Walter, "New" Dog!

Mr. Walter Brennan, black and tan Coonhound gentleman of advancing years, visited the vet Monday for his

• neuter
• heart worm test (positive - dang - but I thought would be)
• nail trim (all black, oldie thick)
• teeth clean

I picked him up in the late afternoon, drizzle and cold surrounding us. He was pretty dopey - went right to his house crate to sleep.  Later, I moved him outside to do his business; he did both (yeah!), then back to his crate; gave him a food filled Kong with a bowl of water....he slept all night long!

His breath stunk; I thought he was missing some teeth. Not really - those in front are worn down to the gum-line (hmmm.....long time in a pen, perhaps chewing on the wire? - we once tried to put Cane in a pen at Safe Harbor; as Alice and I watched, when he could not open the pen with his feet/nails, he tried to rip it open with his teeth; he returned to Silverwalk); no teeth removed but you can see for yourselves what he put up with:

before - look at the back teeth especially - eeuuw!

However, NOW he is eating like a champ - I fed him up slowly to be careful with any gum pain as well as anesthesia recovery but here are Walter's sparklers after his dental:

after - what a transformation!

Walter is doing much better in the house, too. Yesterday, I started leaving his crate door open; he cautiously explores the house, then goes back into his crate to sleep; when he eats, he heads for his breezeway crate - smart dog (food driven dog!).  Today, he has full access (the bathroom door is closed) - no knocking down baby gates, no clearing off counters - just coming out for loving, looking and back to sleep. He was coming along well before his surgeries in the house. Oh, I think he is feeling better. We will address his heart worm treatment in January; I give him Heartgard monthly. He will make a hound lover a wonderful companion - has enough bay to satisfy, is loving and friendly to all and would love to lay at his owner's feet. 

Walter Brennan, Coonhound - great dog!