Kolten update

Kolten came home Friday, but before bed time he had chewed the itchy skin off his back. It looked like a bad burn. The vet said to put hydrocortisone cream on it and it would heal but may not grow hair back.

When I took Kolten in for his follow-up appointment on Wednesday, the vet was really concerned about his skin. He said he thinks he may be having a drug eruption (reaction to a medication--allergic or maybe autoimmune)So, he had to do minor surgery to remove the dead skin.

Kolten has to wear an Elizabethan Collar, which we both hate, but it is necessary to keep him from bothering his bandage. I am sure the area under the bandage looks much worse than the exposed areas. This is the place where they had to take off a lot of skin. I do not think all his hair will grow back.

We aren't sure if this injury is from blood flow getting cut off and causing deep tissue damage or if it is from a drug eruption. We won't know until we see how he starts to heal and respond to the treatment.

Lord please let this be the last of the vet bills for a while! I need a break!!!

Kolten is HOME!

Kolten reports he is happy to be home. He has a bad burn on his back from the heat damage and his hair is coming off. Not sure if this will grow back. If not, it will be ugly, but a reminder of God's faithfulness in healing him.

Here are some pics from his first night home:

Warming up after BATH TIME!



Wags N Kisses--Kolten

Kolten recovery update

Monday I went to visit Kolten at the vet clinic, and he was really weak. But, the vet was encouraging with news that he has a strong 75% chance of making a full recovery.

Yesterday I went to visit Kolten and was thrilled to find him much more spunky. Still not himself totally, but obviously feeling better than the day before. He found a rawhide chew when we were walking outside and was interested in it. I took it from him and he wanted it back. I saw him wag his tail! He barked at a couple of other dogs passing by. All this is good. The bad thing I noticed was that he is overly afraid of people he does not know. He has always been a little shy, but this is more like scared. Maybe post-traumatic stress? He does not seem brain damaged to me. He remembers the sit and down command, and knows his name. The vet said he wants to make sure that "Kolten will be Kolten" before he lets him go home. He is concerned he won't be the same dog he was before. Which kinda scares me!

The vet is concerned about his liver, it is still struggling...BUT he said that he THINKS we are past the point of worrying about him taking a turn for the worse. He says it will just take time for his liver to heal, and we don't know how long. He has to stay in the hospital until it gets well enough that he doesn't need fluids to flush out his system.

Keep praying for God to heal his liver and that he will make a full recovery and be the sweetheart he was before.

THANKS!

Kolten update-an answered prayer

Dear friends:
Sunday was a beautiful afternoon, mild temps, sunshine and a nice breeze. I put Kolten on the tie-out in the back yard while I rode one of my horses. This is for both of our safety, so he doesn't come inside the arena while I am riding. But today it was a very unsafe, almost deadly decision.

Although I could see and hear Kolten from the arena, I did not know he was in distress. I thought he was playing w/ Hank. When I finished riding I went to release him, and found him tangled in the tie-out and very hot. He could not walk and collapsed. We hosed him down to cool him off until his breathing was normal, then rushed him to the emergency clinic.

We thought he was having a heat stroke. I was told I had to either euthanize him or treat him. He would not make it through the night without life-saving treatment, and even with the treatment his chances of survival were only fifty-fifty.

So, Danny and I decided to euthanize our baby. We were saying good-bye, and I was crying and praying for the Lord to tell me what to do. I did not have peace about the euthanasia decision, but I also did not have peace about proceeding with an expensive treatment that might not work. I looked into Kolten's eyes and the Lord told me to give him a chance. So, with Danny's permission we proceeded with treatment--not knowing what would come of it.

As a Christian, I believe that with the faith the size of a mustard seed I can move mountains. I have faith that God can heal our Kolten and that He will answer my prayers. If you have helped by praying for my family and for Kolten --THANK YOU! Prayer is real and it works for those who believe.

Please continue praying. Kolten is doing much better today, but is not out of the woods. He is at Battleground Hospital for Animals clinic getting support care. His survival chance is a strong 75 percent. We are concerned about his liver function. His kidney function is good.

Dr. Russell does not believe he had a full blown heat stroke, but rather the vascular constriction from getting tangled in the tie-out caused the symptoms we were seeing. Regardless, what ever damage that is going to be done is done. Now we need him to continue to get better.

Kolten is 9 months old, 80 pounds, and very loving. A truly good dog-friend. Danny and I love him a lot. This a great opportunity for me to witness to others the great things God can do for those who believe in Him and love Him. If you are also a believer, please join me in praying.

Thanks,
Berta

Life w/ the Okie Dobie

Kolten has really been enjoying summer! It's super hot outside, and he likes to stay in the cool.

He's really tall now, especially when he stands on his hind legs. He can reach the top of our horse fencing! Everything he can reach is fair game for becoming a toy. He chewed up an old pair of horse boots that I had hanging in their proper place in the barn aisle. He stole Richard's work gloves and chewed them up. Yesterday I found Cody's grooming brush in the front yard. That dog is SNEAKY!

He usually puts his play things in a certain place. It's kinda funny. He takes his toys and puts them together, he'll even line them up in a neat row sometimes! He likes his toys and doesn't want Harley or Hank to get them.

He loves harassing the cat, Callie Ann. He loves playing with Hank, our Jack Russell. Sometimes this turns into harassment and I have to intervene on Hank's behalf.