In August, our rescue was contacted by a breeder who regularly surrenders Westies to us. This time, it was about two female Westie puppies with heart murmurs. We quickly accepted them into our rescue and placed them in a loving foster home. We named them Ginny and Georgia!We work closely with a trusted veterinarian for all heart-related concerns, so we promptly took the girls in for an evaluation. The vet noted that their murmurs were quite severe—graded 4/5—and that Ginny was already showing signs of early-stage heart failure. They were immediately prescribed medication. She recommended a referral to a specialized cardiology vet who might be able to perform surgery.
Unfortunately, at their specialty appointment, both puppies were diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis, ventricular septal defects (VSD), arrhythmias, thickening of the heart walls, and several other cardiac abnormalities.
The specialist informed us that surgery was not an option. He explained that the prognosis was poor—most likely, the girls have about a year to live, if that. Due to the severity of their arrhythmias, they will likely pass suddenly in the coming months. Unfortunately Ginny has already had one cardiac episode where she became unresponsive, but has since had no other episodes & is completely back to her normal self.
The vet reached out to the Colorado State Veterinary Teaching Hospital for further input. They recommended trying beta blockers to reduce the workload on the heart, followed by a recheck in two months to assess for any improvement. However, they also emphasized that the prognosis would likely remain unchanged.
Ginny and Georgia are currently thriving in their foster home. They have been deemed forever fosters, so the foster will keep them until they pass. Their foster parents are showering them with love and making every moment count—letting them live happy, joyful lives as playful puppies for however long they have left with us.
These girls have captured the hearts of everyone who meets them. We are so incredibly grateful to WestieMed for helping us with their medical expenses. Your support means the world to us.
With heartfelt thanks,
The Oklahoma Westie Rescue Team