|
Kevin
GPA Greater Orlando
Kevin was badly injured during
schooling on November 7, 2003. The trainer called GPA and said he would not
be able to have his leg repaired. He had never raced. The next day he was
taken to the vet, who took x-rays and bandaged his leg. The Vet said his
foot was broken in four places and he required surgery. If he did not have
the surgery, "euthanasia" was the only other option.
On November 10, Kevin was taken to a vet who specializes in orthopedic
repairs and has operated successfully on many Greyhounds.
Kevin is now recuperating and is doing well with three pins in his foot.
He is receiving injections of antibiotics daily as one of the broken bones
had poked through the skin. He is alert, eating well, and seems quite
content.
The total cost of Kevin surgery and after care is $1,367.27 which will
be paid through the Emily Griffin Injury Fund.
Return to top
Einstein
GPA Springfield, Mo
Last October, Einstein broke a
hock at the Woodlands Greyhound Track in
Kansas City. His surgery was $516. A trainer at the Woodlands (Einstein
was not in his kennel) volunteered to rehab and foster Einstein for free.
Einstein was there 3 months and he arrived at GPA Springfield in February.
Einstein's registered name is Seen It Before. He is a sweet sweet boy.
Einstein was adopted by the Blauvelt Family of Springfield, MO on March 3rd.
Return
to top
Dharma
GPA Central Florida
GPA Central Florida applied for
funds from the Emily Griffin Memorial Fund for a greyhound named Dharma.
She is a 4 year old brindle female and weighs in at 58 pounds. Dharma was
the 26th greyhound to suffer a break during this racing season at the
Melbourne Greyhound Park. Up until now GPA Central Florida had managed to
take care of the vet bills involved; however, Dharma had such a bad break
that they were referred to an Animal Specialty Hospital. The cost for
repair was over $1700. GPA Central Florida feels very
fortunate to have been able to apply for the grant to help cover the
Veterinary expenses.
Return to top
BB's Cider
BB’s Cider was injured
November 6, 2003 at Jefferson County Kennel Club, Monticello, FL. The
initial diagnosis was a simple hock fracture. In fact, his injury was much
more serious. He had no broken bones, but had ruptured all the tendons and
ligaments supporting the hock joint. Our local vets attempted to fuse the
joint, but complications developed and the repair was unsuccessful. Thanks
to the Emily Griffin Grant and our friends at Greyhound Adoptions of
Florida, BB’s Cider went to a specialist for a second surgery, which
successfully fused the joint. Bob and Marilyn Varnberg (GAF) cared for BB’s
Cider through his recovery and he was adopted in May 2004.
Return to top
Henry
Grant Received February, 2004
Amount $1,500
A note from Henry's Adoptive Home
Henry, our three-year-old greyhound was adopted in
August 2004. He came to us just after the plate and screws
were removed from his rear leg. He thought he was doomed to a life on
a leash forever. He now enjoys his freedom and rewards us with a
display of powerful yet elegant sprints. As reserved as Henry was in
the beginning, he is outgoing and playful now. He loves his outings
except for Tuesday, trash day, when he shows his intense fear of
garbage trucks. Henry turns his whole body around and pulls for
home. At night when everyone is in bed, it is likely to find Henry
cuddling one of his giant stuffed toys. Henry has come a long way in
a short time. He has totally engaged our family and won each and
every one of our hearts.
Crossfire
Female, Brindle
Grant Received February, 2004 Amount
$1,500
Bobbie Sox
Female, White with Brindle
Grant Received July, 2004 Amount $500
Shaina
Female, Brindle
Grant Received July, 2004 Amount $1,500
Greg
Male, Black
Greg is a very
energetic 3-year-old small black male. He is fun loving and could
entertain himself for hours with a tennis ball. Greg is currently
being monitored for epileptic seizures in his foster home. Greg has a
serious type of seizure called cluster seizures, but at this point
they appear to occur only every few months. He is on medication and
the dosage is being adjusted to ensure maximum benefit. Greg gets
along fine with other dogs and with cats.
Greg first came into the foster program on August 20,2003 after having
had several seizures at the kennel. He had been hospitalized for 3
days and had had seizures at the veterinary office. Greg was medicated
with a loading dose of Phenobarbital and was released on 8/19/03. When
he came to his foster home he was very drunk from the medication and
could barely stand.
Greg’s blood work before being put on Phenobarbital indicated elevated
liver values, which needed to be rechecked. Greg’s blood recheck
showed liver values within normal range, but elevated creatinine and
ph levels. A tick panel was negative. Greg was maintained on 64 mg. of
Phenobarbital following his hospitalization. We learned that Greg’s
first observed seizure was in early July, 2003.
Greg has proven to be a fun-loving, playful little guy. He is a small
black greyhound who loves to play with toys, but more than anything
loves to play with a tennis ball. A tennis ball can keep Greg
entertained in the yard for long periods of time. It was while he was
playing with a ball that we noticed Greg’s recovery after exercise is
prolonged – it takes him much longer to stop panting than the other
dogs. So, chest x-rays and an echocardiogram of his heart were done by
a cardiologist and showed his heart to be within normal limits. The
potential that he might have developing laryngeal paralysis was raised
– this is something that would need to be checked out when he was
under anesthesia when he was neutered. After a visit with the
neurologist, Greg was maintained on the same level of medication.
In January, just as Greg was getting ready to go to an adoption event,
he began having a cluster of seizures. On January 26, 2004 he had
seven grand mal seizures within approximately an hour. Valium was
given, but his seizures were too close together and he was having some
difficulty recovering his breath, so he was taken to Dove Lewis for
intensive treatment. He had another seizure during his hospitalization
and was released the next day. At that time the neurologist increased
his Phenobarbital to 100 mg. twice a day. Greg had gone five months
without a seizure.
A month later, once he was sufficiently recovered, Greg was neutered.
At that time, we learned that Greg’s larynx appears to be normal. He
continues to be monitored.
In late April 2004 Greg had another serious seizure episode and had to
be taken to the emergency vet again to be stabilized. The next day he
saw the neurologist and his medication was adjusted and a new
medication, potassium bromide, was added to his treatment. It
typically takes several weeks for the new medication to become
effective. Ten days later Greg had another seizure episode but this
time, although the seizures were very intense, he only had three in a
cluster. He was medicated with Valium at home and did not have to go
to the emergency hospital.
Greg has now had an MRI scan of his head to determine whether he has a
brain tumor or other brain abnormality that could be causing his
seizures. He had a spinal tap to check for brain disease and he also
had additional testing done to determine whether the new medications
were at effective levels in his bloodstream. The results of the MRI
were that he has no tumors or abnormalities of the brain and his
spinal fluid test was negative. This is good news for Greg and means
that he now has an official diagnosis of idiopathic epilepsy. That
means that there is no underlying physical disease causing the
seizures and that he can be treated for the seizure episodes as they
occur. We did discover that his medication dosages were too low and we
have increased the dosage to a more therapeutic level.
Greg recently went seven weeks without a seizure and in the first week
of August had another Cluster of seizures. This time they were
manageable with medications in his foster home and Greg did not need
to be hospitalized. He recovered in a few days and is back to his
normal, playful self.
Greg lives with cats, who he pretty much ignores; other greyhounds,
who he gets along fine with; and Dalmatians, one of whom he loves to
play with and chase. Greg can be a little bit dominant at times, but
most of time will cuddle with any human, dog or cat that’s near. He
can also be found sleeping with his head or paw on a rubber ball or
Kong. Greg is currently learning to play with a Frisbee – although he
likes to chase it more than bring it back.
Greg is a fairly high-energy greyhound with a playful personality. He
travels well in the car and loves going places. He’s very friendly and
loves meeting new people. He likes being petted and hugged, but he
particularly likes to cuddle.
After nearly a
year in foster care, Greg has been adopted into his home-for-life. He
now lives with other greyhounds and Dalmatians and is quite settled
into being the leader of the pack. Greg's seizures are still being
managed at home and he continues to do well on his medications.
Grant Received July, 2004 Amount $1,500
Billy
Male, Brindle
Grant Received September, 2004 Amount
$1,500
Chicken Salad
Female, Brindle
Grant Received September, 2004 Amount
$1,500
FloJo
Female, Black
Grant Received September, 2004 Amount
$1,500
Grace
Female, Brindle
Grant Received October, 2004 Amount
$1,500
Regal Roast
(Pooh)
Male, Black
Broke his leg 10/9,
had surgery 10/12
Grant Received October, 2004 Amount
$500
Update on Pooh Feb 2005
Pooh is doing very well, he doesn't
seem to be favoring his
injured leg at all.. He's very easy going and a treat to around.
Viola
Snow
Female Brindle
Had surgery on Feb. 14
Grant received March 2005
Update on Viola
Viola is doing very well and has been adopted by her foster family.
Andy
White and Red Male
Feather
GPA Daytona
|
|
|
