January 2007:
In a small town lived a little Westie whose purpose in life was to be a stud dog for a puppy mill breeder. One day the little dog could not walk so the breeder waited a while to see if he would regain use of his legs and when he didn’t she said he was no longer useful to her and would be put down. Thankfully, Jack was turned over to a local all-breed rescue who took him to a vet to be checked out. The true cause of Jack’s inability to walk was not discovered and for over six months this sweet little boy moved about by using his front legs and dragging his back legs looking somewhat like a seal in his movements. Finally the rescue group fostering him decided they could not help him and thought a westie rescue group, being more familiar with the breed, might know what to do. A phone call one evening asking if we would take Jack changed our lives and our hearts dramatically.
Jack’s journey to recover the use of his legs began on January 6, 2007, when I picked up the tiniest westie I had ever seen; an adorable little guy weighing ten pounds and looking more like a puppy than the seven-year-old adult that he is. I placed him on the grass to do his business but he didn’t move. Finally, I coaxed him to move a bit but his back legs were dragging and he would hold up first one front leg, then the other. Being my first special needs foster, my heart broke at the sight of him struggling to move about and panting and shivering from the pain, never whimpering, or whining but letting the kisses flow freely.
Jack went to visit the vet on January 8, 2007, where the problem was discovered through an exam and x-rays. Jack’s left and right hind knees were blown and when manipulated made a sickening crunch. We formed a plan and Jack went to see another vet the next day. Upon examination the vet determined that two surgical procedures would be needed and on January 11, 2007, a repair of the ACL’s in both hind legs and trochleoplasty to the left rear were performed. Trochleoplasty in simple terms is a procedure to deepen the groove where the patella sits, thus keeping the knee from popping out of joint.
Jack remained in the hospital for several days and finally on January 20, 2007 we were able to bring him home and on January 24, 2007 the stitches were removed and hydrotherapy began (Jack wishes it hadn’t). Lack of movement caused Jack’s muscles to deteriorate, contributing to his frail appearance, and ten minutes twice a day in the water exhausted him. Each day a little more time has been added and now Jack can swim for twenty to forty minutes. We also do physical therapy by massaging his body and moving his legs to restore muscle movement, improve circulation. and to help retrain his brain in the proper leg movements. His hindquarters are filling out a little, his spine has disappeared from both weight gain and exercise, and his energy level has increased. He walks short distances on his hind legs but the front joints hurt him to the point he sits down and lifts up first one paw, then the other. The front joints are another problem to be dealt with at a later date. One option for them is to fuse the joints so the paws don’t “flop” side to side creating a more stable leg to stand on helping with balance. Jack’s healing and therapy will take a long time to accomplish, but he is a determined little guy and gives it his all and thanks to the generosity of WestieMed Jack gets a second chance to walk. Orthopedic surgeries are very expensive and usually require a long healing process and often the therapy of some sort. Jack is so lucky to have WestieMed’s help with his expenses and he sends big kisses to you all!
John and Martha Beck Foster Parents for Louisiana Westie Rescue
Update February 2007:
Jack went back to the vet today for his two-week checkup and the vet is pleased with his progress…the muscle mass is building. We are looking into splints for his legs to try to avoid another surgery. These will be specially made for him and will Velcro on his front legs to help him walk on those. The vet thinks his condition is either an autoimmune problem or he was kept in a crate that didn’t allow him to move around very much. All the ligaments in his body are shot. Did I tell you he has a number 30 tattooed in the tip of his ear? I guess that is his lucky number now. He graduated to big dog member of the pack yesterday when he went out the back door under his own power onto the deck with the rest of the LWD’s. It was a proud moment for us! He sat in the warm sun looking over his kingdom. He now putters around the kitchen following me where ever I go or lies where he can watch me. He is a rooing boy…Babycakes and Bama were rooing and he joined in…Chloe just thinks they are all crazy and fails to see the point.
Update April 2007:
Just wanted to give an update on Jack…his back knees that were fixed are doing well. Now we have to focus on the lower joints which are not doing well. We tried splints, water therapy all to avoid surgery, but it just isn’t giving the results hoped for so we have an appointment with an orthopedic vet to see if the joints can be fused. There are a lot of factors to be considered, and until he is evaluated, we won’t know if it will help or not. I will let you know what the vet says. Please say prayers for this brave little guy; he asks so little and gives so much.
Martha
Update May 2007:
Here is Jack with his new wheels! Wow! He doesn’t quite know what to think about it all. There had to be several adjustments made because of the way his spine is…hopefully it will straighten out some. He actually took a few steps for treats (that’s my boy…anything for food!) We go back in a couple of weeks to see how his progress is going. He seems a little excited about it, especially when he could walk better! Now we have to learn to go potty with the chair…not sure how that is going to work. 🙂 Thanx for all the thoughts and prayers for Jack. He is truly a special little guy.
Update December 2007:
Unfortunately Jack’s arthritis continues to worsen and he has begun to choke on his food frequently regardless of how it is prepared. He has to wear a diaper as he is no longer mobile. His quality of life has declined quite a bit. He remains a brave little guy and doesn’t cry too much. He is still on pain meds and arthritis meds. Poor little guy just has the deck stacked against him. However, he will always be, to me, the sweetest Westie that ever lived.
Thank you to Westie Med for all your help in the effort to get a better life for Jack.
Martha Beck
Update March 6, 2008:
My dear sweet little Jack went to the bridge today. Over the last few days he lost interest in food and water and his tail stopped wagging. It broke my heart but now he has his legs back and is running and happy.
Martha Beck