Ol Bear Dawg

[T.J.]

Most of you folks know Ol Bear Dawg from my pics and posts about him. He's my Buddy, I go, Ol Dawg goes.
Well bad news, Old Dawg got hit by a damn car last night.
We were playing "stick" last night by the shop. I wasn't paying enough attention to him, I looked around, he was gone. I guess he figured he needed to go pee on all the flowers on his trap line.
I looked for him for a couple hours. No luck.

I hear a whimper outside the window. Yep, Old Dawg.
I trapse out there and eat his butt out good. He's hurt, wags his tail but can hardly move. I picked him up and carried him in the house. I see blood on his right hip. That's all, except he can't use his left rear leg. Its saturday night at 6 PM and I know all the vets are closed. He's not bleeding to death and breathing good, so I decided to wait until today to call the vet.
I hauled him down there this morning.
Severe cut in the right upper hip area. No big deal, shave hair, suture cut.
Minor lacerations inside left upper left leg. No problem.
Problem:
After xrays, we found out that the left leg was dislocated. Of course, after the vet gave him some whoopee juice, he is about as cognisense (sp)as a Sailor on Saturday night.
We tried 3 times to get the ball back into the socket, didn't work. Vet was to skinny, you have to pull hard to reduce a dislocation.
Hauled him home, try again tomorrow.
He is presently upstairs snoozing on his sleeping bag.



Vet says, the reduction usually doesn't work. it pops out again. He will then need major surgery.

Anyone want to buy a beat up old Alaskan Cub with a fresh annual? 1/2 the price of a brand new CC cub. I figure that's a hell of a deal. I may need the money.

[wilbur]

How old is he? We'll all hope he bounces back. Good luck tomorrow.
Wilbur

[mghallen]

Bummer TJ,

Hope he does good. Of course no lead on who hit him I bet. First Alex's bud in Homer and now yours. That Kenia sounds like a bad place for being a dog.

Mike

[harneymaki]

Good luck T.J.

[Steve Pierce]

Dam TJ I hate to hear that. Get Rick Papp up there and swap him some good hunting and fishing for a little dogtoring.

[Bill Rusk]

Good luck TJ. We will all say a prayer. I agree with Steve. We'll send Rick up there and all will be OK. Keep us posted. Good looking dawg too. The lab, not Rick.

Bill

[Jerry Gaston]

TJ Judging by the picture you two guys are to old and cranky to be kept down to long. Dogs are pretty resilient and can live through most things lots of careful neglect may be all he needs. As for you can't help you there.

[m wittler]

Will be thinking of you boys today kinda went through the same thing about a year ago with my lab. Good luck Matt

[cub_driver]

Sorry to hear about Old Bear Dawg a guy can get pretty attached to these loyal animals. Good Luck.

Cub_Driver

[Gunny]

TJ - sorry to hear about your dog. I'm having a good thought for a speedy and inexpensive recovery.

[SJ]

Sorry to hear it TJ, Shorty sez, tell Old Bear Dawg to get well soon!



sj

[cubflier]

TJ - good luck to you and your old friend. My best friend is a Vet here in Palmer. I'll ask him if he's got any advice.

Jerry

[cubdrvr]

Wish the best for Bear Dawg TJ.........I've got a black one that goes with me everywhere also........and I don't want to think about the day she won't be there. Hell, my buddy reads me better than my wife

[itsgpk]

TJ and old dawg, best of luck, my thoughts are with you.

itsgpk

[gdrean]

TJ, I had a Golden that was my best friend. After he was hit I spent a lot of money with the best vet I could find. Worth every penny. Many happy years after. It touches my heart that you would sell your cub for your dog. Let me know if I can help. I would be happy to donate to the cause.

[SuperUrsus]

Hope the pup and the master recover fully and soon. My Giant Schnauzer came within a hair of being hit by a speeding Audi here in DF a few days ago. Luckily only limped for a few days. Sounds like OBD will acquire a limp, at least for a while.

Good luck and fair winds,

[mvivion]

TJ,

Hope all is going well on that end. Those big labs are the happiest, most loyal friends a person could find. Course, mine likes my wife better than me, but who wouldn't?

They are pretty durable. Get him the best care you can find, and I'll bet he'll be up and running for your next adventure.

We'll all sure be pulling for him, in any case.

Hang in there your own self, by the way.

MTV

[Tim]

TJ, I had a Black Lab for 15 years, best and smartest friend I ever had, hang in there.

Tim

[murph]

Hey TJ,

Hope ole Duke is OK. That dog can dig a bigger, deeper hole faster than anything I've ever seen. I don't think Karen could deal with you if you didn't have him to keep you out of the house (or motorhome). Get him well and come on down and spend a few weeks. Your spot is ready.

murph

[Lawn Dart]

Best of luck to old dawg.

I hope he’s fetchn’ more barley pops real soon.

[Bob Breeden]

T.J.

As Bill Rusk and Steve Pierce say:

Get ahold of RICK PAPP.

He's in the directory; I'll PM you with his cell #.

If you haven't met him, you should know Rick knows his business, and is a super guy.

Along with his wife owns/operates multiple veterinary offices in NE Ohio. I am sure he would impart you with some accurate knowledge.

Bob Breeden

[T.J.]

Thanks to all! Appreciate it.
I just got Ol Dawg home. He's upstairs sobering up. Every time I take him to the vet, the girls get him drunk!
They got the hip back where its suppose to be. He's trussed up like hog tied calf. Got to keep the dressing on for 2 weeks. After that, we'll see. The percentage for success of a permanent fix, depends on how much soft tissue and socket damage was done. Usually around 50%. If it doesn't take, I'll haul him to Anchorage for surgery.
Thanks for remembering Rick Papp. I forgot he was a vet.
I'll give him a call tomorrow.
I guess I'll have to follow him around so I can hike his leg for him when he has to go. The other method of squatting is not an option. If any of them bears saw him do that, they would laugh him outta the woods!

[Steve Pierce]

We're pullin' for him TJ. I bet them bears put that car up to it.

[T.J.]

Here is the latest pic of Ol Dawg. Typical drunk, fell out of his bed!



The splint makes it look like they amputated his leg. They did not. It's just pulled up to prevent movement.

[m wittler]

When about the same thing happened to my lab on the 4th of july 2004 they wanted to amputate, because they said she would never have much use of her leg, "Her name is Piper imagine that" and I asked to go ahead and leave it. I'll take my chances I said. She doesn't have any cartilage left in that rear joint but she gets along great, glad we kept the leg!

They also gave me the old lamp shade for her to wear, after the first day she looked at me so humilliated, that I just made sure she was always with me either in the pick up, combine, tractor, or the cub, we both said the hell with the lamp shade, and I think she really appreciated that!!!! I wish you both a speedy recovery, Matt

[mvivion]

Hmmmm,

I think I know that feeling.....

MTV

[JoeW]

Sure hope he gets well soon. We're praying for ya. Pets are like family.

Joe

[tptailwheel]

TJ,
best of luck, as i always say "keep your tail up".
TOM

[wilbur]

Hey TJ, How's the bear dog doing? Has he got an appetite? Can you give him pain killers between meals to keep him still?
Wilbur

[cubchick]

T.J.~ I wish BearDawg a speedy recovery! Here's a letter to remind us of the joy of owning a dog!

TO: GOD:
FROM: THE DOG

Dear God:
Why do humans smell the flowers, but seldom, if ever, smell one another?

Dear God:
When we get to heaven, can we sit on your couch? Or is it still the same old story?

Dear God:
Why are there cars named after the jaguar, the cougar, the mustang, the colt, the stingray, and the rabbit, but not ONE named for a dog? How often do you see a cougar riding around? We do love a nice ride! Would it be so hard to rename the "Chrysler Eagle" the " Chrysler Beagle"?

Dear God:
If a dog barks his head off in the forest and no human hears him, is he still a bad dog?

Dear God:
We dogs can understand human verbal instructions, hand signals, whistles, horns, clickers, beeper s, scent ID's, electromagnetic energy fields, and Frisbee flight paths. What do humans understand?

Dear God:
More meatballs, less spaghetti, please.

Dear God:
Are there mailmen in Heaven? If there are, will I have to apologize?

Dear God:
Let me give you a list of just some of the things I must remember to be a good dog.

1. I will not eat the cats' food before they eat it or after they throw it up.

2. I will not roll on dead seagulls, fish, crabs, etc., just because I like the way they smell.

3. I will not munch on "leftovers" in the kitty litter box, although they are tasty.

4. The diaper pail is not a cookie jar.

5. The sofa is not a 'face towel'. Neither are Mom and Dad's laps.

6. The garbage collector is not stealing our stuff.

7. My head does not belong in the refrigerator.

8. I will not sit in the middle of the living room and lick my crotch when we have company.

9. I will not play tug-of-war with Dad's underwear when he's on the toilet.

10. Sticking m! y nose i nto someone's crotch is an unacceptable way of saying "hello".

11. I don't need to suddenly stand straight up when I'm under the coffee table.

12. I must shake the rainwater out of my fur before entering the house - not after.

13. I will not throw up in the car.

14. I will not come in from outside and immediately drag my butt.

15. The cat is not a 'squeaky toy' so when I play with him and he makes that noise, it's usually not a good thing.



And, finally, My last two questions . .

Dear God: Why do humans only have 10 Commandments and dogs have 15?

P.S. Dear God: When I get to Heaven may I have my testicles back?

[T.J.]

cubchick:
I liked that!

Wilbur:
No appetite. He ate 2-3 small pieces of moose hamburger this morning. First meal he's had in 3 days. I snuck a small piece of pain killer in one.
He won't eat his normal dog food. I'm not to worried about the lack of eating.
He's drinking good. I carried him outside a while ago to do his daily. He did, so that's good. When I brought him back inside, he started hurting.
I'm not smart enough to figure out how to give him his pills without mixing with food.

[RaisedByWolves]

I'm not smart enough to figure out how to give him his pills without mixing with food.

whats his fav. snack? i know for our dog if we put the pills in cheese she will eat it, try something like that.

best wishes for the old dog
im sure he'll pull through


tom ford

[behindpropellers]

Hey Tj-

I hope your dog gets better soon. My mom makes our dogs chicken and rice when they are sick.... I think the dogs get sick on pupose now though :P


Try some peanut butter on the pills too...

Tim

[Steve Pierce]

I pull their mouth open and drop the pill on the back of their tongue. Goes down most of the time.

[wilbur]

Well I guess when I first get hurt I'm not hungry either, at least he's drinking good. Any way to crunch the medication into a powder? If the taste isn't too bad, maybe he'd take it with his favorite meat or cheese. Thanks for the update.
Wilbur

[Dan2+2]

My wife was a vet tech for 6 yrs. and she medicated our lab my opening the mouth as wide as she could, put the pill as far back as she could, immediately clamp jaws shut with her hand and stroke the throat downward till the lab swallows. Worked every time for her. My favorite dog/buddy of all time was our choc. lab. Best luck to bear dog.

[SJ]

Well I guess when I first get hurt I'm not hungry either, at least he's drinking good. Any way to crunch the medication into a powder? If the taste isn't too bad, maybe he'd take it with his favorite meat or cheese. Thanks for the update.
Wilbur

Wilbur, is that how Rick Papp got you to take those antacids at New Holstein?


sj

[wilbur]

Naw....he new I looked green enough that I'd do anything to be able to hit the cooler again
Wilbur

[T.J.]

Thanks folks for the ideas.
This dang dog knows I'm trying to get him to eat something he doesn't want to eat.
He loves pizza crust. I stuffed a pill in one, nope, refused it.
I put a small piece of moose hamburger laced with a pill in his mouth, he tried to spit it out, I stuffed it back in. He finally swallowed it.
I like the crushed pill idea. When he starts eating again, I'll try it.
Thanks again for your concern.
T.J.

[murph]

Here's a couple of pics of TJ and me with our two best buddies. I'm telling you that ole bear dog can dig a hole.



http://sparky.supercub.org/photopost...500&ppuser=166

murph