Junior's story.

Junior came to CCDR at age 12, an owner turn in from an elderly woman because he needed dental work and she couldn't afford the procedure. 

When he was taken to the vet it was found his teeth were badly infected and he also had a grade 4 heart murmur putting him at serious surgical risk.  He was started on antibiotics and we waited for a re evaluation.   In the meantime he was quiet, sleeping most of the time and was a really friendly guy for a senior of 12. 

One night upon returning from an evening out we found him lying on the floor in agony, his belly bloated to basketball size!!!!  Off we went to the emergency vets, my daughter Valerie driving and me holding Junior. He was examined at Tufts and and they found he had a blocked bile duct which would require surgery, but there was the question of his heart and he would need that tested first.  The cost for the emergency visit was now 200.00 with more expenses coming if he were to survive.

Valerie generously allowed us to use her credit with Boston Post Veterinary Hospital to get the surgery done... when it was all over, the total was over $2300.00. 

Junior came home with 100 staples in his underside, but he was happy to be home none-the-less.   The only remaining thing he is on is enocard for his heart when he needs it and that runs $30.00 a month for the medication.  He is on a special diet which also costs roughly 30-40.00 a month for the prescription dog food called ID and RD ( fiber)  to keep the colitis at bay.  It works well and junior is happy and will let you know if he misses a meal!!! 

Here was this wonderful, loving, deaf old man who  hadn't done a thing to anyone and just wanted love. He is quiet, well mannered and good with everyone here. The Board for CCDR decided he would be operated on and as you can see by his picture to the right he looks wonderful and is loving his senior years.

Below is a letter of progress on him since his surgery

His staples are out and he is doing well- will be on special food the rest of his life -- the problem was irritable bowel that was never treated, became infected and developed growths around his liver/ gall bladder which had to be rerouted to work again. He is still on antibiotics and heart medications ( for the valves damaged by the infection he had)  The initial antibiotics the vet put him on helped significantly to start his healing process, otherwise he probably wouldn't have made it through any surgery. 

Junior is happy,  he has more life than he had before and will even play once in a while. He now enjoys his food and even though it doesn't look that palatable because of it being a special dietary formula, he seems to love it and makes sure to remind me if I am late in getting it to him.

Junior had his dental after he was well enough after the initial surgery and now has nice pearly whites.  He didn't lose too many teeth so he can still eat his food with no trouble. He is on a special diet for the rest of his life due the the stomach problems but other than that his troubles seem to be in the past, he is happy and looks forward to eating  more than the others at times!