westiemed – Page 19

Jessie - WestieMed Grant Recipient June 2012

Jessie (Now Jesse)

June 1, 2012December 24, 2020 by westiemed in Stories

I had registered with Rescue Me and got a notification about a Westie that needed a home. I had written back immediately with my phone number and said that I had had Westies with skin problems before, my beloved Jake and Carli. Carli had passed last September at 16 years old and Jake several years ago at twelve years old with a spleen and liver problem. Both of them had skin issues but nothing like I have seen on WestieMed.

I was told that the mother had Alzheimer’s, rules the home and wanted Jessie put to sleep so the two adult daughters put him on Rescue Me. I went over to their home that night and I could see that he had terrible skin problems but I was really looking at his personality which was very sweet.

When I picked Jessie up to put him into the car he growled at me, and the suspicions started that I might have an abused dog beside a severely neglected dog. I have since discovered that he is quite territorial and in true Westie nature doesn’t back down and needs to be distracted. I’m learning too. I think this posed problems in his previous home and lead to abuse because they couldn’t handle him. I’m trying to understand.

I had asked what kind of food they had fed him and was told “dog food” but they gave a bag of pig ears to me as food. There was quite a lot of dancing around answers to direct questions but I was given a vet record and certificate of ownership. Jessie had been purchased from a “breeder” in Missouri.

I got online in the morning to check skin problems in Westies and the WestieMed site came up with pictures of Malassezia Dermatitis and it looked just like his skin problem. I’m so grateful to have found that information. I scrambled around to find a vet that could take him on a Saturday. I had just moved to Oregon from Virginia and I didn’t have a vet here. I feel fortunate to have happened along with a vet that has experience with skin issues.

Jessie is four years old, weighs thirty pounds, and he is neutered. He’s very large for a Westie but not overweight. He’s friendly, good with children and likes other dogs. All good. We are working on the skin problem with the vet; he’s on antibiotics and medicated baths twice a week. He’s responding well but may need antifungal treatment. I have him on a limited ingredient lamb and rice meal at this time but we may go to home-cooked through the Balanced In program that my vet told me about on the internet. I’m being challenged to write this and playing fetch the squeaking chicken this very minute.

Theresa

Update October 1, 2012: (now Jesse)

I have changed Jessie’s name to Jesse without the “i”.

He is doing so well.

It’s been a slow process but he’s coming along very nicely as you can see in the photo.

Theresa Medina

Update January 7, 2013

Thank you again for all that WestieMed does for Westies in need.

As you can see, Jesse is doing very well.

He is healthy and happy.

There are places on his neck and chest that the fur is still growing in, I was thinking that maybe his skin was so damaged from the yeast that it might not grow but it is

He is just a joy and worth all the effort.

Theresa Medina

Millie

June 1, 2012December 25, 2020 by westiemed in Stories

Little Miss Millie was as sick as she was tiny and feisty when Westie Rescue Indiana (WRI) managed to get her out of a Kentucky shelter in February. It wasn’t easy…

Although she had a wracking cough and was obviously unwell when her owner brought to the shelter on February 1st, the shelter refused to release her to rescue, preferring to try to adopt her themselves. So Millie languished in the shelter for two weeks as her condition deteriorated. Finally, the shelter sent her to one of their foster homes where she could get be better cared for, but at this point, Millie was listless and running a high fever. Still, two more days passed before a call was made to a WRI volunteer, asking if we would now take Millie.

Once in WRI’s care, Millie was rushed to the vet, where she was kept in isolation for nine days. A battery of tests revealed that she suffered from the effects of pneumonia, a chronic cough and an extremely high white blood count stemming from an infection that had been left untreated for too long. The vet did not expect her to make it, but by the end of February Millie was well enough to go “home” with her foster mom, who had visited her daily at the vet.

The month of March was spent in a series of return visits to the vet for more tests to monitor her white blood count and constant adjustments to her medications, and Millie continued to improve. She started eating well and gained two pounds in short order, bulking all the way up to twelve pounds by early April.

Because her lungs had been scarred from pneumonia that had been too-long left untreated, Millie would always have a cough, but she was healthy now and ready to find a home of her own. But this wasn’t easy either…

As Millie began to feel better, her feistiness emerged in tandem, and she proved to be one conflicted girl — begging to be picked up and then snarling, growling and snapping when anyone tried. Clearly, it would take someone experienced with terriers to handle this seven-year-old diva.

After one failed placement, where Millie didn’t mesh with an older male Westie already in residence, she finally found her forever home in late May. It took almost four long months of care and patience to save this little girl, but to look at Millie now in the arms of her new mom, no one can doubt that it was all worth it.

Thank you, WestieMed, for helping us help Millie!

Update February 8, 2013

Last I heard, Mille was doing great.

Cody

May 1, 2012December 24, 2020 by westiemed in Stories

My husband and I are both animal lovers and have owned many dogs over the years. We have had dogs of all sizes, various breeds, and two rescue dogs prior to Cody.

I first saw a Westie while visiting in England many years ago, long before they became popular in the USA. Right away I was enamored by the breed and knew I wanted to own one someday. In time we got a little female who is now thirteen years old as well as a little male who died this February just short of his tenth birthday. Of all the dogs we have owned these two were by far our favorites. I decided to wait a while before replacing the little guy we lost but I missed him so much I began looking online at some of the rescue groups and when I found Cody (then called Chaucer) my husband was really taken by him. The next thing I knew we were being interviewed and I made the trip to Tulsa to adopt him.

We do not know Cody’s entire story. He has been estimated as being between three to five years of age and he was one of eight dogs rescued from a puppy mill in Missouri where he was used for breeding purposes. It was apparent he had lived in filthy conditions as his lower body and legs were stained where he had to lay in it. He was also badly abused, withdrawn and obviously frightened by people but quickly bonded with me and does not willingly want me to be out of his sight. He is responding well to TLC and we see improvements in him almost daily.

The rescue group’s vet had checked Cody out when they first got him and found him positive for hookworms and Cody was treated for them. They also checked for heartworms but found him heartworm-free. Immediately after adopting Cody I found him to be lethargic to the extreme, his eating was sporadic and he was throwing up a lot. At first, I thought it was just stress-related but while vacationing in Colorado determined he needed to see a vet. I took him to the vet we had used when we lived there and she diagnosed him as still having hookworms as well as heartworms.

We treated the hookworms again and he is now free of them. The rescue group we adopted Cody from has provided us with Doxycyclene which he is now taking. They also offered to give him the injections back to back and let me bring him home immediately but the cost of buying gas for the trip, motel costs and food becomes quite significant. I have talked to our vet here in Fort Worth and feel it would be better for Cody to be treated locally and his treatment here would be more focused on Cody’s treatment and comfort and would give me a local contact in case of any problems.

I went online and read about some of the Westies that WestieMed had already helped and I was very impressed by the progress some of them have been able to make with WestieMed’s assistance. Cody has allergy issues that we are addressing but they do not seem to be nearly as bad as some of these poor babies have had to endure.

I want to thank WestieMed for considering our request for financial assistance. It is definitely our desire to get Cody well. He has already made a lot of progress socially and we look forward to watching him evolve into a happy and more confident little guy as he learns to trust his surroundings.

Thank you for all of us Westie lovers for your commitment to giving so many a second chance for a good life!

Janet

Update January 7, 2013

Cody is doing very well!

You may recall he was rescued from a puppy mill and had been terribly abused. He has become my baby but continues to be afraid of men. He is making progress in his socialization though and loves playing with my son’s two dogs.

Healthwise Cody is in a very good place. He is heartworm free, eating well, getting plenty of exercise, his weight is at a good place and he seems to be a happy little boy.

Thank you so much for helping us with him and for giving him this second chance for a better life. If you have any specific questions let me know but meanwhile, everything seems to be going well for us at this time.

Janet

Robbie

May 1, 2012December 24, 2020 by westiemed in Stories

Robbie was found walking the streets of Baton Rouge, Louisiana by Animal Control and was taken to a high kill shelter. No one knows how he got on the streets or how long he had been roaming them. YELP BR pulled him from the high kill shelter and took him to a vet to get him checked out. They gave Robbie all of his vaccinations and made sure he was healthy. While in their care he weighed a healthy seventeen pounds. On 4/2/12, Jennifer of YELP BR called me to say she had a Westie in their care as I had called a couple of months and introduced myself saying that whenever their shelter got in a Westie, I would be interested in making the drive to bring him to Alabama to adopt to some wonderful family. Jennifer told me about this wonderful little boy and I raced to Louisiana to pick him up. This was a good eight-hour drive one way. I met Robbie that day around 3:30 pm and he was the best-mannered Westie I have seen in a long time. For two weeks, Robbie was doing well as he was adjusting to his new surroundings, eating, playing with the other rescued Westies and was just being a Westie. Then Robbie took a turn for the worse. I had just gotten him groomed and when he came back, he started shivering and shaking and would not stop. For a week I did not think anything of it but watched him with a wary eye as he would just take a couple of bites of food and then get sick. The second week, he stopped eating entirely and I became alarmed. He would vomit and the two spoonfuls of food would either come up by vomit or come out of his backside. He went from 17 pounds. to 12.8 pounds and became very lethargic. That Thursday, I took him up to my vet whereby he was diagnosed with Giardia and was given pills for his vomiting and diarrhea. Robbie seemed to get better for two days and then he would slump right back into the same situation as before.

Robbie was dying right before my eyes and I was helpless in trying to figure out what was wrong with him. I had spent close to $150 in food just to try to get him to eat as I thought he was just being picky. The following Tuesday, I knew something was extremely wrong with Robbie so I rushed him to a vet that was close to my house. They took one look at him and said that he was very dehydrated and he needed surgery immediately as there was something lodged in his stomach. The vet bill would run me $845.00 and I did not have that type of money. I am the President of Westie Rescue Alabama but I am so small that I don’t qualify for the donations that most rescue organizations get and I was petrified that I could not save him. Then WestieMed, the guardian angel that they are, swooped in and saved Robbie. As I was calling them and leaving them a message, I began to cry and I could not stop. Lucy, head of WestieMed, called the vet’s office within ten minutes and authorized all the procedures that Robbie would need without blinking an eye. She immediately authorized payment (WestieMed has board members and procedures they have to go through before authorizing the payment) and when I talked with her, she told me that there would still be two board members that needed to approve this but she did not see where there would be a problem. She stayed on top of this and if it was not for her and her board members, Robbie would NOT be alive right now. She called me every day and allayed my fears that Robbie was not going to pull through this. She took her time answering my questions and just being a good friend to me while my rescue Robbie was at the vet. He was hospitalized for five days and this past Saturday, May 12th, he came back to his foster home with a spring in his step, eating everything in sight, growling playfully at the other pups and just a very happy little boy. I want to take this time and although I am not good with words, I cannot thank WestieMed enough for stepping in and saving Robbie. WestieMed and the caring individuals who make up this organization are angels on this earth who step in to help Westie rescues that need medical attention. My words are not good enough of how I actually feel about this organization and they will have my undying gratitude and praise because, without them, little boys and girls just like Robbie don’t have a fighting chance.

Forever grateful,
Phyllis Hovey
President Westie Rescue Alabama

Update June 2, 2012

It was found that Robbie did not have an obstruction in his abdomen, but had a very badly infected gallbladder which was adhered to the liver. He also had a very clogged bile duct which made it impossible to remove the gallbladder. The gallbladder was drained, freed from the liver and the bile duct was opened as much as possible. Robbie was put on antibiotics and medication to help clear the “sludge” in the bile duct. He responded very well to the procedure and is recuperating and gaining weight.

Update November 27, 2012

Robbie was adopted a month after WestieMed saved his life. Robbie is a wonderful little boy! He is so sweet and winsome and loving.

He is very fond of his toys and his quiet time with us. Every day he takes a little walk but doesn’t like to get too far from home. The ladies next door love for him to visit.

He is no longer the tentative, spindly little fellow who arrived here. His coat is beautiful and we Baby Wipe him between groomings. Vet says he should not gain any more weight. Sometimes he doesn’t eat, or delays eating and appear to feel under par. Then he just rests in his bed and we pet him and eventually, he dines. He is not throwing up at these times. He has thrown up maybe three times since he arrived. He has a normal bathroom pattern and has adapted perfectly to the schedule of outings. He’s a real gentleman! He has also adapted to sleeping in his own bed in the sunroom.

For a while, he seemed to have little panic attacks of accelerated breathing, but with time these have decreased. What has increased is the time he sits in our laps! He has one quirk, though: He gets up and down from our laps rather than staying on our laps. Sometimes he also licks compulsively. He is losing his fear of men and particularly loves my brother Bryan. Although Robbie’s tail does not stand straight up, it wags a lot. When I come home from work he is at the door insisting upon an official greeting and barks if he does not get it! He is a good watchdog but does not bother barking at unimportant noises, thank God.

In short, this little boy has recovered his Westiehood!

Thank you for saving the life of this wonderful little boy.

Sullivan

May 1, 2012December 24, 2020 by westiemed in Stories

On February 27, 2012, we lost our beloved Schnauzer Gwen. She was only ten years old when we lost her after two episodes of kidney failure. Her loss was great for my husband and me. She had filled our lives with much love and fun.

After about a month, we knew that we missed the companionship of a little dog very much and desired to rescue someone needing a home. We spent the next month searching for a new friend. We wanted a terrier of some type. Westie Rescue of Maryland found what sounded like the perfect dog for us. He had been picked up in Prince George County in Maryland, taken to a shelter and then fostered in a home.

We thought we were getting a Schnauzer/Westie mix about four years old. After getting our new friend, Sullivan, we found out he wasn’t exactly the dog we thought he was. We thought Sullivan was four years old, had had two teeth removed and was being treated for an eye infection. As it turned out, after speaking with the initial vet that had examined Sullivan after he had been rescued, he was closer to eight years old, had actually had fifteen teeth removed and was one week away from having his eye enucleated if the eye infection that he was being treated for didn’t clear up.

The following Monday, we took Sulli to our veterinarian who we have used for over ten years. She met us in the lobby and immediately said, he’s got a bad looking eye. Our vet confirmed the eight -ten year age and wanted us to see the eye specialist as soon as possible. By the end of the week, we made the trip to see Dr. Corcoran, the ophthalmologist.

The ophthalmologist told us that the eye infection was so severe and the cornea so damaged that he actually had no vision in the eye. It’s difficult to know what caused this condition. He either did not have an eye duct in the eye or the one he had didn’t work. After years of neglect, the eye is like leather and in jeopardy of repeat infections and problems. She recommended a $1200 surgery to remove the eye. In the meantime, we took Sullivan home and continued on the antibiotic drops and the steroid drops twice a day.

After a week of contemplating how to proceed regarding the surgery, we decided it would be best to have the eye removed. By this time, we were bonded to Sulli and he to us. We felt we were handed a big bill for him, but then someone told me about WestieMed and how they might assist with the costs of his surgery.

The following week we took Sulli back to Dr. Corcoran, to have the eye removed. However, she called me after putting him under anesthesia and said that upon viewing the eye, it seemed slightly better. He seemed to have some peripheral light going into the eye. She felt possibly getting the drops regularly and better nutrition might be helping. She did not expect a complete reversal of the damage, but he could see light and dark in the eye. So, we decided not to take the eye out.

Sulli, is a sweet, appreciative and loving little guy. He has become very loyal to us and we to him. He is good at expressing himself verbally too. He has a low-level growl that he uses to get our attention; especially when he wants his head or belly rubbed. The first time we had him groomed, he was so proud and felt so good, you could just see it in his walk. Sullivan loves taking walks and we easily cover two-three miles a day. Sulli spent a good part of the summer in the mountains of NY at our camp. He learned to smell, as he didn’t seem to have any interest in smelling when we first got him. He loved chasing the chipmunks in our yard and going for boat rides. He had no interest in swimming or getting in the water though!

While Sullivan still needs his eye drops twice a day, he is mostly cooperative about getting them. We need to continue the treatment for the next year and then once again be evaluated by Dr. Corcoran. We wanted a younger dog, but he seems to keep up with our activities most of the time. He is lucky in that my husband works out of the house and I am home much of the time. He likes having someone with him. He is a healthy boy and in spite of the rough time he had for a while, he is doing quite well now.

Thank you for your interest in Sullivan.
Mary Fitzgerald

Update January 7, 2013

Since I last wrote, we have had to take Sullivan to the vet for intestinal issues, but a change in diet has helped a lot.

Sullivan continues to get the eye drops and does alright with seeing most things. Some times his depth perception is off, but he manages.

Thank you again for your assistance with Sullivan and his vet bills.

Sincerely,
Mary

Update June 20, 2013

Sulli just came from the groomer today and is quite handsome. I don’t have a photo download right now, sorry. Sullivan is doing well and is definitely my dog. Try as he has, Sulli doesn’t want my husband near him if I am around. This and his need to hoard over his food, make us believe he had a rough time in the past.

He is very comfortable and enjoys being with us at the lake we spend time at in the summer.

His left eye still gets drops twice a day, which seems to prevent the infections. He is so good about getting them.

Overall, he is doing great and we enjoy his company!

Thank you,
Mary Fitzgerald

JoJo

April 1, 2012December 24, 2020 by westiemed in Stories

I received a call from a “concerned person” who told me about some westies that were in a backyard breeding facility in upstate New York. The lady said the owner had contacted her about giving the westies up to rescue because the facility was being closed. Their owner described JoJo as a small breeding westie in good health.

I drove several hours and met the lady who contacted me. She had JoJo and another westie. JoJo was indeed a tiny westie weighing in at just over eleven pounds. She said the “owner” told her JoJo might possibly be pregnant. JoJo was current on her rabies shot and needed updating on all other inoculations.

The following day I took JoJo to my vet and he confirmed the fact that she indeed was pregnant. He could see three maybe four shapes. He was not concerned about her being in distress as she was running around and playing with westies. She seemed in good health. He gave her an antibiotic and also a vitamin.

JoJo went to her foster home shortly after that. As the weeks went by JoJo got bigger and seemed to be fine. One day she began throwing up and was taken to her new vet. The foster Mom worked for this vet. She ate a piece of rawhide and a chunk got stuck in her throat. The vet tried several things and finally removed the rawhide.

However, he had to do an emergency C-section due to JoJo’s delicate condition. She and the puppies would die without the surgery. The surgery was a success and five puppies were born prematurely. Unfortunately, all the puppies died within a week. They were simply too early.

On March 3, 2012, JoJo went to her forever home. She had a vet checkup today. She has gained some weight and is doing well.

Sincerely,

Bob Murphy Rescue Westies WPA

Update February 9, 2013

I adopted JoJo from Westie Rescue in Pittsburgh, PA.

JoJo is doing wonderful! Other than allergies she has no health problems. It’s just her and me and believes me she is quite spoiled, to say the least. She gets groomed every 8 weeks and has a wardrobe as large as mine! Her Steelers coat cost more than mine. LOL.

Thank you for helping JoJo, without WestieMed we would not be as happy as we are.

Pat Williams

Dunkin

April 1, 2012December 24, 2020 by westiemed in Stories

Dunkin was pulled from Garrard County Animal Shelter in Lancaster, Kentucky on 3/29/2012. The ACO was called by concerned neighbors in regards to two dogs left inside a small kennel at an abandoned home. The dogs had been there for some time with no one caring for them…no food, no water, and no shelter.

Dunkin and his canine friend Harley, a labradoodle, were taken to the shelter by the ACO. I pulled them both from the shelter due to Dunkin’s “skin condition” and the threat of him being euthanized due to his poor skin condition. Harley was vetted and adopted immediately.

Dunkin was also vetted immediately due to his skin condition and was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and started on medication. He was also groomed due to extensive matting and yeast overgrowth on his skin under the mats. He was then neutered and all appeared well with an adoptive mom eagerly awaiting him.

On day two after his neuter, he started coughing and wheezing with extreme difficulty breathing. He was also urinating on himself due to the shortness of breath being so severe when he would exert himself. He was rushed back to the vet the day he started coughing and being in such distress. He was diagnosed with blastomycosis. Medication to treat this disease that is common in the Ohio Valley Region was very expensive.

After all, Dunkin had been through and his struggle to simply breathe, it seemed not right to at least pursue other options for funding to get the life-saving meds he needed. Thanks, WestieMed for giving Dunkin the chance to survive…he sends a big “WOOF, WOOF” thank you. I will keep you posted on his progress and send photos as he recovers.

Stephanie

Update April 28, 2012

Dunkin was discharged from the vet’s office yesterday and was given a good prognosis.

He will remain on the meds for a total of 180 days. He will be getting a repeat chest x-ray in two weeks and another urinalysis to determine if the meds are clearing things up.

He has had no coughing since at home and has been very active with toys and in the play yard.

I will keep you posted on his progress.

Thanks again,

Stephanie Fields
Homeward Bound Canine Rescue and Rehab
London, KY

Update May 1, 2012:

Dunkin is doing better than expected. He loves playing in his swimming pool. He hasn’t been coughing or had shortness of breath at all. I do believe he is on the mend. I will keep you posted.

Stephanie Fields

Update March 2, 2013

This is the big Dunkin boy now. He is slightly overweight…(but everything at my house is lol). He was never placed up for adoption due to his medical condition. He still takes five different meds due to the damage the blast did to his lungs. He is a fat and sassy big boy. He occasionally starts wheezing so bad I have to give him neb treatments for a couple of days. He is very active, loves to swim with his life jacket on, and often lays in the doggie beds with other injured rescues I take in. It is almost like he is saying “It’s ok…you’re in a safe place and I’ll stay right here with you.” He is a big love bug but has a typical Westie attitude. Thank you guys so much for all of your help. It made the difference between life and death for Dunkin.

Stephanie Fields, Director
Homeward Bound Canine Rescue and Rehab
London, Ky

Jake

March 1, 2012December 24, 2020 by westiemed in Stories

If not for a concerned human being, Jake might not have been with our rescue today. The woman who contacted us cared enough about him to talk his owner into surrendering him to her. She, in turn, took him to her vet for immediate care and then contacted us and took the steps to place him into our rescue program. This kind soul shared that the owner did not care about this little guy and she warned us he was in bad shape but nothing could prepare any of us involved in rescue for what was in store when we saw him at Montrose Animal Hospital, our rescue vets. He was two years old, weighed a minuscule ten pounds and the lesions on his body were indescribable.

Our veterinary clinic allows us to have rescues surrendered to them so Jake, as he is now known, was taken there. He was in such bad shape that it was necessary to shave him, but it was so painful that he had to be lightly sedated to reduce the trauma to him. Fur was trimmed away and it revealed inflamed and bleeding skin lesions. After all, was said and done, Jake had severe demodectic mange and secondary infections. He went into foster care with a litany of medications from ear drops, eye ointments, antibiotics to antifungals, and a de-wormer. Needless to say, neuter surgery was the least of the worries at this point and the goal was to get him stronger and back to the Westie “attitude” we Westie owners all love and know.

Jake’s foster mom was amazing. The amount of love and attention Jake received was over the top and went a long way in his healing process. He has never been left alone at home – he travels to work with foster mom or dad every day dressed in his sweaters to keep him warm until his coat grows back. Daily medicated baths have progressed to weekly baths to help his skin. Walks have been slow in evolving because his paw pads were so inflamed that it took time to get him to where he could comfortably take leash walks.

We all thought this little guy was on the way to his new “forever” home because he was recovering from the mange – his fur coat was coming on strong and he was finally was able to be neutered. Unfortunately, Jake’s journey to health was not over by a long shot.

Jake started limping toward the end of February, and examination by the vet showed a luxating patella. The initial medical intervention included pain medication and crate rest but was ineffective, and surgery was required. Surgery was performed on March 16, 2012, and Jake’s prognosis is great. The vet indicated that all looks good and this should be the last of Jake’s issues. He is now ready to find that “forever” family.

Jake’s story and the journey is confirmation for why the members of our club do what we do. Westie Club of the South is an independent 501 (c)(3) club dedicated to helping our Westie companions. Funding to rescue and treat needy Westies is raised through our efforts alone. While we try to absorb the costs without assistance, Jake’s situation has been a challenge to us; hence, our request for assistance from WestieMed.

Cynthia Levine Chair
Atlanta Westie Rescue Committee
Westie Club of the South, Inc.

Update October 2, 2012

Right after Jake was adopted, his little boy had to have corrective surgery on both legs. The photo of them in bed is right after the surgery. The doctors had to actually break both legs and re-set them. He spent two months in a wheelchair.

As you can see from the other photo, he is now sans casts, and the best part is that he and Jake can run together.

If you will recall, Jake had no fur when he came into our program, but look at him now!

We are all so thankful that WestieMed has such a generous heart.

Cindy Levine, Chair
Atlanta Westie Rescue Committee
Westie Club of the South, Inc.

Update January 8, 2013

Jake is doing great, not so fond of the cold rainy days but other than that he is fabulous. His skin looks terrific and he has grown so much fur. He limps some times but it doesn’t seem to bother him.

Jake is gorgeous, of course, but the photo with all his brothers and sister is just beautiful. There isn’t much to tell. Jake is the perfect Westie now that he is healthy. My thanks to WestieMed for your part in helping Jake.

Cindy Levine, Chair
Atlanta Westie Rescue Committee

Pixie

February 1, 2012December 24, 2020 by westiemed in Stories

Pixie is a dog that was turned into Westie Rescue of Orange County and Beyond in March of 2011 by the son of her owner who had dementia. When she came to us, she was in severe distress from multiple infections and the most severe case of atopic dermatitis we have ever seen. She had a sweet demeanor and her big eyes looked into ours with a pleading cry of “please, help me.” So, she began the journey down her road to recovery.

Antibiotics, medicated baths, ear drops, and a special diet all contributed to Pixie’s recovery. But, the biggest and most dramatic improvements were seen when she started taking Atopica. We have worked with two different veterinarians and spent many months of trial adjusting the dosage and have settled on a dosage o 50mg. We have assurance from the vet this is a safe dosage for a dog who may live another ten years.

We, here at Westie Rescue, are ecstatic about the turn around this dog has made and thrilled that she is healthy again.

As you might imagine, it has been difficult placing Pixie in a permanent home due to the ongoing cost of the Atopica she needs to live a comfortable life. Just recently, a retired nurse has expressed interest in our little Pix.

It has been a very long journey for Pixie and we are very hopeful that she may finally find her perfect home. We will keep you updated.

Thank you all for funding our little Pixie. I cannot express how much we appreciate your generosity. Thank you again. Pixie sends kisses!!

Sincerely,
Kay DeLoach President, WROC

Update February 6, 2013

Pixie spent 297 days with WROC and traveled a very long road to recovery. She emerged a beautiful Westie. She was adopted by a wonderful new Mom, Marge. Marge says that she took one look at Pixie and knew that it was meant to be.

Pixie continues to thrive but will need to take Atopica for the rest of her life. WROC set up a program for Marge, who is a senior, to purchase Atopica at half price. Thanks to the generosity of WestieMed, we were able to restore Pixie’s health and place her in a loving home.

Kay DeLoach
Westie Rescue of Orange County & Beyond

Dudley

January 1, 2012December 24, 2020 by westiemed in Stories

Dudley came into Westie Rescue of Tennessee’s (WRT) system in late August; pulled from a shelter in southern TN sadly known as a “dropping pen” for a backyard Westie breeder who dumps her breeder dogs when they no longer perform to her liking. In fact, Dudley is the fifth Westie pulled from that shelter in the last year and a half.

A volunteer picked up and took Dudley straight to our vet partner in the Franklin, TN area and got all of his vetting, neutering, and a major dental done (he had to have nine teeth pulled – poor guy). He also had a severe ear infection and issues with his skin that needed treatment. He boarded at our vet for a week. I then picked him up, took him to get groomed and then to meet his new foster mom half-way between Nashville and Chattanooga. Kim and her husband are AWESOME foster parents, as they have three rescued Westie boys of their own, and Kim is a nurse in Chattanooga. Kim and Jeff have cared for Dudley since Labor Day weekend.

We thought we had a great home lined up for Dudley with a semi-retired couple who live in Minnesota in the summer, and snowbird to Gulf Shores, AL for the winter. However, either Dudley did not care for the woman when she picked him up or he was in pain from his hip that we were unaware of. He bit her when she was trying to leash him up. She gave it a valiant try, but she realized the two of them didn’t jive and ended up bringing him back to Kim in Chattanooga a few days later.

At this point, the WRT officers and Kim decided the next step needed to be an in-depth exam and x-rays to see if he had something physically making him “nippy”. That’s when we found the hip issues. One hip is fine, though a little bit arthritic, but the other had major issues and required surgery if he was to get back to normal. Dr. Shulman, at Riverview Animal Hospital in Chattanooga, did a wonderful job on him Monday, and she said the surgery was a great success. She believes his recovery rate to be close to 100%! She is recommended he be kept on joint supplements, such as glucosamine and conjointine, as he goes through life. The recovery rate is also fairly quick, so hopefully, he’ll be feeling great and ready for a new home in the next couple of months!

Carol Whitmer
Officer/Communications Director Westie Rescue of Tennessee, Inc.

Update July 17, 2012

Dudley had such a rough time of things, even after coming to WRT. We are forever indebted to WestieMed for financially assisting with his hip surgery! Thankfully, he didn’t have to have a full hip replacement surgery, and after the surgery, the vet explained that it was fairly routine surgery. After a couple of weeks of pretty severe pain, he began to pull out of it and starting moving his hip/leg quite well. As you can see from the attached picture, he must be feeling pretty good since he’s lying “froggie style!”

It took us a couple of tries to get Dudley placed because he can be a pretty nasty (and quick!) nipper. He is now living near Atlanta with Tom and Nancy Ross, a very Westie-savvy couple who are retired and have lots of time for Dudley. They do continue to have some behavior problems with him, and thus, they have opted to get him into a program through the University of Georgia vet school to work on it. Tom reported that the questionnaire alone was twenty-seven pages long, and they fully expect UGA to come back and say Dudley is fine, but that he and Nancy need therapy!

Thanks again so very much for once again providing help for one of our WRT doggies!

Carol Whitmer
Founder/Officer Westie Rescue of Tennessee, Inc.

Dudley (aka “Dude”) is living forever with his foster family because he had two failed adoptions with a high amount of aggression at both.

This problem has been minimal for the Barnes’, so he will stay with them indefinitely and WRT will continue to help with is vet bills.

Thanks,
Carol Whitmer
Officer/Director of Communications
Westie Rescue of Tennessee, Inc.