Lopez - Tailends October 2003 - December 2005

Lopez was known to everyone as Dopey (not that he remotely resembled one of Snow Whites dwarfs at his hefty 38 kilogram weight). He had been at Tailends longer than any of the other greyhounds. He arrived on October 31st 2003 – just twenty months ago. He was brought down to us by Mandy Hooker of Northants Greyhound Rescue. Tragically for us it was also fated to be the same day when our beloved Bonnie lost her battle to live. I was in such a state that day that poor Mandy ended up with a sandwich containing about half a pound of Branston in it. (Well she did ask for pickle!) 

Dopey was a huge 10 yr old dark brindle Irish-bred boy who had been rescued along with all the other dogs from the Greyhound track in Rome when the owners went bankrupt. The greyhounds had been left to starve and would have done if it had not been for a few kind Italians who brought them food and Ann Finch who arranged for them all to be moved to various countries for rehoming. They were all in a dreadful state and had lived in depressing though not cruel conditions. All the dogs had been muzzled continually except for meal times. This probably explains why Dopey had needed three dentals since he came here and was always suffering with ulcers and mouth problems despite the regular teeth cleaning which he received here. He has also had a tumour removed, which thankfully proved to be non-malignant. 

Dopey was a real character. He adopted a furry dog that he found in a bag next to him in the car. He used to cuddle up to it when he felt a bit sleepy. Despite his size he was a big soppy dope. He was also a tremendous actor and loved to get a bit of sympathy whether he needed it or not. He has been known to fake lameness to get attention and then when I kissed it better he ran off and forgot all about it. He was as soft as butter and everyone loved him including Sugarlump – his biggest fan. Actually she was definitely the boss and if she was cuddled up to him he would not move for fear of disturbing her. He would not even come for his breakfast until I lifted her up and he was released from his duty of providing her with a snuggly warm flank to lie on.

Dopey’s hobbies would be surfing, hang gliding and flying helicopters but sadly we would not let him pursue any of these activities so he could only watch others having all the fun. He loved being allowed off lead but as he was not the brightest button in the box he tended to wander off among the dunes if you did not watch him all the time. On one occasion he wandered straight to the local surf school and enquired about lessons. If only he had not left his money behind he could have booked a course! Needless to say he was kept firmly on the extending lead for the majority of the time. There was no danger of him getting run over while out on the dunes but he was such a soppy date that he had no idea of where he lived if he got lost. Following his exploits with the surf school, he turned his attention to the mad lunatics who throw themselves off the top of the surrounding hills attached to a harness. He was fascinated with this and reckoned it even beat surfing! (Although he looked longingly at the surfers as they brushed past him with their long boards on their way to the foam.) Dopey also had a fondness for a weed known locally as Sticky Willy. (Don’t ask!)

We became quite worried about Dopey in Spring 2005 as he had been quite lethargic and not eating properly which was not like him. He also opted out of his walks a few times that week. He had a dental and a course of antibiotics, as his gums were so bad yet again. However he still seemed under par so we took him on the Monday for more blood tests. He also had quite severe arthritis for which he was on Rimadyl painkillers. I was monitoring him very closely and if the blood results were negative we would have to consider X-rays and a scan. 

We received a call from the vet on 22nd April informing us that Dopey had signs of early liver disease and also had urea in the blood indicating some kidney malfunction. We agreed to have a scan done the following Monday to check if there were any tumours present which might be causing this result. Happily the scan revealed nothing nasty. However one of Dopey’s legs had a very swollen knee joint and our vet suggested that we do a test for Leishmaniasis just to be on the safe side. On 29th April some blood was taken from the tip of his ear and sent off to Bristol for analysis. 

Dopey’s test for Leishmaniasis was positive. He became extremely ill very quickly and needed to be hospitalised for 5 days at the Veterinary Hospital. His treatment began and he came back home. We gave him daily injections of Glucantime combined with Allopurinol tablets twice a day. He needed frequent blood and urine tests. He was very much better, eating well and enjoying short strolls along the footpaths. There were days when he felt unwell but this was probably due to the treatment. The latest blood test had shown that he was improving considerably. We could only monitor him closely and hope and pray that he would continue to progress.

Dopey had daily injections for nearly six weeks and continued with the Allopurinol tablets twice daily. He also had three glucosamine and chondroitin tablets along with vitamins and fish oil. He needed daily pain relief in the form of Rimadyl. Dopey was sometimes absolutely fine and bounced around just like he used to. Around the middle of August the bad days were becoming more frequent in spite of everything we were trying to do to fight this horrible disease and its complications. 

Dopey was a big strong boy which belied the state of his health. He so desperately wanted to survive and continue enjoying his life. It is so unfair that after such a miserable existence in Italy for so many years he had to suffer so much when he was having such a good time. We had all hoped that the injections would have bought him much more quality time free from illness. It began to look as if this was not going to be the case. When he was having a bad spell he looked so ill and I felt we could not let him go on - but then he recovered next day and was back to the normal happy boy we knew. I knew that when the bad days started to outnumber the good ones we were going to have to make a decision. It was so very hard. So many dogs with Leishmaniasis live on for years after treatment with a daily maintenance dose of Allopurinol. 

We had several dogs who were frail and coming to the end of their lives, yet they were happy and contented. Dopey appeared outwardly to be so healthy and strong. He was the last of our dogs we had expected to lose. I still hoped for a miracle and that he would go into remission for longer periods. So little is known about this disease and there was no more treatment we could give him. To administer cortico-steroids to a dog with Leishmaniasis would probably be fatal. We were helpless and could do little except continue with the pain relief while doing all we could to make him comfortable.

Treating this disease is not an exact science and the symptoms can vary in different dogs. It has been a steep learning curve for us and our vets. Dopey was the first case of this disease which they had treated. It is a parasitic disease and affects the animal in much the same way as Malaria in humans. Dopey had periods of remission when he appeared to be well and healthy and suddenly he could lapse into illness. Fortunately, as I was with Dopey 24/7, any change could be noted and reacted to with appropriate treatment instantly. We had been successful in preventing Dopey from becoming as severely ill as he was when the disease was first diagnosed.

We had a major setback in our fight against this horrible disease at the beginning of October when Dopey developed several of the characteristic skin lesions. We successfully treated all but the large ulcer on his rear left hock. Our vet was very pessimistic about this as it was so big and in such a difficult place for healing to be successful. However we decided to try anything which might give this ulcer a chance to heal – so long as Dopey seemed to want to carry on. Different types of dressings were tried but nothing seemed to be working. When our vet saw the ulcer on 8th November, she thought that it was so hopeless that we should have Dopey put to sleep. This was devastating but I decided that the following day we would ask our vet to come to put him to sleep in his own home. I had to call into town on the way back from the vet to collect some supplements from the health food shop. I found myself standing outside a Chinese herbalist which I had never noticed before. I hesitated for a few minutes and then entered the shop.

I spoke to the Chinese assistant about Dopey’s condition and she related the details to the Chinese doctor who spoke no English. I ended up purchasing some herbal capsules - which I must admit were very expensive! As I walked back to the car I wondered what on earth I had done spending so much money which is always in short supply at Tailends with the amount of medication we regularly need to buy. I thought it was the end of the road for Dopey and I had been a bit foolish in buying these herbs.

I was very wary of being too optimistic and relating that Dopey was so much better - as it almost seemed to be tempting fate, especially with a disease that can cause relapses so quickly, without warning. However, I can say that Dopey had been very well since starting the Chinese treatment. (I did contact WoSPA to check that the medicine did not contain any ingredients which involved cruelty, such as bear bile, and they were able to reassure me that this was not the case.) 

Dopey had actually been just like his old self – silly, bouncy and playful. He rolled around on his back with his legs in the air and showed off to anyone who would watch. I did not know if he would continue like this. I could only write as he was then and had been for the two months. The leg ulcer was still there but was much smaller and there were good signs of healing around the edges. I began treating it with New Zealand Manuka honey and this seemed to be making a big difference. The dressings needed to be changed daily, the ulcer washed thoroughly with saline spray and then covered in a thick layer of the sterile honey. I used a thick foam dressing covered with a sub-compression padding bandage and then vetrap. This meant the hock was well padded out to prevent chafing and pain. It also meant committing to a large ongoing expense for the items involved. However if this was going to help Dopey then that is what we had to do.

Dopey received a new toy at Christmas in the shape of a squeaky reindeer – kindly sent by Judy. He was delighted with this and hid it under his pillow so the others could not steal it. We hoped Dopey would continue to remain happy and stable. I could only do my best for this dear chap who had such a miserable life in Italy before being rescued by GIN and then cared for and brought to Tailends by Mandy at Northants Greyhound Rescue.

Our wonderful sweet-natured gentle giant died on December 30th 2005 after going into a sudden relapse caused by the Leishmaniasis disease which had afflicted him for the last year - although he must have contracted it years ago when he was kennelled at the track in Rome. We would like to thank our vet Alison Hume from the Mullacott Veterinary Hospital for coming out immediately to help our boy. Alison has cared for Dopey with great compassion during his time with us and was there to help him to a peaceful sleep at the end. We all tried so hard to help Dopey fight this disease. He was such a brave determined boy and did not want to go, but in the end it was too powerful for him and we had to admit defeat.

He had been doing so well and was happy and enjoying life to the full when he suddenly and without warning started to show signs of pain. He was on treatment for the Leishmaniasis and also having Chinese herbs, which really seemed to be helping him. It was obvious on that last night that this was one final battle which he could not win and I had no choice but to say goodbye to my special boy to prevent further suffering. I am absolutely devastated at losing his gentle presence in our little family of old dogs. Life will never be the same without him. Sweet dreams my darling boy. Moss left us just a few days ahead of you and will be there to show you the way to join all those other dear souls who once lived with us here at Tailends.

With all our love from Mummy and Daddy, your special friends Sugarlump and Poppy, also Tweenie, Bluebell, Barnie Rubble, Bobby, Papa, Gloria, Arfa and Charlie. X X X.