We received a phone call from a veterinary clinic that they had a Westie that had been dropped off by his owner to be put down. Within hours we were there to pick him up and give him a second chance.
Gyuszi, 8 years old, came to the vet with suspected pancreatitis, emaciation, dehydration and high blood sugar, but his owners did not want to spend any more money on him because their baby was born.
With the notice of abandonment in hand, we immediately drove to Budapest, to the University of Veterinary Medicine, where we had made an appointment by phone, and they were waiting for him.
Gyuszi could barely walk, he was exhausted, but he endured the tests peacefully. He was in intensive care, barely eating, but his condition was stable. He spent 5 days in hospital and underwent many tests.
He was transferred from the hospital to a temporary family with experience of caring for diabetic dogs.
Our main task was to normalize his blood sugar levels.
Providing the prescribed amount of exercise, feeding a special diet and administering a digestive enzyme. Blood glucose measurements every day at 6-8 specified times, feeding to the gram and insulin every 12 hours. These values were accurately recorded in a table and discussed with the doctor every few days. Gyuszi adapted very quickly to the daily routine and was very cooperative.
Meanwhile, Gyuszi has settled into the pack and is starting to show his true Westie self, but is very well behaved, loves to play ball and go for long walks. He seeks human companionship and is eager to cuddle.
In October he was neutered. The surgery, due to Gyuszi’s diabetes, took place at the University of Veterinary Medicine with the help of an experienced team. There were no complications, and he recovered quickly.
He received his missing vaccinations after the stitches were removed.
As his bodyweight was considered a little low and we couldn’t get him to put on weight with the food he was given, we tried again using a different formula.
We are now at the stage of adjusting the new food and the amount of insulin, in consultation with the vet, every 3 days.
We will soon be looking for a forever home for him, which unfortunately will not be an easy task with his medical condition. We are in no hurry; he is with a great family, and we are looking for the perfect owner.
As we have many other dogs in the care of Westie Rescue Hungary besides Gyuszi, and his examinations and treatment have been a strain on our financial resources, we are very grateful for WestieMed’s support to help not only Gyuszi but also the other rescue dogs.
Westie Rescue Hungary
Update July 17, 2025:
We reached a relatively stable state with Gyuszi at the beginning of the year, so we started looking for an owner for him. We advertised him for a long time, but due to his illness, we did not find any takers.
Then the miracle happened, we received a fantastic letter from a young couple. A phone conversation revealed that their intentions were well thought out and they were not afraid of special tasks. The boy had never owned a dog before.
They came to meet us, and very quickly they got to know each other. Their intention grew stronger, so we moved Gyuszi to Szeged. They were waiting for him with maximum preparation, but there were some difficulties in the first period. The new environment, the new people made Gyuszi’s blood sugar level fluctuate again more than at home and there were behavioral problems. We kept in daily contact with them, helping them with everything. Their doctor and our doctor talked a lot by email and in face-to-face meetings. Thanks to their perseverance and the help of their doctors, they found the most suitable diet and adjusted the insulin dose. They even completed a basic dog school where they learned a lot.
Gyuszi is in excellent health, has a beautiful coat and has also visibly gained muscle. They have developed a very close relationship. They came to visit us a few weeks ago. It was a great pleasure for us to see them happy.
From Gyuszi’s new owners…
Gyuszi has lived with us for 7 months, we really know every move he makes. He is not an ordinary dog.
From now on, with the help of Hajni and Szabolcs, he walks and learns together.
Thank you all for helping WRH with Gyuszi’s considerable medical expenses and for following his fate!
Üdvözlettel,
Pásztor Zoltán
Westie Rescue Hungary