NBR Available template

Available for adoption through Northeastern Boxer Rescue

mail to a friend

Gulliver (MA)

fostered in MA
1.5 years old
Male
Fawn w/black mask
natural ears
docked tail
Approx Weight: ?? lbs.

Back

Gulliver is a Name A Boxer dog!
Thank you Rachel Foose for naming Gulliver.

“Please name a boxer boy after my wonderful kindred spirit Gulliver.”

GULLIVER UPDATE (Adopted)...

Before:

"Gulliver loves to run around outside and play with toys. Gully also loves to hog up the bed at night and he likes it best when he is sleeping right next to you (or in some cases on top of you.) When he is outside he loves to go on the trampoline and taunt Nippy (his canine brother) because he cant jump up there; Gulliver runs around and barks and then jumps down and plays with Nippy. Another thing Gulliver loves to do is play with the cows and he licks there noses, its so cute! My favorite thing about Gulliver is when you talk to him he either looks at you with his big brown eyes like he understands everything your saying or sometimes he even starts talking back! It is the cutest thing to watch and...

I'm so lucky that he was taken such great care of during his recovery, Thank you"

After .... Look at me now!

Read his full story below:

Gulliver is now being fostered with a new family. His previous foster mom had a change in her work schedule and could no longer give him the time and attention that he craves. Thank you Victoria for helping Gully in his recovery.
The following, is his first update from his new foster mom:

“I can’t believe that Gulliver is so good-natured after all that he has been through. He really is a cutie and his big brown eyes are so expressive. He seems to know what you are saying.

Gulliver is friendly to other people and to other dogs. He needs someone who will exercise him daily (he has a lot of catching up to do). He enjoys playing hard. He has a lot of energy! He is very good on the leash and is not bothered by other dogs, birds or any little critters on his walks. He loves the car (no surprise =) and will take a ride anywhere at any time.

Gulliver, however, does need someone who is home most of the time. He has some separation anxiety; needless to say, he is not a fan of the crate. He will, if left alone, open cabinets and pull stuff out. He does not destroy anything but you may come home to a buffet on the floor. He is completely housebroken and not destructive when supervised in the home.

Gully knows sit, come, and lay down. He loves his squeaky toys and will run around the house and play with them like they are alive. Another choice game for Gulliver is fetch. Gulliver gets excited when he greets people and has a tendency to jump up on you but I am trying to work on that.

Gully is as happy as a clam when he is with you. We allow him on the furniture and to sleep in our bed. He loves to cuddle on the couch and curl up with you. Gulliver gives the best boxer kisses!"

We are so proud of Gulliver and his recovery. He is a true testament to the boxer spirit and a wonderful example of what your donations can do for these helpless dogs. Please continue to support our efforts and donate. We still need to defray the costs of medical bills so that we can help another Gulliver.

GULLIVER IS READY TO TRAVEL TO HIS NEW HOME

It has been a long road and we have some great news from his foster mom.

"Well the day has finally come, Gulliver had all his pins removed from his jaw! It was a week too early, but the other set of pins were causing him discomfort. The Veterinarians at TUFTS felt that his jaw had healed very well and it was safe to remove the remaining pins. He was sedated to have the pins removed then monitored for the day. Finally I was able to pick him up and bring him home where his foster brother Oliver patiently awaited his arrival! It will take some time to adjust to seeing him without all the pins in his face!

Now all Gulliver needs is his forever home. He's learned a few new tricks since he's been here that keep us (and him) very entertained. He does well with the basics (sit, stay, down, paw), but has also mastered some funny tricks, like "dance," "conga line," and "spin." Gulliver would like to live somewhere that he can be with you- sleep with you on the couch, and on the bed, follow you around, he doesn't like to leave your side and you will gain a forever buddy for it! He also does well gated in a section of the house while you are gone- no accidents or anything!

Gulliver is a special little soul that has endured much more than anyone could ever of asked of him. As soon as people meet him, they fall in love! He LOVES playing with other dogs and likes sleeping on the couch with his foster brother Oliver the boxer, and Wilbur the bloodhound. He also loves children, although he is a little too boisterous for small children (he just gets so excited!) but he gets along fantastically with cats- wants to play but is polite."

Gulliver's foster family is really looking forward to placing him in a perfect forever home that he can call his own!

Although Gulliver is out of the woods, NBR still needs your financial help. Our adoption fees could NEVER possibly cover the overwhelming medical costs of the dogs you see on our site. We survive strictly by donations and fundraisers. The medical costs for most of these dogs runs in the thousands. We are a small rescue and we try to never turn away a dog that has big problems. These bills are a considerable strain on our "normal" budget. If you have not donated recently, this is the time to help.

We were hoping there would be no more complications prior to Gulliver’s scheduled appointment on May 28^th but, unfortunately, that was not the case. We had another scare.

Gulliver, once again, began bleeding inside his mouth. This time, the blood was coming from the left side of his jaw. Gulliver was in extreme discomfort and pain. Gulliver’s foster mom called the emergency room at TUFTS. She was told that it would be best to have Gulliver return to the hospital on an emergency basis. Our brave boxer boy and his foster mom left immediately for the hospital.

When Gulliver arrived at the ER, they had to repeat the prior emergency routine; sedation, examination and x-rays. The doctors consulted with the Orthopedic surgeon after their exam. It was decided that it would be best to remove the pins and the remaining outside fixator bar (ESF) from Gulliver’s jaw....a week earlier than was planned.

The surgery went well and the surgeon felt that Gulliver's jaw had healed well. He was monitored for the day to make sure there were no further complications. They prescribed pain medication and asked that he be watched closely.

Gulliver has been a fighter throughout this ordeal. Let us hope this is the last round he has to face.

There have been ups and downs for Gulliver since our last report. He went in for a checkup to see his orthopedic surgeon last week, and the doctor was thrilled with his progress. Everything was healing well. He has been doing great …until last night.

Once again, Gulliver had to return to the emergency room at TUFTS. He arrived a little after midnight. His foster mom noticed that one of the ESF bars helping to hold his jaw bones together appeared to be loose and he was bleeding again. Gulliver was noticeably in distress; pacing and drooling blood. Our sweet Gully was obviously in considerable pain. The mere motion of getting near his jaw made him cry.

Once at TUFTS, they had to sedate Gully before he could be examined because he was in so much pain. The next step was to take x-rays. The doctors told us that Gulliver may need major surgery once again but they wouldn't know for sure until the orthopedic surgeon examined him (If you remember, Gulliver’s previous emergency visit entailed shortening the pins that were cutting into his flesh, which made the bar less stable).

We waited for the surgeon’s call and received promising news that, instead of surgery, Gulliver’s repaired jaw fracture was strong enough to withstand removal of the loose bar on his right side. They left the bar on the left side of his jaw in place and he is not scheduled to be checked again until May 28 as long as there are no further complications before that date.

Gulliver still needs your prayers and donations. He still has a long road to travel.

A quick update about Gulliver from his foster mom:

“While Gulliver has not had an easy life up until now, don't tell him that! He is a true testament of the dog spirit that keeps us smiling every day.

Gulliver doesn’t act like he has a bunch of pins in his jaw holding his bones together. The way he has been able to recover from being hit by a car and grueling surgery, then adjusting to the external skeletal fixator (ESF) on his jaw, is truly remarkable!

I remember the day I saw the photos of his jaw, prior to surgery. I was amazed at how unique this little guy really was. Before and after his surgery, his little butt wiggle has never changed!

I know Gulliver is patiently awaiting his forever home while he continues to heal. However, he is enjoying his stay with his foster mommy, the cats, bloodhound and foster boxer brother.”

Gulliver is scheduled for a post op visit with his orthopedic surgeon later in the week. We are hoping for a positive report.

Here is the latest update on “Gully”:

Several days after Gulliver’s surgery, his foster mom noticed considerable bleeding from the left side of his mouth and immediately took him back to the emergency room at Tuft’s.

Gulliver was sedated so they could perform a complete oral examination. Findings included two pins on the left side of the mandible (jaw) slightly protruding towards the base of the tongue.

A 4x2 erosion/abrasion was identified on the left underside of the tongue from which there was bleeding. It was presumably caused by one of the pins that was protruding from the left mandible. Initially there was considerable tissue swelling when the doctor’s repaired his jaw and as the swelling reduced the pins became more prominent. To protect the oral cavity a rubber catheter tip was placed over the end of the offending pin.

The following day Gully was sedated again, and the pin that was rubbing on his tongue was cut and blunted so it did not rub and stick into his flesh. Luckily the External Fixator was still stable and intact. He received more antibiotics and pain medication.

Gulliver was groggy after the procedure, but he was happy to be back home. His foster mom reports, “he is doing so much better and is now able to eat and drink on his own”.

Hopefully there will be no more unplanned visits to the doctor. Please continue to keep Gulliver in your thoughts and prayers.

A Crushed Jaw Did Not Break Gulliver’s Spirit

GULLIVER

A State Trooper found a young boxer we named Gulliver cowering in the bushes on the side of the highway after he was apparently hit by a vehicle and left to die. The officer coaxed him out of his hiding place where he had taken refuge. He scooped Gulliver up and gingerly placed him in his cruiser; he immediately knew this poor frightened boxer needed emergency medical attention.

The doctor at the animal hospital examined Gulliver, stabilized him, and determined that he would need to be treated by an orthopedic specialist to get the best care. He had a severely broken jaw, several broken teeth, multiple scrapes and bruises, and a pneumothorax (air in the chest cavity). At this point NBR received the call asking if we could help. We immediately made arrangements to take Gulliver to the emergency facility at Tufts Small Animal Hospital.

When we arrived to pick up Gulliver we did not know what to expect. We were horrified to see his lower jaw dangling like a broken twig, but we were amazed at his fortitude. The hospital staff could not say enough about his courageous spirit; obviously he won their hearts. The staff did an excellent job stabilizing his injuries. They treated him with special care, and were sad to see him go.

When we arrived at Tufts emergency, they took Gulliver in immediately. His case was the most critical in a waiting room full of patients. We anxiously awaited word on his prognosis. The doctors that examined him could not take x-rays of his jaw due the pneumothrorax; this procedure would require sedation. They felt he was stable enough to wait for the orthopedic specialist to evaluate him further the following day. They told us it was questionable that Gulliver’s lower jaw could be saved. They kept him in ICU, administered IV fluids and pain medication, and kept a watchful eye on him throughout the night.

The next day we received a call from the orthopedic surgeon. Upon examination he felt that Gulliver was stable enough for surgery and he was ready to attempt the repair. Unfortunately, the surgeon’s exam still revealed an injury so severe that it was questionable if the jaw could be saved. His upper mandible was also fractured, but this break was not the main concern. Both sides of the bone on his lower mandible were completely sheared off and part of the bone had been ground to dust. We gave the OK to the surgeon to do whatever he could and we prayed for the best. We knew if anyone could save Gulliver’s jaw it would be Dr. McCarthy.

After three hours of grueling surgery, we received the awaited call. All but the front segment of the jaw that held Gulliver’s incisors were able to be saved. The repair required alignment of the pieces of his jaw. The bone was stabilized with wire, and four metal pins were inserted on each side. Everything is held together by a formidable metal external fixation devise. Gulliver did well throughout this long ordeal. He was doing well enough that the doctors felt he could go home in two or three days.

We had a brief scare the following day. They called to report that Gulliver was running a fever. Due to the severity of his injury, and the complexity of the surgery, there is always the possibility that an infection or tissue failure could cause the repair to go bad. Luckily this proved not to be the case… for now. The doctors prescribed a stronger antibiotic and once again Gulliver defied the odds.

Gulliver has been released from the hospital and is recuperating from surgery with his foster family. Gulliver has two skin sutures on his lower lip that are absorb-able and will fall out on their own. The sutures in his mouth are also absorbable and will not need to be removed. These should dissolve within four to six weeks.

Gulliver will need to have more radiographs taken in six to eight weeks to evaluate how his bone is healing. If the mandible is healing appropriately the External Skeletal Fixator may be able to be removed at the end of that period. Gulliver is on three types of medication: Rimadyl (an anti-inflammatory), Clindamycin (an antibiotic), and Tramadol (a narcotic pain medication).

This brave boy has many more obstacles to overcome, but his spunky attitude will no doubt help with his recovery. Everyone who has come in contact with Gulliver has made a point of commenting on his incredible spirit.

Photographs of Gulliver's surgery can be VIEWED HERE

As you might imagine the bills for Gulliver’s care are high, and we desperately need your financial support. NBR strives to give the best care available to all of the dogs in our rescue program and our funds are repeatedly being drained. We do not want to be faced with turning away another Gulliver, Winslow, Diamond, Cobe, Jewel, or the many other injured boxers we have taken in over the years who have needed costly help.

If you can help with the medical care for Gulliver
You can send a check directly to: Northeastern Boxer Rescue
P.O. Box 95 Sunderland MA 01375. or use

makes it easy and secure to send payments online via credit card.

The following are Gulliver’s post-op instructions that need to be followed:

1. Exercise restriction: Gulliver should have some degree of exercise restriction for the next 8-10 weeks. He should be walked on a leash. When he is left alone he should be in a restricted area, such as a large crate or a small room. He should not be allowed to play with toys or chew bones as that would disrupt the healing of his mandible.

2. Incision: Gulliver has an incision under his chin on the left side. Please watch the incision carefully for swelling, discoloration or discharge. A small amount of reddening or swelling around the incision is normal after this type of surgery. In order to promote healing of this site, warm compress the site 2-3 times a day for five minutes for the next five days. Also, place antibiotic ointment over the area after the compresses.

Gulliver also has an open incision on the left side of his jaw where the tube that allowed him to breath in surgery was placed. This will heal on its own in the next couple of weeks. Clean the area twice daily with warm water and wash cloth.

3. External Skeletal Fixator (ESF): Please use a Q-tip to gently clean around the area where the pins exit the skin one to two times a day. A small amount of clear or bloody discharge would be normal but there should not be pus colored discharge. Use a cloth to clean the ESF itself if food or hair accumulates on the bars or around the clamps. If Gulliver scratches at the device, please use the E-collar that was sent home with him.

4. Food: Gulliver should eat soft food only. It does not have to be a gruel - can food is fine as long as there are no chunks of meat that he has to chew.

If you are interested in adopting this dog, please fill out an online application first. Then e-mail the contact below. Be sure to include your full name, city, state, and area code in the subject line of your message.