I have an appointment next weekend with a family to do a meet and greet with Gigi. She will be done with all her medicine by then and ready to go to a new family. The family is one we know from the neighborhood and soccer. They may be interested. They had a beautiful yellow lab that they loved dearly so they would like another lab. Keeping my fingers crossed that Gigi is a good fit for them because I know they are animal lovers and will continue to take excellent care of her.
However, if she is not a good fit then another couple is getting interested also...
Monday, June 20, 2011
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Starting the Home Search
Gigi is doing so well. All of the side effects have subsided and she is ready to find her forever family. If you are interested in adopting Gigi, please message me or post a comment on the blog. There will be a $100 re-homing fee to cover extra expenses we incurred caring for Gigi during her heartworm treatment and recovery.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Side Effects
I called the vet yesterday afternoon to inquire about the panting and pacing Gigi was doing after I brought her home. The vet said that it was a side effect of the medication that some dogs exhibit. This side effect indicated that Gigi was in pain and uncomfortable. So he called in 2 pain medications for Gigi to our pharmacy.
After we gave Gigi her meds she settled down and relaxed. She just wanted to be with us so bad that if we went into a different room she followed. Finally, the medication took it's full effect and Gigi went to sleep...in my bed. She LOVES to snuggle.
So far this morning she hasn't eaten her breakfast. Another side effect of the medication. She has lost her appetite. I'm going to sweeten the pot if she hasn't eaten before tonight because who has ever heard of a lab that doesn't want to eat. Maybe I'll add some cheese to her food to make it a bit more appetizing.
This dog has melded into our family so seamlessly it is a wonder how we are ever going to give her up. The family that wants to adopt her had better be ready for some scrutiny because we are falling in love.
Update at 4:15: Gigi ate all her food. When in doubt have an 8 year old hand feed.
After we gave Gigi her meds she settled down and relaxed. She just wanted to be with us so bad that if we went into a different room she followed. Finally, the medication took it's full effect and Gigi went to sleep...in my bed. She LOVES to snuggle.
So far this morning she hasn't eaten her breakfast. Another side effect of the medication. She has lost her appetite. I'm going to sweeten the pot if she hasn't eaten before tonight because who has ever heard of a lab that doesn't want to eat. Maybe I'll add some cheese to her food to make it a bit more appetizing.
This dog has melded into our family so seamlessly it is a wonder how we are ever going to give her up. The family that wants to adopt her had better be ready for some scrutiny because we are falling in love.
Update at 4:15: Gigi ate all her food. When in doubt have an 8 year old hand feed.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Gigi's Home
I just picked Gigi up from the vet. Her heartworm treatment went great. She was able to tolerate the arsenic based injections and now we just have to administer her medications to her daily for about a month. Then followed by a monthly heartworm preventative. Which are all possible because of the generous support from the readers of this blog. Thank you so much!
Currently Gigi is pacing the house. I can't tell if she is nervous, it has been a confusing week for her. Poor baby! The only family she has ever known gave her away (for good reason), then she came and stayed with us for a few days, then I took her to the vet and left her there over night, and now she's back with us. She is probably wondering what's going to happen next.
Or if her pacing is being caused by discomfort from the treatment. She isn't showing any side effects the vet spoke to me about so I think she's just nervous. I am supposed to watch for coughing. Apparently the dead, disintegrating worms can cause pneumonia as the body tries to get rid of them through the lung. So we will watch for that for sure.
Otherwise she looks great! She needs to rest for a while....about 24 days. After that, it's chasing the Frisbee time:)
Currently Gigi is pacing the house. I can't tell if she is nervous, it has been a confusing week for her. Poor baby! The only family she has ever known gave her away (for good reason), then she came and stayed with us for a few days, then I took her to the vet and left her there over night, and now she's back with us. She is probably wondering what's going to happen next.
Or if her pacing is being caused by discomfort from the treatment. She isn't showing any side effects the vet spoke to me about so I think she's just nervous. I am supposed to watch for coughing. Apparently the dead, disintegrating worms can cause pneumonia as the body tries to get rid of them through the lung. So we will watch for that for sure.
Otherwise she looks great! She needs to rest for a while....about 24 days. After that, it's chasing the Frisbee time:)
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Goal Reached
I am so happy to tell everyone that last night we met our goal to fully fund Gigi's heartworm treatment. Thank you so much to everyone who donated money to help.
I am preparing to leave to drive Gigi to the rescue affiliated vet on the other side of town....or should I say about 5 towns over. She is going to spend the night there tonight and I will pick her up tomorrow. Over the course of the night Gigi will receive 2 arsenic based injections to kill the heartworms. The medication is very strong and potentially painful. It breaks my heart, but it must be done to save hers.
I am preparing to leave to drive Gigi to the rescue affiliated vet on the other side of town....or should I say about 5 towns over. She is going to spend the night there tonight and I will pick her up tomorrow. Over the course of the night Gigi will receive 2 arsenic based injections to kill the heartworms. The medication is very strong and potentially painful. It breaks my heart, but it must be done to save hers.
Monday, May 30, 2011
The Final Sprint to Treatment
We have 24 hours left until Gigi goes to the vet for her heart worm treatment. We have raised over half the money in just a couple of days! Thank you so much everyone who has donated money to help Gigi get well.
Now we are in the final sprint to collect the last $201 in the next 24 hours. It's Memorial Day so lots of people are out celebrating the sacrifices of our amazing military heroes. It's going to be a wonderful day!
Gigi is going to bar-b-que with us later as we celebrate. I'm sure she'll manage a few tasty scraps before the end of the day. She is meshing so well with our existing pets I know she will be great with any family once she is well.
Tomorrow is the big day....treatment. Gigi will have to stay over night and receive highly toxic injections to kill the heart worms. The worms will start to die off immediately!!! But she will have to continue on medication to finish the death blows to the parasitic life suckers.
If you have it in your heart and in your wallet to help us get treatment for Gigi, just click on the donate or the support button in the right column of this blog. We would really appreciate your support. Thank you!
Now we are in the final sprint to collect the last $201 in the next 24 hours. It's Memorial Day so lots of people are out celebrating the sacrifices of our amazing military heroes. It's going to be a wonderful day!
Gigi is going to bar-b-que with us later as we celebrate. I'm sure she'll manage a few tasty scraps before the end of the day. She is meshing so well with our existing pets I know she will be great with any family once she is well.
Tomorrow is the big day....treatment. Gigi will have to stay over night and receive highly toxic injections to kill the heart worms. The worms will start to die off immediately!!! But she will have to continue on medication to finish the death blows to the parasitic life suckers.
If you have it in your heart and in your wallet to help us get treatment for Gigi, just click on the donate or the support button in the right column of this blog. We would really appreciate your support. Thank you!
Friday, May 27, 2011
Off to a Running Start
Today was a busy day at the rescue house. First, I spoke with the vets office and found out that I can get Gigi's treatment started on Tuesday...as in the day after Memorial Day. That was huge! But they said if I go through the lab rescue club for the treatment I may have to wait until July. This is because they have a limited number of appointments available to rescue groups at the extremely discounted rate. That was not so huge.
However, the vet would extend a special rate to us for rescuing Gigi....just not quite as special as the rescue club receives from them. I can understand, I am bringing 1 dog they bring dogs over and over again. So, in an effort to provide the fastest, best care for Gigi (not wait until July) I opted to go it alone. The rate the vet quoted was only $86 higher than with the rescue club and we are getting in on Tuesday. Which means I need to raise $486 for Heartworm treatments for Gigi. It breaks down like this:
However, the vet would extend a special rate to us for rescuing Gigi....just not quite as special as the rescue club receives from them. I can understand, I am bringing 1 dog they bring dogs over and over again. So, in an effort to provide the fastest, best care for Gigi (not wait until July) I opted to go it alone. The rate the vet quoted was only $86 higher than with the rescue club and we are getting in on Tuesday. Which means I need to raise $486 for Heartworm treatments for Gigi. It breaks down like this:
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