Murphy (Goldie 10-311)

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Sponsored by:~ From Maggie in fond memory of my goofy Riley ~

Hello everyone! Allow me to introduce Goldie! He is an 8 ½ year old male neutered Golden Retriever that hails from Iowa. He is being fostered in Burnsville, MN.

Goldie was originally purchased at a flea market and has had one owner up until now. Sadly, he was no longer wanted. He was going to be euthanized but his vet wisely called up an acquaintance that has ties to RAGOM and presto! Goldie is now in a foster home getting all loved up! RAGOM is amazing.

From what I can tell, Goldie spent most, if not all of his life, in an outdoor kennel. He was only let out occasionally to run. His former owner did not know if Goldie enjoyed toys or if he was afraid of anything. Despite the fact that he is 8 ½ years old, he has not been taught any obedience, is not housetrained, does not know how to walk on a leash, and doesn’t respond to his name or whistling. That’s okay, however, because his foster mom (FM) and foster dad (FD) are going to get started on teaching him these things right away. Goldie is food motivated and that will make training him easier.

The first order of things is to see what can be done about his bad leg. Goldie’s right rear leg has an old knee injury (possibly to his cruciate ligament) that has become arthritic. He had x-rays taken this weekend and we are waiting for the surgeon to take a look at them. He is now on pain meds to make him more comfortable.

Due to his knee injury, he doesn’t navigate stairs well. I’m glad we have, basically, a one level house. There are only 2 small stairs to get to the lawn in the back yard.

Goldie thinks our cat is fascinating but only sniffs him. He’s very respectful in that manner and also gets along well with our 2 girl dogs (also RAGOM rescues). He is a sweet gentleman. He is reddish in color and has the classic big Golden Retriever head. His fur is super soft like a teddy bear. It almost reminds me of puppy fur.

Well, we still have much to learn about our new friend as he has only been with us for less than 24 hours. We’ll write more in a few days.

At a Glance #10-311

Golden Retriever	Born: October 2002
Male	70 lbs

Status: Deceased

Profile

Sponsored by:~ From Maggie in fond memory of my goofy Riley ~

Hello everyone! Allow me to introduce Goldie! He is an 8 ½ year old male neutered Golden Retriever that hails from Iowa. He is being fostered in Burnsville, MN.

Goldie was originally purchased at a flea market and has had one owner up until now. Sadly, he was no longer wanted. He was going to be euthanized but his vet wisely called up an acquaintance that has ties to RAGOM and presto! Goldie is now in a foster home getting all loved up! RAGOM is amazing.

From what I can tell, Goldie spent most, if not all of his life, in an outdoor kennel. He was only let out occasionally to run. His former owner did not know if Goldie enjoyed toys or if he was afraid of anything. Despite the fact that he is 8 ½ years old, he has not been taught any obedience, is not housetrained, does not know how to walk on a leash, and doesn’t respond to his name or whistling. That’s okay, however, because his foster mom (FM) and foster dad (FD) are going to get started on teaching him these things right away. Goldie is food motivated and that will make training him easier.

The first order of things is to see what can be done about his bad leg. Goldie’s right rear leg has an old knee injury (possibly to his cruciate ligament) that has become arthritic. He had x-rays taken this weekend and we are waiting for the surgeon to take a look at them. He is now on pain meds to make him more comfortable.

Due to his knee injury, he doesn’t navigate stairs well. I’m glad we have, basically, a one level house. There are only 2 small stairs to get to the lawn in the back yard.

Goldie thinks our cat is fascinating but only sniffs him. He’s very respectful in that manner and also gets along well with our 2 girl dogs (also RAGOM rescues). He is a sweet gentleman. He is reddish in color and has the classic big Golden Retriever head. His fur is super soft like a teddy bear. It almost reminds me of puppy fur.

Well, we still have much to learn about our new friend as he has only been with us for less than 24 hours. We’ll write more in a few days.

Updates

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

The very sad news- I helped Murphy (fka Ragom Goldie 10-311) across the Rainbow Bridge on July 5th. He was 11 ½ and had been with us for 2 ½ years. On July 4th, Murph woke me up about 4 A.M. whining and barking. He couldn’t get up, his rear legs couldn’t move at all. After a trip to the Emergency Vet, and then a consult with our regular vet on the 5th, it turns out he had severe degenerative bone disease in his spine. So, quality of life for Murph was not going to be good as his entire spine was affected and even with pain meds, he was clearly in pain and could not walk. So, the vet came to our house and he was at home and with me when he passed. I told him he’d meet up with Scruffy, the dog he was rescued with, and Bailey and Riley, my two Goldens that passed before him would show him the ropes over the Rainbow Bridge.

The very happy news-When I picked Murph (Goldie) up from his Fosters Karen and Mike K. the day I adopted him, they warned me that he was a sloppy eater. They weren’t exaggerating! He was the messiest eater I have ever seen. Instead of a bowl of water in the kitchen, we just kept a bucket there. When he ate, he kind of used his forearms as a TV tray. We were forever brushing mats out of his neck fur because food would always get stuck there. It was so endearing. He continued to go to Doggie Daycare right up til the end. I think the Doggie Daycare lady was almost as broken hearted as me. Occasionally my daughter’s Corgi stays with us. One of their favorite activities was scrambling for treats. I would stand in the kitchen and fling a bunch of treats into the living room, and Murph and Moki (the Corgi) would race around finding them. Murph could move the furniture to get at the treats, so he had quite an advantage. It was a lot like a doggie Easter Egg Hunt. When it was hot out they would hang out in a kiddie pool, although Murph never laid down, just stood in it. He had some funny quirks that I will miss so much. He was the most gentle, sweet dog anyone could ever ask for. The house seems so empty now. Thank you RAGOM for rescuing him and trusting us to give him a good life.

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

We adopted Murphy in February of 2011. His name was changed to Murphy because he always looks kind of worried. Murphy goes to a doggie daycare on Monday Wednesday and Fridays when I am at work, and recuperates on Tuesday Thursday and weekends. He just LOVES going there. The dogs are not kenneled but get to run around in a very nice field, they have doggie pools when it is warm, lots of pals to hang with. After Murphy’s surgery, we were concerned that he may have a limp, but thanks to the great care he got with Fosters Karen and Mike K., he is fine. No limp at all and he runs around like a puppy. He is still in good health. We had a little scare last winter when a large lump developed on his foot. It turned out to be a spiral cell tumor which isn’t cancerous. The worst thing that can happen is that it might grow back. That’s OK, we’re all getting a few more lumps as we age. Last summer we put a fence around the yard to make sure our sniffing boy didn’t wander out into the road. And when the old truck that we used to haul Murph (among other things) around broke down, we decided to get an SUV that was a little lower to the ground so it would be easier for him to get in. Amazing how every decision we make includes factoring in our (not so) new best bud. He still won’t go down the basement steps, so I expect after all this time that is a permanent thing. He still doesn’t do much barking, but will let us know when he is ready to come into the house. He’s doing very well and is very much loved. Thank you to RAGOM for rescuing him and allowing us to adopt him.

Maggie K.

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Goldie went for his 8 week xrays yesterday and everything looks good. He still has alot of arthritis in that knee and always will but the implant to fix his torn ligament is healing up nicely. He's putting good weight on it and has good range of motion. YAY! Another week of activity restrictions and he will be able to return to normal activity.

His weight is down to 91 pounds and the vet yesterday said his target weight should be 85. Goldie will always need daily walks and a glucosamine supplement. It's important to mention that it is very common (30-40% of patients) for both knees to develop this ligament injury. The most effective thing that can be done toward prevention is to maintain him on the thin side of a normal body weight.

We learned recently that Goldie has the potential to be a runner. One day (during the big snowstorm) we were carrying things into the house from the garage when Goldie squeezed past us in the doorway. He ran out of the garage, down the driveway, and into the neighborhood. Trying to chase a dog in a snowstorm is an exercise in futility. My husband squatted down in the snow and acted like he wanted to play and Goldie came right to him. Goldie only got about 3 houses away before we caught him but it was a scary moment. Goldie is big and strong and will need to be trained to sit and stay at the door.

We've had a two year old in our house over the Christmas holidays and Goldie was just great with him. Goldie is not a skittish dog whatsoever so nothing the 2 year old did bothered him. The only issue to mention is that Goldie wanted to chew up the little toys that were left on the floor.

We continue to enjoy his company. He likes to be in the same room with us but isn't needy. He's curious about things which I think is tons of fun. He never tries to get on the furniture and only barks when there's a reason.

Goldie sends a big kiss and a woof to the 2 donors that gave tokens for his webpage. Special Christmas wishes to you both. Thank you!!

Friday, December 24, 2010

Merry Christmas to the Senior Goldens and their fosters from Anonymous

In memory of my Best Buddy - Casey

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Hello everyone! Remember me? Goldie? I've been just kind of hanging out. Foster Mom and Dad went out of town over Thanksgiving and a nice young woman stayed with us dogs while they were gone. Foster Mom has been very busy since they've been back but she finally let me have a moment to share.

My leg is healing quite nicely. I go back to the vet for xrays around December 20th. My fur is growing back on my leg and I sometimes forget that I'm not allowed to run yet. It's been 6 weeks since my surgery and I'm on activity restrictions for 2 more weeks. I'm not allowed to jump either, but I'm not a jumper. I like my dog bed and have no interest in getting on the furniture or beds even though the other dogs like to sleep on the couch.

Foster Dad takes us for a 30 minute walk each day. I do so enjoy walks. I'm going to be attending a RAGOM event some time in the near future but Foster Mom is worried that my leg will slip on the flooring and I'll injure myself. Our house has throw rugs all over to keep me from slipping. She mentioned maybe attending events after the first of the year when I've had more time to heal and schedules aren't so busy.

I'm looking for my forever home. Foster Mom says I'm very easy to care for. I get along well with other dogs, cats and kids. If you're looking for a big, friendly, mellow dude to hang out with, contact your placement advisor and ask to meet me.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Wow, I can't believe it's been 10 days since Goldie was last updated. Time flies!

Goldie is doing GR-REAT. His stitches are out, and he's using his leg just like he should. His walks are now 10 minutes long and they don't appear to be causing him any pain. We're still giving him Rimadyl for pain because of the arthritis in his knee. His home physical therapy continues to aid his range of motion.

Goldie is a calm, gentle dog and we think the world of him. I'll be SO proud to bring him to a RAGOM event sometime. He is handsome, large, and has a boyish look to him. No one will need to ask if he's male or female. We're waiting for his healing to progress a bit more before daring the slippery floors of a pet store.

Goldie LOVES to eat and is fond of his dog beds. He doesn't know any commands that we have identified. Perhaps no one in his past took the time to train him.

We dog sat another RAGOM dog (Simon 10-243) this past week or so and Goldie did just fine with him. There was some strutting going on at first but both boy dogs settled down quickly and we had a harmonious 4 dog household for a spell.

More to come later. Kisses to all from Goldie!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Hello everyone! Goldie's surgery went well. He is now home and resting.

The procedure he had done is called Tibial Tuberosity Advancement (TTA). Goldie's cranial cruciate ligament in his right rear knee was completely torn, his meniscus was damaged and the knee has severe arthritis because it was such an old injury. His prognosis is good though. This surgery has a 12 week recovery period, but after that he should have a normal gait and endurance. This poor guy has lived with this painful knee for so long, but is now on the mend. Thank you RAGOM for saving this wonderful soul.

Did I say this guy doesn't bark? Well, he does now. His discharge instructions said to cofine him to one carpeted room for the first 24 hours. He was NOT happy with this new arrangement and barked plenty to let us know. He'll soon be back to free roam on one level of the house as long as we cover all slippery areas of the floor. No free roam outside though. He must be leashed and walked with a belly sling to keep him from slipping and hurting himself.

His bandage will come off in 2-3 days and then we'll start home physical therapy to help with his range of motion.

We'll be in touch again in a few days. Wish us luck!

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Goldie has had a relatively quiet week and a half.

He had a trip to the groomer because he had so many mats in his fur. The groomer said he enjoyed his bath and was a very good boy. He looks so handsome and smells good now too.

It’s interesting to me that Goldie has not barked even once. The only vocalizations we have heard from him are whines when he’s dreaming. He is responding to his name now and is in good spirits. He even tries to play. It’s so cute. When my dogs hear something exciting and take off running, Goldie runs along with them despite his limp from his bad leg.

Goldie is a good eater and as we mentioned before, he really likes to go for walks. He enjoys sniffing and has a really good nose. We keep the walk shorter than usual because his leg hurts when we walk far.

Goldie has free roam of the house. He has not had a single accident in the house even though we’ve been gone for extended work hours. I’m so proud of him!! When he wants to go outside he stands at the door that leads to the back yard.

Goldie goes to the veterinary surgeon tomorrow morning for surgery (TTA) on his leg. I’m hopeful that he will have a pain free future and will find a forever family that will love him and show him the golden life.

Goldie has shown us that he’s good with children. We had a young child at our house visiting and Goldie met him just like he meets everyone, with a sniff and a wag of his tail. He’s a very good natured dog. He’s good with other dogs, cats, and children. He’s trustworthy in the house and enjoys the company of his people. He’s affectionate and gentle and will approach everyone in the house for petting.

Please keep Goldie in your thoughts tomorrow for his surgery. We’ll send an update to report how he’s doing.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Goldie has been with us 2 days now. Wow, what an easy dog to care for! He's so calm and easy to have around.

He's a bit of a velcro dog in the way that he likes to follow me around the house. I think his favorite things, though, are his meals and walks. I was a bit worried about his hearing since he hasn't responded at all to whistling, but when he hears his kibble hitting his stainless steel serving bowl, he comes quickly. He's a curious guy and likes to check out all of the cupboards and closets that I open.

Our walks are progressing nicely, with Goldie walking on my left and not criss crossing in front of me much. He doesn't fight the Gentle Leader at all either. He's very nice and respectful to our 2 girl dogs. They don't mind him at all. He doesn't resource guard but does like to smell what's up on the counters. He's tall enough that it's not much of a reach for his head to check out what's up there!

We took Goldie to the vet today to get his ears cleaned. They were dirty to the point that I thought they were beyond my rookie skills and ought to be cleaned by a pro. While we were there we put him on the scale because we had no clue how much he weighed. He's 94 pounds!!! Wow! I'm going to ask the vet if that's a good weight for him. He doesn't seem overweight because I can feel his ribs and see his hips. Perhaps he's just a big boy!

He has not yet had an accident in the house. Good boy Goldie!! We are mindful to provide plenty of opportunities to go out to potty. At night he sleeps in our room along with all of our other pets (cat and dogs). There's a dog bed next to our bed, but he chooses to sleep near the doorway. He doesn't mind his crate and will go in at random times during the day for a nap.

We're looking forward to hearing what the veterinary surgeon can do for his bad leg. He doesn't seem to have much muscle or strength at all in his back side so while we're waiting for his treatment plan, we're trying to build up his muscles by walking him.

He's sound asleep at my feet as I write this. We'll be in touch again once we have more news.