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Maximus
Hi Everyone,
My owner took me to the shelter to have me put to sleep. I was afraid being at that place.
Hi, Maximus here. Max to my friends. Here are a couple of pictures of me in late May 2008. Kinda rough, huh? I really thought I was near the end.
But, I wasn't always in this shape. Once I was someones cherished pet, but then I got older & as I got older, I got sicker. I guess they didn't notice. Anyway, now I have diabetes, hypothyroidism, a heart murmur and a really nasty mouth. Oh, and I'm blind & deaf as well. They also said I'm severely emaciated.
Like I said, I thought I was near the end... especially when the angel appeared! But guess what??? It wasn't an angel at all! It was a DRNA lady & she told me everything was going to be OK & that I would soon feel better again! And if that wasn't enough, she also told me I would get another home that would love & cherish me again. And this time they would take excellent care of me. Of course, I have to wait until I get "regulated", whatever that is, & start feeling better.
 This is the part I need your help with. Getting "regulated" is going to require going to the vet a lot & monitoring my blood sugar. And of course, there's the special diet & insulin shots I get twice a day. I'll also need thyroid & heart medication. And periodic bloodwork to make sure everything is working well together. And once I'm better, I need a dental really bad & I'm probably going to lose some teeth.
So, please contribute what you can to help me. The sooner I get better, the sooner I'll get my new home! And, if by chance you want to be my new home, contact my DRNA angel, I mean, lady.
UPDATE: July 1, 2008
Maximus here. It's now been a month since the DRNA angel appeared and look at me now!!! It's a miracle!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8qghouJ9EU
Yep, you can say the food is "pretty good" here. It's some sort of special mixture my foster mom makes up [she's an excellent puppy dog chef] & I just wish they would give me more of it! [I have gained 1 lb. 13 ozs.] But, my foster mom says I have to gain the weight gradually because of my diabetes. She says she is juggling; feeding me to gain weight, while trying to keep my insulin at the right amount for my weight as it changes and the food I am taking in. So, we're still not where I need to be on the blood glucose, but we're getting closer. And the closer we get, the better I feel.
If we can't get my blood glucose leveled out pretty soon, the vet says we are going to try a different insulin. Oh no, more needles!!! Yikes!
I have to tell you, my eyes have been giving me some trouble lately too. My foster mom says that they kind of expected that. She said that what the drops every other day were for. But they're not working real good now & my eyes hurt.
Maximus has cataracts as a result of his diabetes being uncontrolled for so long. As the cataracts grow, they leak into the lens capsule causing inflammation [uveitis]. Over time, pressure builds up causing pain. If not addressed, they can rupture.
So, I'm probably going to have to go to an eye specialist & thankfully, I don't think they stick you with needles! I won't be able to see again, but my eyes won't hurt all the time. So, that's a good thing. Besides, I get along very nicely not being able to see. I know where everything is! You see, I'm smarter than the average dachshund! I have to be!
Anyway, if things keep going the way they have been, it won't be long before you see me in the "Available Dogs" section. I hope, I hope!!! Yep, my foster mom is going to get me my own Forever Home! If you're interested in me coming to live with you [hint, hint], my foster mom can tell you all the good stuff about me!
Hi, I'm Max's DRNA lady. Really, I'm his foster mom. I would just like to tell you what a wonderful, sweet boy he is. Please help us to help Max. I will post his progress [& pictures] as we get his blood sugar closer to being regulated & his other problems under control.
UPDATE: Monday, July 7th
CRITICAL NEED...
Maximus again. I know a lot of you have been following my story & have sent donations for my care & I really, really appreciate it. I have made a lot of progress, but I had a little [that's the way I choose to look at it] setback today.
I saw the eye vet for the pain in my eyes. He said it was Lens Induced Uveitis that was causing the pressure & pain. The only thing he could do was operate & it had to be done ASAP. Well he did have other options, but trust me, y'all don't want to know about them.
Anyway, this surgery is scheduled for first thing tomorrow morning, so please, everyone think warm, healing thoughts for me. This surgery will cost $ 2,000, so if you happen to have a few extra dollars, I could really use them now. And please don't forget to think good thoughts for me & my surgeon in the morning too!
From Maximus' Foster Mom:
I just want everyone to know that his situation is truly life or death. We are unable to control the inflammation & pain with meds.
His options are immediate surgery to relieve the pressure & pain, removal of his
eyes or euthanization. We have elected for the surgery as it could, in addition to relieving the pressure & pain, potentially restore some of his sight & euthanization would have been such a shame, given the situation he has overcome thus far. He has been such a trooper & would have never made it without that dachshund tenacity. He's definitely true to his breed in that respect! Do keep him in your prayers in the morning.
Maximus surgery update: 7/9/08
Maximus had his surgery yesterday & according to his surgeon, the surgery went well. Once healed, he should not have any further inflammation or pain. So his surgery was a success! It is not known yet whether Maximus' surgery will restore his vision or if it does, to what extent. We should know in a couple of days to a couple of weeks. So for now, we are watching & waiting. And of course, taking care of Maximus!!!
Our focus now will be his recovery [he returns for a post op check-up with the surgeon in 2 weeks] & getting his blood sugar back under control. It is common for diabetics blood sugar to elevate due to a surgical procedure.
The picture of him is shortly after returning home.
UPDATE July 17th
 Maximus here! I've been kinda taking it easy, you know, recovering from my eye surgery last week. But, I'm back now! I know my foster mom told y'all I had the surgery & the eye vet said it went well...no more inflammation & pain once I've healed. But I have even bigger & better news...
I CAN SEE! You just wouldn't believe all I have done since getting my vision back. I stopped & smelled a pretty yellow hibiscus flower, saw a squirrel & chased it up the tree, but I forgot dogs can't go up the tree, so it got away and saw some toys to play with. And I can finally see my foster mom! She's been following me everywhere taking pictures of all my new activities. I'm such a lucky boy! Thank you, thank you DRNA & all the kind people out there that support DRNA to help boys like me!
I am going back to the eye vet on Tuesday & hopefully, he will release me & I can stop getting drops in my eyes. And, I'll be glad too! My foster mom interrupts me 7 times a day just to put drops in my eyes!
You see, these drops cause my blood sugar to elevate. That's been the only bad part of this. But my foster mom says not to worry, we'll get it back under control again. That's exactly what I'm worried about. Here we go again...more vet visits & more needles!!! Oh NO!!!
Please continue to think good thoughts for Maximus. Hopefully, he will be released from the eye surgeon on Tuesday & we can begin the next phase of his journey with his regular vet.
UPDATE: August 6
OK, folks, I'm back again. I know y'all have missed me. Me & my DRNA lady have been very busy over the past couple of weeks.
I'm on a new insulin now & it's working for me much better that the other one. Even though it's working better, it was no fun at all getting there. I was feeling like a pin cushion! My DRNA lady was testing me every 2 hours. She called it a blood glucose curve, but I call it torture! But, I have to say, I feel much better now!
So good, in fact, I'm starting to think about going to my new Forever Home! Anybody out there want a great fellow like me to come live with you? If so, please contact my DRNA lady. I've already told her everything to say! And I'll be ready in a very few weeks. I have to get my mouth cleaned first. Otherwise, you really couldn't enjoy my kisses!
And for your viewing pleasure, he's video of me playing with a kong & out checking out the backyard!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dO2PR7NGGik
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqX8553l_FY
Yep, I'm a whole new boy in just two short months thanks to DRNA & all you kind people that support DRNA to help boys like me!
To read about dogs that have needed help in the past, you can read our archives.
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Itty Bitty
Hi Everyone,
My owner took me to the shelter to have me put to sleep. I was afraid being at that place.  I could hear all these dogs barking and the people were saying that I was not adoptable and my last day would be Friday 4/18/08. Someone then said rescue would take me and Saturday morning I was put in a crate and onto a transport. I did not know what was going on. Then I met this lady who said she was my foster mom and all would be just fine cause I was safe. My foster mom said I was very pretty and smart. I gave her a big kiss and I wagged my tail. My foster mom let me sleep in something caleed a big bed and she slept in with me and I snuggled close to her all night long. I go to the vet on Monday 4/21/2008 to be evaluated and come up with a game plan to help me get better.
My foster mom says, I need a dental, probably need to be spayed, ointment for my ears so they will heal, and need treatment for my eyes.. I have chronic dry eye for sure the eye vet needs to examine me. I need to put on weight. I am always hungry. I weigh 4 pounds and am about 6 years old.
I am not scared no more.
Update 5/5/2008
I went back to the vet today and they said I am doing better. I have put on 1 pound. I now weigh 6.5 pounds, my foster mom says I still look very very skinny. The vet cleared me medically so I can proceed to get spayed and have my teeth cleaned. It costs more for us older dogs to have these procedures cause we lose more teeth and they have to do extra stuff to make sure we are ok while having surgery.
The vet said all the scars on my eyes have healed but I still cannot produce any tears. That means I have to have 1 drop of medicine put in my eyes everyday for the rest of my life. I used to hate the drops but they make my eyes not hurt so now I don't fuss so much when I get them. My eye drops are 50 dollars a month. I think that is like 400 milk bones in dog money. My foster mom says she believes someone will help me and donate a couple bucks to make sure I can get my meds.
Thank you for reading about me. I'll check back in after I have my surgeries.
UPDATE 6/23/2008
I now weigh 6 pounds 6 ounces. Foster mom says I am still skinny looking. Vet says I am blind, foster mom thinks I can see a tiny bit. My eye meds have helped my dry eye problems so much. All I need is one drop a day in both eyes.
I had my spay and dental and I only lost one tooth. It was a canine tooth and it was really long and left a great big hole in the top of my mouth that runs all the way to my nasal cavity. The vet sewed a flap over it but I must have sneezed the flap open. My foster mom says my breath was wonderful for about 2 weeks after my dental work and now it is back to horrid. Might have something to do with my flap. I seem to be prone to bouts of messy stool. Vet can't find any cause as to why so I need to take a really cheap medicince (Metronidazole) when I have these flare ups. My mom says I have moments of thinking I am the alpha dog around here. I am sure that means I am the precious little dainty angel. I hope to get all regulated soon.
To read about dogs that have needed help in the past, you can read our archives.
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