Boris - (Arrived @ Tailends 12.08.08)

Boris arrived Tailends on Tuesday August 12th at around 5pm. I am so grateful to all the marvellous people who transported him all the way from Lancashire to Devon. Boris would like to thank Alison, Roz, Sue, Lynne and Ronnie for giving up their precious time and helping him - all at their own expense - not a small thing in these days of such high petrol prices. You are all very special people without whom dogs like Boris would die a sad lonely death in a bleak dog pound. He owes his life to the compassion of so many lovely people including of course those involved with Rochdale Dog Rescue who work tirelessly every week to prevent so many dogs being put to sleep when their week in the pound is up.

Boris was a real character and nothing like the quiet sad fellow who was observed in the pound to be sleeping all day. He loved his food and devoured a whole Nature Diet on his first morning with some scrambled eggs. Then he went off to the vet for a check. His urine was very white and showed that he had a bad urinary infection which was easily treated with antibiotics. He was leaking urine quite badly and this was probably due to his much enlarged prostate gland. He was castrated and the prostate should then shrink back to normal and hopefully this would improve things for him. The blood profile was fairly clear except for anaemia - which was probably due to poor diet. He had probably spent a lot of his time with an empty tummy and really appreciated having a nice bowl of tasty food twice a day (or maybe three times). He loved going to the beach and trotting along on the sand. He managed the walks fine and his legs were quite strong and not showing signs of arthritis though one back leg did seem a bit bandy. He was quite deaf though his sight was ok. He was just so pleased to be here and was a real character. Boris has been wormed and defleaed. He has had a bad case of worms but he soon felt much better. He loved the comfort of the memory beds. I doubt he had had anything so comfy before in his life.

Boris continued to do very well and and was learning the routines of Tailends so that he now knew food was going to appear at regular intervals and he did not have to eat as if every meal was his last. He actually left a little in his bowl one morning! He had been very active since arriving but was soon reverting to the sleepy old man which he really was and taking life in a much more relaxed manner. He still liked his walks but had opted out of the longer beach walk in favour of a more leisurely stroll around the fields with Jack. He liked to sleep in the magnotherapy crate as it provided him with his own private space as he gradually got used to living in a multi-dog household. His ears were almost perfectly clean and he did not leak urine much at all as his prostate gradually shrank and his bladder returned to normal.

Boris gradually began leaking badly so I decided to have him scanned to check out what exactly was going on. He had a long-standing prostate problem and urinary infection. The ultrasonography showed lots of debris in the bladder including red and white blood cells but thankfully no stones or tumours. His prostate had reduced to a third of its original size following castration but it did have some cystic changes within its structure which possibly indicated an infection deep within it. He was treated with Baytril antibiotics for two weeks and he would then have another urine test. I also used cystaid capsules which seemed to help Alison when she had bladder problems. Boris was such a character and behaved impeccably while in the vet hospital. The vet nurses thought he was a lovely boy to look after. The leaking was difficult to manage but with lots of spare covers for the beds and by using towels, disinfectant spray and vigilance we coped alright. The washing machine was even busier than normal!

Boris was so happy to be here he was continually in a state of amazement and looked as if he was constantly laughing at everything around him. I fear his life has been very grim. He was so different to how he was when he came. You could hardly recognise him. His leaking problem was still unresolved and maybe never would be. However I continued to manage it with nappies and waterproof sheets etc.

It did not stop him smiling all the time. It did not seem likely that Boris' incontinence would ever improve. His bladder and prostate were too badly damaged through lack of treatment earlier in his life. It was hard work keeping him clean, even with the nappies, as they had to be changed frequently as he was still a very active lad and pottered in and out even after going to the beach. Another urine specimen still showed the presence of blood and bacteria though it was much improved on the last one. We were grateful to everyone who had sent garlic, cranberry and other items to help him especially Pat Powell and Annie Aitken. He was a happy lad and always had a huge grin on his face. I do not think he had ever had so much fun and attention in his life.

The vet had warned me that because the original infection was left untreated for a very long time, it was unlikely to ever be totally cleared up. There would always remain pockets of infection within the prostate which could flare up regularly. Boris was now on a course of Baytril again for two weeks. The blood profile revealed high levels of creatine and urea, indicating kidney failure. Boris was then put on special Renal support diet food. There is little in the way of medication to treat kidney failure, only diet. He was now a little overweight so I hoped the special diet would also help to control this. He is a happy lad who had settled very well. He found it difficult at first as he was obviously not used to so many other dogs around him, but he was soon fine and became friends with all the hounds. He was not too keen on Ben or Tweenie but this was not a problem as they were both so elderly that they slept most of the day, apart from walks and feeding times. Boris would not fight, but shouted at them when he saw them, which could be a bit hard on the ears. He is blissfully unaware - as Boris was totally deaf!

Boris was very much like a naughty little boy who resembled Just William. He was always up to something and always wanted to go somewhere he shouldn't go. If all else failed and he did not get his own way he would pull his nappy of and rip the inner pad to small pieces which he threw around the room. Lovely! I have never known an old dog with such a capacity for mischief. However he was enjoying himself in spite of his health issues. I did have to put my foot down quite often though or he would take over! Happily he was not in the least aggressive and had completely adapted to living in a multi-dog household.

Boris - had another urine test recently and at long last the results were clear. It had been a long battle with this seemingly chronic condition of repeated urine infections and I was resigned to giving him treatment on a regular basis. However he was now making real progress. The "leaking" would never be cured but we were used to coping with the help of nappies which really made life so much easier for him and us.

Boris - went up to the veterinary hospital on Friday 4th September for blood tests and a scan of his prostate. He has not been eating and was becoming very lethargic. He was on a course of antibiotics following a severe urinary infection last week but I suspected something else was going on. I was shocked to hear that his kidneys had deteriorated drastically and were now failing to keep his blood clean. There were few options. The only thing we could do was to put him on a drip to try to clear the poisons from his blood and buy him some time. This acts like a form of dialysis. He became brighter after treatment and ate his KD diet food which was brilliant news. However we knew that this could only be temporary but if necessary he could have this treatment again in a few weeks if it worked for him. He would need regular blood tests.

Boris - went to the vet for a further blood test on 2nd October, four weeks after having his blood cleaned through three days on an intravenous drip. Urea and creatine levels were raised again but not as high as before. However the vet felt that he should have this treatment again as it was so successful last time. He had been just as naughty and full of beans as before and eating his strict K/D diet food which most dogs find very boring without any variety. So long as Boris was happy and going for his walks etc., we would continue the treatment as necessary on our vet’s advice.

Boris - was put on a drip last week to clean his blood again. Unfortunately he also became infected with a tummy bug, which did not help, but thankfully he was soon completely recovered and enjoying his walks again. He was eating his special K/D diet food and also had an apple each day instead of treats - which could be harmful in his condition. He was always ready to come home after three days at the veterinary hospital - though he gets excellent care while he is there.

After four more weeks he again needed his blood cleaned by spending 3 days at the hospital on a drip but was not showing any sign of the kidney failure which he suffered from. He was eating his special diet food and being just as naughty as ever - demanding to go out in the sun lounge all the time and having his apples (which have to be Coxs as he spits out the cheaper French ones) or pulling his nappies off and ripping the pads to shreds all over the room! He would need further treatment to keep his blood clean, but hopefully not for a few more weeks.

Boris - was taken to the vet on 24th November and blood tests revealed very high levels again of urea (33.8) and creatine (451). He was again put on a saline drip for 3 days and this reduced the levels to normal so back home he came on Friday evening. He did not like staying at the vet hospital although he received lots of loving care there. He even bit through his drip lead twice as he must regard it as a restraining cord. However this treatment does buy him about 6 weeks of normal quality time so we thought it was worth doing - though sadly realised it would not be a long term solution. He was soon bouncing around on his walks and being his usual naughty self once more!

Our cheeky charismatic terrier boy finally lost his battle with kidney disease on Tuesday 8th December 2009. He had finished his last treatment to clean his blood just 10 days earlier but did not seem as well as he had been in the past after the three days on an intra-venous drip. He was eating and going for his walks but his eyes had lost their sparkle and I knew things were not right. He was taken to the vet for a blood test on the 8th and the results were grim. His creatinine level was 520, much higher than it had ever been before. There was nothing to be done and no further treatment available. It seemed cruel to take him back home and call the vet out at a later time so sadly George sat with him as Alison helped him to a peaceful end to his life. He slipped away very quickly and quietly while we are left to grieve for our dear old boy. Life here will never be the same without Boris’ antics. He was a lot of work but he was worth everything. He came here just 16 months ago in a dreadful state – both physically and mentally. He had been so neglected and was left to suffer alone out on the streets and unable to find enough food for himself. We are so grateful to Rochdale Dog Rescue for saving Boris and bringing him to our attention. They do such wonderful work helping these desperate creatures who have nowhere else to turn. Boris was so happy here and loved his walks, food and all the attention which had been sadly lacking from his life in the past.

Fly free Boris wherever you are. I know the angels will care for you now that we can no longer. Maybe you are on the beach here at Croyde, foraging for mussels as you loved to do in life, but now hidden from our sight. You are now free from the bonds of that diseased worn-out old body. We love you very much. Sweet dreams dear Boris.