We groomed Savannah on Sunday and after three medicated baths she smelled somewhat neat! Her coat is very short so we were able to save it. Her feet had mats and her ears were infected. Stood like a champ for bath and blow drying. No problems even with cutting nails. (Anna)
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"Savannah traveled well up to the Albany area. I had arranged an appointment with my Vet to check her out before I took her home. She weighs 41 pounds and overall is in good shape. She did have vary severe infections in both ears. We flushed the ears out and the vet examined them again. The ear canal openings are 1/3rd of normal size due to swelling. She prescribed prednisone to reduce the inflammation and an antibiotic ear medication to be put in her ears twice a day. She wants to see her again in 10 days to check the ears.
She recommended we wait 2 weeks to spay her. That way if the ear infection has not cleared up and they need to do a deeper flush they can do it at the same time. She also has about 6 teeth that need to be removed. At least 2 have abscesses.
She is a very calm girl and just watches everything very closely. I have a Tamarac crate in my kitchen and she discovered that it is a very nice place to lie on top of and keep an eye on everything. She ate her supper and is now lying inside the Tamarac and us. She seems comfortable tonight.
I will keep you posted on her progress. Thank you for trusting her welfare to me. (Mary)
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"Savannah has started to come out of her crate as soon as it is opened instead of hiding in the back. She gets along well with the other Afghans and like to sit on top of the grooming crate and watch what is going on. She has watched the other dogs go to the door when they need to go out and she has already done the same thing.
She like both men and women and will lie close to you after she checks you out. She has started to come to me when she wants petting. She had not made a single sound until this morning when she started to talk a little and then barked.
Savannah allows you to give her her pills and put the ear medication in her ears. She is a lovely girl who should adjust to being a "House Dog" once her ear infections and teeth are taken care of.
We are working on walking on the leash and coming when you call her name. (Mary)
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Savannah is starting to relax and to play a little with us. She wags and runs to Chuck and I when we come into the kitchen and she was smiling last night. Housebreaking is coming along, she has had a couple of accidents in the house and I was able to catch her and get her right outside for 1 of them. We will keep working on it until she gets the idea.
She stands on top of her crate to watch Chuck make dinner and if he doesn't get her bowl to her as fast as she thinks he should, she barks at him, as if to say, get a move on! The other night we looked and she had her paw reaching into a crate that had a food bowl in it that wasn't quite empty, catching a kibble in her paw and pulling it out to eat. She is a very cleaver girl.
She has started to find her voice and is chatting a bit when she wants something. She is also starting to use her nose to tell us she wants petting.
She is still insecure in new situations and wants to run if she is unsure. She does better if there is another dog with her. She is very social with the other dogs, both boys and girls.
We went to the Vet today for her 10 day follow up on her ear infections. The veterinarian said they were not much improved. She thinks that there is a solid plug in the ear canal from the infection and the infection has most likely spread to her middle ear. They will do a deep ear cleaning to remove the blockage when she goes in for her spay and tooth surgery on the 20th. We will continue to use the anti-biotic and flush the ears as well until then. (Mary)
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Well Savannah is showing her true colors. She is starting to play with her toys and does not tear them apart, however, she is a thief! She will steal paper towels and magazines off the table and rip them to shreds. This morning I was getting ready to take her out for a walk and I slipped my sandals off and started to put my boots on and she stole one of my sandals without my even hearing or seeing her. She was sitting in the bed with it between her paws!
Also, today for the first time she came to me to go out for a walk without any of the other dogs being in the kitchen and she ran over to Chuck when he came into the house and gave him kisses on the hands. She is starting to play some simple games with me, batting at me to get belly rubbing and touching my knee so I will pet her.
She doesn't like being out in the cold and snow and does her business and then heads right back to the house. She has had the second round of worming medication and I will take a stool sample up for testing later today. She is set for her surgery next Tuesday. She is a really lovely Afghan, I hope everything goes well for her. (Feb 16, 2007)
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Savannah came through her surgery in good shape. The spay went fine. She had to have 12 teeth removed because of damage or infection, but her canine and large chewing teeth are all intact and there was not too much gingivitis. Her ear infections had spread to her middle ear so the veterinarian did a deep cleaning to remove debris and has prescribed ear drops and antibiotics as well as pain medication for her. The veterinarian wants to see her again in 10 days to check her ears.
She will stay at the Vet's office overnight and I can pick her up at 9am tomorrow. I hope she will be glad to see me, She wasn't very pleased when I left her there this morning! (Feb 20, 2007)
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I picked Savannah up this morning. She had needed a bath, her second this week, before I got there. She was still very frightened with her tail between her legs. She was very happy to leave the vet's office and jumped right in my car and rode home quietly. She hopped up on top of her crate on the soft bed and has stayed there since then.
I have spent a lot of time stroking her and telling her what a good and beautiful girl she is. She has started to give me low vocalizations, like purring and doesn't want me to stop petting her. No tail wags yet though. I expect Chuck will get them when he gets home.
The veterinarian is pleased with how she came through the surgery ,and her spirits seem to be improving as she gets some sleep and attention. (Feb 21, 2007)
