GLEN HIGHLAND RESIDENT UPDATE:
FOR ALL THE TUCKER FANS… AND ANGELS WHO SUPPORT HIM…
Since arrival at Glen Highland 5/22, Tucker has had obvious joint issues from a traumatic injury leaving him with a plate in his front leg and other backend weaknesses. Over time, it’s became obvious that his left back leg was worsening as he continually went lame after short bits of ball play.
Pain medication was not helping so it was time to investigate with xrays. We had hoped to do this before but his heartworm disease prevented the risk of sedation. Now, after a year of the slow-kill method, it was safe enough to proceed.
After his visit to Dr Paul Bookbinder, our orthopedic surgeon from NY (yes Tucker went from Va to Ny),
turns out that our ball-playing fiend has four busted legs with degenerative joint disease and bilateral hip dysplasia adding to the pain. BUT, the new finding came from Paul’s ability to palpate his body to find the real pain behind the back leg issue…sciatica…he has debilitating lower back pain much like we as humans experience with sciatica.
As Paul moved his tail to the left, he dropped to the ground. The video shows how he assesses the source of pain..yes it is hard to watch Tucker react but interesting to understand. So many of us have Border Collies who run like the wind chasing balls and are so stoic and will endure pain without you even knowing it…only later in life, is the real source clear. (contact Lillie if the video does not come through to you)
Tucker had previously been seen by two surgeons in Virginia and neither were able to find the source of the issue until Dr Bookbinder…which is why we traveled a LONG way to see him. Undergoing hip surgery will not solve this type of pain yet the other surgeons were willing to operate on his hips assuming that would fix the lame back leg. Back surgery would not likely be appropriate either based on the degenerative state of his joints.
Orthopedic issues are not just diagnosed wit
In case you've missed this...here is a wonderful start to a new week...orderly Border Collies being their brilliant selves...
A BIG SMILE FROM GLEN HIGHLAND'S RESIDENT MAX TO US ALL...cancer be damned!
This is THE best morning event to see unfold….MAX has the courage for playing now…he’s found a friend in one of the rescues who just thinks he is so cool!
You can see Max is a VERY able-bodied tall Senior Border Collie. He only had little dogs in his prior situation so this is such a big win for him to find new happiness!
We’ll take all this joy for Max any day!
MAX IS SETTLED FOR HIS FIRST NIGHT... pretty tired but also pretty playful! we'll update more after the holidays...he knows, sit, lie down, comes instantly when called...someone clearly invested time in him...he also has a cute happy dance where he taps his foot when excited and makes a woo-woo sound too!
Tug is his fav game!
UPDATE: MAX will be coming to Glen Highland Thursday 12/22... we are all set!!!!
LOOKING FOR HELP MOVING A SENIOR FROM NJ SOUTH TOWARD VA...TO GLEN HIGHLAND SANCTUARY & RESCUE
We want to help a 12 year old Border Collie now in animal control due to nipping a 1 yr old in the home...though the senior dog lived there since a pup, he lost his home as often happens with grandkids.
IF ANYONE IS TRAVELING FROM EDISON OR PATERSON NJ HEADING SOUTH FOR THE HOLIDAYS...PLEASE CONTACT LILLIE...[email protected]
WE WOULD LOVE TO GET HIM OUT OF THERE!
Glen Highland Resident Della, with osteosarcoma recently diagnosed...
Still awaiting the oncology consult but have concluded no surgery…the upper jaw option is rife with complications and with heartworm untreated for so many years, it’s just not fair for her to endure what would likely be a massively difficult recovery..
so…as promised…we ‘PARTY ON’….Della loves her own ball play which works well considering she knows how much her mouth hurts and needs to stop…she is on heavy pain meds now...but having fun
Such a doll!!!
GOOD TEARS FOR THIS ONE...
omg this is so sweet…a little pup long ago came to us and landed with a lovely 12 year old whose Mom convinced me was a serious dog kid and boy she was and is…many dogs later, she is training and gaining titles right and left but listen to the speaker read what she wrote about Rush…now 12…
she did get another BC from GLEN HIGHLAND not long ago and is running him in sports too!
THIS is why rescue will always matter, no matter when or what age…great dogs need another chance
** UPDATE ON DELLA 11/20/22 ** DELLA reminded us of the truth of how dogs experience life…right in the NOW, not the past, not the future... but the NOW. READ DELLA'S STORY: https://glenhighlandfarm.com/to-spirit/to-spirit-della.htm
A TEARY TURN OF EVENTS...
10/10/22: Well…seems we are having a cancer ‘run’, leaving us without options for dogs we surely would love to help and spend more time with…Casey had only four days; Monty had 3 weeks; NOW DELLA will likely have 5 months and if lucky, maybe a year…but very hard to predict…
A dental issue appeared as a simple tooth abscess and within a week was an angry oral mass, leaving us and our vet shaking our heads, bracing for bad news. And, bad news we did get…
Della has osteosarcoma in her upper jaw which is very hard to surgically manage with good results.
We are in discussion with an oncology specialist to consider any and all options. Realistically, Della already had a malignant mammary mass removed and has had heartworm disease untreated for years so while her chest radiographs seem ‘fine’…it’s truly a gamble if we can buy more quality time for her. Her body clearly has illness within.
Of course, as you tear up knowing what’s ahead, it’s so important to remember one fact…
DOGS DO NOT LIVE IN THE FUTURE…SHE HAS ABSOLUTELY NO FOCUS ON HER MEDICAL PROBLEMS…TOMORROW IS NOT ON HER MIND WHATSOEVER
instead…it’s a great meal, a wonderful run in the woods, hanging with her BFF Tucker and getting some love from those she meets…
DOGS LIVE IN THE NOW…THANKFULLY SO SHE IS STILL A HAPPY GIRL…
As their humans, we get stuck sadly roaming through what’s ahead…so we have to get out of the way, so to speak, cry in the closet when we have to and forge on to have the grandest party of life today and for whatever time we have…no pity, no sadness, no staring, no sobbing…just moving along with the joy of living TODAY and each day she awakes…
It’s no easier for us than any of
ONE MORE MONTY & HIS BELOVED FRISBEE!
MONTY VIDEOS...pretty darn sweet
MICK TODAY! a little video peek
GH alum update:
Hi Lillie and Team,
Hamish is well into his 16th year and doing pretty good. We continue our daily walks on the trails at Thacher state park and occasionally hit the newish ‘rail trail’ when I want an easier walk.
Since he’s lived here Hamish has never been much for play. He used to show a little interest in chasing squeaky tennis balls, but only for a couple of tosses. Then he’d take the ball to one of his spots, lay down, and peel the fuzzy cover off it and pull out the squeaker. He enjoyed going after chipmunks and rabbits, but now he’s happy to just watch them. In the morning he still tells any deer passing by that he’s got his eye on them. These days he spends quite a lot of his time snoozing and I guess that’s OK.
As for pictures, he’s very camera shy. I have tried but when he sees the camera he turns tail so all I get are pictures of his rear end. Here is a pretty good movie of him being coy!
GH ALUM UPDATE:
Lizzie at 16...With her younger "brother" Will. She taught him all his manners. He's a perfect gentleman.
Gigi
