Evy (Satie 15-313)

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Sponsored by:

The Stigen Family
"Best wishes for a full recovery for this beautiful girl!"

Lottie, our Christmas Angel

Rachel and Josh Blanke
"In loving memory of Emma"

The Hayes Family
"A wonderfully golden life is our wish for you, sweet girl!"

 

In addition to LOVE this dog has the following requirements:
Date Posted Fence Kid Friendly Another Dog Cat Friendly
 12/16/15 Optional  Yes Optional  Yes
This is the most recent information available; however, it may change as we learn more about the dog.

Satie is a 10.5-month-old, female, spayed, purebred Golden Retriever, who will be turning one year old on January 31, 2016. She was surrendered to RAGOM due to her owner’s increased traveling and inability to bring her with. Satie is completely housebroken, even though she lived the first 10 months of her life as an outdoor dog. She is not destructive in the house unless it is her babies, a.k.a. stuffed toys, or Kleenex that she picks out of the garbage. She has taught Foster Mom to monitor her babies for loose limbs and to empty garbage cans frequently. Satie believes everyone and everything has been put on this earth to be her friend, especially people. She tends to shy away from really hyperactive dogs, but she has gotten the older resident dog to play with her and is still trying to convince the cats that a game of chase is fun. Satie knows basic obedience commands and walks wells on a leash and has excellent recall for her Foster Mom.

Unfortunately, Satie is not available at this point for adoption. In the three weeks that I have had her, she has been treated for coccidia; has had X-rays of her feet and hocks, abdomen and chest, plus lab work; and has been on multiple antibiotics. This poor girl has been through a lot, but maintains a cheerful attitude and continues to follow her FM from room to room and up and down stairs despite her trouble with going down the stairs. Satie has an abnormal gait that is being evaluated. She does have mild hip dysplasia in her left hip and hyperextends her tarsus (joint above her foot) and drags her back feet when walking. When she walks, she needs to walk on grass or wear boots; otherwise, she will wear her toenails down to the point of bleeding. Along with her joint problems, she was evaluated and determined to have canine megaesophagus. Megaesophagus is when the muscles of the esophagus fails and it cannot propel food or water into the stomach. The result is that ingested food or water sits in the esophagus and never makes it to the abdomen and is regurgitated up. At one point, she was regurgitating 15 times a day. FM is feeding her soft food made into meatballs 4 times a day and holding her in an upright position and keeping her in that position for a half hour after she eats. At the present time, Satie is on metoclopramide, Pepcid, and Carafate for her megaesophagus. Satie is also presently being treated for aspiration pneumonia and on antibiotics for that, in adition to all her meds for megaesophagus . Aspiration pneumonia is a serious complication of megaesophagus and it occurs when the digestive fluid/food pools in the esophagus and results in aspiration of digestive fluid/food into the lungs, leading to pneumonia. She went back to the RAGOM vet for more lab work to try and determine the cause of her megaesophagus . There are certain conditions that contribute to megaesophagus and could also be the cause of her joint instability. We are awaiting the results. She will then be going to an internist for further treatment. She will also need to go back to the RAGOM vet for a repeat chest X-ray to make sure her lungs are clear. It will be a long road for this sweet girl.

Satie has challenged the vet and RAGOM with her illnesses and she will be challenging them more before she is healthy. This sweet girl has a ways to go before she is healthy enough to be adoptable and may need continued medication and/or devices to assist her living a healthy and happy life, but she will shower you with Golden Kisses to last a lifetime.

 

At a Glance #15-313

Golden Retriever Born: January 2015
Female 49 lbs

Status: Deceased

Profile

Sponsored by:

The Stigen Family
"Best wishes for a full recovery for this beautiful girl!"

Lottie, our Christmas Angel

Rachel and Josh Blanke
"In loving memory of Emma"

The Hayes Family
"A wonderfully golden life is our wish for you, sweet girl!"

 

In addition to LOVE this dog has the following requirements:
Date Posted Fence Kid Friendly Another Dog Cat Friendly
 12/16/15 Optional  Yes Optional  Yes
This is the most recent information available; however, it may change as we learn more about the dog.

Satie is a 10.5-month-old, female, spayed, purebred Golden Retriever, who will be turning one year old on January 31, 2016. She was surrendered to RAGOM due to her owner’s increased traveling and inability to bring her with. Satie is completely housebroken, even though she lived the first 10 months of her life as an outdoor dog. She is not destructive in the house unless it is her babies, a.k.a. stuffed toys, or Kleenex that she picks out of the garbage. She has taught Foster Mom to monitor her babies for loose limbs and to empty garbage cans frequently. Satie believes everyone and everything has been put on this earth to be her friend, especially people. She tends to shy away from really hyperactive dogs, but she has gotten the older resident dog to play with her and is still trying to convince the cats that a game of chase is fun. Satie knows basic obedience commands and walks wells on a leash and has excellent recall for her Foster Mom.

Unfortunately, Satie is not available at this point for adoption. In the three weeks that I have had her, she has been treated for coccidia; has had X-rays of her feet and hocks, abdomen and chest, plus lab work; and has been on multiple antibiotics. This poor girl has been through a lot, but maintains a cheerful attitude and continues to follow her FM from room to room and up and down stairs despite her trouble with going down the stairs. Satie has an abnormal gait that is being evaluated. She does have mild hip dysplasia in her left hip and hyperextends her tarsus (joint above her foot) and drags her back feet when walking. When she walks, she needs to walk on grass or wear boots; otherwise, she will wear her toenails down to the point of bleeding. Along with her joint problems, she was evaluated and determined to have canine megaesophagus. Megaesophagus is when the muscles of the esophagus fails and it cannot propel food or water into the stomach. The result is that ingested food or water sits in the esophagus and never makes it to the abdomen and is regurgitated up. At one point, she was regurgitating 15 times a day. FM is feeding her soft food made into meatballs 4 times a day and holding her in an upright position and keeping her in that position for a half hour after she eats. At the present time, Satie is on metoclopramide, Pepcid, and Carafate for her megaesophagus. Satie is also presently being treated for aspiration pneumonia and on antibiotics for that, in adition to all her meds for megaesophagus . Aspiration pneumonia is a serious complication of megaesophagus and it occurs when the digestive fluid/food pools in the esophagus and results in aspiration of digestive fluid/food into the lungs, leading to pneumonia. She went back to the RAGOM vet for more lab work to try and determine the cause of her megaesophagus . There are certain conditions that contribute to megaesophagus and could also be the cause of her joint instability. We are awaiting the results. She will then be going to an internist for further treatment. She will also need to go back to the RAGOM vet for a repeat chest X-ray to make sure her lungs are clear. It will be a long road for this sweet girl.

Satie has challenged the vet and RAGOM with her illnesses and she will be challenging them more before she is healthy. This sweet girl has a ways to go before she is healthy enough to be adoptable and may need continued medication and/or devices to assist her living a healthy and happy life, but she will shower you with Golden Kisses to last a lifetime.

 

Updates

Monday, October 17, 2016

I really thought no one would take on this happy, fun-loving, beautiful, special-needs girl with all of her health issues. I really thought no one was going to adopt her. But just as she stole the heart of so many inside and outside of RAGOM, Satie stole the heart of Marcie. Stole her heart first from afar and then as she met her. We know from personal experience how easy that is!

Wanting to make sure that she was fully aware of what she was taking on, I described her megaesophagus, regurgitation, connective tissue issue, feeding schedule, med schedule, etc. Marcie was not deterred! She had a trip to Europe planned the day after meeting Satie, and even during that time, I thought Marcie might back out. She didn't!

Satie went to her forever home, and by all accounts, she loves Marcie as much as Marcie loves her. What more could anyone ask for? Well, maybe to be spoiled with more toys than any dog could ever need?

Sunday, September 25, 2016

Satie had a great time at Goldzilla! She wants to thank all of the folks that donated to her walk page--as well as her sponsors The Stigens, the Hayeses, the Blankes, and Lottie! She did get pretty tired--who wouldn't with all the excitement? Enjoy the pictures taken by our friend and fellow volunteer C.

Shhh--we don't want to jinx anything, but Miss Satie has someone waiting to adopt her. Her new Mom is in Europe for another 2 weeks. Final arrangements will be made upon her return.

Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Satie is so patient and calm in her chair. She is so relaxed that she will often doze after dinner. Love this adorable girl!

Monday, August 1, 2016

Wow--we are way overdue for an update on Miss Satie! The summer seems to be flying by, and she has been busy!

But FIRST, Satie wants to give hugs (yes, she does hug) and kisses to the Hayes family for you generous sponsorship of this precious girl! It is support like yours that allows us to continue supporting special-needs pups like Satie. So, thank you so very much! We have to give another shout-out to Satie's others sponsors, too--the Stigen family, Lottie, and the Blankes. She feels your love, and we hope to see you all in September at Goldzilla!

Satie has been busy welcoming doggie guests into her foster home as we have been dog-sitting quite a bit this summer. Satie loves EVERY dog and sees them all as great friends to run, wrestle, and snuggle with. We have never heard a growl or seen a raised lip with this girl. She really is the sweetest dog you can ever imagine.


Wrestling with former foster dog from Turkey, Ely, now known as Sarge

Satie has decided she only wants to eat twice a day now. I am not forcing her to eat. I just divided her daily calorie needs into two meals instead of three. It does make it more difficult to get her daily fluid requirements into her so that we can avoid dehydration. At first, I just added more water to each of her meals, but that led to more regurgitation since the meal was TOO watery. She needs more of an oatmeal consistency to avoid regurgitation and, with it, the risk of aspiration. I looked at loads of information available on the Canine Mega E Facebook page and made her some Knox blocks. It is an unflavored jello that I add a little honey to for flavoring. Then I cut them into little cubes. She LOVES them! Anytime I open the fridge, she is right there, thinking I am going to get her one. :) And she has stopped looking for water in other places.

I had her to the vet for her vaccines and wanted to see if she had lost weight due to the decreased meals. She has not, and the vet said she really only needs to gain a pound or two. She is at 51 pounds.

I can't express adequately how adorable and loving this girl is! Everyone that meets her falls in love. I know that every foster says that about their dog, but when you see this happy-go-lucky dog who is living with connective tissue disorders and also Mega E, it is hard not to fall in love. Yes, she takes some work. I have a little green machine (small carpet cleaner) that I have out for the regurgitation episodes. But her snuggles and the joy she feels and brings to our lives is immeasurable and makes the work so very worth it!


Relaxing in the shade

Friday, July 1, 2016

Satie would like to give a huge shout-out and puppy kisses to Teddy and Riley and Jamie G for the spring icon donations they made for her page!! She knows we could not rescue dogs like her without these donations. Many people would have put a dog like Satie to sleep when they learned of her condition, and we would not judge them. But it is so easy to see why Satie deserves a loving home and forever family of her own. She is so much the typical young Golden! She is ever so sweet and loving. She loves to play and she and my resident Sadie are best friends! I hear them wrestling in the living room as I write this. You just have to imagine the joy this girl sees in every day! And she is a source of joy for those that know and love her. So don't you feel sorry for her! She doesn't need pity--she needs a home!


Yes, I do relax.


Tug!

Sunday, June 19, 2016

 

Happy Spring!  Happy Spring! From: Teddy & Riley Forsman

Happy Spring!  Happy Spring! Keep up the good work Sweet Satie!! From Jamie G.

 

Saturday, June 11, 2016

Any loyal followers of Satie's journey may notice some changes to her page. It is an effort to simplify for new readers while maintaining the pertinent elements. 

Most importantly:

  • The Internal Med vet confirmed she has mega-e and gave us recommendations on the meds and feedings. She tested negative for Myasthenia Gravis, Addison's, hypothyroid and Muscular Dystrophy which can sometimes be associated with Mega E.

  • The Orthos vet confirmed she has a congenital connective tissue disorder which makes her joints loose. But she is not painful and it doesn't stop her from enjoying life!

  • The Rehab vet didn't recommend braces at this time for her joints. The key is keeping her muscles strong with regular exercise or doggie play. Swim therapy helped her to get stronger and now playing with my resident is keeping her strong. 

Satie has moved to a new foster home since her temp foster Mom had important family matters to attend to. We are grateful for the love and commitment shown by her temp foster Mom and previous Foster!! 

Satie has settled in here and is enjoying her life! She is a typical happy go lucky fun-loving young Golden despite her medical issues. Satie doesn't care that she has mega-esophagus! She doesn't care that her joints are a little loose! She doesn't even notice! Satie just romps and snuggles and wrestles like any other Golden Retriever. She loves my 2 year old resident girl Sadie. Oh yeah-- surprisingly, the similar names haven't been an issue. I get both dogs attention when I call one :)

We have all settled into a very manageable routine with Satie's special feedings. She had an increase in her regurgitation the first few days here until I figured out the consistency needed and the time she should sit quietly in her Bailey chair. Now it is easy! Satie calmly sits in her chair while I go about my own morning routines. I don't need to be in the same room or in sight. 

We have figured out that Satie does NOT need someone who is home all day. She just needs a routine that will get her 3 meals per day. Here, I have a dog walker or a friend come in midday to feed her but adjusting the feeding times to a different work schedule will work too. Satie will fit into any environment with a family that is willing to follow her feeding schedule. Her meds are all inexpensive-- maybe $20 per month. It may all sound daunting but once you get the routine down, it is a reasonable accommodation for this loving girl. There are many experienced resources available via Facebook groups and other online groups. 

Saturday, May 28, 2016

Satie has come a long way in the weeks that she has been here. We are approaching the point where her physical health (stable megaesophagus condition) equals her marvelous loving Golden personality. This week, TFM went out of town for six days, and Satie went to visit J and her crew of Goldens. She had a wonderful time. And she continued to gain weight at J's house - up to an all-time high of 53 pounds. Yippee!!


Where's Waldo - how many dogs can you find?

So, what does this sweetheart need in her forever home?

1. Satie needs someone who is home most of any given day.

With her megaesophagus condition, Satie needs to have her meds and eat three times a day. Her med/feeding schedule needs to be predictable and not deviate substantially from one day to the next. TFM starts with premeal meds administered 10-15 minutes before eating. Satie then eats in her Bailey Chair: another med, a high-calorie supplement, canned meat, and ground kibble mixed with water to a gruel/slurry consistency. Satie sits in her chair for 20 minutes postmeal to let gravity assist in moving the food down her esophagus and into her stomach. The total time is about 40-45 minutes per meal. It was surprisingly easy to adjust our schedule to meet Satie's needs. Plus, Satie helps herself: when I open the door on her Bailey chair, she backs up so that TFM can help her sit upright. For the 20-minute rest time after her meal, Satie is very content to sit in her chair - as long as we're all in the kitchen to keep her company!

 
Satie's mealtime: letting gravity work

2. Satie needs someone who will commit to a regular exercise program.

TFM finds it convenient to walk with Satie and has access to a grass-covered surface, rather than street/sidewalk pavement (due to her back feet). When Satie was on vacation this week, J has a large, fenced backyard, so Satie could run and play and roughhouse with J's Goldens. That was perfect, too. Another option would be a dog park. Whatever option is selected, Satie needs to continue to build up the strength and endurance in her back legs.

3. Satie needs someone who will learn about megaesophagus and work with her to minimize the negative effects of this condition.

Satie needs someone who is not daunted by her challenges. A wealth of information is available about megaesophagus. There are blogs and support groups online. For example, in addition to vet-prescribed meds, there are natural/herbal supplements to help dogs with megaesophagus. TFM uses slippery elm bark powder made into a tea. The tea helps to coat and sooth the GI tract. I believe it has helped Satie.

When Satie first came to TFM, she was just beginning to recover from aspiration pneumonia. As a consequence, she was vomiting on a regular basis. The vomiting could occur after a meal or could also be reflux vomiting (food/mucus flows from the stomach back into the esophagus after a meal). Now that she is feeling better, Satie will go days without vomiting. For example, during the six days Satie vacationed at J's house, Satie vomited the first night - probably due to stress. But that was it! In an effort to avoid vomiting, TFM feeds Satie an early dinner to allow the food to move as far as possible through her system before bedtime. TFM has also started to use a doughnut with Satie on a regular basis. The doughnut helps, when she is lying down, to keep Satie's head higher than the rest of her body. Do these steps aid in preventing vomiting? The answer is: I think so. The proof is that she's not vomiting - and that's good enough for me!

 
Satie and her doughnut

What will you get in return from Satie?

lf you can provide Satie with her forever home, you will gain a loyal companion who will bond with you quickly and love you unconditionally. Satie is good with children, is housebroken, is cat-friendly, does not need to be crated, loves to play with her stuffies, loves other dogs, and the list goes on. She just wants to be with you. She is the poster girl for Golden Retrievers! Lastly, something to consider is that Satie would make a marvelous therapy dog - not just for her engaging personality, but because she has a set of unique challenges which she faces on a daily basis. And Satie gives us a blueprint on how to face and deal with challenges: she just goes about loving everything and everybody. She radiates joy and optimism. She admits to no problems, but accepts her world just the way it is. Talk about teaching us life lessons!


Beautiful Satie with her soulful eyes

Sunday, December 20, 2015