JaniceH  Offline
Owned by Maple
Joined: Aug 19, 2009
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 Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2011 1:59 pm Post subject: My Osborn, my first Guide Dog Pup. |
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I first started puppy walking in September 2009 with a tiny black lab x golden retriever called Osborn. He was as bright as a button and learnt very quickly.
However he started to lose the hair around his eyes and one day after looking in his ears I noticed one was a bit dirty inside. I popped him to the vets and he was diagnosed with an ear infection. 24hours later he developed an infection in the other ear, 24 hours after that he had a face full of blisters and literally collapsed on me.
He was diagnosed as having Head Glands Disease/Puppy Strangles/Puppy Pyoderma. He became increasingly ill to the point that the Care and Welfare Officer came up to the vets hospital to sign the paperwork to put him to sleep. He was in an incredible amount of pain, his face had blown up and he was losing all his hair.
I had been to spend some time with him in the vets every day and all he was doing was breathing, no eyes open or anything. Even though I knew he was not my dog I was completely distraught. The vet had put him on the table for me to say my goodbyes. He was just skin and bone, he had lost all his condition, body mass and most of his fur. He just laid there.
I walked in the room and gently called his name and amazingly he opened one eye and wagged the tiniest end of his tail. The Care and Welfare Officer decided at that point that he deserved a chance.
He came home on 16 different types of tablets and steroids and couldnt walk. I literally had to stand him up on all four legs and he just fell over sideways. We gave him hydrotherapy in the bath and massaged his little legs and slowly he put one foot in front of the other and began walking.
It was thought that he would be rejected as a guide dog, however after a few weeks the vets realised that his immune system was going to be supressed for nearly three months to enable him to get better and for them to assess him at that point. So much to my sadness (that is the understatement of the year) it was decided to move Osborn to the Breeding Centre at Tollgate in Warwickshire so that he could be in a busy environment but yet in their isolation block. If he had stayed with me, I wouldnt have been able to take out my own dog, we had to change clothes in the hallway and disinfect everything. He wasnt going to be allowed to finish his vaccinations or go for a walk outside for a long time.
It took me a long time to get over this and I thought I wouldnt want to puppy walk again, however Usher came next and now I am walking Natalie.
Osborn was placed with a puppy walker near to the Breeding Centre should he need their specialist vets and he went for a 'trial' into Training in September of last year. He was still expected not to qualify due to an ongoing scurfy skin problem.
I have heard today that after all this time, Osborn has been given the 100% all clear for his health and has gone into the Advanced Stage of his training. This is news that I never thought I would hear and means that he is literally weeks away from being chosen for a particular person.
His trainer reports that he is a real steady eddy, he has matured and calmed down and is set to make a wonderful guide dog. Puppy Head Glands disease, although it nearly killed him, is something that doesnt have any long term health issues associated with it.
I worked out that Osborn has needed over 100 people directly working with him to get him that far. He really has been a labour of love.
From this:
To this:
(This pic isnt me, and he had just come in from a walk hence the half check still on, he didnt wear it round the house normally). The date is also wrong on the photograph Ive just noticed as Osborn wasnt actually born until September 2009!
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jcd  Offline
puppy walker
Joined: Aug 09, 2005
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| Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2011 2:03 pm Post subject: |
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What a lovely story and very reassuring to hear that Guide Dogs didn't give up on him.
Julia
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True_Blue_Rosemary Offline
Loved by a loony lab
Joined: Aug 25, 2010
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Lab Names: Porscha & Bonnie. Never forgetting Jessie who is watching over me from the bridge - 17/6/97 - 11/8/2010
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| Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2011 2:04 pm Post subject: |
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 What a lovely story Janice - thank you for sharing 
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Jo, Porscha & Bonnie (AKA PP - Princess Porscha & BB - Beautiful Bonnie)
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Patriciat Offline
puppy walker
Joined: May 16, 2010
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Lab Names: Frankie (lab/Flat Coat x, dob 24/9/2009)
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| Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2011 2:13 pm Post subject: |
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What an inspiring story, so glad he had a second chance. 
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[img]www.labradorforums.co.uk/modules.php?name=Forums&file=album_pic&pic_id=337&full=true[/img] |
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Zensmum Offline
lead trained
Joined: Jan 14, 2009
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| Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2011 2:18 pm Post subject: |
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I have a feling that he is going to be one of lifes little  and there must be a very special reason for him being here on earth.
Well done everyone that gave their time and efforts to help him to reach him destiny as a guide dog
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