Month: January 2023

Pentu — is Finnish for puppy.

Thanks to the Finnish animal population control, an incredibly low number of dogs are in need of adoption. How wonderful! We can only hope to be the same one day.

Pentu is what we have named this newest addition, the first of 2023 that we are working on an ETA to BHRR – after February 7th. She is a 7-month-old Bernese/Standard Poodle cross puppy that has skin issues. She has been in no less than four homes since she was born.

We will update as we can!

Miss Asante had her bilateral cherry eye surgery today.
 
Last Saturday, she weighed 40 kgs. Not sure of her weight today – as I could not get to work – and her foster home is working on seeing her lose a few pounds, as she was chubby last weekend. 
 
***We are still $800 short; any consideration would be so appreciated!!!***
 
The surgery went well, they were finished around 12:40 pm, and she stayed to recover.
 
I asked for a second cone as we have to make sure any risks to her eyes are minimal to nonexistent. If one cone breaks, her foster family will have a backup and if they do not use it, we will have it for another BHRR doggie.
 
The failure rate is high with cherry eyes and she is a Newf, a giant breed, still a puppy, and had surgery that failed on one eye already.
 
We will do all we can to ensure the success rate is there….
 
So many to thank for coming together with donations, fundraising, empties, and support! 
 
Any donations to help us with her bills can be made via PayPal to gwen@birchhaven.org or via email transfer to contactbhrr@gmail.com
 
 
 

TO DONATE: PayPal gwen@birchhaven.org or via email transfer to contactbhrr@grmail.com

On January 18th, Miss Brooklyn was back in to see the Vet.

This is her face….
 
We also did her cardiac X-rays and a cardio pet reading. Then those were sent off along with her records, including the latest findings from this Vet visit to a cardiologist to review as we found out that she had a heart murmur. One Vet thought it was a 3 when she was first at EVC. The Vet that saw her on the 18th felt it was a 1. We needed to be proactive to find out what is happening with Miss Brooklyn.
 
I had put $1,500 of what had been sent to date as a deposit for Miss Asante’s bilateral eye surgery on the 26th as I can only put so much money down at one time – card limits – and within the blink of an eye that amount has been eaten up by Miss Brooklyn and Miss Asante’s other vet visit.  I had planned on putting down money daily over a few days until the total amount for her surgery had been placed on account at EVC.
 
We have had a generous $100 donated over the past week and now still need to make up $1,400 for Miss Asante’s surgery.
 
Every year it becomes harder and harder as bills increase for vetting and food etc.  BHRR remains mostly financed out of pockets of Sean & and lately, we have been paying for special fish-based food for almost 8 dogs along with bills such as Miss Olives’ almost $1,200 monthly medications. We also pay for Mr. Brutus’ medications at almost $700 a month.
 
I am working two jobs to ensure each animal lacks nothing.
 
We also cover most of the monthly flea/tick/hw plus deworming meds for the dogs, treats, toys, collars, leashes, dog beds, and cleaning supplies.
 
Unfortunately, this is just not sustainable. After being in operation since 1996, each month is becoming so much harder than the previous one.
 
Any consideration would be so appreciated…and we have our Empties collection program too!
 
 
 

Mr. Bruce, the Dane!
AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION!
 
This is him and ‘his’ cat!  Buddies!
 
AND yes, his amazing foster has begun to cut back on his food, so his booty will not be so bountiful! 
 
He is just a joy!!!

Sorry for the lack of posts. We have had some urgent vet visits for some of the dogs, and Miss Asante is just one of them for this week.
 
I had sent an email to her fosters regarding her upcoming bilateral cherry eye surgery on the 26th and was informed that she has been doing some intermittent limping over the past week.
 
This could be a minor or a major thing so we got her into EVC this AM.
 
X-rays were done, and at first look, the vet thought she might have a fractured anconeal process on the one elbow. So X-rays were then taken of the other elbow and they both look similar. This should have been fused by her age – and have not – and so the x-rays have now been paid to be sent off to the radiologist for their own expert opinion.
 
In the meantime, she has been placed on NSAIDS – Deramaxx to see if they may help.
 
We will update as we can.
 

Just two close buds watching Mason plow the 25+ cms of snow we received.

Then staring at me when I disturbed their Mason watching!

Two peas in a pod, from their high-level energy to their intense need to almost become part of their humans when cuddling! 

The muscles that these two boyz pack are insane….rock solid!

Mr. Romeo (AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION) & our Tango(GSP).

 

Miss Brooklyn was at the Vet today for boosters and a re-weigh. She is two weeks into her heat.
 
She weighed 43.4 kg. She has put on just shy of 3 kgs since her last Vet visit.
 
She is so undersocialized, so once again, she had trazodone to help with her anxiety for her trip to the Vet.
 
We are also in conversation regarding the possibility of using a heart protocol to get her spayed in the future.
 

Should BHRR’s Athos right-matched forever, loving adoptive home not find him by March 2023, we will move him to our Haven Program. We adore you, and you shall be cherished for life, a great quality filled live shall continue to be yours, you handsome dude!

Mr. Jack’s seizure update:

He had his first seizure on December 14th. He had his last seizure on December 18th. He had his last Nexgard Spectra on December 5th, and on December 6th, he was at EVC for a UTI. He was then placed on Clavaseptin. Both medications lower the seizure threshold. He had been on Nexgard Spectra without any issues since his arrival. With the combination of medications, I reached out to one of our Vets as I am aware that these medications can lower the seizure threshold, he was now on two meds, plus he is a DM dog.

We had a conversation with one of our Vets at LAH, Dr. Levesque, and the recommendation was to stop the Clavaseptin and give him several weeks. As he had been not having any more signs of incontinence and had three doses left, his foster home was advised to stop giving the antibiotics.

Two Veterinarians observed the video sent of his seizure.

Seizure History:
1) Seizure December 14th ~5:25 PM
2) Seizure December 15th ~12:58 PM
3) Seizure December 16th ~11:06 AM
*Dr. Levesque advises stopping the Clavaseptin & giving him at least a week or so and monitoring. Foster home to start a journal, too, to determine if there is any pattern.
4) Seizure December 16th ~6:30 PM
5) December 18th ~3:09 PM

No seizures since. Being a DM and that his sister Miss Janet has IS, it is understandable that he would have a lower seizure threshold.