Beefy’s Surgery

Samia August 4th, 2008

Hi it’s Samia, Beefy’s foster mom. I thought I’d let you know that the Beef came through his surgery just fine. He had total ear canal ablations on both ears. He had to spend two nights at the vets recovering so he could get extra oxygen and to help him with the nausea. The surgery was a long and involved procedure and lasted almost 5 hours. This poor little fellow endured a lot of pain, and yet he is still a happy boy. Personally, I think the vet’s office just used the excuse that he needed oxygen just so they could keep him there a bit longer. It seems the Beef has developed quite a fan base.

He’s still a little unsteady on his feet and has a bit of facial paralysis, but that should go away in a few weeks. While doing the surgery, they identified the facial nerve, but had to stretch it in order to perform the much needed procedure. It was not cut or damaged, so we have full confidence that he will once again be able to blink and that his drooling will stop. It is only the right side of his face that was affected as that was the ear that was the worst. The surgeon did a little creative improvisation on Beefy’s ears. When he stitched them closed, he did so in such a way that Beefy’s ears do not flop over like a cocker spaniel’s ears. Now, they stick out to the sides, a la The Flying Nun!

Beefy is on a lot of medication right now, but he’ll be right as rain by the time the stitches come out in 10 more days. He may still need eye drops 4-6 times a day for a month or so, but that is a small price to pay for this sweet frog to be pain and infection free for the first time in a long time.

I’m sure going to miss this boy when he boards the Bus to his forever home, but no one knows better than me (well maybe Beefy does) that although we love him, this is not the perfect home for him. He deserves to be in a home with one or two other dogs that like to play, and even better, a home that has dogs and kids. Could you be that home?

Here is a picture of the Beef so you can see how he looks with his newly positioned ears! Isn’t he cute!

Beefy had his palate surgery!

Samia July 7th, 2008

Our beautiful foster K-Kid, Beefy, had his palate surgery on Tuesday. He came through the surgery like the champ that he is. He had his soft palate shortened by almost half an inch and boy oh boy… you should see him now! He is eating better and there is no more choking and gagging. He’ll be going to have his ears evaluated by a specialist at the Tufts Veterinary School soon. We decided to get a second opinion on The Beef’s ears before we opt for surgery. I’ll keep you advised on what the specialist says.