Atticus is now safe in foster care and adjusting quickly. This week he is going for his preliminary work up to the hospital so a treatment plan can be developed for him. This is a scary experience for him as well as a crucial diagnostic phase for determining his longer term care - he needs your positive thoughts.
The not-so-good news - Atticus's condition is the result of trauma, not a birth defect - possibly hit by a car? His spine is very delicate and even with surgery, only stabilisation is possible - he will eventually be paralysed. Estimated medical costs on Atticus are ~$6000. His rescuer and foster mom are in close touch with his doctors and are trying to make the right decisions to ensure his future mobility.
Atticus looks like such a sweet adorable little pup (and what a great blog they set up for him). We just made a little donation to his fund and will be saying lots of prayers for him and his foster family.
Atticus is in the best foster home possible for him! Joanne is very experienced with dogs who have similar problems. She and Molly have been Atticus' true guardian angels in every sense of the word.
Atticus needs some positive thoughts. Surgery was held off to allow him to grow a little more, but his condition may be deteriorating. Although he is a super happy pup, he is having more trouble getting around.
Some decisions regarding a strategy for Atticus will be made in the next couple of days.
Forgot to say - he is a smart boy and knows how to poop through the grill of a crate, so that the poop goes on the furniture and NOT in the crate! How smart is that??
Let me tell you, Atticus pooping out of his crate may be great for him, but not for my kitchen table or poor Eli who the poop is "aimed at". A couple of times I have come home and found Eli squashed in a corner of his crate, with what I can only describe as a look of absolute disgust on his face.
Surgery has now been postponed to November 4th as the neurosurgeon can't make Oct 28th.
This is funny with the pooping. In my case, I kept accusing my other dogs of peeing at the foster dogs crate and marking him - until I caught him in action. It was certainly not good for my rugs, but I could not help but laugh. I am surprised that not many dogs figure out the pottying out of the "bedroom". Why would one "hold it" if the problem can be taken care of by appropriate aiming?
Thank you! The contest runs through January, so they will need all the help they can get. I think it's important to remember ALL the special needs dogs that have passed through Southern Cross this past couple of years: Hannah (pregnant, starving and heartworm positive with sarcoptic mange), Annie (broken leg that had been left untreated), Darcy Mae (ingrown collar), Phoenix (severe demodex and emaciation), Prancer (9 years on a chain), Atticus - and those are just the ones I remember off the top of my head.
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