Bubba 17-103

Profile

Bubba is a 12-year-old Golden Retriever. He was surrendered by an elderly couple who could no longer care for him. Bubba gets along great with other dogs and cats, but he prefers to spend time with his family.

At a Glance #17-103

Golden Retriever Born: May 2005
Male 85 lbs

Status: Deceased

Bubba's Sponsors

Bubba's Well-wishers

Anonymous
Michelle Y.
Happy Spring! "The smile on this sweet boy's face reminds me so much of my best buddy, Dusty, who is so loved and missed. Best wishes, Bubba!"

Profile

Bubba is a 12-year-old Golden Retriever. He was surrendered by an elderly couple who could no longer care for him. Bubba gets along great with other dogs and cats, but he prefers to spend time with his family.

Updates

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

I am heartbroken to let everyone know that Bubba has passed away. He contracted leptospirosis, and the infection caused him to go into kidney failure. When Bubba first came to live with us, he was a unique challenge because of his "growly buttons." But I never held it against him, because I knew his world had been turned upside down when he was surrendered to the shelter. Little by little (and with a lot of hot dogs), Bubba and I eventually learned to trust each other. We developed a special bond that I will treasure forever. It is never easy to make the decision to say goodbye, but dignity is so important. Bubba left us as the majestic Golden Retriever he was meant to be. Bubba - we miss you and we will always love you.

Thursday, November 2, 2017

Bubba has made nearly a full recovery from his illness. We've gone back to walking the same route that we did before, and he seems quite pleased to be out and about. Bubba is enjoying the cooler weather and was really excited about the first snowflakes of the season! He may be somewhat slower now, so we take a few short breaks along the way. Sometimes Bubba loses his balance or stumbles a little, but it's fairly minor. His appetite is great, and he's even interested in foods that he rejected when he first came to live with us. He wouldn't even look at a green bean before, and now he loves them!

Bubba has developed an interesting new behavior over the last couple of weeks. He has started grooming the three resident dogs! He likes to lick the tops of their heads until they're pretty well soaked. It's very cute, and it's funny to see the other dogs walking around with wet heads. He also seems to be trying to play with them! It doesn't last very long...just a few seconds here and there...but it's wonderful to see him so happy and animated.

Overall, I think Bubba is happily exploring his world and figuring out to be part of his pack. You really are never too old to learn!

Thursday, November 2, 2017

Bubba has made nearly a full recovery from his illness. We've gone back to walking the same route that we did before, and he seems quite pleased to be out and about. Bubba is enjoying the cooler weather and was really excited about the first snowflakes of the season! He may be somewhat slower now, so we take a few short breaks along the way. Sometimes Bubba loses his balance or stumbles a little, but it's fairly minor. His appetite is great, and he's even interested in foods that he rejected when he first came to live with us. He wouldn't even look at a green bean before, and now he loves them!

Bubba has developed an interesting new behavior over the last couple of weeks. He has started grooming the three resident dogs! He likes to lick the tops of their heads until they're pretty well soaked. It's very cute, and it's funny to see the other dogs walking around with wet heads. He also seems to be trying to play with them! It doesn't last very long...just a few seconds here and there...but it's wonderful to see him so happy and animated.

Overall, I think Bubba is happily exploring his world and figuring out to be part of his pack. You really are never too old to learn!

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

I am happy to report that Bubba has improved considerably over the past two weeks. He is eating well and can walk without assistance. However, Bubba is still wobbly and falls occasionally, so we keep a close eye on him when he goes outside. He has a hard time with stairs, so Bubba uses a ramp to go from the deck to the backyard. To help Bubba rebuild his strength, we've started taking very short walks around the block, and Bubba is so happy to be out and about. He even barked at our neighbor, which was music to my ears!

Sunday, September 3, 2017

Earlier this week, Bubba started having extreme difficulty walking and standing. It looked like he was unable to move his legs in a coordinated manner. He also had diarrhea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and involuntary movement of the eyes from side to side (nystagmus). The vet said that the problem is most likely in his brain. Without brain imaging, we can't be sure what is going on, but the two most likely possibilities are a brain tumor or a stroke. Unfortunately, not much can be done other than trying to get Bubba to eat and drink, so Bubba was started on anti-nausea medication.

We've spent the past few days trying to find foods that he will eat. At first, the only thing Bubba would eat was bison. However, he's starting to accept small amounts of other foods such as eggs, potatoes, and oatmeal. As for mobility, at first Bubba could barely stand or walk without help. It took two people to help him walk. However, he slowly improved to where one person can support him with a towel sling. Although Bubba is doing better, we would be grateful if everyone would keep him in their thoughts and prayers.

Monday, August 14, 2017

Bubba was neutered on 6/22, and the procedure went well. His weight is down to about 85 pounds, and his target weight is about 82 pounds, so he's almost there. He hasn't vomited at all since discontinuing the oral antibiotics, so that may have been the problem. The sores on his hind legs are still healing, but we don't worry about them much anymore. The sore on his right side is completely closed. The sore on his left side is still closing slowly, but Bubba no longer licks it, which suggests that there is no discomfort. Our vet suggested treating the left sore daily with a topical antibiotic to keep the skin soft. So we put it on at bedtime along with Bubba's "party hat" (aka the cone) to keep him from licking the medication.

Since his last update, there have been no more new growly buttons or personality surprises, so we're starting to feel like we know Bubba pretty well. He's responding much better when told "no"... usually he just walks away. Bubba is also much less reactive to nail trimming. He still doesn't like it, but he doesn't get nearly as upset, and he's starting to realize that he gets treats when he's calm. Overall, life with Bubba is becoming more peaceful and routine. Since his sores look so much better, we're going to take him swimming soon!

Sunday, June 18, 2017

Bubba would like to thank Summit and Piper for sponsoring him, and he would also like to thank Michelle Y. for his spring carrot!

Bubba went for a recheck after 28 days of antibiotics, and Dr. J. was happy to see that the active infection is gone. At that time, the sores were still slightly open, so she prescribed another 14 days of antibiotics to make sure that the infection does not return. Dr. J. said that Bubba is now well enough to be neutered, so the procedure is scheduled for 6/22.

We're still discovering new facets of Bubba's personality. Although he is easy-going most of the time, Bubba has a few "growly buttons". In addition to disliking nail trimming and being told "no", he gets really growly after he vomits... especially if we try to clean it up. This post-vomiting growliness has only happened twice, but out of an abundance of caution, his family requirement has been changed to "no children". We would not want a child to accidentally press one of his growly buttons. On a lighter note, Bubba is starting to play! He likes to chase and squish a deflated soccer ball, and he thinks that bouncing tennis balls are just hilarious! Or is it the sight of Foster Mom chasing a bouncing tennis ball that is so amusing?!

Sunday, June 4, 2017

Bubba is doing very well! He went for a checkup after two weeks of antibiotics and ear medication. Dr. J. said that his ears looked much better, but she was concerned that the sores were still very open. So she prescribed another two weeks of oral and topical antibiotics. Dr. J. also suggested starting Bubba on Vetprofen for arthritis in his hind legs. We just finished the second round of antibiotics, and the sores look much better. Bubba is going to see Dr. J. for a recheck in a few days. I am also happy to report that Bubba has lost weight! At his last checkup, he weighed 90 pounds, and I'm sure he's lost a couple more since then. Between the Vetprofen and weight loss, Bubba is much more comfortable and enjoying his walks. He even does a little happy dance when we come home!


The worst sore before antibiotics


The same sore after 28 days of antibiotics

Bubba is clearly more relaxed at home now. He still likes to know where I am, but he doesn't follow me around quite so much. We're starting to get to know him better, and we get the distinct impression that Bubba is not used to following rules and being told "no". He really wants to harass my pet rabbit, and he gets a little growly when I tell him "no". But he's learning, and I'm sure he'll get better with time. Our vet suggested redirecting him to a desired behavior and then rewarding the good behavior. Bubba responds well to this approach since he likes his rewards, even if it's just a good head scratch. We're still working on getting him used to nail trimming, and he's making good progress. I suspect that one day he won't mind at all. Overall, Bubba is settling in nicely and becoming a good buddy dog.

Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Please welcome Bubba to the RAGOM family! Bubba is a 12-year-old purebred Golden Retriever. He was surrendered to a shelter by an elderly couple who could no longer care for him. Bubba is up to date on his vaccinations, microchipped, and negative on both fecal and heartworm tests. At his first checkup, Bubba weighed in at 94 pounds, so we affectionately refer to him as Bubba the Great! He has not yet been neutered because we need to clear up some medical issues first. When Bubba was picked up at the shelter, he had sores on both hind legs that were most likely caused by laying on a rough surface. Unfortunately, the sores became infected from his licking them so much. Both ears were also infected and inflamed. So Bubba is taking oral antibiotics and ear medication for two weeks, and he has to wear the dreaded cone of shame to prevent licking. Fortunately, Bubba has been a good sport about his treatment. As soon as the sores have healed, he will be neutered.

As for personality, Bubba is a typical senior gentleman. He gets along great with the resident dogs and cats, though he prefers to spend time with Foster Mom. As with many foster dogs who have undergone a major life change, Bubba does not want to lose sight of me. Fortunately, I work in my home office, so Bubba enjoys my company most of the day. He loves his walks and does very well on a lead. The only minor hiccup so far is that Bubba absolutely hates having his nails trimmed, so I've been slowly introducing him to the Dremel. He's learning that it doesn't hurt at all and that the Dremel makes hot dogs magically appear!

If you think Bubba would be a good fit in your home, please submit an "Inquiry for Application" form. If you have already filled out an "Inquiry for Application" form, please send an email to applicationatragom [dot] org with Bubba's name, his RAGOM number, the name you submitted the Inquiry for Application form under, and a sentence or two why you feel you'd be a good match.

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