Stories – Page 16

Stewart

October 1, 2013December 24, 2020 by westiemed in Stories

In April 2013, Stewart (a nine-year-old male Westie) was found huddled in the corner of an outside apartment storage closet. The tenant of the apartment had terminated his lease three days earlier abandoning the westie. Stewart was filthy and it was initially thought his collar was embedded in his neck; however, his collar was entangled with the mats of fur covering his body. The closet was littered with his feces. The only sign that there had been a human providing the minimal care/shelter for Stewart was the empty food bowl, small water bowl and wet cardboard box draped by a towel.

Stewart was picked up by the city of Austin Animal Services and taken to the Austin Animal Center on April 10, 2013. The veterinarian that initially examined him at the shelter recommended he be euthanized. Stewart was diagnosed with severe ear infections, severe eye discharge with scarred corneas and possible blindness, severe dental disease/ gingivitis and severe internal parasite infestation.

The individual that abandoned Stewart had told authorities that he found Stewart in a barn late 2010. Since then, there were only two known veterinarian visits – both within the first three months. Stewart’s ears were noted to have infections at the first visit and treatment provided; however, during the second visit (two months later), the ears were still infected but the individual did not want to pay for the ear cytology leaving Stewart’s ears untreated since January 2011.

We had been contacted by another Westie owner that lived in the same apartment complex when Stewart was taken to the Austin Animal Center. She and others that knew Stewart were concerned for his well being. We asked at the Center about Stewart when we were pulling another westie from the Center three days after his intake. We were told of the initial recommendation to euthanize but because it was a weekend day, the coordinator didn’t have the most current info and promised to get back with us.

Approximately thirty days after his arrival at the Center, we were contacted to see if we would be able to take Stewart into our rescue program. The Center provided us with a copy of Stewart’s lab work taken with his initial examination at the Center. We asked our veterinarian to review for her opinion. She told us that the results showed signs of starvation and suggested to ask the Center if they would be willing to do Stewart’s blood work again since he had been in treatment for thirty days. This new blood work did show that Stewart’s body was responding to the treatment; however, the Center still stressed that Stewart might be considered a “hospice” for our rescue.

Meeting Stewart…there was really no hesitation that we had to bring this guy into our rescue and show him the good life regardless of how short-term or long-term. It was still not really known if Stewart had any vision or hearing, but he clearly had the zest for life that westies are famous for. Stewart walked out of the Austin Animal Center holding his head high and enjoying the smell of freedom. Stewart’s past baggage was clearly left in that nasty apartment storage closet.

We took Stewart straight from the Center to our veterinarian clinic for an exam. He was very generous with his kisses (everybody overlooked the odor attributed to his extreme gingivitis) and won the hearts of all the staff at the clinic that met him. We were sent home after Stewart’s initial exam at our veterinarian clinic with a plethora of medicine and a lengthy checklist. Even though Stewart had been receiving treatment for the last thirty days at the Center, his ears were still infected. Initially, it was difficult to determine if the “goop” in both ears were medicine or drainage – sadly, it was drainage. His right ear canal was completely blocked which initiated the discussion of the Total Ear Canal Ablation (TECA). His left ear canal was horribly infected with a small opening. His eyes had some crust around them – when tested showed no evidence of tears. Stewart’s skin was dry with flaking and scabs – chronic dermatitis. Stewart was to return in fourteen days for a check on his response to the meds and treatments.

Stewart walked into his foster home without hesitation. We were still trying to determine his vision and hearing status but he was not content to be “sheltered” from the other furkids. Stewart wanted his freedom that he had been denied for so long. We let him out of the dog run and he began to explore the huge backyard. As happens so many other times, it appeared that the other furkids knew Stewart was special and they never challenged him but let him do his own thing. Stewart had the run of the house as well as the big backyard – this boy was not going to be crated or contained again.

At the follow-up visit with the veterinarian, fourteen days after his initial exam with our vet, Stewart’s left ear had shown good improvement. They were able to see inside the left canal at this time but treatment was still needed. The right ear showed no real improvement. His eyes were still crusting so Tacrolimus was prescribed to provide relief. We also learned from the earlier blood work that Stewart was hypothyroid and began Soloxine.

We were referred to Central Texas Veterinary Specialty to get another opinion regarding Stewart’s ears. Again, he kissed his way through this exam. We felt hopeful with the initial comments by Dr. Zacher; however, after her thorough exam in conjunction with the dermatologist, it was agreed that Stewart’s right ear canal was completely blocked and would require surgery. They both said without the surgery that Stewart’s prognosis was guarded and with the Total Ear Canal Ablation (TECA) surgery his prognosis was good. During the initial month that Stewart had been with us and since, he never exhibited any discomfort because of his ears. Without this surgery, Stewart would be at risk of continued infections in his ear which could result in a ruptured eardrum. Dr. Zacher agreed that it did not appear that there was an urgent need for the TECA so we opted to wait to allow Stewart some time to stabilize his other health issues but also learn to savor his new life.

Now, there is no doubt that Stewart is unable to hear anything. He sleeps through the loud barking of the other furkids when someone walks into the house. Since his arrival, we have determined that he does have some vision but limited. He compensates for his deafness and limited vision with a keen sense of smell. He loves to go outside and explore the backyard. He clearly loves his independence, yet he is content to sit in a lap and give out kisses. Stewart shows no pain even though his teeth are in horrible condition. He has a healthy appetite and enjoys supplementing his diet with carrots, apples, bananas, green beans, strawberries, and homemade chicken liver treats. Our veterinarian has said Stewart will require two sessions for proper cleaning; however, his right ear is a higher priority.

Just six months ago, Stewart was abandoned in a dark closet, scoring a five out of five (with five being the worst) on a Tufts physical care score and a recommendation to be euthanized. Five months ago, Stewart was on seven different medications to clear up various infections and currently he is only on two routine medicines (eye drops and Soloxine). He learned the routine of the foster house quickly and adjusts to days that are not routine. He wakes up each day in freedom and enjoys life. With the help of WestieMed, Stewart will be scheduled for the TECA – eliminating the risk of future emergencies. He is safe, dry and warm – loving life and people!

We are grateful for an organization like WestieMed that provides support for these precious little white furkids. This organization and their support go a long way to help large and small rescues. WestieMed is like a safety-net for so many. Stewart sends a bunch of kisses to all who have made this possible. Thank you just doesn’t seem adequate to express our gratitude.

Linda Duncan
Westie Rescue Austin

Update November 12, 2013

I was able to go by and visit Stewart this afternoon during the visiting hours. He surprised them with his readiness to eat yesterday after his surgery. I took some Cinnamon Apple muffin treats I had made earlier this afternoon for him to enjoy and he did. I wish I had taken more but really wanted to be cautious and not jeopardize his recovery. He doesn’t have any dizziness which is good. He has a short-term nerve side effect with not being able to blink his right eye but they expect that to disappear within two weeks. The nurse told me when I was leaving that if he keeps going as well as he is, he will be coming home tomorrow! Yea! They suggested a Pro-Cone or is it Pro-Collar. The blow-up collar won’t be good for his surgical area. So I will be getting one before I go pick him up tomorrow. Again, we are grateful for the support of WestieMed for Stewart’s surgery. He is just one of many benefiting from this fabulous organization.

Linda

Update April 10, 2014

Stewart continues to thrive. His dogtor was pleased with his smooth recovery and no complications from his TECA (Nov 2013). Stewart had already lost his hearing in both ears prior to this procedure because of the neglect and lack of treatment for his ear infections. We do continue to fight his two other issues – skin and eyes. He gets the prescription eyedrops in both eyes daily along with GenTeal gel. We are giving him medicated baths which help provide relief to his itchy skin. Because of his surgery, he had almost three different lengths of fur all over his body so early February we groomed him giving him a short fur cut. With the unusually cold winter we experienced and his short fur, we had to find him a fleece sweater and discovered that Stewart is a clothes hound! He actually pranced when we put his new hoodie on him!

This month (April) also marks the one year anniversary of Stewart being taken into the Austin Animal Center after being found abandoned in the storage closet at an apartment. Stewart can now decide if he wants to go out and come in! It brings us great joy when we look and Stewart is far off exploring the backyard!

Stewart continues to perfect his two hobbies. One is eating and the other is sleeping! He knows the feeding routine and eagerly goes to his “station” for his food bowl. Stewart is not shy…he is more than happy to thank you with a kiss. Stewart is a happy boy and blends in well with the other furkids.

In the next month or so, we anticipate scheduling Stewart for a dental. His dogtor has said that she anticipates it will take two procedures. We are sure there will be extractions but know that slow Stewart down when he is eating.

Once again, we are grateful for WestieMed’s assistance with Stewart’s TECA but also for their help with all the Westies that need help. If Stewart could give everybody with WestieMed a kiss, he would!

Thank you again!
Linda D/Westie Rescue Austin

Update July 27, 2015

Stewart continues to do well with no complications from the surgery as expected. He is two years older now. His eyesight has gotten worse but that has not seemed to slow him down. He knows the routines of the house, where his favorite doggy beds are (although he sleeps on my bed at night) and when it is time to eat. We are struggling with his skin this year but Stewart practically sleeps through his medicated baths.

It still amazes us that Stewart is so accepting and loving considering the two years (at least) of neglect and chronic health problems. And we are grateful to the support of WestieMed for Stewart and all the Westies in need.

Linda Duncan
Westie Rescue Austin

Millie

September 1, 2013December 24, 2020 by westiemed in Stories

The Saturday evening before Labor Day, we received a call on the WRT phone from a very nice lady in Murfreesboro, TN explaining that an injured Westie had wandered up to their front door, and it was obvious she had been hit by a car. A neighbor said they’d seen the dog lying in a ditch and thought it was dead (but they didn’t bother to go check??!!). The lady and her husband took the dog to their personal vet and paid for the office visit and x-rays. The vet there told them they felt like she could be saved, but that the surgery to repair the damage would cost a minimum of $3000. The vet scanned for and found a microchip, and the office called the number only to learn the microchip had never been registered by the current owner, and the chip was registered to a former out-of-state breeder that had since gone out of business because the number on the chip was no longer a working number. The vet advised the couple that it was their responsibility to at least try to find the owner(s), and he felt like the best way was for the dog to be sent over to P.A.W.S.; the local shelter in Murfreesboro. The plan was for the vet’s office to keep and medicate the dog for pain through the holiday weekend, which the couple agreed to do. In the meantime, Brenda (the woman) found and contacted us. When I talked at length with her about needing to get our hands on the x-rays so we could forward them to our vet and on to the orthopedic surgeon we use to see what both of them thought for recovery prognosis, she told me she would call her vet and OK that being done. (Apparently, this is a 24-hour vet, and she was able to reach them on Sunday.) Sadly, the vet’s office had gone ahead and sent the dog over to P.A.W.S. the night before instead of doing what they’d said they would do, and I knew we would have a hard time getting her out of that shelter because they have proven to be extremely hard to pull from unless you have an inside contact. BUT, I was hopeful that because she was injured and thus, probably deemed unadoptable, it wouldn’t be so difficult this time. Well, I was wrong.

On Tuesday morning after Labor Day, I called the Murfreesboro vet the first thing, and the office immediately emailed the x-rays to me and to the orthopedic surgeon (because they, too, use him on a regular basis and know him well). I then reached out to the shelter, and they told me that because she had a microchip, she had to stay at the shelter five full business days, and we couldn’t include her past weekend time and holiday time in that, NOR could we include the following weekend. I was so frustrated!

After MUCH discussion and promises from the shelter director that they would ensure she was suffering no pain, one of our Board Members was allowed to pull her when they opened at noon on Tuesday, September 10th. We all feared that while the injuries seemed repairable in the early stages of her diagnosis, perhaps bones, tendons or muscles had begun to fuse together in an incorrect manner. AND, we feared the poor dog would suffer from some sort of shock. MUCH TO OUR AMAZEMENT, she was happy from the get-go; the tail never ceasing to wag! Also, we immediately got her to our vet, who again did x-rays and got Dr. Newman, the surgeon, over for a special call to evaluate the situation. While he was not concerned about the rear hip injury (and knew he could easily perform an FHO to repair the injury), he was concerned about the front leg and whether or not the alignment would be such that the leg could be saved. He felt like it could be, but wouldn’t know for sure until he got into the surgery. Thankfully, on the day of the surgery (scheduled a few days out from her arrival so she could be on antibiotics for a few days prior), we got the best news that the leg could be saved!

Millie is now in a foster home with a new foster mom who is friends with Brenda, the gal who originally contacted us. Thankfully she has experience with foster dogs with that sort of injuries, which is great because Millie doesn’t seem to think she has anything wrong with her! Alyce (the foster) has to take her back to the vet weekly to work with the dressing on the injury sites. The staples in her hip came out last weekend, and the front leg is healing nicely too. Still, Millie has to be somewhat sedated to keep from wanting to run and jump. Dr. Newman said it would be about a six-week recovery period. Once recovered, we will then get Millie spayed and get her ready for adoption. She is UTD on all of her vaccinations, heartworm testing, etc.

We will continue to send updates, and thank WestieMed once again SO MUCH!

Westie Rescue of Tennessee, Inc.
a 501-c-3 Rescue Organization

Update April 10, 2014

Unfortunately, we still have not yet placed Millie in her forever home, though we do have a Meet & Greet set for her this Saturday, so paws are definitely crossed! The surgeon says she will have no issues down the road! She is very sweet and loves everybody and every doggie!

Carol Whitmer

Update July 27, 2015

Millie continues to do well. She was adopted over a year ago and the last we heard from her owners, she is doing great. Her surgery will have been two years ago in September. Thanks to WestieMed for all they did to help us help her!

Carol Whitmer

Lily Marline

August 1, 2013December 24, 2020 by westiemed in Stories

Lily Marline is a very sweet thirteen-year-old Westie whose owner recently passed away and trusted Westie Rescue of Northern California, San Francisco Bay Westie Club to find her a new forever home. She was one of many animals in the household but the only Westie.

Our lovely Bay Area becomes gridlocked during the 4th of July holiday so Rescue needed assistance in picking her up in Stockton, in the valley below Sacramento.

Jo Fleming agreed to fetch this Westie for Rescue and picked her up on July 5th. She settled in at Jo’s place and became fast friends with Duffy, Jo’s five-year-old Scottie.

Within a few days, Rescue was informed that Lily would not be leaving. So Jo set about having vet work done including a much needed dental cleaning, removal of an eyelid cyst and treatment for infections. As a single working terrier Mom, Jo needed assistance to take care of Lily’s needs and WestieMed was asked to provide financial assistance.

Jo and our SF Bay Westie Club Rescue appreciate the generous donation from WestieMed to help us tend to this neglected senior Westie.

To celebrate Lily’s official adoption on July 27th, Jo threw a “Gotcha Party” in Lily’s honor.This party was well attended by seven Westies and two Scotties and provided the perfect opportunity to present Jo with our Adoption Contract which she hastily signed to applause and tail wags from the group. Have you ever seen a happier dog wearing the head gear? Lily Marline loved the Frosty Paws!And here is a photo of Lily Marline’s new sibling, Duffy the Scottie in party attire.

Lily Marline, Duffy, Jo and Westie Rescue thank WestieMed for your financial assistance!

Mary Young
Rescue Chair,
Westie Rescue of Northern California, a non-profit service of the
San Francisco Bay West Highland White Terrier Club

Update February 11, 2014

The attached picture was taken on October 25, 2013, of Lily at the SF Bay Westie Club’s Tartan Games. Lily (thirteen years old) was rescued on July 5, 2013, and had kidney and bladder infections, ear infection, growth on her eye and her teeth had not been cleaned. Many thanks to WestieMed who paid for Lily’s vet bill. Her left eye was crusted over, her ears were full of goop, and her teeth were needing a comprehensive cleaning. The kidney and bladder infections lasted for six weeks and she did not like the cone. She had dental surgery and at the same time, they removed two growths, one on her eye and the other on her leg, which she had been licking.

She settled in very nicely into my house with my five-year-old Scottie, Duffy. Lily has been having a hard time lately as we lost Duffy to lymphoma on January 17, 2014. At first, she didn’t want to come near me after she realized Duffy left with me and he didn’t come home. She has had a time of adjustment. She wanders from room to room looking for him. She now lets me hold and love her. She sleeps as close as she can get to me at night. She doesn’t like to be moved after she has found her spot. She grumbles.

She is now eating Science Diet Dental as treats, loves carrots, apples and anything else that is edible. She hates getting her teeth brushed. She acts like a puppy in that she loves to be chased. She has set her own time to be fed each morning and evening. She bounces around whining and if you don’t move fast enough she barks. The walker comes every day to pick her up and she is happy to see him. She tries to help put her harness on. It has been hard on her with Duffy gone but she isn’t crying (face around her eyes were wet) as she did at first. Lily has surprised me in so many ways. She is a wonderful little girl who has her own mind. She takes her dry kibble out of her dish and sits it on the floor, looks at it as if she is counting it, and she will eat a couple otherwise it is left on the floor. One friend suggested she is leaving it for Duffy.
Jo Fleming

Shandy

July 1, 2013December 24, 2020 by westiemed in Stories

The Toss Away Dog

Shandy is a poster child for, and the definition of a toss away dog. Her life story started out as a happy one, with Shandy being loved by her senior caregiver for the first eleven years of her life; however, shortly after his death, she found herself discarded time and time again, by people who were supposed to love her, care for her, and protect her for the remainder of her life. But, thanks to the help of WestieMed, Shandys’ future is going to have a happy ending: One where she is healthy, and surrounded by a family, who will always be there for her with loving, open arms.

In the early spring of 2012, as Shandy was grieving the loss of her master, she found herself living in a crate at a local Orlando groomer. According to the son of the deceased owner, who had inherited Shandy, he was a “cat person, and not a dog person”, so he simply made a decision to discard her. At this time, she was circulated through all the local rescue channels, but due to her description of having a leaky bladder, and considering her age, most felt she would be a hard placement and declined to accept her into their rescue.

Luckily for Shandy, one of the rescues did offer to courtesy post her and her situation and even had glamorous photographs taken of her to use in the posting, which did generate an adopter. The adopter, however, did not take Shandy to a vet to address the leaky bladder issues, and then wanted to return her after only two weeks. Once again, she found herself facing an uncertain future.

It was at this time, my husband and I were contacted to retrieve Shandy. Once in our care, she was immediately vetted and discovered to have Giardia, as well as a bladder infection of unknown causes, which was the reason for her leaky bladder. So, after several months of healing, as well as pampering, she was placed up for adoption. In May of 2013, via a courtesy posting of a breed-specific rescue for our State, we all thought Shandy had found the perfect home, with a Westie knowledgeable family. But after seven weeks in this home, she became ill, and was once again, surrendered by her caregivers.

Upon hearing how sick Shandy was, my husband and I, along with the aid of two rescue groups, went into overdrive to save her life. She was presented to our family’s personal vet near death: exhibiting dehydration, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, elevated WBC, Low Protein and anorexia. After spending six days in critical condition, the decision was made to transfer her to a specialty hospital, where she was hospitalized for an additional nine days. After being poked, probed, and scanned, she was ultimately diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD). She is now on the mend and expected to make a full recovery.

However, there was an enormous debt incurred to save Shandy’s life. So, we reached out to WestieMed for assistance, and through a quick review process of all the details associated with her illness, they approved her for a very generous grant. Like us, they feel that she deserves a chance to live out her Golden Years in good health, surrounded by people that truly love her. Considering all this fur-angel has been through and how much she has touched and imprinted on our personal lives, neither my husband nor I could stand the thought of her suffering any more than she already has. We realized that Shandy has found her permanent home: It is with us.

We can never express our gratitude enough to the board of directors of WestieMed, as well as to the donors who support their mission, for helping Shandy have an opportunity to have her happily ever after story.

Mina Johnson

Update September 21, 2013

Our beloved Miss Shandy left her earthly existence.

Although I write this with much sadness, I also write it in celebration of the happy memories of her sunbathing and going to outings to her favorite park, activities which she enjoyed for many months due to the generosity of the donors who support WestieMed.

Most importantly, Shandy did not pass away feeling abandoned. She left this earth belonging to a family who wanted her and cherished her. We miss her very much but realize only her physical body has left, as she will live on in our hearts and memories forever.

Mina Johnson

Max - WestieMed Grant Recipient May 2013

Max

May 1, 2013December 24, 2020 by westiemed in Stories

Dudley, renamed “Max”, a five and 1/2-year-old Westie, was rescued from a southern Maine backyard breeder (puppy mill) who had used him to sire litters of puppies. When we met Max, he had never walked on grass, was filthy and unkempt, and had no effect or emotion (other than fear). He did not wag his tail, respond to his name, or know how to walk upstairs, on a leash, or wear a collar. In short, he had not been provided with no love, socialization, or the opportunity to experience life outside of a concrete-floored kennel. Additionally, we were soon to discover that he had not received adequate veterinary care in his five years in the mill either. Heartbroken, we knew that we needed to get him to a vet to see exactly what we were up against.

After a sleepless night, Max stood up all night on his makeshift dog bed in our foyer, we brought him to our veterinarian. After a thorough examination, we were told that he had been badly neglected. His feet were splayed from living on a concrete floor, and many of his teeth would need to be pulled from being fed canned dog food. He would also need to be neutered, have blood work done to check for parasites and to ensure that his liver could withstand the anesthesia needed for dental work, and be brought up to date on his vaccinations. The breeder had been quick to hand over his registration papers; unfortunately, vet records were nonexistent.

After a few hours of online researching, luckily for Max, we stumbled across WestieMed. We asked for half of the costs needed for Max on our application, crossed our fingers, and waited. In the meantime, with constant love, and a commitment to embrace him into our family, Max has begun his road to rehabilitation.

In the two weeks that we have had him, he has learned to walk on a leash, wag his tail, walk up two stairs, and bark! My daughters claim that they have even seen him smile. After many baths and gentle brushing, a nutritious diet, and bones for his sore teeth, his beauty is starting to shine through. He is indeed a loyal, delightful, handsome little man who has won us all over. His emotional needs are now being met, and he will go in this week for his medical needs. We will keep you updated!

We can’t thank WestieMed enough for helping us to help Max. Your organization is a testament to the power of good people making a difference, through generosity and caring. It has inspired me personally to do all I can to crusade against puppy mills, and use Max’s story to educate others about the abuse and neglect that exist for so many animals. Your financial support has made a world of difference – Max seems to be enjoying his second chance, and we are certainly enjoying him!

Update April 7, 2014

Max is doing very well. He has acclimated to being a family dog, and is especially adored by my two daughters.

He is fully house-trained, can walk on a leash, comes to his name, can climb stairs, and has quite a “Westie” personality (so we’ve been told.) He gets along great with our Scottie Terrier mix, Annie, and the two of them are inseparable.

Max has not had any problems with his teeth since he had the extractions, and we make sure to give him dental bones to chew. He is healthy in every aspect, and loves splashing in the water at the beach (even on the coldest winter days.)

I have attached a photo of Max.
Thank you again for all of your help!

Best,
Julie Esch

Sophie

April 1, 2013December 24, 2020 by westiemed in Stories

Sophie found her way to Carolina Westie Rescue in late January of 2013. Coming from the northern part of North Carolina, she had quite a trip down to our location in Southeastern NC, in Wilmington. Sophie belonged to an older couple who could no longer give her the care and attention that a little Westie needs. The couple mentioned they had Sophie since she was a puppy. Now, however, with their work schedules being what they were, they did not have much time to spend with her. They also revealed that Sophie was around ten years old and had a “little skin problem”, but was otherwise healthy. During the surrender, along with Sophie’s records, they also gave me some of her medication which included Prednisone, Ketoconazole, and Tramadol. I took copies of what health records they gave me and after the couple filled out a surrender form, Sophie and I were on our way.

Sophie is quite small for a Westie, but what she lacks in size, she makes up for in sweetness. She is friendly as can be and she greeted all the other Westies in my house as if they were all long lost friends. She did not seem shy at all or unhappy to be away from her old home or owners. Actually, she seemed to fit right in. Not long after she arrived though, I noticed that under her long, just groomed coat were feet that were black, swollen, bleeding and infected. Her belly was also black and she had a bit of a limp. She also appeared to have an old scar on the top of her head. She was small but slightly overweight. Her chubby appearance made her little head appear even smaller.

The next day I took Sophie to my veterinarian along with her records. My vet looked at Sophie’s past, which only dated back six months. In those records, my vet said that she had an infection in all four feet; and that her previous vet was not expecting a cure and could only hope for management with Cefpodoxine, Prednisone and medicated shampoo. My vet put Sophie back on the Ketoconazole along with Clindamycin and Pharmaseb shampoo. He took a skin scraping, a parasite screening and performed a physical exam. We noticed that Sophie’s teeth looked terrible and decided to get them cleaned at a later date. I wanted to try and get her feet on the road to healing first. My vet felt that by being more consistent and omitting the Prednisone that Sophie would start to improve. He thought that the past diagnoses of Malassezia were correct. My vet also mentioned that Sophie’s limp was from a torn ACL of her right rear leg.

After the game plan was laid out, I was very consistent with Sophie’s meds and baths. She seemed to improve for a time, but unfortunately, she then regressed. I called my veterinarian back and told him that Sophie was not getting better and he said that it would take a long time for her deep Pyoderma to heal. I knew from dealing with Westies that I should have seen some sort of improvement by now. I had been treating her for almost two months and she was not getting better. I then made another vet appointment and took Sophie back for a recheck. The vet did a senior blood work wellness profile and we made plans for a biopsy, histopathology, and culture and at the same time, he would clean and pull the teeth that were necessary. I took Sophie back ten days later to have all this work performed and poor little Sophie had to have six back teeth extracted. They were rotted at the roots. I do not think she had ever had her teeth cleaned.

Wilmington, NC isn’t a very large city. But, we are fortunate to have a canine dermatologist who visits from Raleigh twice a month. I called and made an appointment with Dr. Barbara Atlee, the dermatologist. The appointment was two weeks out. That would give us time to have the culture and biopsy results before seeing her.

Sophie’s lab reports came in a few days before our appointment to see Dr. Atlee. Her culture results stated that she had Staphylococcus pseudintermedius. This staph was also Methicillin-resistant. This meant that every antibiotic that my vet and the previous vet treated her with did absolutely nothing to stop the infection. However, we now had a list of antibiotics that would successfully treat her infection. Her antibiotic list was very short. One of the antibiotics that Sophie’s staph was sensitive to was Zeniquin and a topical antibiotic called Mupirocin. The Zeniquin proved to be hard to find and expensive, but I found it. Sophie’s biopsy stated that she also had Demodex. We put her on a course of oral Ivermectin to treat that.

Sophie had her appointment with Dr. Atlee, the dermatologist, a short time later. Dr. Atlee examined Sophie, then looked over all of her records and labs and concurred with the diagnoses and protocol. Dr. Atlee also supplied me with a two-page “Treatment Sheet” to follow, which is always helpful. It consists of a detailed protocol to follow to get Sophie well and happy.

I believe that now little Sophie is on the road to healing. Her feet still have ulcers, but are not as swollen. She hates to take her oral medication but is always a trooper when I treat her feet with Mal-a-Ket wipes and Mupirocin ointment. I put her Ivermectin in her food and, as she always loves to eat, she wolfs it right down. Speaking of that, we now have Sophie down to a respectable weight; and her cute little face is in proportion with the rest of her body.

This year has been very hard for Carolina Westie Rescue. We took in three senior owner surrenders almost at the same time. All three had heath problems. Thankfully, two have found their forever homes. Sophie still has a long road ahead of her, but now I think we are on the right track to getting her well.

Thank you WestieMed for your offer to help with Sophie’s medical bills. The Westie community is fortunate to have an organization such as yours.

Sydney Christian
Carolina Westie Rescue
Wilmington NC

Update January 13, 2014

Sophie is doing well now and is still with us. I will soon get back with you with pictures and an update on her health.

I can never begin to express our gratitude or come close to letting WestieMed know how thankful we are that they have been there for us.

Sincerely,
Sydney Christian

Carolina Westie Rescue

Whitney - WestieMed Grant Recipient April 2013

Whitey

April 1, 2013December 25, 2020 by westiemed in Stories

The day before Easter, a shelter in southern-most New Jersey notified me that they had a Westie and wanted me to take him. I said yes, of course, and I got Whitey on Easter Sunday. The shelter told me that another Westie Rescue group had declined to help Whitey before they called me, so I was his last chance.

Whitey had a retained diseased testicle which was the source of most of his troubles. That testicle was grossly enlarged and resulted in a lump the size of an orange hanging off his belly in the groin area. His skin was covered with deep dime-sized open, oozing sores all over his body, legs, tail, and head. This was a result of the hormones from the abnormal testicle, and a staph infection had also taken over his poor body and his skin. He also seemed to feel sick and was lethargic and not eating well, he had a Malassezia condition, and a great deal of flaking and dry matter was coming off his skin. In addition, his dry eye had not been treated and his eyes were infected, and his sight is almost entirely gone (it seems like perhaps he can see shadows out of one eye). He had an infected ear as well, and his teeth were in bad shape; many were so rotten they would break off when gently touched. My veterinarian performed emergency surgery the day after Easter, removing the diseased testicle and the rotten teeth; the vet cleaned his remaining teeth, not for cosmetic purposes, but in hopes that this could spare him a need for future dental work.

Whitey remains on antibiotics and anti-yeast medication. His prognosis is excellent: his skin and his spirit are healing well. He is a friendly boy who likes people and other dogs; he also likes to go for (short) walks and is not intimidated by the fact that he cannot see. He is also housebroken. I hope to find him a home with a loving owner who will continue his health care regimen and give him a good long life.

Lisa Curry
Garden State Westie Rescue

Update October 15, 2013

Whitey is doing well. He’s over his infections and he looks and feels better in all regards. He was adopted to a very loving home close to where I live so I get to see him sometimes.

Thanks,
Lisa Curry

Louise - WestieMed Grant Recipient March 2013

Louie

March 1, 2013December 24, 2020 by westiemed in Stories

Little Louie was a “surprise” gift, along with another Westie puppy, for a girl from her boyfriend. Louie was four months old, and Lloyd was five months. She did not have time to devote to their care, and she surrendered them to the Atlanta Westie Rescue Committee in September of 2012.

When Louie arrived for foster care, we noticed that he was very small, even for four months, and he also had a very sensitive stomach. We finally put him on a diet of boiled chicken and white rice. Our rescue vet, Montrose Animal Hospital in Marietta, Georgia, recommended that we add a kiddie vitamin and fresh spinach and sweet potato to his diet to ensure he was getting the proper nutrition. He still had stomach issues though, and at one point had to go to the emergency clinic for a day. He was a tiny little puff ball at 5-1/2 pounds and did not appear to be growing. We were concerned that perhaps he was suffering from “failure to thrive.”

Louie’s big boy neuter surgery was scheduled in November, and that is when his little life changed. Dr. Davis at Montrose said that his pre-surgery blood work showed numbers “all over the place,” with high liver enzymes and high WBC count of most concern. Given Louie’s other symptoms, Dr. Davis suspected Portosystemic Shunt (PSS, or liver shunt), which means that the blood was bypassing the liver and therefore not being cleansed of all the toxins. Dr. Davis felt that an ultrasound might be beneficial, and it did show a very small liver. The neuter surgery was canceled and Louie was sent home with antibiotics and a special hepatic diet.

There was a huge difference in Louie in just a couple of days as his body fought off infection and he received the proper nutrition. Another medication was added to help Louie pass the toxins out of his body, and again there was a marked improvement in his demeanor. These medications were given in anticipation of Louie having corrective surgery for the PSS.

Louie was referred to Dr. Berryessa at Georgia Veterinary Specialists (GVS) for a consult. Louie’s “entourage” consisted of his foster mom, the chair of the rescue, and the VP of the Westie Club of the South, all there for moral support. After the initial examination, Dr. Berryessa suggested another ultrasound to try to confirm that Louie had a PSS. We met the most amazing staff, all very caring, and they even let us go back with Louie for the ultrasound so we could see what they were looking at. The procedure was thoroughly explained to us, and it was confirmed that Louie was very sick with a PSS.

Due to the fact that we had changed Louie’s diet and had him on medications, he was looking healthier and gaining a little weight, which made us happy. We also discovered this amazingly active pup with newfound energy who played until he couldn’t anymore! What a difference that made, and we were hopeful that the surgery would help even more.

Surgery day arrived and we dropped Louie off bright and early at GVS. They took him back and Dr. Winkler, the surgeon, came and talked to us before we left and assured us that he would call as soon as the surgery was over, which he did. However, the news was not what we had hoped for. They were unable to repair the liver shunt because (1) the veins were in the wrong location and (2) Louie’s liver was very tiny. The surgeon was able to neuter Louie while he was under. He had an overnight stay, and we were able to pick him up the next afternoon.

As an aside, my teenage daughter had a liver transplant eighteen months ago; as difficult as it was for me, I could deal with that okay. However, I was not prepared for the pitiful little baby I picked up from GVS, and it just tore my heart to pieces. We brought Louie home and put him in a nest that we had created to keep him quiet and away from the pack to try and help his little body heal. The first couple of days he was pitiful, but as his incision healed he started acting more like himself. After about a week, it was difficult to keep him quiet because he wanted to play and be with the pack.

Since then, my daughter and Louie have been on the same schedule for medications (so Mom can keep it all straight). Now almost three months later, Louie is thriving and growing and is a happy pup at thirteen pounds – almost tripling his weight since diagnosis. Although he may have a shortened life span, he is living life to the fullest and is a sweet, mischievous little man who makes us laugh all the time. He is a delight to have in the house, and all of our children’s friends have “adopted” him as their foster brother, too!

All we can say to WestieMed is “thank you for being there when we needed help.” There is no way we could ever thank you enough for your assistance with Louie’s surgery.

Rhona Terrell, Grateful Foster Mom
Westie Club of the South, Inc.

Update October 1, 2013

Many of you will recall the story about Louie, the littlest four-month-old Westie I had ever seen. He was surrendered in 2012 along with Lloyd by a woman who was “surprised” by her boyfriend with two puppies, and she had no desire to raise any puppies. Apparently a backyard breeder was getting out of the business (i.e., someone had turned her in) and she would not take the puppies back.

Louie came in relatively small, but he didn’t thrive no matter what Rhona fed him. After about a month, Rhona and his two aunties (Cindy and Harriett) took him for a consult with Georgia Veterinary Specialists, and Louie was diagnosed with a liver shunt, which was unable to be surgically repaired. Louie has been on medications ever since to keep him as healthy as possible.

His foster mom, Rhona Terrell, was up with him all night last night. A trip to the vet showed that Louie is going into the next stage of his liver disease. His protein and albumin levels are very low, and there is fluid in his belly. After discussing his condition with the vet, I have opted to keep him comfortable on diuretics and anti-nausea medicines.

Louie is still a very happy (although somewhat tired) one-year-old. Rhona, James, Matthew, and Kathleen (and all of their friends) are taking wonderful care of him. Rhona said it best this morning: “Louie has loved a lifetime in his short life” and I don’t know anyone who has met him that did not fall in love at first sight.

I just wanted to update everyone on his condition and express my appreciation of everyone coming together and rallying around this little pup. Now Louie and his foster family need our prayers and all good thoughts.

Cindy Levine

Update February 24, 2014

Louie is doing well most days and continues to delight us with his antics.

He has slowed down a little, which is all part of his condition.

He still loves to play with the pack but prefers to sleep by himself most nights as he gets restless and, due to being on diuretics, has frequent bathroom breaks (so does Mom).

Whether he is running and playing or just chilling in the sun, the outdoors is his favorite, although at the end of the day he is very content to be snuggled up in someone’s lap with a blanket.

We go on walks to the park with him and the other dogs, he can’t go the same distance but he is very happy to be in his stroller (see attached picture) after he is done walking.

He will turn two in May and we know every day with this loving little guy is a blessing.

Please enjoy his pictures.

Thank you again WestieMed for being there in his time of need; we are all truly grateful.

Rhona Terrell, Foster Mom
Westie Club of the South, Inc

Maisy - WestieMed Grant Recipient February 2013

Maisey

February 1, 2013December 24, 2020 by westiemed in Stories

Maisey, now renamed Faith, came to us when she was only nine weeks old. Faith weighed less than two pounds when we rescued her. She was lethargic, had a terrible case of diarrhea, and erratic breathing patterns, not only during waking hours but when she was asleep. Our first priority was to get Faith to our small-town veterinarian who had cared for our other rescued Westie and several other dogs for over nine years. In our town, we are lucky to have a veterinarian that sees patients five days a week. He has no after-hours coverage or answering service, and is not set up to care for animals on an emergency basis. He is dedicated but overwhelmed.

Our vet did a thorough exam, took this tiny little baby Westie to the back to have a vet-tech run several lab tests, and came in to chat with us. He informed us that Faith had a heart murmur, was dangerously underweight, was dehydrated, and probably had some type of intestinal parasite. He immediately handed us a brochure for a 24-hour emergency and critical care specialty clinic three hours from our hometown and admonished us to get Faith there as quickly as possible. He told us he was certain that she was going to need extensive treatment which he was incapable of providing in his small facility. We fueled up our car, called our neighbor and asked her to please feed our dogs and let them out periodically, and headed out.

The veterinarian who first saw Faith was a canine cardiologist. A cardiologist for dogs?? We never knew there was such a thing. His vet-tech spent about ten minutes simply listening to her chest. She was methodical and focused. Faith was so weak by this time that she could hardly stand up. The vet-tech told us she was going to take Faith to the back and start her on some oxygen, have the cardiologist exam her and that he would come in to talk to us “soon”. It seemed like forever, but the doctor eventually came in to talk with us. He wanted to do an echocardiogram and chest x-ray right away. Faith was critically ill. We were told these exams would take about an hour. That was the last time we saw Faith until she came home.

My husband and I went out to the waiting room, and the vet-tech called us back in to talk to the cardiologist about 45 minutes later. He reported that Faith did indeed have a heart murmur, a ventricular septal defect, a hole in her heart. He proceeded to draw diagrams for us showing exactly where the defect in her heart was. Surprisingly, he said that her heart murmur was “the least of his concerns”, and that while it was considered a very serious health issue it would likely resolve itself as she got older. What concerned him the most was the chest x-ray. Faith’s lungs were “over-inflated” from continuous prolonged heavy breathing. The cardiologist had asked for a consultation from the in-house internal medicine doctor who reviewed the x-rays and concluded that the over-inflated lungs were likely caused from bronchopneumonia, a condition that would require monitoring around the clock. Faith was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, hooked up to two IV catheters with two different antibiotics, and placed in an oxygen cage 24 hours a day which included nebulizer treatments. Numerous lab tests were run while they worked on resolving her severe diarrhea and dehydration. They hand-feed her one tablespoon of food at a time, every four hours around the clock.

We left the Intensive Care Unit weary and dazed for our three-hour trip back home. We were aware of the WestieMed organization through several rescue organizations we had been in contact with and supported over the years, but never thought we would ever be the recipients of their tremendous generosity. We contacted them the next day and their application coordinator Bette responded almost immediately. WestMed President Lucy Ryley contacted us the following day to gather more information and offer her support and best wishes.

We have always kept a “health savings fund” for our dogs to cover their maintenance needs for well-visits to the vet, immunizations, teeth cleaning and incidentals. The initial diagnostics for Faith alone completely depleted that savings account.

Faith is now home with us. When they released her they stated that she should be on “bed-rest”, if there is such a thing in the life of a Westie girl. While the doctors consider her condition greatly improved, they will need to monitor her with additional x-rays and review her clinical status over a period of time.

There are no words to describe the appreciation we have for the wonderful folks at WestieMed. Faith would likely not be alive today if it were not for their generosity and for their love of our Westie.

We will continue to provide updates as Faith improves.

Janet

Update February 13, 2013

Faith has gained a full twelve ounces since she came home. She is thriving and happy…and boy, is she a handful! I asked my husband if this is the same Westie girl that we took to the ICU. We could feel her ribs and bony little back and hips when we rescued her.

Janet

Update August 22, 2013

When we last corresponded with you Faith was about two lbs eight ounces. While she was “out of the woods” with her bronchopneumonia, we still had to monitor her condition and keep her on two antibiotics for the next two months. We had her back to the internal medicine doctors two more times. Faith was unable to receive any of her puppy shots, (while still on antibiotics) so taking her off of our property or into public places was not an option. While she continued to be on medication and recover, we spend her waking hours teaching her to walk on a lease and learn basic rules and commands. Thank goodness we live on a fully fenced acre with lots of areas for her to learn to dig like all happy healthy Westies. Our other Westie Miley and Bichon Maggie were allowed to play with her when she wasn’t sleeping.

Faith continued to do well and gained a whopping six more pounds. Around the 1st of April, she received her first set of puppy shots and three weeks later the last booster. At that point, Faith had learned to walk on a leash and the world just opened up for her. She was ready for walks with Maggie and Miley who go out twice daily for two-mile walks. For the first few weeks, we only took her on the morning walk, and sometimes I would carry her on the way back if she got winded. You see, not only did she have bronchopneumonia, she had a collapsed lung. The internal medicine doctor informed us that this likely happened when one of her litter-mats stepped on her when she was only days old. It will never inflate again and she will have to live with it for the rest of her life.

Don’t think for a minute that these chronic conditions have slowed her down…to the contrary. She only has one large lung lobe, and still has a loud heart murmur, but she is like every other happy healthy Westie and gives our other two dogs a run for their money. The vet told us that she will set her own pace. So far her pace if FULL SPEED ahead!! When its bedtime and she runs up the stairs with Maggie and Miley headed towards her kennel, we can hear her wheezing. She takes three breaths for every one breath Miley takes, so it appears that she is panting all the time. It’s not something we ever get used to. Our vet tells us that her life MAY be shortened by her ailments or she may live to a ripe old age. There is no way to tell.

What we do know is that had it not been for WestieMed and their love for Faith she would not be here at all. Thank you again for your support, for your love, and for your resources. We are deeply grateful to your organization.

Janet

Update January 13, 2014

Happy New Year to everyone at WestieMed!! We have an update for you regarding the progress of our sweet little Faith.

As you all know Faith, was near death around this time last year. She just celebrated her first birthday in early December. She is happy, healthy and getting into mischief. The vet tells us that she will always have to be monitored for pneumonia because of her collapsed lung lobe. She has adapted well and sets her own pace. She takes more naps than other pups her age, but we knew that would be the case, and believe me…we’re not complaining. LOL

She gets up every day with such a love for life. She “lives” for her early morning two-mile walk with our two other dogs. She is so loyal and we can feel her gratitude. It is almost like she is saying “thank you for saving my life…for giving me every chance to live”.

She just loves to dig. We have a full acre of land with a designated area where she can dig to her heart’s content. She comes over to me completely black up to her chin with the most clever look on her face. All I say is “did you have a good time”?

We are so grateful to the folks at WestieMed for helping us give her a second chance at LIFE. Thank you for giving us the gift of Faith’s life and for your love of all our Westies.

Janet

Emerson

February 1, 2013December 24, 2020 by westiemed in Stories

Emerson is a six-year-old male Westie that came to Westie Rescue of New England from another local rescue in early January. Immediately upon Emerson’s arrival, his foster Mom noticed he had a terrible cough and seemed to be having trouble breathing, he was weak and unable to eat. Emerson was taken to the emergency vet where he was diagnosed with a collapsed trachea. We were told his ONLY chance for survival was stent surgery to open his airway. The cost of the surgery was estimated at $5,000. That was a huge amount of money for our “little rescue” but felt we had to give this poor little boy a chance at life… so we gave the surgeon the go-ahead. The custom stents were ordered and we prayed hard that Emerson would be alright as he waited in ICU for life-saving surgery. The surgery was a great success and Emerson’s breathing immediately changed. He was more active and eating well…. he was a new dog! Shortly after his stent surgery, Emerson started coughing again. We were worried that something had happened to his stents and his foster Mom rushed him to the emergency vet again. Emerson was diagnosed with pneumonia and had to spend another week in ICU. The day before he was scheduled to come home an old injury on his face filled up with an infection and burst and now he had to undergo surgery to implant a drain in his little face. The infection was found to be antibiotic resistant and a special formula had to be made to treat him. The total for that hospital stay was another $3,400. He made progress and was happy to go back home with his foster Mom. We are thrilled to say that he is thriving now. He is described by his foster Mom as the sweetest little boy ever and it is obvious that he really enjoys life! Our cost had now reached nearly $9,000 to save Emerson and our funds were left pretty much depleted. We were worried that should he need another hospitalization we would not have the funds to pay for it. We also needed to make sure we had funds on hand to continue to be able to help other newcomers to our rescue as well as maintain the unadoptable forever fosters that live out the rest of their lives in our volunteer homes. Emerson will require to follow up care twice a month for the next three months and then after that as needed. He is a wonderful little soul and we are thankful that he is doing so well since his surgeries. He has been through so much but always kept fighting and we were never ready to give up on him. Emerson is truly a special little Westie. Our hope is that someday he will find a wonderful forever home but if not he will stay in our care for as long as needed.

When we got the news that Westie Med was approving our application and giving us financial assistance it was the best news ever!! Your help means more than you know and our gratitude is beyond words. We are grateful to the Board of Directors at WestieMed and we thank you for helping us help Emerson.

Best Westie Regards,
Karen Stone
Westie Rescue of New England Inc.

Update: August 19, 2013

Emerson was able to instantly breathe after having three stents placed in his trachea.

Thank you for your help. He has had an ongoing infection in his left ear caused by a foreign object. He has a fistula on his cheek that continues to drain pus daily as a result. The vet thinks that some of the pus draining into his trachea has been instrumental in his two bouts of pneumonia. He will be going back for an ablation this week to hopefully finish his problems. He is a great little guy and loves life. He is a joy to everyone who knows him.

Once again that’s for your help we are a small rescue and every penny counts. After this week we will have spent $20,000. So your help was invaluable.

Debra