Oh, it is never ending my friends! Just when we think we're on one track with Sebastian, we find out we're on a whole different one!! There are SO many things that have changed in the last few days.
Most importantly, Sebastian is UN-cleared for surgery again!! Our veterinarian spoke with a prominent local dermatologist about Sebastian's symptoms. The consensus now is that what we're seeing is the beginning of a new mange flare-up. We are seeing some patchiness in the thinner hair again, odd sub-dermal growths, and of course, the discoloration of the skin that they found when they had him prepped for surgery.
Sebastian's next vet appointment is this Monday, April 7th. They will be taking skin scrapings from several areas to look for mites and they will also do some biopsies of areas of concern. Sebastian is going to go back on his antibiotic treatments as well. Based on the findings Monday, we'll create a whole new plan for Sebastian, but essentially as long as he is immuno-compromised... there can be no surgery.
Other big changes... It appears that for the time being, the dogs and I will not be going to Montana. Without divulging personal business, Dave will be going there to the dorms at the university, and the dogs and I will be heading back to Pennsylvania where my family is. What this means is that the dogs and I are in for one hell of a roadtrip! We'll be leaving in a little over 2 weeks, heading south to California to see my sister, then east stopping to visit family in Las Vegas, and a few sites of attraction in Arizona and New Mexico. From there we'll head due north through Colorado and Wyoming, and head east again, stopping in Deadwood, South Dakota, and then all the way back to Erie, PA. Whew!! haha Quite a trip huh?? I've put the map down below... I know it's an odd way to get home, but it's rare that I have the time to take it so I am going to take it WELL!
So, our adventures with Bella and Sebastian will continue on the other side of the country for awhile. I'm not sure how long we'll stay in PA. We may end up going to Missoula, MT after a few months... We just don't know! Either way, please keep us in your thoughts! Wish Sebastian luck at the vet on Monday, and of course I'll post the outcome right afterwards. Thanks for your support everyone!
P.S. There's a new way that you can help on the You Can Help! page and it won't cost you a penny! All you have to do is vote everyday for Bella's photo on a website photo contest! Details on the You Can Help! page. Thanks!
Good news everyone! I just got a phone call from our veterinarian saying that the blood tests came back just fine. So it's not a clotting problem, which mean that we can reschedule surgery. We are going to have to meet with a dermatologist to see what is causing the discoloration of his skin. Did you see the photos that I posted of the spots? They're so odd... So surgery is being rescheduled. Of course I will let everyone know the new date.
We have added a paypal donate button on the You Can Help! page to start raising funds for the next surgery. We're also getting ready to kick off a new fundraiser selling homemade organic dog treats! We had an experimental baking party last night to try out our first two recipes. I think Bella and Sebastian approve of the biscuits! This morning Sebastian stole one off the stove where they were cooling! Naughty, naughty! Look for those to go on sale soon. Thank you everyone for your support!
First and foremost, Sebastian is back home and well. He's a little groggy and confused from the anesthesia but I think he'll sleep it off just fine. Next most important thing to share... the surgery... DID NOT HAPPEN!
While Bella and I were romping at the dog park, the vet called to tell me that they had put an immediate halt to the surgery. Sebastian had been anesthetized and was being prepped for surgery. While the vet tech was shaving Sebastian's right leg, they noticed some strange discoloration of the skin. Purpleish-yellow bruise-like marks up and down his leg. They were concerned that it was a sign of some sort of blood clotting problem. If so, an invasive surgery like the TPLO would probably kill him.
They took some blood samples and are testing them to see if there is a clotting problem. The results should be back within 2 days. If the blood clots fine, surgery can be rescheduled and the discoloration problem will be looked at by a dermatologist. If there is some sort of clotting problem... well, we'll just go from there.
I just went and picked Sebastian up. Poor guy is still pretty out of it. He seemed happy to be home though. He's laying in his favorite spot right now, grooming his shaved leg! I'll get some pictures of the shaved leg and post them later. It looks pretty odd, especially because there is no incision area!
It's been a taxing day for us between the complications this morning and now this. Sebastian has turned out to be quite a challenging rescue dog. We're feeling a bit overwhelmed and quite frankly, over our heads. Here's to better days...
The big day has finally arrived and boy has it been a roller coaster to get here! It almost didn't happen at all! On Saturday, our vet called to say that they were unable to offer us a payment plan for the surgery. We were forced to cancel the surgery because of lack of complete funds. On Monday a wonderful good Samaritan offered to help cover the remaining fee for the surgery. We scrambled to see if we could salvage the appointment and luckily were able.
At 7:30 this morning I dropped Sebastian off at the veterinary clinic. We left with him his soccer ball and his little doggy blanket for security. But the saga doesn't end there...
I just received a phone call from our veterinarian. She says that upon inspection they can now confirm that the cruciate ligaments on BOTH knees have blown. Sebastian will need the TPLO performed on each leg. They have told me that because of our financial situation, they can do one surgery today and in a month start planning for the second, allowing us more time to accumulate funds.
While Sebastian went in for surgery on his left leg, today they feel that his right leg is the worse of the two. He will have the TPLO performed on his right leg today. I expect a phone call late this afternoon with the surgery prognosis and additional information. Of course I will post here right away!
So now what do we do? It was truely a miracle that we were even able to get Sebastian in for this one $3000 surgery. We would not have been able to do it at all if it weren't for one very very special angel. Now in a month we will need to do it again. I have to say that if the TPLO did not have such a high success rate for large breed dogs, we would certainly be looking at alternatives. All the research that I have been doing confirms that this is the right procedure because of his size...
I think I will spend the rest of this late morning with Bella at the dog park. It's rare that she gets to go often anymore because of Sebastian's limitations. Then I am going to plant a tree (courtesy of the Arbor Day Foundation!). I am going to meditate on this situation and try to think it all out. The wheels are already spinning to think up new fundraiser ideas.
Updates to come later today as everything unfolds! Thanks everyone for your well-wishes!
Hello everyone! I'd just like to take a minute and thank each person that has visited the site, been touched by Sebastian's story, donated money, sent emails, and given encouraging words... It means so much to us to know that other people feel the same way we do!
I received some harsh criticism today for what we have done for Sebastian. I was told that my time and resources could have and should have gone to more worthwhile causes. I was called a hypocrite for claiming to care about my fellow man yet "wasting money on some dog". It hurt to have my morals and priorities called into question.
The love that Sebastian shows us is enough to affirm our actions to me, but it still hurts to think that someone would think negatively about what we've done. We have sacrificed quite a bit in our efforts to help Sebastian. Dave is a full-time college student and only works part-time. I am in the Army and though I work full-time, I am only an E-4! My salary is meager! We pay our rent, car payments, insurance, internet and cell phone bills, groceries, quality food for the dogs, and countless other little things... We have little to spare but we opened our hearts and home to Sebastian because it was the right thing to do.
We don't always get to choose the causes that speak to us. Sebastian's did. It may not be "epic" or "important" compared to everyone, but Sebastian shows us how grateful he is every single day, and that means we did the right thing. The letters I get from all of you confirm it as well! I know that there are many people in the world with big hearts but unfortunately there will always be others who criticize and tear down.
We thank you all for your continued empathy and support, and we will never stop helping those in need - human or otherwise!
Well! It has been way too long since an update and lord how the time flies! There is so much to tell too, because we have had quite a few adventures here. I do apologize for the long delay in news. I hope no one has worried or wondered too much!
Where to begin... Most importantly, Sebastian had his third and final skin scraping for the mange. You may recall that his surgeon requested we hold off on his surgery until he had three consecutive negative scrapes. Well I am so pleased to report that Sebastian's final scraping did indeed come back negative and that made three in a row! We were so happy and relieved. Sebastian looks amazing by the way. His hair is lush and thick and curly again. I suspect that anyone unaware of his past would even think that he had overcome anything!
With the final skin scraping reassuring everyone that Sebastian's immune system is healthy once again, we got the go-ahead to schedule his surgery! Sebastian will be going in on March 25th. Poor boy will have to stay the night for observation after his surgery and we'll pick him up the next morning. He will spend the next couple months recovering and healing at his own pace.
We are so very relieved that the surgery is coming up so quickly. It has been a long road to get here and at times we thought it might never come. In the meantime, Sebastian continues his restricted exercise. We try very hard to limit him, but sometimes it's hard! He gets so excited and forgets his bum leg. His little sister, Bella, is constantly antagonizing him to play and before you know it they're chasing each other through the house!
Sebastian had an adventure last month when he saw his first horse! I had taken Bella (pre-Sebastian days) to the stables where Dave's mom keeps her horses but it had been some time since we'd been out. So I took both the pups. Sebastian got out of the car, saw a horse, froze, and just stared at him. He looked so confused and I swear I could see the wheels turning as he tried to figure out why that dog was so big! haha After a couple minutes though Sebastian was walking around the barn without a care in the world, sniffing nose-to-nose with the horses. It was wonderful to see. Someday, Mommy dreams of having a horse of her own again and she wants the puppers to be okay around them!
We did have a little step backwards in the health department a couple weeks ago. Bella and Sebastian both got worms somehow and so that meant yet another trip to the vet and more medicine. It took them quite some time to fully get over that one. Lots and lots of diarrhea... in the house :( They are both doing okay now though thank goodness! Poor kids lost their appetites and were not feeling too good for awhile there.
Surgery and worms isn't the only big news around here! This past weekend we took a family trip to Missoula, Montana. We're planning on relocating there in a month or two and this was our trip to confirm the decision. We took Bella and Sebastian of course! Their first long distance trip!! Sebastian did wonderful on the 10 hour drive out. He basically just slept the whole way. Poor Bella though was wrecked with anxiety.
We spent four days in Missoula exploring the sights and fell in love with it! It is an extremely dog-friendly town and of course we appreciate that! There's tons of wilderness for them to explore and a great dog park island in the middle of the river downtown! So cool! We took many slow walks with Sebastian while Bella romped off-leash, or kept Bella on the leash and let Sebastian walk off it. They did great. The dogs got so much more outdoors time than they do back here in the city.
We're very excited about the upcoming move and hopefully by the time it comes Sebastian will be coming along in his healing so he can really enjoy it. I can't wait till he can run pain-free again. We're also really excited to move into a bigger house with a yard for the dogs. They deserve it!
So, as it is getting late I promise I will post pictures of the trip in the photos section tomorrow. We got some VERY cute ones so definitely check those out. Also, Sebastian is still going to be on the Mud Bay website soon. We're waiting to hear when that will launch. And, I received an email today from the vet that owns Soft Paws and she asked if they could post a testimonial about Sebastian with some photos on their website! Of course we said yes, and we'll let everyone know when that is posted too.
One last note, Sebastian is up to a whopping 105 pounds! Isn't that wonderful! A long cry from the stick-thin dog he was just 6 months ago! We're so proud of him! (Bella, by the way, went from 35 pounds to 60! haha! What a fatty!)
~Samantha
Hello everyone! Big news for Sebastian! We were emailed by our pet food store, Mud Bay, and asked if Sebastian can be featured on their new website! Apparently they are redesigning the look of the site and adding a special customer pet feature section. They are impressed with Sebastians story and would like to feature him! We are so honored! So I am working on the interview sheet they emailed me and will be sending that back with some pictures soon. I'll definitely post a note here when that is up so everyone can see it! They are also going to include a link to this website which is very nice! I'm glad Sebastian's story will have the chance to inspire even more people!
Not much health-wise to report as things are sort of in a holding pattern for now. Sebastian will have skin scraping #3 sometime next week so until then... we wait! He does have a new shampoo that just came on the market. It is specific to dermatitis but it has seemed to stop a lot of itching. It's called Duoxo Calm. It requires a lot of bathing but so far we're happy with it. Sebastian's doing okay. Actually walking pretty well for having a torn cruciate ligament! Sometimes it seems to bother him more than at other times... Bella doesn't seem to know that anything is wrong and she's always trying to goad him into playing!
We have definitely decided to take our trip to the coast over Valentine's Day weekend. Ocean Shores has a surprising number of pet friendly hotels! We have made reservations and will be out there Saturday and Sunday. I'm looking forward to it. I haven't taken a trip in awhile but mostly I think this will be nice for the dogs. Bella has never been to the ocean and who knows if Sebastian has. He does seem scared of waves though judging by his reaction on the Puget Sound! But it will be nice for them to be able to play on the beach and get away for a weekend.
So we'll keep everyone posted as things happen. Sorry there's not a lot of exciting stuff happening right now but it's coming! Thanks everyone!
~Samantha
Hello everyone! Well I cannot start this new update without sending out more thank you's! Sebastian has many, many fans and supporters and I think he knows it too! I have received many heartfelt emails from people describing their own experiences with the TPLO. If anything, after hearing from everyone, I am even more confident about our choice of veterinary clinics. Chambers Creek is very well liked and our surgeon is quite popular! We picked well! haha
Okay, so we had an appointment on Monday for Sebastian's second skin scraping. You may recall that the surgeon felt it was wise to wait until we had three consecutive negative skin scrapings for the mange before we do the surgery. So we had one negative two weeks ago and this is number two! Yay! Well, it's actually a controversial negative. Out of three sites tested, one dead mite was found on the slide :( So yes there was a mite which is not good, but it was dead so... After the vet consulted with the surgeon on the outcome, he agreed to take it as a negative IF scraping number three is negative!
So, in two weeks Sebastian will be going back for hopefully his last scraping. By the way, he was wonderful at the vet. Didn't even flinch during the scrapings. He's getting to be an old pro at it! Everyone in the waiting room just fell in love with him too. I find that whenever we're out in public I always end up telling his story because people always ask about him! Maybe because he is so interesting looking! I've been asked more than a couple times he he's been shaved! haha
In other news, Sebastian has gotten wise to the soft paws and he insists on trying to eat them off. So I'm constantly telling him not to bite his nails! Maybe we'll try a misting of bitter yuck on his feet. They have helped remarkably well though. His neck is healing fast now that he can't scratch it open anymore. No more metal collars for Sebastian!
The vet that we saw on Monday suggested we do some allergy/dermatological testing eventually for Sebastian since e seems so sensitive skin wise. He just breaks out at everything! I'm considering taking him off the Canidae and switching him to the grain-free Nature's Variety that Bella eats. Anyone care to comment on that? I know Canidae is a beloved food by many...
I'm tossing around the idea of taking Bella and Sebastian on a road trip to the coast in early February. For Sebastian, it would be his last big adventure for quite some time. It's only a couple hours drive and I think the dogs would enjoy a romp on the beach. If we do that we're going to make it a point to stop and visit the woman that found Sebastian. She hasn't seen him since we took him in so that would be really nice!
Well, I'll be sure to post some more pictures and updates soon! Thank you again for all your support! Sebastian's pawing at me for attention so I'd better go!
Samantha
I am so excited to start this website off with wonderful news! Today we met our goal of $1000 on Sebastian's website! Thank you to every single person, known and anonymous, who donated through both the website and directly to the veterinarian's office. We could not have done this without all of you.
I know all of you are wondering just how Sebastian is doing and what the status of the surgery is. Well there is much to report so I'll do my best to get it all out...
Sebastian's surgeon decided that he wanted to wait to do the TPLO until he has three negative skin scrapings for the mange. Because of the severity of the mange only a few months ago, the vets are concerned that Sebastian's immune system may still be sensitive and a major surgery with anesthesia could crash it completely. Three negative skin scrapings would mean that he has the mange under control.
This upcoming Monday Sebastian will go in for skin scraping #2. Please keep your fingers crossed for another negative! His skin is very sensitive so it's impossible to predict how this one will go. Right now he has some hot spots that he has made worse by scratching. Plus his chain collar seems to have irritated his neck... It's always something with him!!
To help with the scratching we bought the Soft Paws nail caps. They are awesome! www.softpaws.net Basically they are a soft plastic rounded nail cover. We put them on all his nails and they have really made a difference already. He can still scratch but he's not scratching so hard that he rips open his skin. It also helps with his naughty habit of jumping up on us and scratching us in the process.
We had been sleeping on the floor with the dogs since Sebastian is not supposed to climb or jump on stuff. We put a mattress on the floor in the living room. Dave, Sebastian, and I would sleep on the mattress and Bella on the couch above us. We were kinda getting used to it, but it was taking up a lot of space and we were beginning to miss our bed so Dave and his dad embarked on a construction project.
They spent a recent Saturday in Dave's dad's shop making a ramp for Sebastian! The ramp is easily taken apart and made out of solid wood with a rubber gripping walkway. It's the exact height of the bed so now comes the challenge of teaching Sebastian to use it! Bella seems to have gotten the hang of it, but Sebastian will still try to pull himself up onto the bed. We're hoping to have him strictly using the ramp by the time he has his surgery.
Other than all that, Sebastian's hanging in there. He's not liking the exercise restriction very much at all. He has a lot of pent up energy and I feel bad that he is pretty much just stuck in the house all day. Bella's also feeling the brunt of the restriction. She gained a few pounds because we're not going to the dog park everyday anymore. I'm trying to get her back there a bit more often again but I feel leaving Sebastian all alone at home...
So wish us luck at the vet on Monday and I'll let everyone know how it goes as soon as we get back! Make sure to check out the pictures page for all the latest images of Sebastian! Thanks for reading!
~Samantha
