wiccaweys

Bless her. Give her a gentle squish from me Mel. And a squish for yourself too.

I am a very happy bunny as I won the LUSH goodies.

The jacket has arrived safely Celeste. Thank you very much.

Ohh, ohh! That reminds me that I picked up a parcel earlier and left it in the van as the phone rang just as I arrived home! DOH! I will check in the morning and let you know if its the parcel.

Okey, dokey, here goes. Tara is 15.1 h and 21yrs old, fantastic temperament, not a total plod but safe. She'd not been ridden for 6 mths until yesterday, and it was her first time out of the field. Lindsey went first, then me. She was on her toes for a bit, but then just wonderful. Her previous Mum is going into hospital on Thursday for a major operation on her back, so was worried sick about finding a home for this girl. Tara's been living alone for a while, and is a people horse, not a horse horse. Only known vice, LOVES her grub! Tara was bought as a novice ride & companion for her 37 yr old horse, but the lady's husband was too scared to try her after a scare at a riding school (not on Tara) and the lady has lost her old horse now. Before this lady she was with a lady in her 50's for many years. Tara came with a brand new saddle & bridle, numah, 4 rugs, halters, lead reigns, hay net, grooming equipment, and electric fence posts! *note to no-one in particular - stock electric fence posts have NOTHING to do with electric shock collars* Vaccinated, wormed, passported and freeze marked. She loaded straight into Lindsey's trailer with no problems, travelled like a superstar, and unloaded perfectly. She came straight of the trailer and stopped immediately for me to take her boots off. Her mum also sent a painting of her she'd had done of her, as a birthday present for me. She has been very much loved. Her Mum sent me a lovely email tonight after I sent her photos and an email to say how well she had settled in. She has been showing off for Paul and rolling around on her back kicking her legs in the air! Now we've got a horse that thinks its a collie! The farrier is coming out on Tuesday as her feet desperately need a trim. Do I sound a little besotted? I am soooo lucky! Awww, thank you. :biggrin:

Jasper Update: Our brave soldier battles onwards. His physio is going well, and he is being so good throughout. Typically, Jasper has been dealt another cruel blow. Just as we were going up to bed on Sat we noticed blood in Jasper's bed. We checked to make sure it wasn't from his op, and it wasn't. However just below that there was a little 'tear' in the skin. It was leaking. We suspected Jasper may have nibbled there, as it was above his knee and that is quite painful and swollen still. We bandaged him up, gave him some pain relief and settled him for the night. The next morning, Jasper had the bandage off and the wound was still weepy. I cleaned it up and covered it again. Jasper moved the bandage so he could check it. Unfortunately, Jasper can't wear a buster collar because we can't risk him catching it on the fixator. I kept cleaning the wound yesterday and kept and eye on it. It didn't seem to bother Jasper, and on close inspection it didn't look as if he had been nibbling at it. Sunday night before bed, I double checked him, and it looked like the wound was bigger. Jasper wasn't due to go to the vets until Wednesday, but I decided I would have him down first thing in the morning. Monday morning when we came down to him, the wound was definately bigger, and another wound had opened up next too it. None are near his operation though, they are below it. It was quickly off to our usual vets in Thrapston for a check up. 2 fissures (?) had opened up in Jasper's leg and he had pus/infection just under where the operation has been done - his body could be trying to reject the fixator. If people can remember Robbie when he came to us with his split neck, its the same kind of thing. He also had a temperature. He was given strong antibiotics and an injection of stronger pain killer. We helped expell the build up of pus by moving it down his thigh and out of the fissures. We had to do that several times a day, and keep a close eye on him. We booked to go back to the vets in Peterborough to see Rafa first thing Tuesday morning as he wasn't there on Monday. I felt so bad for the poor boy. He is being such a little trooper through all this, and not complaining at all. Tuesday came, and it was off to see Rafa. Jasper took the opportunity to chew up another quilt on the way over, and again we arrived in a fluffy of feathers - *note to self - do not give Jasper a feather filled duvet!* Rafa was really pleased with how the operation has gone, the fixator is sturdy and the scar is healing brilliantly. It is up to Jasper now, mentally and physically (physio) to start using his leg again. We are staying on top of the fissures and keeping them clean. Rafa took swabs to test the discharge to make sure Jasper's present antibiotics where enough for fighting the infection. Please keep fingers crossed for him. Jasper is such a special dog. He has not complained at all throughout all of this. He is amazing.

Yep, that's me, with Tara, my first ever horse. And a photo of Paul's backside! He doesn't do cameras if he can help it. Tara came home today - thanks to Lindsey (Reds) and her Dad with there trailer for fetching her and bringing her down. I am more excited than a excited thing! A couple more gratious photos. Please excuse the cheesy, I've got a horsey, photo.

Creeps in, posts piccies and sneaks out again..

Nah! Clip 'em off! I'm a dab hand with the clippers - just ask anyone, apart from the half shaved peke in the lounge who legged it before I could finish. Give me a short coated collie anyday - whether as nature intended.... or by human hand! It won't hurt. I'm just revving up to give big fat Stanley his spring summer clip off.

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Find me a pony and the TV's yours! And I'll throw in a bag of kitten food.... but until then......... £32

Excellent post. Can I have permission to crosspost/print out etc?

Thanks Ian, one of the volunteers has already contacted Molton and explained Jasper's history/situtation. Unfortunately they are hideiously expensive and not prepared to budge on price/help out.

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Ohhh, wheat and gluten free recipes! Yay! £2.50

Thank you everyone for your good thoughts, and to all that have sent donations and suggestions. That is really kind of you. Jasper and we think you are all wonderful.

Please meet Jasper. Jasper came over to Wiccs from Ireland. He was a farm dog, and he had been hit by a car and one of his rear legs was broken. The driver didn't bother to stop, and just drove on. Jasper managed to drag himself into one of the fields - and there he lay alone - for 2 weeks in mid January, with no shelter. When one of the girls we work with in Ireland went up the farm to trap the feral cats for neutering, she asked the farmer where the collie was as she hadn't seen him about for a few days. The farmer pointed to the field and said "he's in there, got hit by a car the other week." Tess went into the field expecting to find a body, and to her shock and horror she found Jasper laying there, his bone exposed from his leg and in total agony. Tess asked the farmer why on earth he hadn't taken him to the vets, and he replied, "it would cost money. I've put food there for him. It will heal or he'll die." Tess asked if she could have him and bought her home with him. Tess took him to her vet and asked him to amputate the leg as it was in such a state, and with the bone being exposed to the elements etc all that time, goodness know what infections could have got in. The vet wanted to try and save it (he thinks he is a bit of a leader and into pioneering procedures!) Tess didn't think that was a good idea, but he insisted it was the right thing to do. Jasper had his op, but he didn't use it or put weight on it. It just hung like a lump of wood. The Irish vet said swimming might help, but really it is useless and the muscle is wasting away, but the leg doesn't bother or hurt him though. *idiot* The decision was made that the leg was probably better off being amputated, but none of us had any faith in the Irish vet to do anything further, so we decided to get Jasper over to us as planned and make the decision whether to amputate once he was here, and we had seen him in person. Jasper arrived at Wiccs, and was the nicest dog ever. A lovely old chap, great with other dogs, large and small and good with cats too. How Tess managed to stay calm with the farmer I will never know. I would have swung for him by now. And the vet! It was blatently obvious that Jasper had no intention of using that leg - it was also EXTREMELY obvious to us that he was in pain with it. We got him on pain relief immediately, and booked him in for re x-raying as the x-rays taken in Ireland looked like it had been taken by a 5 year old! Walkabout A few days after Jasper arrived, we got up and were doing the normal morning routine. Jasper was out the front of the house doing his business, and he got spooked. He managed to get out of the garden and into the field. Paul called me and we went to call him back. Once Jasper got into the field, you could see the fear just come down over his face and body. He panicked and he took off! Why should he have trusted us? Anything that had happened to him in a countryside environment has meant cruelty and pain? Why should he have expected us to be any different? For dog moving only on 3 legs, he was fast. He was going across country, with us in hot pursuit and unable to get near him. We lost sight of him about 2 miles away. It was back home to rally the troops and put out the word on DogLost, The Refuge and the Wiccs forum. We were overwhelmed with the support and help that flooded in. This was a Monday morning, and people were busy. But they stopped, they got in cars and came over to join the search on the ground, others picked up phones and got the word out to everyone, Abbiebeck got on the local radio putting word out. Some folks travelled a good few hours to come and help us search for Jasper. I was sick with worry, but in my heart I knew he was OK. I don't know how, I just did. In the afternoon we had reports of 2 sightings a few miles away and near a very busy road. The word was put out and the search parties were relocated to those area. Some volunteers had to leave, and others came and joined us after they finished work. The teamwork was just amazing. Just as we were thinking we would have to call off the search for the evening as it was getting dark. I received a phone call. It was Jerry Greens rescue in Brixworth. "Is that Sarah at Wiccaweys? I think we have Jasper!" It wasn't going to be hard to identify Jasper - it was definately him. At that point I disolved on the floor into a quivering, relieved wreck and the chap at the end of the phone started crying too. He knew exactly how I felt as they had been in the same position with a rescue dog very recently. We got the word out to the search parties and everyone headed back to HQ, the big barn and the kettle and sandwiches. Paul & I jumped in the van and head to Brixworth to pick up Jasper. We arrived and found him snuggled up in a furry bed being fed best mince, rice and peas! Ungrateful devil was spitting the peas out all over the floor! He was so pleased to see us this time and came over to greet me, put his head on my knee and just sighed! Why didn't you do that 12 hours ago you twit! We thanked the guys at the rescue profusely. Apparently Jasper had been captured in Brixworth Country Park was a group of dog walkers. They had spotted him with his bad leg and thought he'd been hit by a car. It took them a devil of a time to get him, but they did. Because he was wearing an I NEED A HOME collar, they took him to Jerry Greens which was close by. In all, that day, Jasper and his 3 working legs covered about 10 miles. We arrived home about 10pm to cheers and claps. People had stayed on to see the wanderer return. There was much hugging and smiling, teary faces. Jasper? He just wanted to get inside to see his friends and snooze in his armchair! What next? So, after all the excitement was over and life was back to normal, it was off to our vets for Jasper. New x-rays were taken. Sadly it wasn't good news for Jasper and his poorly leg. The new x-rays showed that it looks like the vet in Ireland tried to put him together with meccano! It had all fallen apart inside, and it was actually showing that on the last dodgy x-ray taken in Ireland - so the vet knew it hadn't worked! He should have either taken Jasper's leg off at that time, or gone in and fixed it. Instead he left him with a useless leg that was never going to do anything other than hang there like a lump of dead wood! Poor little soul. Our vet Marlis was going over to the main vet hospital, so she took all the history and x-rays to see the orthopedic specialist vet there to see what could be done. They were both extremely shocked with how Jasper had been left. Jasper was booked in at the main vet hopsital on Thursday to have the leg amputated. We were booked in to see Rafa the Orthopedic vet first thing, just to make sure we had exhausted every possibility for him to keep his leg, but I couldn't see that happening at all. I was sooooo angry with the Irish vet for leaving him like this. There was absolutely no need for it. Thursday came, and we headed off to meet with Rafa. Brodiesmum came with me for moral support. This little dog has got to me so much, sometimes I get too emotional thinking about it. Hope We arrived at the vets in a flurry of feathers! Cheeky Jasper.... I put a lovely feather duvet in the middle of the van so Jasper could travel in complete comfort. We heard some noises on the way home. When we got to the vets and opened the side door - we were greeted by a fluffy of feathers and a very pleased looking Jasper! He'd been having great fun in there! The vets car park, reception area and examination room ended up looking like there had been a chicken and fox incident! Thankfully everyone found it funny and it just endeared Jasper to everyone even more! Little Scamp! We met with Rafa. I think this was the first time I've ever been a nervous wreck at a vets, getting teary-eyed at the slightest thing, telling Jasper we loved him and what a brave boy he was. I was hardly able to breath while we waited with Jasper while he was sedated, examined throughly, had more x-rays, examined again and finally bursting into tears and throwing my arms round Rafa when he said he thought he could save Jasper's leg. He was disgusted with the way Jasper has been left to suffer by the Irish vet. Rafa was going to try. If the leg was too badly damage once he got inside, then he would amputate. Both Alison and I were crying. We headed home to wait for news. The phone call came - Jasper still had 4 legs and was very dozy, but recovering well from the op. It was a good 3hr procedure! He's home! Jasper is home, and as you can see from his pictures, he's not only carrying his own hardware, but he wouldn't get through the metal detector at an airport..! He had to have a bone graft, which is why there is a wound on his front bless him. He may look happy in some of these pictures - the wonder of Morphine is still kicking around in his system... Here's the report from Rafa, the vet who operated on Jasper. The Vets Report: On Thursday, 08/05/08 Jasper was brought to Broadway Veterinary Hospital because he had a lameness 10/10 on his hind limb. The range of motion was very limited and the patient did not bear any weight on this limb. Jasper underwent orthopaedic surgery months ago to fix a comminute fracture on the left femur. After taking X Rays under sedation, the femur presented a non union, with a bone loose, probably because of the instability of the implant. The range of motion in the knee was very small and presented a contracture of caudal musculature of the thigh. We released the muscles to try and elongate it and recover some movement, removal of the plate, realign the bone and placed an intrameddular nail with a tie-in external fixator. A bone graft from greater tubercle of the right humerous was taken. The suture is absorbable and subcuteaneous, so doesn't need to be removed. Jasper is on Cephalosporine and NSAIDs. Important. It is very important to encourage Jasper to use the leg, starting with massage on all the joints as soon as possible, and movements of flexion extension in toes, hock, stifle, and hip - before startinng these excercises it is advisable to warm the muscles first with, for example, a hot towel. When the wound is healed, swimming would be a very good exercise. X rays should be retaken 3 weeks post-op. Although the prognosis is guarded, rehabilitation and physiotherapy could provide acceptable use of the limb. In the 'Going Home' pack... We've tried to take good pictures of the X-rays, seen here. The first is a new x-ray of the original 'fix': Here's the repair Rafa has made: Shocking! They also provided in a small bag, the 'repair' materials from Jaspers original operation. Having seen the pictures of Rafa's work, you can see that the Irish vet was playing around with Meccano by comparison. There's the metal strip with holes, five screws, and the end of a drill bit. That's right. THE END OF A DRILL BIT! Now we know what it was, it's glaringly obvious that you can see the drill bit on the original Irish post-op X-rays. You can see it 'floating' next to the top of the metal strip after the original operation: Jasper Himself. Jasper was very pleased to see us, and especially me. He didn't want to let me out of his sight, bless him. He's settled back in, and we've prepared a huge crate for him to sleep in because he requires a lot of restricted rest. We also have to make sure he doesn't catch his external brace on anything. It's obvious that he's still in pain, and his leg is very very swollen. Hopefully as the swelling goes down, he's much more likely to use it. Future care. It's going to be a long hard road for Jasper, but we'll be here for him every step of the way. We have a hydrotherapy type pool ready (ex birthing pool - don't think about it too hard), now we need a heavy duty pool heater/filter - it's important the water is warmed to keep those muscles relaxed. We have a shopping list for: * A float jacket * Chemicals that will be kind to doggies to keep the pool clean and free of bacteria * Heavy Duty Pool heater * Heavy Duty Pool filter / Pump. Does anyone have any suggestions for these items? Where to look etc? Personal recommendations very welcome. We've never used this sort of stuff before, so do not have a clue. Physiotheraphy is also going to be very important, so I'm hoping to get some of the volunteers on board with helping with that. I've already started with some gentle T-Touch. Reiki, healing would all be gratefully received. Please keep Jasper in your thoughts. He is a very special and brave dog. He asks for nothing, he expects nothing. His life before has been nothing. He has been failed on so many levels, by so many people. I hope that we can restore his faith in human nature.

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