Rescued With Love Inc.

March 2007.

Moe came to us on the weekend from Sydney.  He didn't seem to notice the other dogs, nor us very much and just paced and paced and paced around the yard.  Often he got stuck against a wall and followed it around, a classic sign of Liver Shunt.  It is very distressing to watch.

He is unable to be left alone to due to not being aware of where he is walking.  I caught him standing with his two front feet in the water bowl and he had no idea.  Moe doesn't know when he is going to the toilet, is almost totally deaf and is extremely sight impaired.  Moe, is dying from the protein his liver is unable to process.  Creating ammonia and toxins it is poisoning his brain, making him extremely altered and disabled, physically and mentally.  But with surgery, this can all reverse.  It is an extremely successful surgery. He can lead a life of quality if he survives the difficult process, just like Bella did.  It is, in fact his only chance.

So after Moe arrived, we took him to Ben for assessment.  He is badly affected and needs the surgery very soon, but we must build him up if possible.  Ben suggested surgery next week.  We left our little Moe in his hands for tests and hoped for the best.  It is a long hard road.  He is painfully thin.  Only weighing in at just over 2 kilos.  See him here in the bath.

He should weigh 5 times what he does.....time is short.  We need to get him well enough to survive the surgery.  That is our main goal.  So that night, Ben called and Moe had taken a turn for the worse.  He was in Intensive Care and his spirit was extremely depleted, flat and depressed, probably from the long journey interstate and coming to me whom he didn't know.  It was a long night of worry for us, thinking we had done the wrong thing.

But Moe rallied and has had his tests done and will be coming home to us tomorrow for us to stabilize and monitor him before his surgery next week.

And hopefully, with all his medications and lots of rest, love and the right diet, he will gain a little to help him through his surgery.  He is a gentle and sweet little boy who just deserves a chance after a rotten start to life and being left in a pound to die alone.  That is not an option for OUR MOE!

So we will let you know how he is going over the next few days, and the many kind thoughts and wishes, prayers and positive that people have sent to Moe are all gratefully received.  Your kindness and generosity is overwhelming.  Thankyou.

Late yesterday afternoon, I went to collect Moe from his crate after having a rest.  He was floppy and unable to see.  Moe had suffered a seizure.

Ringing my vet, I was unable to get hold of him, so I put him in the car and raced to Werribee Emergency Hospital where they admitted him into Intensive Care straight away.  I am completely devastated that this has happened so close to his surgery.

The Vet Staff said Moe's protein levels were good.  His glucose levels although low were stable.  His blood pressure is good.  His pupil in one eye was dilated, indicating brain mal function, but this can reverse after surgery and rehabilitation.  He has a 50-50 chance of coming through the Liver Shunt surgery and having a good quality of life, and regaining his faculites and physical functions.

I had to ask myself if enough was enough.  Do I just let Moe go, and stop putting him through all of this.  To see him like he is, would break the hardest heart.  It is soul destroying.

But I felt the odds of 50-50 were too good not to try.  And the Vet Staff did not encourage me in any way to 'let him go for the best'.  They have seen dogs like him in this condition survive and get through to lead good lives.  I said go ahead and give him treatment.  I hope that I have done the right thing, and won't get much rest until I know.

They have suggested as his surgery was due on Wednesday, it should be moved to Monday.  We cannot wait.  Moe's time has run out.  I have no idea whether he is strong enough to survive the surgery at this stage as that is why he needed to be home for a week to gain strength.  The seizure has put paid to that, and things are very tricky now.

So Moe is in the ICU again on a drip for fluids and meds.  He is comfortable and not in any pain.  I want to stress that point.  I would never put a dog through this if it was physically traumatic for them. 

I can call the Vet Staff after their rounds this morning, so that will be after 10 am and check on Moe's status then.

 I will update you when I can.

Yesterday I spoke to Ben late in the day and Moe had improved a little.  He was sitting up, but was blind from the seizure. 

I asked him if I was doing all of this unnecessarily.  If I should just let Moe go peacefully.  He told me emphatically NO.  There was still alot of hope for him and he could improve and turn around quickly, especially after surgery.

Well today I had a phone call from the Intensive Care Nurse.  Momo, it seems, has regained his ability to see, to hear and to walk.  He was in fact, being a very cheeky monkey at patrolling the bottom of the cages in the ward looking for crumbs from other patients.  He was eyeballing her sandwich!

With the medical therapy he has received and increased doses of Lactulose, along with fluids to hydrate him, Moe has picked up to the point where he can come home and I can try again to stabilize him.  So after I speak to Ben tomorrow, Momo will come home and we can try to make the effort to put some weight on that painfully thin little body, and build up his reserves for the surgery.

Am not sure when he will be operated on, it depends on how he gets on over the next week or so.  But good news that Momo has his MOJO back!

A thousand thanks to the fantastic Vet Staff at Werribee and the kindness of all of Moe's fans.  I shall let you know how he is when we get home tomorrow.

Moe came home from the hospital two days ago and had a small set back yesterday morning after breakfast.  He had a petite mal seizure, the cause unknown other than this can happen as we juggle his meds to get him on the right level.

I spoke to Ben, as Moe went into a deep sleep and I was worried, Ben asked me to increase certains meds and have done that, and now 24 hours later, he seems a little more alert.

Moe is actually trying to look for me.  He can't see really well, but when I call him, he comes to the general vicinity.  He is ok with pats, but doesn't really connect, or hang around long, he likes to 'walk', and today, it isn't the obsessive pacing, but more a snooping stroll, nose in the air, he can smell smell smell.

Last night was great because he slept in his baby pen, not in his crate and I am so thrilled about that.  I hate having him in the crate when it is hot, and I think the pen is a little more comfortable for him, he doesn't seem to mind. Although he doesn't spend alot of time in there, it certainly helps me keep him safe when I am in the shower or doing something upstairs.

Moe has a shocking ulcer on his front leg from the IV when he was in ICU.  I took his bandage off as instructed and he has a crater about the size of a fingernail on the front which he immediately wanted to lick.  So I put a fresh bandage on it, with some Medi Honey that is used in burn units and hospitals to help heal ulcers and surgical wounds to see if we can get that healed before he goes back in.

Today was a good day for Momo.  He was the most alert he has been.  He walked alot and even had a slight up and down trot at one stage.  He is starting to get to know me.  He sniffed the other dogs here, who actually give him a wide berth, knowing instinctively he is very very ill.  I hope like crazy we can string a few of these days together to help boost him physcially, but with Liver Shunt you never know.  As I keep saying, I will do my best.  Will let you know more over the next few days.

Moe in his pen yesterday.  The pink bandage is where his ulcer is.

Moe has had a fairly good weekend, with lots of wandering around, but not at that obsessional rate, a little more relaxed and slow.  He seems to like being outside and pottering around the yard, and he is now starting to look for me a little more.  Maybe he can smell me, and that I am the one that gets the food!

His appetite is voracious because of the Phenobarbitone, and so no problems feeding, he has four small meals a day to help him with his blood sugar, and meds morning and night.  Yesterday I found him actually sitting on his bed in the pen, and just looking out.  He looked positively normal!  Although he does have the hunched walk and the back legs are still abit wobbly, he is doing better than last week, and I hope that he can stay stable enough to endure the surgery soon.  He sure needs it.

I just bathed him and he hates it, he is now in the sun on his bed drying off, it distressed him me holding him wrapped in a towel, so I have just left him to calm him down as I don't want to trigger any seizures.

He is able to focus a little better, he can hear a little and he can certainly smell when I put his dinner down, he is frantic to get to it, so his nose is working just fine!

At this stage of his treatment, it is all about stabilizing him, to make his stronger if possible for surgery when that comes.

More later..........

Some good news has come finally to Moe's plight, he has been stablilized for almost a week and I have seen quite a bit of normal behaviour 'flash' over Moe every now and then.  Tonight we had the biggest break through - he let me pat him, sit with him and snip some of his matts off him, while he snoozed....

Moe hated anyone touching him.  He found it distressing and I tried to keep it to a minimum with soft words for him.  Two days ago he started to follow me when he saw me.  Not stay close, but come up, check me out and wander off, then do it again, and again.  Today his eyes are clearer, he seems to have more control over his physical functions, more aware of his surroundings and actually looked at me as if to say, "I'm sure I should know you, I just can't see you properly....."

I was very proud of Moe today, he sat in the sun outside and right next to Miss Dolly.  He has had no interaction at all with my other bubs, this was important.  And she let him.  Normally they walk away from him, sensing he is a sick boy and not to bother him.

I took a punt today and left him out of his pen while I went to the supermarket.  I came home and there was Moe, tip toeing around the corner last in the bunch, he could hear my voice.    A far cry from a severely physically and mentally impaired little boy who was in his own world a week ago.

Ben the vet called today and I told him of his progress and we have set the date of Moe's surgery.  He feels it best to operate on Moe when he is 'at his best'.  We don't want another seizure to take place and put us back to square one.  So provided all is okay, and Moe remains stable, he will have his Liver Shunt Surgery on Monday the 26th of March. 

 Fingers crossed for little sweet Momo......

 Two days to go before Moe has his surgery.  Yesterday he wasn't as bright as he had been the day before, this can happen for odd reasons, even though he is fed every four hours and given the same meds.  Today, he was a little happier, it was 35 degrees and he insisted on laying on the bricks outside!  Eventually I made him come inside where he spent the afternoon with the air con going and the fan, he was happy to sit curled with the other bubs.....

We only need to get through Saturday and Sunday and then I will take Moe down to Werribee on Monday morning, to be there at 8.30 am.  After that it is up to the Vet staff to do their stuff.    I feel the hard part has been the waiting and stabilizing of Moe, he has had some shocking seizures, and has managed to survive them, lets hope that his surgery is trouble free and Moe has the start to life he so desperately needs.

FUNDING IS NEEDED FOR MOE.  IF ANYONE CAN HELP BY DONATING, PLEASE EMAIL ME AT rescued1@bigpond.net.au for details.  Thankyou for your kindness.

Moe is not having a good day today, and I am very worried.  For the first time in days, he has decided not to eat.  He must as he has his meds in his food and with food and he has only had a small amount this morning and nothing else all day.  Plus he is quite sleepy, curled up on his bed for most of the day, instead of doing his funny little walk everywhere.

He let me hold him for an hour this morning, but he doesn't seem as bright in himself and I am concerned that he is on the slide down into another seizure.  I have watched him all day, and feel powerless to do anything to help him.

Here are some pics of Moe today.  Please keep all positive thought coming.  We are so close.

Well we made it to surgery day.  I just kept thinking one step at a time, one day, one day, one day, then presto.  Surgery day.  Moe had been really good over the week, but deteriorated over the weekend for no apparent reason.  He had the same meds, the same food, but seemed out of sorts, and not as co ordinated and alert as he was.  I bundled him up (it was 8 degrees here) and took him down to the Werribee Hospital for his surgery, fully prepared to bring him back home if Ben didn't think he was well enough.

But Ben said they would check his blood and if it looked ok, then it was all going ahead.  Saying good bye, I left Moe with Ben and went to the car with the biggest lump in my throat and cried for him, his broken little body and mind, and hoped that I was doing the right thing.  I rang a couple of people who were great, and reassured me, and I decided to keep busy while I waited for Ben's phone call.

It came this afternoon and Momo has survived his surgery.  His sugar levels were very low when he came in, and were raised immediately with glucose and then he was operated on.  His shunt is massive, and an external one which is easier to operate on than the internal one.  A band of cellophane is placed around the shunt and with luck this will grow scar tissue over the shunt and Momo will lead a normal life.  His St. Francis medal is still around his neck, so it seems to be working so far.....

The next 48 hours are critical.  Two things can happen that will endanger Moe's chances of recovery.

1. He develops portal hypertension.  This is where fluid builds up and back logs because of the shunt being closed.  This will kill him very quickly, hence he is being monitored in ICU.

2. He has a massive grand mal seizure.  Normally if dogs do have seizures after the surgery they do not regain consciousness.  There would be no quality of life.

So with these two things to get through over the next few days we just have to wait.  And hope.  But Momo is a fighter, he wouldn't have got this far without his iron will and so over the first big hurdle of surgery and now he faces another two huge ones before we look to the future.

I would like to again thank Dr. Ben Landon for his extraordinary care of Moe, his generosity and kindess have made it possible for us to save another rescue dog, and give him the chance that no one had in his short miserable life.  I am in your debt.  Thankyou.

Another update when I find out more......

In Werribee Hospital waiting area you understandably have to keep all dogs crated or on a leash.  I lifted Momo out of his crate and wrapped him in his boo boo blanket so I could cuddle him, and tell him how many people loved him.  I popped lots of little kisses on that tiny head....  I sat and waited for Ben to finish rounds and when I looked down Momo had gone to sleep in my arms.  He was peaceful, warm and content, something he hasn't often had with this terrible disease.  For those of you who have seen him pace and pace, never still always moving, you will understand how important, how special this moment was.

Last night Moe had some hypertension which concerned the staff in Intensive Care, but this morning his levels are 'within the normal range' which is great news.

He was very uncomfortable last night, unable to settle and it quite a bit of pain, especially around his stomach area, so he was given morphine to allow him a chance to sleep and reduce the pain which worked out fine.

This morning he has been taken off Morphine and put on a lesser drug which bodes well, and is normal in recovery.  He has had no seizures so far.

When I was talking to the vet nurse, Momo had just eaten the biggest meal and was on the prowl for more.  Another positive sign, better than being off his food! 

But at this stage, he is not out of the woods yet.  Ben has warned me things are critical for the first 48 hours post surgery, and while I say a very small 'yay' at Moe's progress, that is just for getting as far as he has.  All hurdles he is meeting face on and jumping over them, he is such a strong little boy, bless his cotton socks.....

He still has more stages to get through before I can relax, but at this stage, his recovery is within what it should be and I am cautiously pleased with that.

More when I can.

Here is Momo yesterday when I was talking to him in the waiting room.  He looked up at me, a rare thing for him to focus, and I was lucky enough to snap the look with my phone.

Momo has had a small setback which needs to be closely monitored.  His tummy has extended and this can mean the dreaded portal hypertension.  While this is probably what is happening, Momo hasn't displayed any of the symptoms of his organs dying due to loss of blood flow.

A blood test was performed as it is a clear indicator on if this is happening certain things show up, and it was completely normal.  A big relief......

The reason suggested is it could be a small blood clot in the shunt.  Not something that I want to even contemplate, but it is not the worst news and Moe is holding his own.....

He will be closely watched in Intensive Care and hopefully the distended tummy he is displaying will reduce and he will be ok.  Ben has asked that he stay in for a few more days, understandably.  I would hate to get him home here and find that he has something seriously go wrong, and I have rush him back to the hospital which is so far away.

Momo's mental and physical state are the same as before, it is too early yet to see any difference in him, we must wait for his liver to regenerate and start to function before he will get the full benefit of clean blood in his little body.  I live in hope after seeing Bells go through it and come out so amazingly well.  He still stumbles over and staggers to get up, bless him, his little head is wobbly and his eyes peer out trying to recognize a friendly face....

This is such a roller coaster ride, I feel happy one minute that we have got this far, anxious the next, unable to do anything, but incapable of not worrying.  I really want Momo to have a chance.  His best shot at that is to stay where he is and be monitored by the excellent staff at Werribee Hospital.  They are so caring and so professional, I know they do everything they can for him.

More when I hear.....thanks for your kind thoughts and wishes......

Ben called this morning and is very concerned as Momo's tummy is still swelling.  It has gone from 29 cm to 37.  This is not good.  It means he does have portal hypertension, but the weird thing is Moe is showing no signs of toxic shock and organ failure.

He has had a scan and although it can't be seen, the staff think a small clot is in the shunt and so they have put him on aspirin as well as his other meds to be on the safe side.  If there is a small clot there, the aspirin will help dissolve it and not let it become larger.

His lactlose levels in his blood are normal still, with hypertension they are usually out by a long way, so that is good news.  His bowel as seen through the scan is normal also, this can become swollen with PH and so that is also a positive.

So we sit and we wait.  And the staff will watch him and if there is one small thing that happens, I know Ben will call me. 

I certainly didn't expect that Momo would come through his recovery with flying colors, I did expect that there would be hurdles to overcome as I said.  He has not had any seizures thank heavens, and his body is experiences a huge change in that it is now trying to get his liver to start functioning, receiving vitamins and minerals and regenerating, almost, I guess like receiving a new organ to a certain extent.

With that in mind I guess he will be having alot of things going on and you couldn't expect him to just cruise through something this major.

But I feel confident the staff are doing all they can, and I know if it becomes worse, they will call me as soon as possible.

Sorry there isn't better news, if I hear anything else, I will post here immediately.

More later......

Ben rang this morning and said that Moe's stomach has receeded in size and he could be well enough to come home later today......................

IF he is ok at the end of the day and not displaying any symptoms, Ben will call me and I will go pick him up.

Fingers crossed....more later...(a hopeful yay!)

Here is a portrait of Momo done by local Melbourne artist Jill Cook.  Jill has met and babysat Momo for me and along with her husband Roger have been keen fans of the little one.  Thanks Jill for the lovely gift.  It is incredibly generous and I wanted to share this with everyone who is 'in love' with Momo........

Momo is home.  Ben was in emergency surgery and so Helen his ICU nurse called me and asked me to come down around 7 pm tonight and collect our little boy.

When I saw Momo I couldn't believe I was seeing the same dog.  I see improvement already.  Ben asked if I could notice much change, I would say 35% maybe more.  He said over the next few weeks there will be more difference, I am glad to say that with all things working, Moe is going to become a very 'normal' little dog.

He has had a meal, asleep in his bed with his sheepskin, his polar fleece blankie (and another one over the top warmed by the towel warmer for him - pathetic I know...) and his stuffed penguin that I thought might be nice for him to snuggle next to.

For the next few weeks he is confined to the play pen, unless he has supervised walks in my courtyard.  Ben stressed that he must not have too much of that, he needs to be kept confined as his scar is massive and needs to heal.  He has shaved bits off him everywhere, on his neck where he had a central line through during surgery, drips in his front legs, you name it.  His collar and St. Francis medal are hanging on his pen as he is unable to wear a collar until his wound heals....

Momo is still on all his meds, but no phenobarbitone.  He has not had a seizure and every day that passes is a bonus.  He still needs the lactulose and antibiotics as his liver regenerates and kicks in.....

Here is Ben with Momo tonight....

. Thankyou so much Ben, and the staff at Werribee for their care.

And here is Momo, our man, on his way home.....

Thanks everyone who has been following this story of Moe.  He will just rest and recover with me, he needs another trip for a check up next week and stitches out the following week, I will of course, keep you up to date on his progress.  Let's hope the worst is behind him now......

Momo has been home for two days now, spending most of this time in this pen as Ben requested.  Yesterday the wind was cool and he slept most of the time in the afternoon, and was allowed out for little walks.  He didn't seem to know me, and screamed when I picked him up, not so much because of his stitches, just in fear, I think.  He really didn't want to be touched, so I left him to potter.

I saw one thing that I haven't seen him do before.  He stood up and lifted his back leg to scratch his side.  A very co ordinated move, difficult for a little boy like Momo.  I was really happy, this is what I call a 'flash'.  Every now and then I see a 'flash' of normal.

Today I cleaned his pen out again this afternoon, it is beautiful outside and he has been wandering out there with me for about an hour.  I popped him back in and he stood facing the back door and put his front paw up gently to the play pen.  HE WANTED TO GO BACK OUT!!!!  I lifted him again and he didn't scream and he spent another hour outside with me.

Moe is sitting quite normally here, he is still very uncomfortable from his stitches, the wound is long and deep.  It will take a while...

I called Momo this afternoon and he looked around.  I am not sure how much he knows his name or if he hears me very well.  I hope this will improve.  He can smell his food, but still has trouble focusing and finding his bowl, but it is early days yet.  I have put him back in his pen for a rest, he curled up and went straight to sleep.  Hard work being in the backyard after surgery!

Momo in the garden........

Moe settling in on his bed for the afternoon......

Sound asleep......

Well one week since Momo had surgery, and I have been extremely concerned, as Moe has stayed in his vegetative state since being home, apart from the odd 'flash'.  Yesterday he stopped eating and drinking.  I rang Ben again (poor man).

He said to poach chicken and mix it with the Science Diet Liver Diet food, along with some water and see how I go.  So up to the supermarket I go and buy some fillets and while I was cooking them, along with 5 other pointy noses sniffing, Momo joined the pack.  I had piqued his interest!

I mixed the food together with the poaching water and WOOF! The bowl was empty.  Momo decided he likes the fresh chicken mix!  After dinner I picked him up in his boo boo blanket (he hates being picked up by hand) and I cuddled him, took him for a turn around the garden so he calmed down and then he laid asleep on my knee for two hours and went into his own fresh bed and slept all night.......

Today, he was the same this morning, he screamed when I went to pick him up, as if he had forgotten me.  I felt disheartened, I was hoping to see at least a sliver of improvement.  He consistently went around and around is tight circles, and I hoped he wasn't seizing.  He hasn't done this before, and  I have no idea when he displays symptoms how serious they are, so I watch and make assessments on him constantly.

At lunchtime, I gave him his chicken and Science Diet mix and an hour later, you would not believe it.  In that very deep and dark tunnel of Moe's mind, a small light flickered on.....

His eyes followed me.  He let me pat him under the chin.  He staggered and righted himself.  I called his name and his ears came forward!!!!!  He heard AND knew his name.  He came towards me, but wouldn't let me pat him, so I stayed out gardening and he moved with my gang, sniffing around and looking upward.  This is HUGE!

Tonight although he didn't like it at first, I picked him up with bare hands and he let me talk to him and walked him around the garden after his dinner.  He relaxed as we checked out the flowers.  I live in hope that he will be like that tomorrow.  And that he gets better like that by the day.  Tomorrow we have an appointment with Ben, just a check up, so I will update you more on how Momo is going then.

Fingers crossed please.  It has been a traumatic week for all........

I took Momo down to see Ben today, and he couldn't believe the co ordination that has suddenly appeared.  Momo was looking for me, could hear both Ben and my voice and was perky, trotting around the room, anxious to be on the move to check things out.

While he is still wobbly, and a little scrunched up, he is SO much more improved after yesterday morning.  The light has stayed on! He is eating his L/D and chicken mix, has been out wandering all afternoon today, and has had a big day for a little boy.  His stitches have been worrying him, but today that also seemed to settle down, he sniffed my bubs more, and they sniffed him.  Interesting, the beginning of engagement...

Ben felt that we are on the way now.  Just time will tell how well Momo will get, but he feels personally that Moe will have a reasonably normal life.  We will know more when his liver starts to function, but as we see him now the toxins that have poisoned him are reducing, allowing his brain to function and his physical actions to work normally.  Although the average person would still stare at Momo, sometimes he almost looks completely normal.  Even his little tail which has been down low was curled UP over his back today!  Something I haven't seen before, and I cannot wait to see him wag it for me.

He still has trouble seeing, he can smell his food bowl, but doesn't know where it is, but it is getting better, and he is hungry again and that makes me happy!  Today he weighed in at 2.4 kg, so he hasn't lost any weight since the surgery, I am thankful for that.

Momo will go back to Ben in a week's time and be checked over again and have his stitches removed, he will need to be on a special diet and medication for another 6 or so weeks, and then slowly weaned off and he can then start to eat normal food. 

Let's hope this is the beginning of Moe's new life.

I will take more photos and post them when I can.

Momo went to Werribee today and had his stitches removed and was checked by Ben.  He thinks he is doing remarkably well and will hopefully, in time, make a really great recovery.

Over the last 24 hours, Momo has become a feisty, stubborn little monkey pants, and has decided to actually gallop (only once, I couldn't stop watching), eat with the big kids, and engage so much more with both me and the other bubs.

He still screams when I pick him up or hold him by his collar, but today, I won the battle and bathed him, he was quite good about it, but hated being towelled off and so he is clean but unbrushed, looking more like a porcupine than a groomed Maltese X Poodle!

Momo now has his new collar on, thanks to one of his god mothers, Tracey Whyte, and his little 'bling' bone along with his St. Francis medal.  He looks amazing, he isn't as scrunched, and although he doesn't see and hear overly well, it is starting to come back and I hope one day that he will be able to see properly and get the gist of where his food bowl is by looking at it and not smelling it.....

Yesterday I packed away the play pen and let him sleep on his bed on his own, he was absolutely fine.  And this morning and tonight, he ate with the big kids, outside and held his own from the marauders wanting to take whatever was in his food bowl!  He now likes to be amongst the dogs when I am serving their dinner and tonight, I got such a shock, he galloped!  And he did a TINY TINY dance trying to get onto his back legs.....if only you could have seen him!

Momo is on the mend.  It will take weeks of therapy and love, and his new foster carer will be taking care of him after the 21st until he finds his new forever home.  Moe has made the most significant recovery in the last 10 hours or so, he is so different.  Hopefully we will see more and more of it and then he can be rehomed to a family that will adore him.  If you know of anyone that would be suitable let us know!

Ben has requested that he return in a month to see how he is going, so I will keep you updated with how he is going over the next few weeks....

 Momo has now gone to live with his Auntie Janet Mummy as he makes his recovery.  Due to going on leave, we thought it best for the Mo-man to go and stay with her, and he will be with her until we find a special home.  Please remember if you hear of anyone that you think MIGHT be the perfect home for our Mo, then don't forget to contact us......

Two days ago, early in the morning I heard a 'ruff'.  It wasn't any of my dogs.  Yes, the Mo-man made a noise.  Yesterday, I heard "ruff ruff", along with some baby whiny noises.  Mo wanted his breakfast!!!!  He actually vocalized that he knew the routine in the morning and was ready to eat.  This was fantastic to know, that his brain is starting to connect with this sort of behaviour.

Last night while cooking dinner I looked over at him and he had Romy's little rope bone in his mouth.  I was so excited as he has never shown any inclination at all to play with anything or interact with any of the dogs or me, and even though I am not sure he wasn't just interested in the dog spit on the rope bone, he actually showed interest in something and managed to get it into his mouth.  I was so proud of him!

This morning I packed up his bed, and glory box (Thanks to Auntie Tracey in Sydney we have a trousseau) along with food and meds and we made the journey to Auntie Janet.  Well her three bubs thought he was the ants pants and engaged with him more than mine ever have.  Momo tried special dried diet food and was nailing it in no time.  He thought his new Auntie far more interesting and nicer than me, the wicked woman who takes him to the hospital and vets and puts him in pens and crates.  My shares with Mo are not high obviously but the dried food from his new carer, WOW!

So I left the new boy to get used to all of his brothers and sisters and I know he is going to get the best care and love.  If you could see how Bella is now after spending time with her Mummy, you would understand.  Auntie Janet IS the liver shunt Carer of Melbourne!

He will be taken down to Werribee again in another couple of weeks for Ben to check on him again.  In the meanwhile he will get a groom and lots of love, and when I get some pics through I will post them all for you to see.

So we have gone onto the next phase of Momo's recovery.  He has been with me for nearly two months now and it has been a rocky ride some days.  But I hope that we can give him what he needs to recover, and have a good life with a family of his own who will adore him like he should be.

More when I can............

Momo is doing fine at his new foster Mummy's after having a rough day settling in.  He now is doing much better, and is even attempting to try a carpeted step!

Here are some pics of the Mo-man enjoying his new foster home......................

Ok, am I beautiful, or what???

Can't a bloke do wees without the whole word knowing about it?

Momo and Bella.  I'll show you my scar, if you show me yours.......

You put your left right foot in and you shake it all about......

Cruising....with Bells

The Mo-man...........

Momo has gone to live with his new Mum and Dad in Tassie as he recovers from his liver shunt symptoms and gains more and more zest for life!

He has many little furry friends to play with, his Mum and Dad are home to keep him company, and are experienced in dogs with Liver Shunt having had two before!

Moe with his special needs, required special people to care for him, and that is exactly what he is getting.  Many have travelled through the journey of Mo, and now he is entering the next phase.  After a great report from Ben Landon, and the liver shunt surgery a complete success, it is now just time that Momo needs.

He is sweet, playful and extremely cute, is our Mo-man, and he will be lovingly cared for which is all any of us ever wanted.

I would like to thank EVERYONE (I can't name you all, you know who you are) who have helped Momo over the last few months.