Chester

This is an actual copy of all the updates on Chester, beginning the day he entered rescue. Chester was just a young pup when he entered rescue, after being hit by the car. His broken body was carried to a local veterinarian who after providing emergency care and setting the mangled leg contacted us. Chester's very survival depended upon finding the resources to get this young boy through to his recovery. One of our first steps was to give him a name, Chester appropriately named after the character Chester Goode in Gunsmoke.

The links below go to the individual updates; however, we recommend you simply scroll down and follow the whole story. You'll be glad that you did.

Please see the above menu for the Latest information or scroll down through all the past updates.

Meet our latest, Chester, a year and a half bundle of pure puppy. Chester was literally picked up on the side of the road. Of course, that was after the car hit him. He's presently in the hospital receiving care.

Right now, we know for certain that his front leg is broken, and the doctors are presently determining the best course of action. The break is so close to the joint (his "wrist' if you will) that they are worried about it healing properly. We should know something later on today or tomorrow.

We'll post more on his condition as soon as possible.

The Leg

The doctors think that they were able to set Chester's leg without having to 'go in' and secure a plate to his bones. If the new splint and cast keep Chester's bones aligned as well as they are right now, he should regain nearly 100% use of his leg. :-)

Please note all the Chip-In donation widgets have been removed from this page.

Chester does have a few other issues, but nothing major. He tested negative for heartworm disease (yea!!) so his total medical costs should be between $ 750.00 to $ 825.00. If you can help offset some of his medical costs, please see the 'chip in' link above (or use any of the paypal links through out the site).

A New Cast

The doctors only real option was to align the leg as well as possible, re-splint it and replace the cast. The break was so close to his joint that there simply was not enough room to place a screw a plate to it if they wanted to. The vets said had the break been 3/4" lower and Chester would have lost his leg. I guess in all this we are thankful he has the chance to heal with all four legs. They do feel confident that Chester should regain nearly 100% use of his leg if properly healed.

The game plan is to put Chester on total 'bed' rest for the next six weeks. He has been crated for the past two and a half weeks and goes back this Friday for more x-rays and a new cast. Then it's back to the crate for the next three weeks.

If everything goes exceptionally well, about the end of October he will be able to go without a cast at all. For now, we are keeping him off his foot to prevent the bones from getting mis-aligned.

I'll try to round up some recent pictures and get those posted, but here lately 'free' time has been very scarce.

Problems

Chester is spending the weekend (at least) at the hospital. He went in to have his second cast removed, x-rays to verify the alignment of his bones, and a third cast placed. But as fate would have it, he has a problem. It seems the cast allowed enough 'movement' to allow a 'hot spot' or 'sore' to develop. Sadly it became infected and has to be treated with antibiotics and topical medication. This is preventing the doctors from installing another cast and Chester cannot put weight on the leg at all without damaging the leg.

Chester is staying at the hospital this weekend (at minimum) and having his leg treated. Maybe Monday he will be well enough to have a cast put on and be able to come 'home'.

Right now, it's impossible to say if there will be any long term complications - hopefully not if the vets can keep him sedated enough to prevent using the leg.

Please keep a good thought for Chester this weekend. He's had such a problem out of all this, and he's a really sweet boy too.

We'll get this updated the first of the week when we see how Chester is doing. We can say with certainty that Chester will not be available for adoption till Mid-November at the earliest.

Still Hospitalized

Chester is still in the hospital under sedation to prevent him from damaging his leg until a cast can be once again placed. His overall condition is improving, but not quite as fast or as well as we had hoped.

Today makes one week that Chester has been in the hospital having the 'sore' treated. Hopefully in another day or two the doctors will be able to place another cast on Chester's leg and let all of us breath a sigh of relief. These past few days have been so rough - knowing all it will take is for Chester to place too much pressure on that leg...

Please keep a good thought for Chester, he's such a good boy.

Orthopedic Specialist

Today Chester was seen by an Orthopedic Specialist and he has recommended a special 'orthopedic appliance' be incorporated into the next cast. This device is being shipped to the Vet Hospital. Once Chester is fitted with this device and the new cast installed he will be cleared to return to rescue.

Chester is in 'Good Spirits' and enjoys having visits with his 'rescue' family. He doesn't seem to be in any pain or discomfort so we're certain the doctors are doing a great job with Chester.

Chester is still taking daily medication and having his bandages replaced every day until he gets the new cast put on. Hopefully by the middle of next week he will be cleared to come 'home'.

As for him becoming available for adoption, at this time we honestly cannot say with any certainly. However, if you are interested in adopting Chester be sure to get an application completed. That way, all the 'approval' stuff is taken care of and we're all just waiting for him to heal.

At this time, we have received enough funding to cover Chester's initial estimates for his treatment. That being before all this hospitalization. We have not received any updated estimates for his care, but we are certain it's going to be a good bit higher than originally estimated. That said, as in the past, any donations received are going toward the care of the 'Urgent Needs Saints' unless specified otherwise. If you so desire, please help us get this boy healthy by donating any amount (yes, even a dollar will help) using any of the paypal links throughout the website.

Once we know what his expenses are going to be we will update the 'Chip In' donation program. Thank you to all those of you who have helped get him this far, without you none of this would have even been possible.

The Club (pictures)

Chester is 'home' from the hospital. He has been fitted with his custom made 'Mason Media Splint' and a new cast has been placed over that. Rendering what looks like a massive club for his leg. If the doctors are looking for immobility, I do believe they have achieved it with this 'club' that is now Chester's front leg.

The plan now if for Chester to remain immobilized in a crate (not a kennel, but a crate) for the next 10 days - only being allowed out twice a day for 'personal matters'. After then he goes back to the vets and has this one removed, and yet another set of x-rays done. Then re-cast yet again for two more weeks.

In roughly three and a half weeks, the doctors should be able to make a determination about Chester's leg and just what percentage of use he is likely to have from here on out. Also, **IF** all goes exceptionally well, Chester will be cast free! We'll just have to wait and see.

Please note all the Chip-In donation widgets have been removed from this page.

Chester's medical bills are higher than we originally estimated, the past two weeks of hospitalization and the orthopedic specialist and related necessities have pretty much put us right back where we were to begin with. We'll looking at a realistic figure of yet another $750.00 to get this boy through all this. So, that said, if you could please help spread the word about Chester and his plight, he certainly could use a few spare dollars.

Maintaining

Chester was back in the hospital and has had his cast replaced after yet another set of X-rays.

This time it's pretty much good news for a change. The leg is looking good overall. If we manage to squeak through the next couple of weeks without anything going 'bonkers' little Chester might just be able to have his cast removed entirely.

He's eating well, and in good spirits. He would; however, love to get out out that crate and get rid of the whole cast. It's hard to really tell how much weight he has gained, what with the 10 pounds of plaster on his leg and all... But he has put weight on since entering rescue and honestly looks to be rather healthy.

We'll try and get some updated pictures in the next few days.

Two more weeks again

Chester is back from the vets again tonight, with yet another cast for at least the next two weeks. The bone has not healed enough for the doctors to release him from the cast or confinement.

Chester remarkably is maintaining a good attitude, but is starting to wonder just exactly why we are preventing him from running around like the happy go lucky puppy that he is. Hopefully this is the last round of cast and in a couple of weeks Chester is able to make that trip to him forever home.

As promised the other week, new pictures of Chester - one happy puppy.

Christmas dreams really do come true.

Chester has been medically cleared, the cast is gone! This boy is going to be just fine. His leg has healed and the vets believe he will have 100% use of his leg.

Talk about a great ending (or should I say beginning?) to this story!

NCSBR wishes to thank everyone for the prayers, good thoughts, and of course the donations that made Chester's recovery possible.

Check out the Just Look At Me Now! section for new pictures of Chester!

NCSBGRR
Spring Lake, NC 28390

NCSBGRR - Non-Profit 501(c)(3)
Status Pending