Quick update. Zaccheus is just over two pounds. He currently is on an antibiotic to fight a sinus infection. He has had one almost all of his life. The vet says that the bones in his sinuses are fine and delicate like lace, and that when infection sets in, it's hard to get rid of it. They opted not to give him his rabies shot when I took him in yesterday. They want him to be on this new medicine for a few days first, because he's so sick. Not that he acts like it. He wrestles around the whole house with Cricket and Roxy, both of whom have finally accepted him. Cricket actually starts it half the time.
We have finally found the tool we need to keep his cleft clear of debris he gets in it. We use an artist's paintbrush. The bristles are long enough to go right in to the cleft, and soft enough to not hurt him. Yet they are firm enough to sweep foreign matter out. You would be stunned at all the stuff I've cleaned out of there.
All the material I have read that says cleft dogs can live long and healthy lives without surgery don't tell me what degree the cleft was on the dog, so I still don't know what we will do when he is older. We will wait and see how much it closes as he grows, and when he is fully developed we'll decide. Right now it is like the grand canyon and constantly has stuff in it. I'm always cleaning it out.
__________________ Cricket  and Zaccheus' human |