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Elmer's Story (click any picture to enlarge, or play video)
Sun. 14 Mar. '10: This page has been edited, and now reads from top to bottom. Elmer has gone to his new home, and you may read about his latest adventures at the Homepage for Elmer on this website.
THE BEGINNING Mon. 04 Jan. '10: Elmer suffered complications during his neutering surgery. Elmer's heart stopped while he was on the table. It is very rare for anything to go wrong during a simple neuter surgery. Quick action taken by the vets at Best Friends brought him back to life, he started breathing again, but it took him two days to wake up from the surgery.
Elmer stayed in a coma like state Monday evening, Tuesday and finally woke up Wednesday morning January 6th.
Elmer is recovering from his coma like state. Currently he is blind and has minimal body movements. At this time he can't do much more than lay on his side, but he is eating like a healthy puppy should. It is still unknown whether Elmer has suffered permanent brain damage and vets hope that his current state is temporary. We hope that Elmer will regain his sight and body movements with time. The vets are hoping for a full recovery for Elmer but this could take several months. BAM is hopeful that Elmer will return to foster care, where he will continue physical therapy, as soon as he no longer needs veterinary care. Until then, Elmer is in great hands. The vets at Best Friends are giving him all the comfort he needs and plenty of human attention.
Of course, with most rescued dogs, this is not the first tragedy that Elmer has endured. Elmer, who is only 5 months old, was abandoned along with his sister Lucy. Left alone without shelter, food, water or human companionship. Thankfully Lucy and Elmer were found before terrible things could happen to them. BAM took them into foster care Tuesday December 29th.
At first glance one would never know there was anything wrong with Elmer, but after a short off leash run it was very obvious that Elmer walked with a terrible limp. He was seen by Dr. Barton at Washington Family Vet where they X-rayed his front leg. Turns out, Elmer's elbow had been broken when he was a very young pup. He never saw a vet to make the proper repairs and the bone healed poorly. Elmer is in great pain when he walks or stands for long periods of time. He may end up loosing his front leg.
The future of Elmer is unknown at this time, but BAM and Elmer's foster home are dedicated to helping Elmer recover, giving him the medical attention he needs, and the love he deserves.
UPDATE Sun. 10 Jan. '10: A visit with Elmer today showed that he is making but steady progress. He is allowed outside of his recovery cage in an ex-pen now and was resting comfortably on blankets with lots of toys around him. The IV and catheter have been removed and he can pee on his own now. Trust me, I know. Dr. Mike says there is a 50/50 chance his eye sight will return. He will be released to foster care when he can walk on his own and we anticipate that being 3-4 weeks down the road. He is receiving therapy to encourage him to stand on his own. We do now know a malfunctioning new machine is what caused this to happen for Elmer. Turns out he was receiving three times the recommended anesthesia but it wasn't registering on the machine. The machine has been returned to the manufacturer.
UPDATE Fri. 15 Jan. '10: Yesterday, when we went to Best Friends to pick Elmer up, the staff were all so helpful and happy to see that Elmer was on his way home. We walked Elmer out the back door of clinic so he could stretch his legs before getting in the car. All the staff watched from the windows inside and cheered as Elmer took his first poo all by himself! Tears flowed and pictures were taken as Elmer said his good-byes. He wagged his tail excitedly and whined when he realized he was leaving the clinic. Everyone was so happy!
UPDATE Sat. 16 Jan. '10: Early on Saturday, Elmer had an appointment in his increasingly busy diary. Before he could attend the Adoptathon, he had to take an assessment to see if he was fit enough. For the first time since his medical misadventure, Elmer didn't pee on his leg or fall over while urinating. The old, infirm, and incontinent, or even those of us whose aim is not as good as it used to be, will appreciate just how much comfort such an improvement brings. One of the few compensations in such circumstances is knowing that one day it will be the turn of our younger readers, who may wonder, 'Why all the fuss?'
Elmer was strong enough to attend the regular monthly Adoptathon in front of Petco, Washington, UT, today. His sight is still restricted to light & shadow only, but his spirit is undimmed. He is a little wobbly on his legs; however, he loves to be petted & fussed, and his demand for treats is insatiable. His determination to get on with his life is inspirational.
UPDATE Sun. 17 Jan. '10: Elmer goes for his second run off leash! He loves being part of the pack, and tries so hard to keep up. He often loses his balance and topples over, but he always gets back up. He no longer needs to wear his harness. He doesn't need the extra hand from his person to keep him steady. The challenge of the desert roads stimulates his mind to maneuver his body around rocks, ruts and bushes. He makes great improvements every day.
UPDATE Wed. 20 Jan. '10: There is nothing wrong with Elmer's sense of smell, but sometimes it can be a challenge for him to get his mouth and nose to coordinate the way he intends.
Elmer (left) and Kojii (right), who are foster siblings, have finally figured out how to play with each other. For the past week, Elmer only knew how to fall on Kojii while trying to play (which Kojii didn't like) or he would mistakenly bite at the air several feet from Kojii. Today, the light bulb clicked in Elmer's mind. He finally had the balance, the sight, and the reflexes to play chase, and lunge & bite at Kojii. Now, they never stop playing.
Exhausted by their play session, Elmer and Kojii finally rest.
UPDATE Sat. 23 Jan. '10: Elmer Runs — he no longer trips and falls on his face when running fast and chasing his dog friends. His balance and coordination are improving every day, even though he has a bum front leg. Elmer Makes Friends — the big dogs are finally accepting Elmer as a playmate. Tug is his favorite play time activity. Elmer watches — sometimes he is too tired to play, but still loves to watch the activity from his favorite bed.
UPDATE Thu. 28 Jan. '10: The Descent — Yesterday, Elmer walked down stairs for the first time! He hates to be carried, and wants to do every thing by himself. Climbing down the stairs on his own was a great personal accomplishment for Elmer. Chew Toy — Elmer loves his chew toy. His eye to mouth coordination is getting much better, and his head tremors are diminishing. Running — Elmer now runs full speed with the other dogs. He no longer falls, trips, or needs to lie down. Leaps & Bounds — literally! Elmer can now maneuver across even rough terrain.
UPDATE Sat. 30 Jan. '10: Yesterday, Elmer went to the vet for a two week check up. All looks great for Elmer. The vet said the nerves in his eyes are reacting to light. There is no reason to think his sight will not continue to improve. Every one was very happy to see how wonderful Elmer was walking and seeing. Later, Elmer and his pals went for a water adventure down by the lake.
UPDATE Mon. 08 Feb. '10: Elmer is ready to take on the world: at least he will be, as soon as he has a sleep on his favorite bed.
This week, carers discovered how important sleep is for Elmer's recovery. He plays for long periods with his buddy Onyx, and over the course of several days it was noticed that Elmer's balance and energy levels were regressing. Now his carers make sure he gets nap time during the day.
The picture of him sitting on his bed shows just how much his vision has improved lately, compared with earlier pictures. No more blank stares. No more flicking his gaze to see better. Elmer's eyes are now steady and focused. You will already have gathered that beds are an important part of Elmer's life: he has laid claim to all the beds in the house. Is that cute?
Happy Days have arrived! Tuesday 09 Mar. '10
Elmer has found the home we have all been hoping for. Jonathan fell in love with Elmer at first sight on Saturday at Perks. Jonathan knew nothing about Elmer's history; he fell in love with Elmer, not his story. Of course his heart melted when he read the tragic adventures Elmer has been through during his short life, and he can't wait to make the rest of Elmer's years happy, safe and well loved.
Elmer will live with Roxy, a female lab, with whom he already loves to play and wrestle. [View video segment.] They will be the best of pals. Elmer will enjoy daily runs, hiking off leash, swimming when it's hot, with lots of playtime and snuggle time. He will join Jonathan on road trips, daily errand running, and any other activity Jonathan participates in during the day.
Jonathan has alerted his friends, family and veterinarian about Elmer's arrival, and asked them to read his story. Every one in Jonathan's life is very excited to meet Elmer, who will be staying with his foster family until Friday evening. Until then, Jonathan will be preparing for Elmer's arrival.
Elmer has gone to his new home, and you may read about his latest adventures at the Homepage for Elmer on this website.
Last updated Mon. 19 Jul. '10 @ 07:19:36 UTC