Update on Frank and Delilah

After the best part of a week of treatment, care and love Frank and Delilah have really come on in leaps and bounds. They are both really loving hounds, happy to play with the other resident hounds, happy to cuddle up together and have a nap. They are still very much bonded, but they are not now as worried to be away from each other. They like to know where the other is, but they are both happy to trundle off and do their own thing and meet up again when they are ready.

Delilah certainly isn’t protecting Frank as much anymore. Although Frank is a bit of a drama lama when it comes to medication and when he puts on his best walrus impression, Delilah will be there as quick as a flash to make sure he’s OK.

Their eyes are looking so much healthier, their skin so much clearer, their ears are getting cleaner, Delilah’s UTI, although still present is clearing and Frank’s scrotum is so much cleaner and the skin healthier.

Welfare Surgery

They went to the vets on Monday this week on a planned appointment, this was their second vet check since they’ve been in our care. We knew they both needed surgery so this appointment was to see whether they were now healthy enough to have what was deemed as “Welfare Operations” ie surgery that really cannot wait any longer than needed to ensure they are healthy and the risk of any infection was reduced.

If they had to wait any longer for the Welfare Operations, they were both at risk of further illness, in Frank’s case this could be fatal.

The vet decided that the risk of secondary infection and complications due to health issues present when they arrived with us, were, on the balance of probability, minimal compared to the impact on their on going health, and they were both booked in for surgery on Tuesday (yesterday).

Delilah

Poor lady Delilah had massive dental surgery on Tuesday. The teeth that were removed were rotten, nerve ends were showing, food and plaque had compacted so badly this was spreading up into her gums. Her mouth was badly infected. As we know, infections in the mouth can spread quickly to other parts of the body and cause serious issues elsewhere.

Delilah had most of her canines and molars removed yesterday. Because of the size of the teeth and the compaction into her gums this involved a lot of cutting into her gums and stitches.

We know she is going to feel so much better once she has recovered from this surgery.

She is back home with her foster with antibiotics and pain relief.

Frank

Frank’s surgery was also severe and more complex than initially thought. We knew, until the vet was actually operating they could not know what was going on inside his testicles and scrotum.

The vet was fairly certain that he had an inguinal hernia before the surgery started, and this was confirmed as the surgery progressed.

This occurs when internal organs/tissue protrude through the inguinal ring. This is an opening near the pelvis. The hernia can then pass through the ring into the scrotum. This can cause huge issues and complications if the herniated contents then become trapped in the scrotum.

In Frank’s case the inguinal ring was the size of a 50p coin and parts of his abdomen had passed through into his scrotum. The abdomen, is of course there to keep all organ protected and inside the body of the dog. Because parts of his abdomen had passed through this was leaving a huge risk that Frank’s stomach, bowel and bladder could well have started to pass through the inguinal ring also. If this had happened this would have been fatal.

So the vet has managed to put Frank’s abdomen back where it should be, closed the inguinal ring to about the size of a 5p coin. This has to remain open otherwise the blood flow to Frank’s legs would be cut off.

Frank’s testicles and scrotum, including all of that stretched skin has been removed. Frank’s testicles are showing signs of cancer so this has been sent off for testing. We hope to have the results back quickly.

Frank is also home with two different types of antibiotics and two different types of pain relief.

Future

The future is bright for both Frank and Delilah, as long as they continue to recover, and if Frank did have cancer this has not spread. They have a lot of recovery to be done before we can consider Frank’s eye surgery for the bi-lateral entropion. Delilah is still under treatment for her UTI. We’re hopeful that she will not need eye surgery, but time will tell.

They are both back to the vets on Thursday for a further check up.

Both are up eating this morning. Frank had quite an uncomfortable night, as could be expected. Delilah is up and about tail wagging. They’ve both had their breakfast so all in all very positive.

Fundraising

We are running a raffle at the moment for the hounds in our care, Frank and Delilah included.

This would make a wonderful Easter present, a gift for any dog lover, or yours of course!

We’ve been donated these beautiful, brand new Wrendale items, an across the body walking bag, big enough for phone, keys, an anything else you lug about with you; a poop bag holder; and a treat pouch.

All in the same design of lots of different dog breeds, including of course bassets.

They all clip together so none can get lost. All three items RRP at around £40.00.

They could be yours for £5.00.

Payment to Paypal or bank:-

[email protected]

A/C 52372266 S/C 40-34-27

Reference “Bag”

Raffle will close at 8pm on Sunday 6th April.

If you’d like to purchase a ticket please do so and email [email protected] who will arrange a number for you.

In the meantime, we have included some photo’s below of the surgery (so be warned) and we are sure you will all be in agreement this was needed to ensure the ongoing health of both Frank and Delilah.

Thank you so much for all of your support for these two very special hounds, as well as all the other hounds in our care.

RAFFLE PRIZE