My name is Bentlee!

_____________________________________________________________________________
UPDATED BIO 08/21/2011: Bentlee is now 17 weeks old and weighs a whopping 2 lbs 10 oz. He has made himself right at home in his new foster home. He has doggie siblings and is getting to know them better. He loves loves loves to go outside and walk around in the puppy play yard - what a treat for him! It seems like he wants to smell every blade of grass - he loves sniffing all the new things he is experiencing in the play yard. He had a few minits of water therapy yesterday, but his little head kept dipping into the water like he was bobbing for apples, so Foster Mom is going to try to devise a way for him to keep his head above water while he's exercising his legs. Bentlee loves playing with toys and his bully stick - his new best friend! He is getting more comfortable walking on the wood floors, but still prefers to stay on his 'mat', which is 4' x 4' (and several of them in separate rooms), since it gives him more stability when he walks. Bentlee is doing really well in his housetraining on the pee-pee pad - what a smart little boy! Stay tuned for more updates on this little special boy......

UPDATED BIO 08/19/2011: Bentlee is making his way to Florida today to his new foster home - watch for an updated bio/pix of him soon! Welcome to Florida, Bentlee!

Update 8/3/11: Bentlee had a big long trip to MD to get his cart today. Dr Parkes has been doing this since 1962 and today was one of his toughest fittings (Bentlee is one of the smallest carts he ever made! The cart is made of super light weight material at 1.5 lbs and Bentlee weighed 2lbs 10oz yesterday at the vet). Foster parents will start introducing the cart for short periods tomorrow with food treats as positive reinforcement. Dr. Parkes feels that Bentlee's aggression is all a defense due to his history and that he knows he isn't 'normal' (the poor baby). But everyday he improves and Dr. Parkes still feels we can correct his directional issues with the cart!!! We will post new pics and videos of Bentlee soon. Thanks to everyone for supporting him.

Update 07/29/11: Bentlee continues to improve from his injury. He is running around the house (in his special way) now and walks on hard surfaced floors in addition to carpet. Aug. 3rd is a big day for Bentlee - he is getting a custom made cart to help him with his walking and form.

It won't be too long before Bentlee is ready to be adopted, but the adopter will need to be someone who has experience rehabilitating dogs and the ability to be home most of the day. He can not eat on his own due to the tremors related to his injury. We aren't sure, how "totally normal" Bentlee will become, but he is a blast to play with right now! He knows his names and likes to make his FM run after him. He plays with toys and occassionally gives kisses. Our little guy has come so far!

Stay tuned for upcoming videos on You Tube when he gets his cart.

UPDATE: 7/20/11: Baby Bentlee is getting a set of wheels from K-9 Cart Company East (www.k-9cart.com) which should help with his recovery. Check out the latest video of Bentlee showing even more improvement!

UPDATE 07/4/11: “Hi everyone, little Baby Bentlee here. My FD likes to just call me Baby. I continue to slowly improve and have a dogtor visit tomorrow. I am growing and acting like any other puppy except for my mobility. Yesterday I had a bath and I smell so good! Every few hours my FM makes me exercise and messages my legs. I don’t like it much and get a little feisty when she works my right front leg. That leg seems to keep me from walking the most but FM does this wheelbarrow thing where I put my weight only on my front legs to help strengthen them.

Please continue to send your kind thoughts and prayers my way – I sure need them but I am a fighter!

Luv, Bentlee”

UPDATE 6/18/11: Hi everyone – it’s me, Bentlee. I am finally out of the doggie hospital where they treated me so well and helped me to begin my healing. I have a nice home now and FM and FD take really good care of me. I have a routine: eat, exercise and sleep every 4 hours. FM keeps making me use my right arm and leg since I tend to hold them up. Today, I tried to take a couple of steps to FM while she balanced me. I did it almost all on my own!!! Every day I get a little bit stronger and better. I hate the exercises FM makes me do, but I think they are helping me. Please send me your well wishes. It will be a while before I am ready to be adopted but I’ll melt your heart when I do. Oh yes – I gained ½ pound so now I weigh 1.5 pounds!

UPDATE 6/14/11: Bentlee is continuing to progress and show little signs of improvement but unfortunately we still have no idea how long it will take for him to recover; if ever. He is eating slowly out of a dish now but still needs to drink via syringe. As you saw in the video (posted yesterday), his head still bobbles. He can walk but needs encouragement. Tomorrow he is expected to 'go home' to one of our foster homes but will still need round-the-clock care.

UPDATE 6/13/11: Today Bentlee is lifting his head (even if at an angle)!! We are thrilled with each and every baby step he takes and are cautiously optimistic. The vet re-evaluated him today and his eye ulcer is healing nicely and the temporary sutures were removed. That eye needs to be closely watched and continued on medication since he his having trouble blinking, we don't want to see another ulcer develop. Also, Bentlee has started rehab to train his brain and develop his muscles so he can start walking on his own. The vet says he is not super interested in moving on his own, so we have to entince him! Upon release from the hospital later this week, he will likely see a physical rehab specialist and start a daily regimen with his foster parents. Keep it up Bentlee, recovery is possible!

UPDATE 6/12/11: Bentlee is doing pretty much the same. He did try to go after the tech today and 'growled' when they put his eye drops in. She just laughed at him but was really happy to see an 'appropriate reaction' out of him. We continue to have lots of hope for our little guy!

UPDATE 6/11/11: Bentlee continues to improve slightly. He is still not standing but sitting sternally and raising his head. They plan on reevaluating his overall neuro rating tomorrow. Let's all continue to think positive thoughts for our little guy!

UPDATE 6/10/11: Bentlee continues to slowly improve and is starting to hold his head up. Unfortunately, it is still very much a day-to-day watch and wait as he could suddenly go either way. However, we are very fortunate to have him in such a great facility with very friendly and caring staff. Everyone please keep sending good thoughts to our little Bentlee. They seem to be working!!!

UPDATE 6/9/11: Bentlee continues to improve little by little. He is following them now visually. Although he is still having trouble standing he is trying. He hasn't moved his bowels (to be nice) since yesterday AM so they may use a fecal loop to stimulate him. He is a fighter!

UPDATE 6/8/11: From Monday to today, he seems a little bit more alert and is starting to make a little chirping noise when held versus just being totally lethargic. No pain meds since Monday and no seizure activity. He is eating well. However, he is not standing yet – the hospital says he is afraid to put his feet on the ground and was careful to say that at this stage, he could quickly improve or quickly take a turn for the worse so they did not want to instill false hope. It will definitely still be just one day at a time. Hang in there Bentlee....it gets better!!! And a big thank you to all of his supporters......without you we would not have been able to save this very special little guy!

UPDATE 6/7/11: Today is shaping up to be good day for Bentlee! He continues to make small strides in the right direction! He has almost stopped the wiggling and is exhibiting less signs of a neurological problem. In fact, he was able to stand with assistance this morning! And, the vet has indicated they are going to begin to rehab him to help him start walking. He is now stable enough to be transferred from emergency boarding to medical boarding within the current facility and if all goes the way we hope, he will be released to his foster parents next week for his aftercare and lots of TLC! We couldn't be more thrilled!!

UPDATE 6/6/11 - Bentlee has made small improvements again, although he doesn't stand or walk, he is voluntarily wiggling and cooing like a puppy. And, he has a healthy appetite and is eating on his own. Also, the stitches are staying in his eye and he seems more comfortable without the cone on, plus the eye should be healing quicker. He seems to react positively to being held and stops whimpering almost immediately, so they think he's figured out how to get attention, haha!

PM UPDATE 6/5/11: He came through today's procedure with flying colors and is resting soundly.

AM UPDATE 6/5/11: We had a little setback with Bentlee today and he is undergoing a small procedure to temporarily stitch his eyelid closed to give it time to heal. Overall he has made some physical improvement and is about an 8 on a scale of 100, per the vet (although he came in at a 2 and was a 4 yesterday) so he is still extremely fragile and it's going to be a long road to recovery. This is why the vet is suggesting several weeks with round the clock attention and he still needs your positive thoughts and prayers. Thanks!

PM UPDATE 6/4/11: Assuming all goes well tonight, Bentlee can be released from the ER as early as tomorrow afternoon. As of tonight they removed his IV and breathing tubes and he is now being hand fed and getting round the clock nursing. A neurology consultation concluded that since there are no fractures or obvious trauma, there is no additional veterinary treatment currently needed and the only prescription is time. He has a healthy appetite and is drinking fluids on his own, but needs someone to monitor that, as well as keep his right eye lubricated and tended to. That being said, he will have round the clock foster care to tend to him over the next 2-3 weeks. He will need a follow up down the road, possibly with a neurology specialist. But, at this point, this is the news we are hoping for and assuming he does fine tonight without the tubes, he will be taking a huge step in the right direction!! Keep it up Bentlee!!!

AM UPDATE 6/4/11: Bentlee made it through the night!! Dr. Bean called to say that he was a little wiggly over night and kept pulling out his tubes. Also, that his right eye doesn't blink, so they kept putting ointment on it to avoid an ulcer, but with his movements he kept rubbing it off, so he developed one which they are now treating and put a cone on him to prevent further problems. He was given additional pain meds this morning and may be getting another injection of preventative medication for head trauma. Dr. Bean felt optimistic about the fact Bentlee has survived 36 hours since the accident and is planning to take him off oxygen tonight. It is hard for him to evaluate any progress because of the pain meds, so we are still in a holding pattern as to that. He is being cuddled all day today by a vet tech to help stimulate progress and keep him from wiggling, hopefully it also just brings him a little comfort to be held.

PM UPDATE 6/3/11: Bentlee is now fighting for his life, sedated in an oxygen chamber for the weekend. He needs round the clock care and will be getting a body x-ray to inspect for fractures. His care for the weekend is going to be very expensive and we haven't considered the cost of aftercare. He could use your help!

INITIAL BIO 6/3/11: Bentlee is a 1 pound, 7 week old male yorkie. We just received him as an owner surrender this morning, after he was stepped on by a child. Bentlee is in 'INTENSIVE CARE' right now and we are hoping he is a fighter, because right now we are not sure whether he will survive. Please pray for this little guy! Thanks!