westiemed – Page 35

Jody

March 1, 2003January 7, 2021 by westiemed in Stories

March 2003:

West Highland White Terrier Club of California got a call from an older woman who said she could not keep her almost three year old female westie because she was gone quite a bit and the dog sitter was costing her more than she could afford. She did not like the idea of Josie Marie (now called Jody) not having a home with someone home all the time. She finally decided to give her to us.

I picked her up and found a very lovely and very friendly little female. The problem she had was with legs. She was placed in foster care with a volunteer who does agility. She took her the day after she got her to an Agility Trial that her Jack Russell was entered as she did not want to leave her alone her first day. Foster mom got to the trials early just to see what Jody would do with the equipment…well, she took to it as if she had been trained in Agility. The other friends there were also amazed at her abilities. Jody was then taken to a vet to have an evaluation done. The regular veterinarian said she had luxating patellas and referred us to a specialist. The diagnosis was the same and we decided without question to have the surgery performed.

The surgery was a success and Jody is recuperating in a very nice motor home somewhere in Las Vegas, with a special crate rigged up so she can see outside while they are driving. She doesn’t much like her Elizabethan collar but who does! She continues to thrive, eat well and the staples were removed by our veterinarian in Las Vegas, Dr. Clarissa Engstrom, who has been wonderful towards our rescue efforts there. Jody will now be going through her rahabilitation period and will soon be as good as new!

Thank you WestieMed in assisting us in paying for this expensive surgery!

Elaine Delgado, Rescue Chair for the WHWTCC

Update September 2003:

Hello! Our darling little Jody is doing just fine ! She has, in fact, started training for agility, as you can see, here! We are so proud of her and just love her to pieces. We certainly thank WestieMed for the part they played in getting our little girl able to move her legs like a normal westie! The surgery was a success…..they did, however, leave the pins in, but the orthopedic felt we shouldn’t have any trouble in the future with that.

Thank all of you, again Pat Harrington and Jody

Rowdy

February 1, 2003January 10, 2021 by westiemed in Stories

February 2003:

I had just picked up my little Westie (Molly) from the breeder and headed over to Mom’s to introduce them! As you can imagine, Mom fell in love with her, I mean who wouldn’t, she was eight wks old, weighed two and half pounds and was just a little white cotton ball! Seriously though, I had not seen my Mother that excited over anything in several years! They say God works in mysterious ways and he did for us! Here’s what He did! The very next night, a friend of mine called (he knew I had been looking for a breeder) and he asked me if I had gotten my pup yet. I said yes I had. He told me he had called his vet to see if she knew of a breeder and she told him no, but that she had had a little Westie in her hospital that had been abandoned. She had kept him for three weeks, the owners never returned for him, so she had sent him to another Vetinary hospital to see if they could find him a home! The next morning I called the Vet, she gave me the info. as to where he was, I called them and yes, they still had him! It was in another town about thirty-five miles away! I drove there immediately to check him out! He was precious and the sweetest face I have ever seen on a dog! He just walked up to me, sat down and looked up with these beautiful brown eyes that said, please take me home with you! I knew right then and there, if mom didn’t want him, I was taking him home for me, I just could not even think of him spending one more night locked up! I called mom to see if she really wanted a pup like Molly and she said, oh yes! I told the vet I would take him and asked if he had any health problems. She said he was perfect, that someone had dropped him off for a flea bath, grooming and shots and that they had never heard from them again! They had tried calling, writing, but no response! They finally found out they had been given a false name, address and phone number! Anyway, I told them to look no further that I wanted him! The vet suggested I leave him overnight so they could neuter him and I said great but that I would be there first thing the next morning to take him to his forever home! I picked mom up early the next morning and she, Molly and I headed to get our boy! It was love at first sight! They were calling him Snowball, Mom and I looked at each other and said, no, that just won’t do! I came up with Rowdy and she liked it, he liked it and I’m pretty sure Molly did, so that name stuck! We took him home that very day and life has not been the same! He is moms best friend and protector , Molly’s best bud, and my little man! When he hurt his leg, Mom was just devastated! She is seventy-eight, lives on SS and just couldn’t imagine how she was going to pay for the surgery! I told her not to worry, I would pray about it and we would find a way! There was no question he would have the surgery, just how were we going to pay for it! Well sure enough, I mentioned it to a Westie group that I belong to, GWG (Great westie gathering) and one of the girls mentioned Westie Med since Rowdy was a rescue! I contacted them, corresponded with Bette and sent all the information they required! Everyone was so nice and helpful, it was definitely an answer to pray! The BOD voted to pay half of Rowdy’s vet bill. He has had the surgery is doing fine today! Thank You Westie Med, we couldn’t have done this without you! Rowdy says ” Ahrooooo rooo rooo, which in English is “I love you”.

Casey

January 1, 2003January 10, 2021 by westiemed in Stories

January 2003:

Terese from Missouri.

Casey was purchased as a pup in St. Louis, MO.

A mother with a sick ten-year-old daughter thought a puppy might help her daughter get well faster. As the daughter got better, the mother realized that she really didn’t want a dog in her house, and also thought that some of the family may be allergic to Casey, so she moved him outside permanently.

Casey learned to play with a soccer ball, and empty two-liter bottles in the back yard all by himself. When he was bored, he would grind his teeth on the lava rocks in the garden until his canines were all completely flat. This continued in the heat of the summer and the cold of the winter for the next 6 years. In that time, Casey developed problems with his eyes, ears, and skin from being exposed to such severe weather, and from having very little attention paid to him by anyone. He was rarely groomed, and no one seemed to have the time for him.

One day, a very muddy and matted Westie came into the kennel/day camp, where I worked, to be groomed. It was Casey. I never saw him or his owner, but she had decided that they were not able to take care of him anymore and left a yellow stickie on the bulletin board. “Free six-year-old Westie, owner allergic.”

I went home with the note that day and my husband and I took a ride to the house. The owner came out of the house and said that the dog was kept in the back yard and that she could not come with us, as if she went near him, she would have to shower again. We opened the gate and the friendliest, biggest Westie we ever saw came running up and wanted us to play with him so very badly. The woman told us his name was Casey and we had to discuss him through the kitchen screen window. I told her that Casey had a sore above his eye and she said she couldn’t touch him, so I asked for some peroxide and some cortisone cream. I fixed him up and then started to take a good hard look at him. We were both shocked at the black elephant skin on his belly and his nose, and the inside of his ears was black and smelled terrible. When we looked into Casey’s beautiful golden eyes, we saw green goop and could tell his eyes weren’t as clear as they should be. It was just so awful to see such a sweet and loving dog in such terrible condition. We just looked at each other and knew we would take him with us immediately. We asked if we could take him overnight to see if he would get along with our Cairn and our Poodle-mix puppy. They fell in love when we brought him home, as we already had. The next day we took him to the vet and knew it would take lots of love, time, and money for the next few months to get Casey into good shape.

For months, we had to put steroid drops in his eyes, use several medications for his skin condition called Malasszia, and clean and apply medicine to his ears. As the months passed by, and we were the happiest of families, Casey began to throw up in the middle of the night. Then he got diarrhea. We noticed a tiny seizure one morning and brought him in for blood tests. We knew something was terribly wrong but hoped for the best. Casey’s albumin level in his blood was a 1.9 when it should have been a 2.4, and we were told to change his diet immediately and to watch him carefully because his poor body could just shut down at any time. He was most likely suffering from something called PLE or protein-losing enteropathy. He was put on steroids and anti-diarrhea medication in an attempt to get some of his symptoms to lessen, or go away. I actually started to make his food, since this disease can be caused by a food allergy. To confirm the diagnosis, Casey would have to have a stomach lining biopsy and internal organ x-ray, which were very costly, and we knew we couldn’t afford them.

I started looking on the Internet for help, and through WestieRescueMO we found the wonderful people at WestieMed. Casey goes in tomorrow for a follow-up blood test, and we will be talking to the Dr. about the biopsy and x-ray, now that WestieMed is there to help us with the bill. All we can say is thank you, thank you, thank you … and God bless the fine and generous people at WestieMed who care so very much! We would also like to thank the people of WestieResueMO for all of their caring and support. Casey had to learn how to sleep through the night and to sleep with us and not in a pet taxi, and he had to learn to play with us and not just by himself. He is Mama’s lapdog now too! We just love the little fella and are glad he was put in our path.

Terese and Steven Ward and Casey, Rocky and Tugger

Casey has a skin condition called Malassezia (yeast infection of the skin). This condition is becoming more and more prevalent among Westies. Westie Rescuers are seeing cases of this all over the country. This condition is very treatable…if treated properly. To help other Westie owners, we are making information about this condition available on our web site. You can read about it here: https://westiemed.org/malassezia

Angus

January 1, 2003January 9, 2021 by westiemed in Stories

Minnie

November 1, 2002December 30, 2020 by westiemed in Stories

November 2002:

I received a call from the Westport, SPCA about a Westie/mix they had in their shelter and they wanted to know if we had any room for her. Minnie was brought in by the dog control officers from someone’s farm. It appeared that someone dumped her on their farm and drove off. The officer had to carry Minnie in as she was unable to even stand up. Her nails were so long they curled under and we’re into the soft pads of her feet, she had no hair and open sores on her body. Both eyes were infected as were her ears.

The Westport, SPCA did an awesome job with Minnie and tried hard to find her a home as they dealt with her ever-mounting medical problems. When Kerry called me they had had Minnie for two months and felt if a home could not be found for her she would be euthanized soon.

My husband and I headed out to the shelter days later to see Minnie. Doing rescue for a few years we thought we had seen it all, but when we saw Minnie, she raised the bar for us of what we thought was shocking. We both spent time with Minnie and Kerry and talked a lot about the care and long-term prognosis – but I think we all knew we were going to take her home and get her some help.

Soon we were heading out for the long trip home and Minnie laid on the seat being a perfect angel except for constant scratching (and, well. causing our eyes to water from the smell). As soon as our feet hit the front door, Minnie was in the tub. She sat perfectly still for the whole 10 minutes the shampoo had to work while I massaged her poor skin and tried to assure her that we would get her back to health. We set her up in the kitchen away from the other pets in case she could possibly pass something to them, and she laid down and slept for four hours.

Her first vet visit turned into an overnight stay. The number of things she needed checked and done just couldn’t fit into a visit, so I reluctantly left her in their care and headed home alone. I must have called them four times checking on her and while they were not optimistic at all, by the next day the vet was as anxious as we were to get Minnie back to health. They saw in her what we did – the sweet pup with a sparkle in her eyes that even her extreme health couldn’t diminish. We headed home with shampoos, medications, creams, and sprays and fell into a schedule by the end of the weekend.

She now receives one bath a day in alternating shampoos and sometimes a second bath a day in oatmeal shampoo if she’s having an itchy day. She is on antibiotics, medication for the Malassezia, eye drops four times a day, and an antibiotic for the eyes twice a day. Her ears were infected so she also has cleanings and antibiotics twice a day for that. She loves her oatmeal spray and Gold Bond powder which not only helps her itching but she looks white and smells so much better. We have noticed for the first time yesterday that the odor is better and her eyes are clear of infection.

When we take her somewhere, she does draw a lot of angry looks from folks, and I know the anger is directed at me thinking we did this to her. But once we explain, they are on the floor on all fours talking and petting her and telling her what a sweet girl she is. She eats it up.

We are heading into our second week with Minne. Her ears no longer have an odor and she is running around the kitchen now and playing for the first time. She is very shy around strangers still but she lays in my lap and seems happy to just have a family. She does not shrink away when we touch her now and she has even barked a few times and wagged her tail for the first time yesterday.

WestieMed, thank you so much for the help you have given us – not just for vet bills, but for emotional support and also great insight and information. Minnie is slowly showing us the sweet little dog that has been hidden and it’s because of your help that this is possible.

Mary Adams West Highland Rescue of NY

Minnie has a skin condition called Malassezia (yeast infection of the skin). This condition is becoming more and more prevalent among Westies. Westie Rescuers are seeing cases of this all over the country. This condition is very treatable…if treated properly. To help other Westie owners, we are making information about this condition available on our web site. You can read about it here: https://westiemed.org/malassezia

Katie

November 1, 2002December 30, 2020 by westiemed in Stories

November 2002:

I received an email from a man about his five-year-old Westie. She had a severe skin problem and they didn’t want to deal with it. They had bought her expecting to have a show dog and to breed her a few times, and also as a family pet. She developed a skin problem and tore her hair out in patches all over her body. They bred her in spite of it. One puppy died, and she killed the other one, probably because she was so miserable. She had gotten an infection inside so bad that they had to do a complete hysterectomy. They said her personality changed after that and that she was sometimes a little nippy. They were afraid she might bite their nanny’s son, who is two years old. They had fought the skin problem for five years by shampooing her with Selsun Blue and didn’t want to keep trying. To be fair, they did feel that they were doing the right thing by giving her up to someone who might know more about how to help her. The man brought her to me, and I did see her nip towards him once, but she has never once tried to nip me in any way. She is a sweetheart.

Katie was diagnosed as having a Staph infection which could turn into Malassezia if not properly treated. She is now on the right road to recovery.

Thanks to Westie Med, her medical problems are being taken care of and she will soon be ready to be placed in a new loving home with a nurse who is willing to keep up with the treatments. I’m thrilled for Katie. I think she will finally know what ‘real’ love is.

Rebecca Dennett
Westie Rescue Utah

Update June 2003:

You can see that Katie is growing hair back on her chest and looks great!!! She’s a very happy little girl and adores her new mom and dad.

Update November 2003:

You’ll be so glad to know that Katie is doing wonderful. Rory Litch took such good care of her when she first came into Rescue in Reno. I was so fortunate and blessed to be able to adopt Katie in January of 2003 and in the first three to four months, we still had problems with her allergies and licking of her back legs. In April, I finally did have a full allergy test done on her and now I know exactly what…food and environmental..she is allergic to. Even into April….maybe because of the spring allergies, she was still having licking problems…..and then she finally cleared up. She is on a duck and potato kibble and only carrots, bananas, and apples for snacks. She is doing wonderful. We walk together and this past winter, we even cross-country skied together. My husband and I adore her and we thank you for your help and services. She has made our life so happy.

Thank you again, Kris Gingras

Angus

November 1, 2002December 30, 2020 by westiemed in Stories

November 2002:

Angus had been at the Halifax Humane Society (Daytona, Florida) for several weeks. He apparently was found in the home of his owner, who had been dead for a few days. After much legal action (certified letters and such), he was released to Westie Rescue.

Angus is about eight years old. He has mild to moderate cataracts, and is mostly deaf, probably due to chronic ear infections. He has bad skin, but that is clearing up with the help of antibiotics and medicated baths (and flea control).

He is an absolute love. He really doesn’t know how to play but tries. He does toss toys around and tries to catch them. He doesn’t do it for long, but I think it is because his teeth bother him (that will be taken care of after Thanksgiving!). He loves sitting on laps and giving kisses. He gets along with other dogs and cats, but would love a ‘special somebody’.

WestieMed has been incredible with his medical bills!
Beth Garwood Florida

Update December 2000:

Our Angus is doing just great! He’s a funny ole guy, but a pleasure and much loved.

There are many responsible for making Angus’ rehab. a reality and we are grateful to all who made it possible—most especially Beth who took him to the doctors, etc. and gave him her special loving care.

Angus’ stocking is hanging up, waiting for Santa to fill—-probably some soft, small toys that he can throw up in the air and TRY to catch (not much luck, however.) I’m sure that in his own way he wishes you all at Westie Med—-and Beth—-a joyous holiday season. And, I add our glad tidings, too!

Elizabeth

Boomer

October 1, 2002December 30, 2020 by westiemed in Stories

October 2002:

When my husband and I were combing the shelters for a few dogs to bring into our foster program, Little Orphan Angels, one Sunday, the animal control officer (ACO) showed us a little Westie they had been housing for a few weeks. She told us that he was found as a stray with his collar “growing into his neck” because it was too small. In addition, he had a bone lodged in the back of his jaw. He had apparently gotten so hungry he had tried to eat a bone which then got stuck. Because of the bone lodged in his mouth, he had a bad infection. If all that was not enough, he also had this black skin that looked like elephant skin (we now know to be Malassezia). The ACO said that when they bathed him for the first time the black skin and dirt just sloughed off and turned his bathwater black. They had to bathe him several times before they were satisfied, and still, he had black, scaley skin and a bad odor about him.

Soon after he was picked up and cleaned up, he went to surgery to remove the bone from his mouth. Then, he had to complete a course of antibiotics for the infection. Everyone at the shelter fell in love with his personality, but they were concerned that since he did not look (or smell) that great, he would not get adopted and would have to be euthanized. Hence, they pointed us to him on that Saturday.

Now, with a dog who has no significant medical conditions, we always check with the board and find the appropriate foster. So, we could not take the friendly little Westie that day. We did ask the ACO to put a hold on him and told her we would be back the following week. We did return to pick him up the next week and took him straight to our vet.

Unfortunately, Westie’s have very specific medical problems and not all vets are familiar with them. So, the first prognosis we received was not optimistic. Luckily, the newly named Boomer had a great foster mom who looked into the local Westie Rescue and got some information on a great, knowledgable vet. We drove across town and saw them and were given better news, but could not continue to drive so far for Boomer’s treatments and check-ups. Finally, we came across one of our regular vets who turns out to be very knowledgeable about Westie’s and got Boomer on the right course of treatment. This, of course, sounds like good news, but the right course of treatment for Boomer was quite a regimen! He had about 4 pills he took 3 times a day. He had to have a bath every other day with alternating types of shampoos, and he had to be on special food. Oh yeah, and he STILL smelled! He also itched! Boomer was so itchy, in fact, that he would drag himself across the room on his stomach!

Of course, no story would be complete without a happy ending, so here it is…Boomer was at the Petco where we do our adoptions several weekends and his various foster homes (he was a lot of work but so sweet, so our fosters took turns keeping him) for a few months. Finally, a woman who had previously owned a Westie in worse shape than Boomer e-mailed us. She was looking for another Westie since hers had recently passed away. They met, and it was love at first sight! The adoption was completed the following week.

Boomer now has a great home, is done with most of his medication, and is growing fur! He is the hit of the neighborhood and the best friend of his new owner (as pictured above)!

Thanks to Westie Med, Little Orphan Angels, the North Richland Hills Shelter, Parkside Animal Hospital, and his new owner Connie, Boomer is living the life every dog should lead–a very happy, healthy one!

Angus

September 1, 2002January 7, 2021 by westiemed in Stories

September 2002:

Angus came into our lives last year at Christmas. He had been used as a stud dog in a puppy mill, but had received little, if any medical care. He was rescued by a vet tech that had refused to euthanize him. At that time, he was very thin and had almost no hair-hardly recognizable as a Westie.

We assumed Angus’s foster care through the Florida Westie Rescue group. He had just been diagnosed with heartworm, and he was very timid around our family our other two Westies. We joked that our dogs looked like Vikings—hairy, noisy, and leaving a path of destruction in their wake—in comparison with the meek, petite, and scrawny Angus.

Angus started coughing on Christmas eve, and our vet diagnosed advanced heartworm infestation on the day after Christmas. We began treatment immediately, and Angus rewarded us all by being a real fighter. It was hard to keep him quiet as the treatment progressed and he began to feel better.

Angus is now heartworm free, and had recovered most of his coat. He still has

hyperpigmentation on his withers and chest, and his hair may never grow back in some spots. While he is loving and warm with us, strangers sometimes scare him. He has slowly learned how to be a Westie and it has been amazing to watch him develop both physically and emotionally.

We look forward to finding a loving family for Angus. Many thanks to WestieMed for the support that helped us save Angus. Angus was our first foster dog, but we hope to be able to continue to foster additional Westies here in Florida.

Sally McKee

Rags

September 1, 2002December 30, 2020 by westiemed in Stories

September 2002:

RAGS TO RICHES

About 10 a.m. one Tuesday earlier in August, I received a call from the concerned owner that they had heard I rescued and helped small dogs. As I have helped in the rescue and placement of Cairn Terriers, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, and some mix-breed puppies, I indicated I can sometimes help. What did they need?

Rags story begins when her well-intending owners of eleven years were moving and the main caregiver was returning to full-time employment. They decided to put her in the newspaper for free considering people would not be interested in buying an older dog. They did find someone interested and just let them pick the dog up and felt all was well.

For the original owner, all was well until about two weeks later someone called saying they had found their dog, locating them by an old tag left on Rags’ collar. Rags had apparently walked in their back door as they opened it to go out one evening. She was so filthy they did not know she was even a Westie. They bathed, defeated, and treated her ears thinking something had chewed on them as they looked infected with sores. Three days later the original owner picked her up and that is when they called me. They were afraid to try to place her again and did not have the time for her. They also mentioned sending Rags to animal control if I could not help.

So not being one to say no, I picked up the sweetest, confused, pretty little white dog I have ever had the pleasure of meeting and saw she needed immediate vet care for her ears. They had her groomed but had not had her to the vet. I and several others who heard of her plight could not understand how someone could give up such a beautiful little dog after owning her all her life.

After searching on the internet for what seems like hours, I found the representative for WHWTCA Westie Rescue. I told her I would gladly foster Rags and needed her help with placement for Rags, but also had very limited personal funds for veterinarian costs. My funds go very quickly having nine Cairn Terriers, most with special needs, two with seizures, three with severe skin allergies, one has had surgery to remove hip joint, etc., (who by the way have all been getting along wonderfully with Rags, she is so sweet). She immediately told me to look up WestieMed.com and see if they could help. Thank goodness there is such a group.

Rags first visit to the vet indicated she was heartworm free but had a severe ear infection in her right ear, also eye and skin irritations. The vet could not believe how strong and spirited she is for her age. She would need drops twice a day, plus daily and bi-weekly cleaning of both ears for blockages, as her hearing was impaired, and oral antibiotics for up to three months. As I had also noticed excessive drinking and piddling, which the original owner said she had never noticed. Rags also needed blood work which indicated no diabetes, thyroid problems, or other causes. So more and expensive blood testing has been done for the possibility of Cushing’s Disease. Without WestieMed I would have had difficulty finding she has early stages of an unpleasant but thank goodness a treatable problem. She will need medication for the remainder of her life, but it can be a good life.

And even though I have fallen in love with her, I know she can be placed in a new home with people who can really care for her no matter what.

Thank you again Robin Bateman and mostly RAGS

Update December 2002:

Rags are in a new long-term foster home with Sharon and Michael and is doing well. She’s a sweet, though quite an overweight girlie!

On behalf of Rags, WestieMed would like to thank Robin for fostering her for so long and taking such good care of her while a new foster home was being sought.