Cliff – Super Human Fosterers
On June 14th, Les Amis Des Animaux launched an appeal, Clip for Cliff, in aide of Cliff, a 12 year old Griffon X in need of surgery on his back knees. Marta Kepinska was sponsored to cut off her hair in aide of Cliff and 3000 euros was raised.
On July 9 Cliff went in for surgery and since then it has been a difficult, exhausting, frustrating, and emotionally and physically draining few weeks for Cliff and his fosterers, Jan and Martyn, who despite enormous pressures have put in a super human effort while caring for Cliff.
Cliff is a life time foster who has had to deal with a lot. A botched tail docking left him incontinent and he became deaf as a result of dreadful ear infections. Evidence suggests that he may have been tied up and also beaten.
Earlier this year his back legs had been causing him extreme pain and the vet recommended surgery to his right knee and stem cell therapy to his left.
During the operation it was found that Cliff’s left knee was worse than thought so no stem cell injections were given. It is possible that he may need an operation on this knee too. This will be discussed in 3 months time when he has had time to recover.
When Cliff came home after surgery, he had a terrible time. For over 48 hours neither he nor Martyn slept. A continuous, muffled bark, accompanied by distressed panting came from Cliff. He was desperate for water but the collar made it difficult for him to drink so Martyn used a large syringe to give him water. He could not lift himself at all and could not get comfortable with the very large cast on his right back leg.
Cliff went back to his local vet where he was given a light pre-operative anaesthetic to help him sleep and the next day his medication regime was changed.
Cliff did not eat food until 4 days after the operation when he accepted some steak tartare! A day later he became more agitated and distressed and it was thought that perhaps he was constipated. Laxatives were added to the regime. Two days later Cliff made it known that he needed to go outside. He was loaded into a wheelbarrow (his personal rickshaw!) to go outside to present the results of the laxatives!
As Cliff could not lift himself, Jan and Martyn usually took him outside using a towel as a sling until an actual sling could be ordered. Often they had to carry him back inside. Not easy work with a big boy like Cliff!
All this time, Martyn had been sleeping with Cliff, to keep him comfortable, give him water, give him his medication and clean up the bedding. By day nine, Cliff was on somewhat of a sleep schedule and he was back in nappies to keep him comfortable.
The day before the cast was to be removed, Cliff vomited. A result of all the medication he was on? The laxatives? The vet gave him an injection to calm his digestive system, some pain medication and took some blood.
The next day he was well enough to have the cast removed, which was a slow process as it was sticking to his skin and fur, so Cliff was sedated to make it easier for him.
Martyn says ‘Throughout all of this Cliff has been good as gold. His only negative reactions have, not surprisingly, been when some pain has surprised him; but for the rest of the time he’s been compliant and good natured. Such a good lad. I reckon Cliff’s been through so much in his life that he’s become tolerant to discomfort and pain.’
Two and a half weeks after the operation, Cliff started with massage and stretching to help build up his legs. All this time he had not been able to put any weight on his back legs. The sling had arrived and he had a new, soft collar so he was a little more comfortable. Amazingly, he suddenly pushed himself up on his front legs and dragged himself to the windows. With the aide of a towel (no time to get the sling on!) Cliff had his first walk with his back legs actually on the ground!
This seemed to really motivate Cliff but three days later Martyn’s back gave out! Not surprising with all the lifting and manoeuvring.
Although Cliff had ‘walked’ his back left leg (which used to be the stronger of his legs) was still just ‘hanging’ uselessly. Attempts had been made to get a kiné, not so easy to find, so that Cliff could start rehabilitation with a professional. Before the kiné appointment, Cliff started using his back legs in more of a coordinated way and was really trying to go outside.
The kiné said that the muscles of both of Cliff’s back legs are very wasted, so he’ll need lots of attention and exercises for several weeks. Both his rear knee joints are inflamed, so he needs to go back on a pain killer/anti inflammatory. Very sadly he can’t have hydrotherapy because of his incontinence combined with his regular urine infections. Jan and Martyn were shown massage techniques for his back paws and legs. He must have at last two short walks each day with his rear legs supported in his harness. They can steer him and control his walking speed using the front end harness the kiné supplied. Several times each day Cliff must also stand still (with his rear end supported) with all four paws correctly placed. They’ve been loaned a kit to give his upper rear leg muscles electrical stimulation via four electrode pads attached around his thighs.
All this, of course, requires the presence of two people.
Martyn says, ‘We love him but it’s certainly not easy. Since his operation one of us has been with Cliff every moment 24/7. But Jan can’t lift him on her own to get him onto or off the bed, or for nappy changes, or getting outside in his support. In any case he’d get fretful and needy if left … so that’s why I’ve slept next to him every night since he came home from the vet.
In fact the kiné stated categorically that Cliff must never be left on his own. Even if he’s on the floor, there’s the risk that if he tries to stand or propel himself forwards he’ll get his rear legs in a tangle and trip – in which case his own body weight could wrench a leg joint the wrong way.
It’ll be worth it as long Cliff ends up walking on all fours again. At times we desperately worry that he won’t … but he’s certainly determined while also compliant and (mainly) good humoured about his plight and what he has to put up with.’
Despite being very good, now and again Cliff has been getting snappy while doing his physio, so from now on he will have his soft collar on and have a licky mat to occupy him.
Cliff is still having a few constipation issues and his usual nappy/wrap combo does not stay in place as he is thinner and his fur has been shaved. As a result Martyn is doing a lot of changing and washing. Cliff also gets very frustrated that he can’t get outside for a walk by himself, and he doesn’t understand why he can’t go on the walks he used to, but slowly he is making progress.
A pen has been bought to contain him, while he recuperates, as he gets stronger and more mobile.
Martyn states, ‘The fact of the matter is that I was ‘sold’ on Cliff as soon as I saw his brown eyes in the first photo of him on Facebook. That was taken when he was still at the Tarbes SPA, before any of us knew the full extent of his disabilities, and so the last year has also proved very challenging and tiring for us. But as long as Cliff manages to cope with all his “special needs” the way he has so far, then we will too.’
However, he says also that ‘nothing warned or prepared us for this incredible amount of dedication that would be needed. We were well-intentioned but clueless.’
He feels also that the vet ‘should have spent some time with us and Cliff to talk us through what to expect and how best to cope … that is to say, give us advice specific to Cliff’s needs.’
