ONE STARFISH REHOMING CONNECTIONS - MAX

STARFISH MAX
GOES TO ANOTHER VET
18 FEBRUARY 2011

Marti writes:
We took Max to an excellent holistic veterinarian
who has performed miracles with some of our previous special needs dogs.

Dr. Jodie has such a gentle way with animals that she was able to instill ear medicine in his ears without his putting up a fuss; now that his ears feel a little better, we will be able to continue treating his ears, which will enable us to forego the treatment (under anesthesia) that we had planned next week with our regular vet.

While Dr. Jodie couldn't rule out mange as one of the causes of Max's hair loss, she told us that sometimes unneutered male dogs can have an excessive amount of testosterone which can cause this type of hair loss. She also ran a thyroid test (which my traditional vet had failed to do), but we won't get the results back on that for about a week.

She gave Max a medicated soaking bath while he was at the clinic and then she sent home with us a number of different herbs & supplements, a natural (herb-based) medicated shampoo, special soothing oils for his skin, etc. etc. (The bill was over $600, but I have no doubt that it was worth it!)

Dr. Jodie still feels we need to wait a few weeks to neuter Max,
as the skin "down there" is still crusty and infected,
which would make healing after surgery more difficult.

But overall, Max is already feeling better today, and I think after seeing the pictures we took just this afternoon, you'll agree that he looks happier and more comfortable. I don't think he had ever played with a ball before, and - as you can see - he's having a great time!

What a noble creature he is;
what a brave and loving fellow . . . .

Is it just my imagination, or in some of the pictures,
does it seem as though he's starting to feel proud of himself?

PAM SIMPSON:
Oh my goodness. He looks so much better already. I am so HAPPY to see him running and playing! Keep up the good work! !

LYNN O'SHAUGHNESSY:
Even if he doesn't look very pretty right now, he sure has that gleam in his eye and his spirit has returned. What a wonderful story.

JEANNE PLAUTH:
A million thank yous for the photos; it just makes my day to see him running and playing. He is such a magnificent-looking boy and to see him launch himself into the air in glee is just the best!

NEAL SKRENES:
YAY MAX! Go, dog, go!

Marti adds:
Until this weekend, we didn't feel Max felt good enough to run like that.
But today we thought he was ready, so we took him to the dog park,
in a small fenced area where there weren't any other dogs,
since we're still not sure his skin problem isn't mange.
(He needs one more treatment of Revolution, just to be safe,
before he can play with the other dogs.)
He acted like a kid who just got out of school for the summer.
Running and acting silly. It was beautiful to see!

STARFISH MAX, THE PUREBRED
STICK-FETCHING SHEPHERD HERE

STARFISH MAX GOES TO ANOTHER VET 18 FEBRUARY 2011
Marti writes: We took Max to an excellent holistic veterinarian who has performed miracles with some of our previous special needs dogs.
Dr. Jodie has such a gentle way with animals that she was able to instill ear medicine in his ears without his putting up a fuss; now that his ears feel a little better, we will be able to continue treating his ears, which will enable us to forego the treatment (under anesthesia) that we had planned next week with our regular vet.
While Dr. Jodie couldn't rule out mange as one of the causes of Max's hair loss, she told us that sometimes unneutered male dogs can have an excessive amount of testosterone which can cause this type of hair loss. She also ran a thyroid test (which my traditional vet had failed to do), but we won't get the results back on that for about a week.
	She gave Max a medicated soaking bath while he was at the clinic and then she sent home with us a number of different herbs & supplements, a natural (herb-based) medicated shampoo, special soothing oils for his skin, etc. etc. (The bill was over $600, but I have no doubt that it was worth it!)
Dr. Jodie still feels we need to wait a few weeks to neuter Max, as the skin "down there" is still crusty and infected, which would make healing after surgery more difficult. But overall, Max is already feeling better today, and I think after seeing the pictures we took just this afternoon, you'll agree that he looks happier and more comfortable. I don't think he had ever played with a ball before, and - as you can see - he's having a great time!
What a noble creature he is; what a brave and loving fellow . . . .
Is it just my imagination, or in some of the pictures, does it seem as though he's starting to feel proud of himself? PAM SIMPSON: Oh my goodness. He looks so much better already. I am so HAPPY to see him running and playing! Keep up the good work! ! LYNN O'SHAUGHNESSY: Even if he doesn't look very pretty right now, he sure has that gleam in his eye and his spirit has returned. What a wonderful story. JEANNE PLAUTH: A million thank yous for the photos; it just makes my day to see him running and playing. He is such a magnificent-looking boy and to see him launch himself into the air in glee is just the best! NEAL SKRENES: YAY MAX! Go, dog, go! Marti adds: Until this weekend, we didn't feel Max felt good enough to run like that. But today we thought he was ready, so we took him to the dog park, in a small fenced area where there weren't any other dogs, since we're still not sure his skin problem isn't mange. (He needs one more treatment of Revolution, just to be safe, before he can play with the other dogs.) He acted like a kid who just got out of school for the summer. Running and acting silly. It was beautiful to see!