Caesar & Pharaoh from Mississippi |
After the recent horrific events on America's Gulf Coast, we're delighted to be able
to report that Caesar and his family are alive and well. Toni has emailed Teresa
Kuntz, Caesar's breeder, as follows: "You have not lived until you've lifted a wolfhound into your attic to escape the rising water. 5 adults, 4 cats and the 3 dogs spent the night up there. We are at my adopted mom's house just north of the inter-state. She is on vacation, but her brother-in-law is home. They have 2 whippets. Penny and Dickens. The 1st days Dickens ruled over Caesar . . . as was his right. The worm finllay turned yesterday when Caesar was running around yard playing and Dickens thought he would go bully. Caesar, just wanting to play, leaped over him. It scared Dickens to death. I think it was Caesar blocking out the sun . . . anyway. Dickens gives him more room now than before." |
Caesar, born 10th June 2004, is a son of Jazz from Arkansas. He lives near Gulfport, Mississippi with Toni and Cliff Riepl. They are members
of a historical re-enactment organization, where Caesar enjoys taking part in
the ceremonies and the status of being one of the king's royal hounds at court! Caesar's impact on Cliff and Toni was so great that in the spring of 2006 he was joined by a young 'brother', Pharaoh. |
Taking part in a renaissance event, 9 months old, 33.5" tall, 145lbs |
Hanging out with Cliff on the couch. Caesar is allowed on the couch as long as he's
on Cliff's lap - that's actually Cliff's entire body! Caesar's New Year's resolution
was more couch time. |
4.75 months, 28" tall |
Caesar with his proud parents, Toni and Cliff. |
May 2005 |
On April 16th Toni and Cliff took Caesar to a Humane Society fund raiser, where he
came second in the largest dog competition, losing out to the only other Irish
wolfhound there, a five year old male. He also won second place in the owner/dog
look alike contest, Toni having made Cliff go in the ring with his long hair
all mussed up, just for fun. The humans won "big dog" ball caps and Caesar won
two big bones. The next day they were mentioned in the newspaper. Toni says Caesar hates baths - she discovered this when she tried to give him one prior to the fund raiser. After soaking the bathroom floor and walls without actually getting him into the tub she ended up in the back yard with him tied to the fence so he couldn't get away . . . well, he did several times and she ended up as wet as him. Toni wasn't sure if he was any cleaner, but she was, and they're both still flea free to this day! |
The Biggest Dog Competition |
The Look-Alike Competition |
July 2005 |
These photos were taken, when Teresa Kuntz, Caesar's breeder, visited him at his
home. |
September 2005 |
May 2006 |
Just as Toni and Cliff were enjoying the arrival of Pharaoh, their new Irish wolfhound
puppy, the celebration turned to a rush to the emergency vet with Caesar,
who had developed bloat. Thanks to Toni's quick action he pulled through without
surgery and is now recovering at home and wanting to play with Pharaoh. Next
month, he will undergo elective gastropexy to secure his stomach to the abdominal
wall cavity to reduce the risk of torsion in future. |
Toni and Cliff at a recent historical re-enactment with Caesar and Pharaoh. |
June 2006 |
Following an episode of bloat last month, Caesar has undergone elective gastropexy
(stitching the stomach to the abdominal wall to prevent torsion) and neutering.
We're delighted to be able to report that he's recovering well at home. Needless to say, the photos were taken before the surgery! |
"You and whose army?!" |
November 2006 |
January 2007 |
Pharaoh and Caesar holding court last summer, attended by their faithful servants! |
At the end of August, Caesar suddenly lost mobility in his rear legs and became incontinent.
X-rays showed nothing abnormal, so he was started on steroids and an
MRI scan arranged. Two ruptured discs were diagnosed (L6-7), one major and the
other minor, possibly caused by rough play or an old injury. Conservative treatment
would take at least two months, with the possibility of further damage,
whereas surgery offered a 75 -80% chance of full recovery. Toni and Cliff decided on surgery, which went well. Next day, Caesar was up and walking, and once discharged he became Toni's shadow, although Pharaoh will have to be kept completely apart from him for at least the next month. Occasionally he still has pain on movement, possibly due to a suture or an inflamed nerve, and some of his fine motor skills are slow to return, most noticeably the ability to wag or lift his tail. These problems should improve with time, depending on the extent of nerve damage. He is recovering well, and eating everything in sight! Everyone is just happy that he's home, and looking forward to his continued progress towards complete, or near complete, recovery. |
September 2007 |