10/20/11: This lucky hunk is ADOPTED!!!

09/28/11: Don Juan Gave Us Quite A Scare

Several weeks ago Don Juan started having symptoms (dripping blood from his penis) of what appeared to be a Urinary Tract Infection or an inflammation of the prostate gland. He was taken to the vet for an exam and tests. The results did not come back with any definitive answers, but they put him on antibiotics hoping this would solve the problem.

The doctor tried two different antibiotics (one for a UTI one for a prostate problem) and neither medication helped. DJ went back to the vet and they thought another cause of his symptoms could be a genital sheath infection. He needed to be sedated to flush the area and during the procedure they discovered he had multiple growths that were indicative of a venereal disease. This is frequently found in the tropics (remember, Don Juan was from Peutro Rico). The growths were removed and sent out to Pathology.

The pathology report came back as either Transmissible Venereal Tumors or Lymphoma. The Pathologist said that a more specific test of the tissue was needed to provide a conclusive answer. We waited with baited breath for the results…Lymphoma would have had a very poor prognosis.

We were relieved when the report came back as the veneral tumors which can be cured with proper treatment. The protocol was to put Don Juan on a chemotherapy drug (Vincristine) that had to be administered intravenously in the hospital, once a week for three weeks. He has already completed two treatments and has one more to go.

From DJ’s Foster Dad

“Don Juan is doing great - he gets his last chemo treatment next Saturday morning (Oct 1st) and then he's good to go! Thankfully, those lab results of the removed growths came back benign. He has finished up his follow up meds and is just fine. He is back to weighing 62 lbs and has NO problem with his appetite!

Don Juan has been enjoying his summer with us here in the New Hampshire woods. He continues to get along well with his boxer foster siblings and he fits in here like he has lived here forever. He is a great guy - such an easy dog to have around!”

Below is a link where you can learn more about Transmissable Veneral Tumours (TVT):http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_transmissible_venereal_tumor.html

06/24/11: Don Juan Takes To The Water

Below is the latest update from DJ's foster dad:

"Things continue to go well with DJ. The warmer weather has slowed all the dogs down, including DJ, so it's been a quiet week.

We took him boating on Squam Lake in NH and he was very unimpressed (see photos). He did bark at a fish I caught but he went back to sleep after that."

06/01/11: Update from DJ’s foster Dad  – new pictures too!

"DJ has been with us for almost 4 months now and he has settled in nicely with his 4 boxer foster siblings.

He now weighs in at 62 lbs so we are cutting back a bit on the serving sizes (and the treats) – quite a difference from when he arrived from Puerto Rico and we could count all his ribs.

He is totally housebroken and he has free access to our downstairs areas when we are not home. He has an open crate that he uses for naps or when he just wants some alone time.

He loves going for long walks and car rides with his head totally out the window the whole time.

This handsome guy just loves attention and will make someone a wonderful companion."

05/04/11: Don Juan Was Living With A Broken Jaw

DJ returned to the animal hospital for his dental surgery to have what we thought would be a simple tooth extraction. However, during the procedure, the doctor realized there were more issues than first indicated.

It was discovered that DJ's jaw had previously been fractured, which made the surgery more complicated. The surgeon also had to remove an upper molar along with all the small lower teeth between the canines. The bone below his teeth was weak and a bone graft was required to stabilize his jaw after the teeth were removed. There were also tumors on the gums that were removed and sent out for biopsy. Thankfully, the results were benign.

This poor guy must have gone through some tough times in Puerto Rico before NBR rescued him. God only knows what kind of terrible things happened to DJ while he was on his own.

Here is an update from DJ’s foster Dad –

"DJ is really doing well! He has a hearty appetite and has gained another 5 lbs this month. With his health problems behind him, he has no limitations on his activities. He’s a super active guy with lots of boxer energy.

DJ has adjusted well to life in New England. With the slightly warmer weather, he’s getting lots of exercise playing with his foster boxer siblings in the backyard
. He loves to run so a home with a fenced yard would be perfect for DJ. He also enjoys going for walks with us. At first he tugged on his leash so we started using an easy-walk harness which really helps.

He had his first exposure to a cat this month - he barked a lot and the cat went into hiding. He may take awhile to adjust if he goes to a home with cats. DJ is such a friendly guy who is all boxer. He craves attention and loves to cuddle up (he is literally a 60 pound lap dog). He will be a wonderful companion for someone!"

03/14/11: Surprise Surprise
We have great news to report about Don Juan....

Don Juan had a visit with the veterinarian soon after he arrived in our rescue to get an initial exam and for us to discuss the options for his pending heartworm treatment. The doctor felt he was in pretty good shape. However, he did have an ear infection and was prescribed medication and a cleaning solution to be given for 7 days. His bottom left canine is broken off at the gumline, and the area around the tooth is full of decay and foreign matter; the root will eventually need to be removed. The scars on his legs (primarily his elbows and knees) are old wounds - they are healed and are not a concern. He was also treated for tapeworm and whipworm parasites. He was sent home with a second dose of dewormer and 14 more days of doxycyline for the anaplazma. An appointment was made for a return visit.

DJ went to his scheduled appointment with the veterinarian this past week. He was there to receive the necessary tests in preparation for his heartworm treatment and we received some great news.

Below are the details from DJ's foster dad:

"On Tuesday, we brought DJ to the hospital to receive the necessary tests in preparation for his heartworm treatment. A pre-treatment lab test was run to “stage” the severity of his heartworm infection and it came back negative! A second more definitive test was run and it also came back negative. DJ also tested negative for the anaplazma infection reported earlier. We are assuming that the initial diagnosis in Puerto Rico was the result of a false positive test which is very rare, or a mix up reporting the results.

With these severe health issues suddenly behind him, we decided to leave him at the vets and get him neutered (DJ was not happy with that decision)! He had no problem with the surgery and has spent the past 2 days resting comfortably and trying to figure out how to get that e-collar off.

In the month he has been with us, DJ has become very comfortable in his new foster home environment. He gets along well with his 3 foster sisters and follows them out the doggie-door to play in the snow. His anxiety level is much lower than when he first arrived and he just loves 1-on-1 time with me and my wife.

For a dog that spent time in the wild, he has surprisingly good manners at meal time – no growling or competition with the other dogs for food. He just waits patiently to be fed. He has put on about 5 pounds since arriving – we feed all our dogs a good quality high protein dry dog food.

When we started working with DJ on some basic requests (sit, shake, down, etc.), it became apparent that he hasn’t been exposed to them (at least, not in English). He would probably benefit from a basic clicker training class. He also had trouble mastering stairs when he first arrived! He figured it out within a couple of days and now can do a whole flight of stairs in 3 or 4 seconds.

DJ is just a great dog! It looks like most of his problems are behind him and now he deserves a forever home and a second chance in life. We will be scheduling another appointment with the vet to have his broken tooth removed as soon as he recovers from his neuter, and then he will be ready to be adopted."

02/16/11: From The Sands Of Puerto Rico To The Snows Of The Northeast

Don Juan is given a new chance!

We were contacted by a State-side representative of a dog rescue group located in Puerto Rico asking if we would help with a boxer who was thoughtlessly abandoned on a beach in a local fishing village. This organization has been rescuing dogs from the streets of Puerto Rico for many, many years, nursing them to health, and placing them with other rescue organizations, in shelters, or directly into loving homes in the Northeast. They have well established relationships with some of the leading private shelters so we knew they were reputable. We were pleased to work with them.

The rescue coordinator who contacted us described the conditions in Puerto Rico that these homeless dogs endure: "For the life of me, I will never understand how people can abandon a pet on a beach--but that is what happens in Puerto Rico. It's unlike anywhere else I have ever traveled in that the people think in terms of purebreds when they want dogs, and then they end up with these dogs that are not remotely adapted to life on their own--and proceed to dump them to fend for themselves. It's tragic, but it does seem that the boxers who are dumped on the streets do much worse than most other breeds. But, we have seen some miraculous recoveries and once those dogs are healthy, and learn to relax, they are the most grateful, loyal companion imaginable."

Once it was confirmed that we would bring the boxer into our rescue program they sent a volunteer to the beach where he was sighted. Luckily they were able to catch him. They described this abandoned boxer as a lovely young male, very friendly and gentle. We have named him "Don Juan" or "DJ" for short.

DJ had several nicks and scrapes and was also very thin. He was taken to their vet for an exam and, unfortunately, DJ tested positive for heartworm and anaplasma (a tick borne disease). When the rescue found out about these medical concerns they were afraid we would no longer have an interest to take him...…not a chance. DJ was put on doxycycline for a 28 day regimen and was placed in a short-term foster home until arrangements could be made to bring him to the States.
　
The PR Rescue Group uses a commercial airline to transport the dogs and within a week DJ boarded a plane and was on his way to the Northeast. We were all on pins and needles until we had confirmation that his plane landed safely. The trip was very stressful and poor DJ was tired, confused, and very frightened, yet he was as sweet as could be. We can only imagine how he felt. His foster dad met him at the airport even though it was a long drive. We felt it would be less traumatic for DJ to be handled by one person after he arrived. He was great on the ride home and within minutes fell asleep.

The foster home in Puerto Rico wrote the following description of DJ:

"I have to tell you that whoever gets this Boxer is going to be a lucky family. We are really enjoying our house guest and I think he is enjoying all of us too. He is great with all the dogs...even the puppies, and he adores my two daughters ages 2 and 5 years. He loves my husband and likes to wrestle with him and sit on his lap while he sits in the chair. He did wonderfully in the car and seems to do ok on a leash but pulls a little. Has a few scars on his body...mostly on his legs and feet. I don't see any skin issues. He looks pretty good but needs to gain weight.

You can tell somebody loved him once as he just loves people and is very well behaved. I think having heartworm could have been what made him a street dog; his previous family couldn't afford to treat it and just let him go...This is just speculation but that's what I feel might have happened...only he and his previous family know. I have nothing bad to say about this boy, he is truly a wonderful guy!"

NBR has scheduled an appointment for DJ with a local veterinarian for an exam and to discuss his treatment plan for the heartworm and anaplazma. He will also need to be neutered when the doctor says it is safe. We will have a more thorough report on DJ's health after his visit with the vet.

Below is the first update from DJ's foster dad:

"The ride home from the airport was uneventful - Don Juan slept most of the time. He spent the first couple of hours sniffing every square inch of the house and getting to know our 3 dogs. The climate change has been a huge adjustment for him. He’s housebroken but he does need some “encouragement” to go out into the freezing cold and snow. He did his business outside but didn't spend much time in the snow. Walking on ice was a new experience for him.

Don Juan has been with us for a few days now and is beginning to settle in to his new environment. He’s still a little stressed and is craving attention but doing well. He is a very friendly guy who is getting along well with his new siblings. He showed no aggression towards our 3 dogs and bonded with them within a day. They play well together and now all sleep together (on our bed of course). He is well behaved and very friendly – he thinks he’s a lap dog. He weighs about 50 pounds but looks very thin ( a result of his homeless days on the beach? ) but he is now eating well. DJ is going to make someone very happy."