Dogma Bakery (2445 N. Harrison Street) is holding a special Welcome Home party for Ekko at 11:00 AM on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009. So come by and say hello and meet Ekko. Ekko is still a little skitterish around strange people. So please approach him carefully from the side.
We wanted to thank the many many volunteers who helped look for Ekko through the month of August. Some people posted flyers, distributed business cards, staked out a feeding station at night, provided a web space, called the shelters, or just kept looking for him in the the neighborhood.
Most people came from Arlington, but some from Falls Church, Fairfax, and Vienna.
A special thanks to PureGoldPettrackers (and Salsa) who helped track Ekko's scent and limit our search (check out the map). Also a special thanks to Nancy (provided the web space and tech support), Donna, Sonia, and Charlie who all offered support, advice, and feet on the ground. And of course, thanks to Mary Burnett who found Ekko under a bush in her back yard.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Ekko Recovering
The sounds of squeaky toys fills our house. He does like to work on them.
Ekko is feeling better now that he has the snitches removed and the collar of shame (collar cone) off his head. He still limps around, but is moving faster. Recovery should take about 8-12 weeks. So his walks are very limited. We still need to help him up and down the stairs.
Ekko is still afraid of the outside and cars. If he hears any unusual sounds (loud car engines, car alarms, trucks), he wants to go inside.
Ekko is feeling better now that he has the snitches removed and the collar of shame (collar cone) off his head. He still limps around, but is moving faster. Recovery should take about 8-12 weeks. So his walks are very limited. We still need to help him up and down the stairs.
Ekko is still afraid of the outside and cars. If he hears any unusual sounds (loud car engines, car alarms, trucks), he wants to go inside.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Ekko Home at Last!
Last night we brought Ekko home from Suburban Animal Hospital. I was not sure whether he would recognize home, but as soon as I lifted him out of the car he started walking up the sidewalk to our house. He seemed relieved to be in the house.
This first night, Ekko looked worn and tired. He has 12 snitches in his left leg and has lost a lot of weight. I can see his ribs. So he is limping and needs a lot of help climbing the stairs.
He is managing well with his large dog cone collar, only bumping into a few things (keeps him from licking his stitches). Despite all that, he ate all of his dinner and then some. So he is no longer a picky eater, for now.
He seemed happy just to lay down in the same room with us.
But Ekko did wag his tail when I showed him his squeaky toy.
This first night, Ekko looked worn and tired. He has 12 snitches in his left leg and has lost a lot of weight. I can see his ribs. So he is limping and needs a lot of help climbing the stairs.
He is managing well with his large dog cone collar, only bumping into a few things (keeps him from licking his stitches). Despite all that, he ate all of his dinner and then some. So he is no longer a picky eater, for now.
He seemed happy just to lay down in the same room with us.
But Ekko did wag his tail when I showed him his squeaky toy.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Ekko Improving
We went to visit Ekko on Saturday and Sunday for a few minutes. On Saturday he was the most active and walking around a little at the hospital. He recognized us and wanted to go with us home.
His leg is still swollen from the surgery so it looks like Monday or Tuesday when he will come home. However, he will need to take it very easy the next few weeks. His recovery should be from 8-12 weeks.
We are planning on having a party to celebrate Ekko's return after he gains his strength back.
His leg is still swollen from the surgery so it looks like Monday or Tuesday when he will come home. However, he will need to take it very easy the next few weeks. His recovery should be from 8-12 weeks.
We are planning on having a party to celebrate Ekko's return after he gains his strength back.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Ekko's Condition
From Maureen,
We went to visit Ekko this morning. As expected he is groggy from pain medication but considering everything he looked amazingly well and I'm sure he recognized us. The staff love him and the vet said he is doing very well. He showed us the x-rays taken right after surgery and we are sure we did the right thing by doing the surgery. Without it he would have eventually been disabled. The doctor thinks he should make a full recovery though it will take some time. They want to watch him over the weekend for any signs of infection so we should be able to bring him home on Monday. In the meantime we plan to visit him a couple of times a day.
We went to visit Ekko this morning. As expected he is groggy from pain medication but considering everything he looked amazingly well and I'm sure he recognized us. The staff love him and the vet said he is doing very well. He showed us the x-rays taken right after surgery and we are sure we did the right thing by doing the surgery. Without it he would have eventually been disabled. The doctor thinks he should make a full recovery though it will take some time. They want to watch him over the weekend for any signs of infection so we should be able to bring him home on Monday. In the meantime we plan to visit him a couple of times a day.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Ekko's Condition After Surgery
After 3 hours of surgery, Ekko is doing fine. Yes, it took longer than expected.
The objective of the surgery was to install a bone plate (8 pin) under the skin. The doctor at Suburban Animal Hospital (Arlington) said that is took longer than expected because there was some dead bone in the center of the leg. He estimates that Ekko broke the leg on or soon after he got away on 8/03/09. He may have been hit by a car and hid while he tried to heal. That is probably why it was difficult to locate him. (It is amazing that he tracked as far as he did with a broken leg.) Unfortunately, the bone started healing, over those four weeks, in the wrong way creating a deformity, or almost an extra joint in the bone. It was not a strong mend. Doing nothing and putting on a cast would have handicapped Ekko for the rest of his life.
The doctor removed about one inch of the bad bone and replaced with a synthetic bone that is better than actual bone. Also a 12-pin bone plate was installed because of the loss of the extra bone. Ekko is resting comfortably with ice on his leg with the help of pain killers at the hospital. He might be home on Monday. The doctor expects him to fully recover in 8-12 weeks.
Many thanks to the many volunteers who put up fliers, distributed business cards, checked feeding stations, helped with the blog, or participated in overnight stakeouts. Many thanks to the people who just kept an eye out for him in the neighborhood. (Special thanks to PureGoldPetTrackers and Dogma Bakery.)
And thanks to the dog rescue volunteers who always carry a leash and snack with them in the car in case they come upon a wandering lost dog to help him find his way home.
The objective of the surgery was to install a bone plate (8 pin) under the skin. The doctor at Suburban Animal Hospital (Arlington) said that is took longer than expected because there was some dead bone in the center of the leg. He estimates that Ekko broke the leg on or soon after he got away on 8/03/09. He may have been hit by a car and hid while he tried to heal. That is probably why it was difficult to locate him. (It is amazing that he tracked as far as he did with a broken leg.) Unfortunately, the bone started healing, over those four weeks, in the wrong way creating a deformity, or almost an extra joint in the bone. It was not a strong mend. Doing nothing and putting on a cast would have handicapped Ekko for the rest of his life.
The doctor removed about one inch of the bad bone and replaced with a synthetic bone that is better than actual bone. Also a 12-pin bone plate was installed because of the loss of the extra bone. Ekko is resting comfortably with ice on his leg with the help of pain killers at the hospital. He might be home on Monday. The doctor expects him to fully recover in 8-12 weeks.
Many thanks to the many volunteers who put up fliers, distributed business cards, checked feeding stations, helped with the blog, or participated in overnight stakeouts. Many thanks to the people who just kept an eye out for him in the neighborhood. (Special thanks to PureGoldPetTrackers and Dogma Bakery.)
And thanks to the dog rescue volunteers who always carry a leash and snack with them in the car in case they come upon a wandering lost dog to help him find his way home.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Afternoon Update from Ekko's Dad
Ekko was found about 5 blocks from our house under a bush in the back of a house. The house is near John Marshall and Lee Hwy. Many thanks to the little 7-year old girl who spotted Ekko and called a neighbor to bring a leash. The neighbor recognized Ekko right away from the flier nearby.
***We did not think he would recognize us when we saw him at the vet on a blanket. But he sat right up when sat in front of him and pushed his nose near us looking for a pat. In fact, he lifted up front legs onto the chair to get close to Maureen (even with a broken leg).
**** Ekko will stay at the vets today and overnight for observation, checked out, fed, and rehydrated. The x-rays indicate he has two bones broken in his front leg. So he will probably have surgery tomorrow.
***We did not think he would recognize us when we saw him at the vet on a blanket. But he sat right up when sat in front of him and pushed his nose near us looking for a pat. In fact, he lifted up front legs onto the chair to get close to Maureen (even with a broken leg).
**** Ekko will stay at the vets today and overnight for observation, checked out, fed, and rehydrated. The x-rays indicate he has two bones broken in his front leg. So he will probably have surgery tomorrow.
Found!
BREAKING NEWS!!! Ekko has been found! No details yet, but it sounds like he has been contained and is being held for his family to come pick him up. I held up the process of them being able to get out the door just by calling to get news!
So watch this space for more information!
More from our volunteer that reached the home before Ekko's family . . . He was accross Lee Hwy from his house but maybe four blocks away. He's very skinning and undernourished, and he seems to have a broken leg. A little girl found him under the bush in her front yard. He was probably hiding in bushes the whole time he was gone he was so scared. He's very docile though, and even let our volunteer pick him up. She is just pulling in to Suburban Animal Hospital as we speak, and the family is meeting them there. More later!!!
Update 9am - Ekko let our volunteer pick him up and carry him to the car and inside the animal hospital, and then they laid down in the vet's office on a blanket while they waited for to the doctor to arrive, and he was fine but not showing a lot of emotion. When his family walked in, it did take him a few seconds to focus, but when he did, he got SOOOOO excited! I would love to have seen that!
The little girl that found Ekko was helped by a neighbor -- the girl is so smart that she knew to ask a neighbor that has a dog for a leash -- and the girl and the neighbor also came to the animal hospital to see how he was doing. Instant friends! (Many of you are probably reminded of Rocky, who was lost in January from about the same area, and found by a little girl -- in Annandale!)
He will be at the vet's for a while, but we are hoping that he will be able to spend his first night at home tonight. The break or fracture in his leg is several weeks old and he's done some adapting to it. It definitely needs care, and we'll find out what's prescribed, but perhaps the surgery will be scheduled to take place after he gets to come home, gain some weight, some confidence, and just be in a better place to weather that surgery. We'll pass the word on as soon as we get it.
He's very dehydrated and undernourished, but he'd just had has flea prevention and heartworm right before he bolted -- 4 weeks and 1 day ago! -- so he's flea free (and flee free too as he's securely confined) and fine in that regard. He's also not smelly and dirty. But from his appearnce and how he acted, in general, he was most certainly laying low the whole time. THAT'S why no one wasn't seeing him and calling!
Come back for more updates as we find out what the vet has to say and how his first day goes. And thanks to everyone for all of your support! We're so glad to have you all to share this wonderful news with!
Nancy Despeaux
So watch this space for more information!
More from our volunteer that reached the home before Ekko's family . . . He was accross Lee Hwy from his house but maybe four blocks away. He's very skinning and undernourished, and he seems to have a broken leg. A little girl found him under the bush in her front yard. He was probably hiding in bushes the whole time he was gone he was so scared. He's very docile though, and even let our volunteer pick him up. She is just pulling in to Suburban Animal Hospital as we speak, and the family is meeting them there. More later!!!
Update 9am - Ekko let our volunteer pick him up and carry him to the car and inside the animal hospital, and then they laid down in the vet's office on a blanket while they waited for to the doctor to arrive, and he was fine but not showing a lot of emotion. When his family walked in, it did take him a few seconds to focus, but when he did, he got SOOOOO excited! I would love to have seen that!
The little girl that found Ekko was helped by a neighbor -- the girl is so smart that she knew to ask a neighbor that has a dog for a leash -- and the girl and the neighbor also came to the animal hospital to see how he was doing. Instant friends! (Many of you are probably reminded of Rocky, who was lost in January from about the same area, and found by a little girl -- in Annandale!)
He will be at the vet's for a while, but we are hoping that he will be able to spend his first night at home tonight. The break or fracture in his leg is several weeks old and he's done some adapting to it. It definitely needs care, and we'll find out what's prescribed, but perhaps the surgery will be scheduled to take place after he gets to come home, gain some weight, some confidence, and just be in a better place to weather that surgery. We'll pass the word on as soon as we get it.
He's very dehydrated and undernourished, but he'd just had has flea prevention and heartworm right before he bolted -- 4 weeks and 1 day ago! -- so he's flea free (and flee free too as he's securely confined) and fine in that regard. He's also not smelly and dirty. But from his appearnce and how he acted, in general, he was most certainly laying low the whole time. THAT'S why no one wasn't seeing him and calling!
Come back for more updates as we find out what the vet has to say and how his first day goes. And thanks to everyone for all of your support! We're so glad to have you all to share this wonderful news with!
Nancy Despeaux
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