the radiologist found all his internal organs looked fine.
His regular bloodwork came back as normal, but on Friday Marielle got the results of the tick-borne diseases test: Tanner has high titers for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, which is fairly prevalent in the South. (We had a previous case of this in blind Briggs, who had come from Georgia.) Tanner is not showing any clinical signs, however, so he most likely already suffered through an episode. We are starting him on treatment to get it out of his system.
After Tanner's other tests on Tuesday, our veterinary surgeon, Dr. Kurt Schulz, examined Tanner's leg:
You can tell by that look on Tanner's face he isn't too sure what's going on back there. But after Kurt finished his exam and started discussing his findings, Tanner suddenly spun around to give him a kiss:
I was already clicking away when it happened, and here's the next frame:
Kurt recommended we go ahead and remove the rest of the leg, since it is an on-going risk of chronic infection and suffers recurring mild trauma at the tip of the stump from Tanner trying to use it. We are scheduling that surgery for January, after we get some more weight on Tanner.
Overall, a pretty good report card on this boy!
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Final 2013 Shelter Challenge Underway
The final round of the Shelter Challenge for 2013 began on October 28th and runs until December 22. You can vote every day here. To search for us, type in our name, Rolling Dog Farm, and Lancaster, NH 03584. We just won another $1,000 in the previous round, so your daily votes do bring in serious money for our disabled animals!
Please note that I cannot help with technical or voting problems. I also do not have an "inside track" to anyone at the Shelter Challenge, and I don't know any more about the contest than anyone else does. So if you find yourself having issues, please consult their FAQ page here and their Rules page, which is a pop-up you can find linked on this page.
Thanks for your votes!
I have a 15-year-old, three-legged lab so there's a special place in my heart for Tanner. So glad that his path led to your capable and compassionate hands.
Posted by: Judy Cahill | December 18, 2013 at 08:34 AM
So thankful he is with you now, what a sweetheart. Who knows what he has gone through? Now it is looking good for him.
Posted by: Dawn | December 17, 2013 at 11:47 AM
What a sweet, sweet boy Tanner is! He just makes my heart melt...
He does need to put some meat on his bones, but I'm sure that, with your TLC, he'll get through surgery with flying colours in January.
Posted by: Carla Polastro-Nigro | December 17, 2013 at 05:28 AM
What a sweetheart Tanner is! Just looking at those wonderful photos, you can see how trusting and loving he is toward people, despite what happened to him before he was lucky enough to be rescued and sent to RDF. He will feel so much better after the leg surgery. Thank you for all you do for every one of your precious "kids"!
Posted by: Ann | December 17, 2013 at 12:52 AM
Tanner, ask your new mom and dad for some mashed potatoes and meatloaf. That should help you with your weight.
Tanner, you are a Christmas miracle doggy!
Posted by: Penny | December 16, 2013 at 04:48 PM
Thank you for taking such good care of Tanner and everyone else. It's always nice to read a good medical report. Needing to gain weight; Tanner, I'm jealous!!!
Posted by: Lynn (in Louisiana) | December 16, 2013 at 04:40 PM
Tanner is a beautiful and lucky boy! It sounds like having the rest of that leg removed will be a blessing. What a sweet boy he is, giving kisses after his exam!!
Posted by: Linda | December 16, 2013 at 04:35 PM
What a sweet grateful boy you are Tanner!
Rest up and don't worry about anything. You are in good hands now.
Posted by: Chloe | December 16, 2013 at 04:25 PM
WOOHOO TANNER - BEST OF LUCK EATING, GAINING WEIGHT & YOUR UPCOMING SURGERY. HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU ALL.
Posted by: FELICIA | December 16, 2013 at 03:16 PM
Excellent news for you, Tanner. Now you can enjoy eating during the season of overindulgence. You are a sweetheart.
Posted by: Janet in Cambridge | December 16, 2013 at 12:37 PM
He is so skinny! Good luck in getting some weight on him before his surgery. We had to have a front leg of one of our cats removed who came into the shelter with part of one of his legs missing. We had to have surgery done to remove the rest of the leg and shoulder. He did so much better after that.
Posted by: Karla | December 16, 2013 at 12:27 PM
That last photo of Tanner and the doctor is fantastic! No words needed with that one.
Posted by: Mary H. | December 16, 2013 at 11:43 AM
Handsome and sweet. He's your Christmas Angel!
Posted by: Kathleen Rivard | December 16, 2013 at 09:52 AM