The August Break 2011: Aug. 25th

Although it's been hot, Gus has been feeling good as new since he's surgery! [and showing off his new harness vests]

Update On Gus

I wanted to pop in and give you all an update on Gus.  He has had his surgery and is doing really, really well! He's energy has increased tenfold, and you can just tell he feels a lot more confident bearing weight on that leg. Thank you SO MUCH to everyone that donated and spread the word about Gus. <3

He's since had his stitches taken out and his fur has grown back in. He actually just got a haircut and is now sporting a slim cut with a poofy head! ;D

Megan said the photo above this one was "the saddest photo ever"--but I had to disagree. I think this one is way sadder. ;D

So again THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Gus: Doesn't Need Another Break

These photos are some I took of Gus a couple of weeks ago to help his parents raise money for an operation he needs to have. Here's the skinny on what poor Gus has been dealing with.

- Earlier this year he was hit by a car and broke his right hind leg. Had to get a pin in his leg.

-After getting the pin removed Gus's right hind leg broke again because of a sequestrum when the original break was healing.

- Found out Gus also suffers from luxating patella in his left hind leg, which is "a condition in which the patella, or kneecap, dislocates or moves out of its normal location." 

- On top of that his left hind leg has Legg-Calve-Perthes syndrome, which is a "degenerative disease of the hip joint, where growth/loss of bone mass leads to some degree of collapse of the hip joint and to deformity of the ball of the femur and the surface of the hip socket."

Gus's x-ray--notice the difference between both hip joints

So, because of the sequestrum, Gus will always have a very weak right hind leg-- with the very likely  potential of it breaking again.  Since this leg is actually the "stronger" of the two because of the conditions that plague is left hind leg, Gus must undergo surgery to have a bone graph as well as having a metal plate inserted. Amputation was considered, but again, because of his left leg being lame, surgery would wield a much better outcome for his mobility.

The surgery will cost at least $3,000.

Since it's something they can't put off for very long, Gus's parents have set-up a Paypal donation to try and raise some of that money. They also set up a Save Gus community on Facebook where they will soon be holding raffles and giveaways.  If donating is not something you are able to do, just simple keeping Gus in your thoughts or passing the word around would be amazing! Gus is a tiny dog full of love and I'm sure he would give you all a huge lick if he could! <3

Gus gets a fancy cone

Gus had his cone of shame decorated tonight! Unfortunately he had just taken his drowsy pain medicine so the photo shoot didn't last long.  Which is probably for the best because he can't do much with the giant cone except lounge around.

Welcome Home + Colonel Augustus Darwin Fink-Nottle

I'm back! I'm back! For the past several months the house I rent a space in has been undergoing some pretty drastic renovations. Tearing up floors, stripping years of paint, ripping down horrible popcorn ceilings, laying lots of new tile, and lots and lots of painting! With all that work came a truckload of dust and nasty fumes--so my sinuses said "GET OUT--GET OUT NOW!"...and I did. [<3 <3 for a great boyfriend that took me in]

But I'm back and I'm trying to get my room into some kind of working order. I just tonight plugged in my computer and I've been home for 3 days now. :X I'm happy to have all my stuff all in one location again. I felt like I had been living out of a suitcase...that apparently mated while I was gone because I brought a lot more stuff back in than I remember bringing out!

Which leads me to a new fur monster that might be making more appearances now that I'm home.  My housemates have a poodle named Gus [or Colonel Augustus Darwin Fink-Nottle if you're long-winded] and unfortunately for him his first public photo on my blog is him in his CONE OF SHAME!

Promise there's a dog in there!

Poor little Gus was hit by a car on Wednesday and broke one of his hind-legs. :( He had surgery on Friday so they could put a pin in his leg and now he gets to sport the cone so he won't bother the stitches.  Gus is a pretty fancy dog so there have been rumors of his cone getting a decorative face-lift- I'll post pictures if that happens.

Alright--back to organizing!