Grizz Update!!!

[msvette2u]

He didn't go too far...see?

Hi Yvette,

Just wanted to give you another Grizzly update.

He is doing very well here. He really is an angel for having his ear cleaned out. He hasn't protested at all. I'm anxiously awaiting his culture results to find out if he is going to need different antibiotics. I also talked with the vet that I work for today about his ear. There is a new medication that she has available that is a high potencey antibiotic and ketoconazole and steroid in a vasaline type base. It gets packed into the ear and left, and sounds like it will work much like the article that you had sent to me. We are going to try it once we get the culture back that has already been done, to make sure that the type of antibiotic that is in it will work.

We all really love having Grizz here. He has fit into our family so well. Again, I thank you for pulling him from the shelter and taking care of him for us.

Here is a picture of him, enjoying his new bed, and a bedtime snack.

(what a fancy bed!)


I never thought anyone else would love Griz like we do...
I'm so very happy for Griz, yet there's a small piece of my heart torn out too!

**Other than Smitty, Grizz is the closest I let myself become, to a foster dog...

[amazincc]

He looks sooooo content, Yvette... that's gotta make you happy!

And you forgot to type "attached"...

[pitbullmamaliz]

It looks like he is being appropriately spoiled there!

[amazincc]

Does that BUG you, Liz???

[Asta]

Ah, he looks like he is properly pampered now, happy old guy

Ã…sa

[iluvk9]

Awwww! Grizzly is one lucky guy!

[Jenn]

No food in bed!!!

I'm glad he's doing well!

[cheekymunkee]

Awww, he does look happy.

[msvette2u]

More!

Hey Yvette,

Just wanted to update you again on Grizzly. He seems to be settling in here very well. The dogs and I all went for a bit of a hike today, and Grizz did good with his new backpack. He seemed to enjoy it, but we took it easy and only did a short hike until he gets into a little better shape. Once he saw the water it was impossible to keep him from going in, but I was prepared, and we just cleaned his ear out right afterwards.

It looks like Grizz will have an ear ablation surgery done. My doctor in tacoma can't do the surgery, but I have a specialist that is going to be at the clinic I work at next monday doing the surgery on another dog, and he is going to evaluate Grizz. It will be great when we can take him swimming and not have to constantly worry about that ear getting wet. He does love the water so much.

Anyway.. here are a couple of pictures of Grizz enjoying himself in the water!

I'll let you know when we have surgery scheduled, and how things go.

[amazincc]

[pitbullmamaliz]

He looks so happy and YOUNG!!!

[Beth]

awww...what a happy looking guy!

[Scout]

You did good!! And he looks wonderful and happy!!

[TheRedQueen]

Awwww...what a nice bed! He looks happy.

[msvette2u]

New update!

Sorry I haven't gotten back to you sooner. After having Dr. B look at Grizz's ear, she thinks that he probably will not need surgery. She has a new medication that is two different types of antibiotic as well as ketoconazonle in a very thick, vasaline like base. You squirt it into the ear and then just leave it there, and it coats everything. One bonus is it keeps the area dry, which is huge in getting these under control. We treated it on Thursday, and it's already starting to look so much better. There is about half as much pus, and the redness is not as high up the ear as it was, it's really only going down toward the deeper opening that it is still very raw and red. He's coming back to work with me on Tuesday, and we'll take another look at it, but it's really looking quite promising!

Dr. B estimates him to be at about 6. She said the greying that he has is not uncommon in labs at about 6 years old, and he's just starting to get some lenticular sclerosis, which is also about the right age for that.

I have started him on another joint supplement, and have not seen a great deal of improvement in the stiffness that he shows, but it can take up to a month to see good results.

We are kind of hoping for a small miracle right now with his ear, so I will be sure to keep you posted. Everyone at the clinic loved him, and thought he was just a saint!

We'll be in touch,

[amazincc]

His new owners sound fantastic, Yvette!!! You did a GREAT job matching them w/Grizz...
That big lug just makes me smile every time you post about him...

[msvette2u]

I know, isn't that terrific? I turned down a number of homes, and these folks were like a dream come true...

[pitbullmamaliz]

I don't think a more perfect family could have been found!

[msvette2u]

Hi Yvette,

Thought you might like another Grizzy update.

This time the news is not so good. Yesterday, we knocked him out and x-rayed his head, and flushed his ear really really well. The x-rays were sent off to a radiologist and he gave the final answer. Grizz has to have an ear ablation. It looks like it's going to cost about $1100-ish. The radiologist also said that Grizz either was hit by a car, or a baseball bat at some point in his life. His skull has been severly fractured (that's what the big divot in his forehead is), and several of the vertabrae in his neck had been fractured as well. He also noted that that may have been what made his ear problem so bad. Hard to tell really.

So, the surgeon is book up until November. I'll let you know when we get him scheduled, and of course tell you how things go afterwards.

I still love the big lug to death. He's so much fun to have around. He's still not great off leash, but he's getting better, and we've had no more "attack" incidents.

I've attached a picture of our last hike out.

Poor Griz!!! I had no idea...it's a miracle, I guess, that he is still alive??

[Jenn]

Oh poor Griz!!