Stories – Page 18

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

Gaelie

December 1, 2011December 25, 2020 by westiemed in Stories

Gaelie is a six-year-old West Highland Terrier. She was the faithful companion of an elderly man who had to go into a nursing home. He signed over his dog to his nurse Karin, who had agreed to get her out of the vet kennels she had been placed in. The family said they were stunned to find her in a very sad condition when they went to pick her up. They gathered her old vet records and took her to their vet and were told she had Severe Atopic dermatitis with a severe secondary bacterial infection. The records show she had been suffering from skin conditions and pattern hair loss for several years. Possibly initially induced by untreated flea conditions and poor environmental circumstances. The well-meaning nurse and her family were not able to deal with the condition and the expenses of the vet, tests, and prescriptions suggested.

I am a passionate multiple Westie owner. One of those people that is not afraid to speak up on behalf of them and their specific needs. It was such that I got an e-mail asking me to help find this girl the right sort of home where they understood and could give her what she needed. I have been blessed with all healthy Westies in general with no skin issues. Because of this, I had no first-hand knowledge of dealing with the skin issues that scare so many off it seems. I did not feel right about finding a good new home if I could not explain what they were getting into, and provide them with information as to a solution.

Being a Facebook user I had seen pictures of both heartbreaking and inspiring of Westies with skin conditions and the work of a lady in a rescue that brought them back to robust health. I could not remember her name, so I put the word out, and shortly found out her name was Karen Simondet. I sent a note and she got right back and started to help. I had to press the owners to get photos to show her and the information was sketchy at best. I had almost no sooner gotten this to Karen, and they said they were going to take her to the shelter that weekend. It had been less than a week, I had found a couple of possibilities, but no one wanted to take on a dog with problems, or do the extra work needed for her. My understanding was the outcome is not so good for overloaded shelters and “unhealthy” dogs so I was heartbroken to hear they were going to do this. My husband and I did not feel like we could let this happen so we took her in.

I had never planned on fostering this dog out of concern for my own Westies, and the financial burden was just not really an option given the commitment to my own dogs. But here it was, this sweet little dog who had lost her dad, been shuffled around in kennels for months was now going to get stuck in a shelter.

One of the first things you see about Gaelie is that she always wags her tail, at people other dogs, even if she is a little unsure, she is a can-do girl with a healthy sense of self. After getting acclimated to everything, she fit right in and was so happy to have lots of fun with her new friends running, playing ball, being alive in the sun. I don’t think she ever got out for more than a quick “business” trip on the leash a couple of times a day. She is smart, gentle, cooperative and loves to hide in the most amount of covers possible, nary a nose sticks out. She sings to you a lot, a little whooo hoooo song and has a perfect poised beg. She may have had improper care for her health as far as diet, lifestyle and vet choices, but it seems that she was loved.

After getting her comfortable I took her to my vet. It was clear she was extremely anxious. Was she going to get left again in yet another cold cage? A kind vet check and a lot of soothing later she calmed down on the ride back home. The assessment was that there were multiple layered allergic reactions going on the skin that needed to be treated and an immune system that needed to be bolstered up. She is flea free, has a home-cooked diet with vitamins, lots of brush baths and now, medication to help her heal. We need to isolate The allergen(s) and get her immunized so she can grow a full coat and doesn’t need to live inside on drugs her whole life.

Now with the extra care and thanks to WestieMed we can do what it takes to make her 100% healthy and have a second chance at a great life.

Gaelie is wagging her tail and saying THANK YOU WestieMed!

Update July 6, 2012

Gaelie is doing great. She grew all her hair back in the winter and is enjoying the country life after being an apartment dog.

She had some confusion with letting herself out and going on grass as it was unfamiliar to her. But she has it all down now.

She loves sleeping on the bed under the fan on a pillow. She sits on my feet when I am at the computer, always near.

She is also overjoyed to join us on walks on the property, we have 20 acres and she sings the whole way chasing butterflies and then relaxing at the studio when we work. I think it makes her feel special.

She plays with all her “siblings” but has no trouble standing up for herself if little brother gets a bit nudgy. We had a flare-up of the allergies in spring with SO MANY environmental factors suddenly, but they are back in the comfort zone for her. We love her and she seems happy to stay with us. I see so many good souls take care of these unfortunate dogs with high maintenance issues, but have still to meet any locally who want to take on the level of care she needs.

We and Gaelie thank WestieMed for her life. She is plenty perfect enough for us, and is our “special” girl.

Stephanie

Wilson

December 1, 2011December 25, 2020 by westiemed in Stories

Wilson was found by Animal Control in Liberty State Park in Jersey City, NJ on September 26. Ten days later, in response to the shelter’s plea for a rescue to take him, I went to pick him up. Wilson had bad timing as this was right before Montgomery and all the other show people who do rescue were unavailable. I was not sure that I was ready for a dog as sick as Wilson reputedly was, but it was clear if I didn’t take him, nobody would. So I headed over to one of New Jersey’s most grim, underfunded shelters to meet my new charge.

When I got him, Wilson was so sick it was truly frightening, and so I took him straight to my vet. Upon seeing him, the vet confirmed this was exactly where this very sick little dog should be and felt he should stay there for a few days. Wilson received intensive care and repeated observation for five days, which helped enormously in diagnosing his various problems: severe starvation/emaciation (weighed nine pounds when he was found), raging Giardia, Coccidia, worms, Malassezia, secondary bacterial skin infection, ear infections, and eye infections. Due to his Malassezia, he had lost a lot of hair and smelled like yeast; due to his horrid living conditions (apparently he was living as a feral dog) and bad health, he smelled like urine. Due to his sickness, he was unable to eat normally; he had no appetite, refused almost all food, ate only small amounts of what he would take (I fed him by hand during this time), then regurgitated most of it. Each time, I would clean it up, and try again. He slept almost constantly and I gave him the softest beds I could find since he was so thin that he could not comfortably sit or lay on a hard surface. On top of that, he was withdrawn and depressed. The vet estimated this little guy was just about five years old.

Gradually, Wilson began to recover. The first milestone was when he could eat food without the obvious pain that it first caused him, and when he was able to keep things down without regurgitating. Since his medications were all oral, this was a critical step in his recovery. Whereas he could initially only handle chicken and rice, eventually, he was able to eat dog kibble, and eventually began to put on weight. With the help of frequent medicated baths, he started to grow some hair back. Emotionally, he had been damaged too, and seeing the rehab from that was even more touching than seeing the physical issues resolve. While he still was not comfortable anywhere except in his pen, he began to come out of his shell, seemed to start to enjoy being patted, and even started to make eye contact with me after about a month.

Now, three months into rescue, Wilson has made amazing progress. He shows great affection for people and other dogs; he enjoys walks and comes to me to get patted and even lets me hug him which he would not tolerate initially. The vet was amazed that his ear infection, which was so bad the vet feared he would be deaf from scarring, has completely resolved. His skin had cleared up nicely and the odor almost is gone. Once he was well enough, he was neutered. That operation was a little scary since his pulse went so high, but he made it through. The dental cleaning done at the same time showed that while he has no enamel left on his teeth, at least none needed to be pulled. Wilson needs regular tooth-brushing though, for the rest of his life. Wilson is still waiting for his forever home to come along, but he is safe and sound in the meantime.

I am deeply grateful to WestieMed for the critical help it provides. I decided to start rescuing after I had been showing and breeding dogs for a year or two and thought, well, if I am going to bring more dogs into this world, I’m going to help the ones who are already here. As an independent rescuer, I receive no funding from any regional club and no donations other than the modest adoption fees which rarely cover the medical care that rescued dogs need. I rescue dogs “part-time”; generally, one at a time. I spend a great deal of time on the phone with potential adopters, advising them on the perils of buying badly bred dogs (many, I find, are considering a rescue dog as a cheaper alternative to a pet store purchase) and helping them identify quality Westie rescue groups. While it feels like a very small contribution to the welfare of dogs in need, as they say, “it is better to light a single candle than to sit and curse the darkness”. I see myself as lighting single candles, one by one, for Westies in need. I have found how gratifying it is to be able to rescue dogs, even on a small scale, and I greatly appreciate the opportunity to play a role in these little miracles that WestieMed makes possible.

Lisa Curry

Update February 13, 2013

Attached is a picture from April 2012, the month we adopted Wilson from Lisa Curry. The other picture is from January 2013 where Wilson is enjoying the warmth of a wood fire on a cold day.

We got about six inches of snow last weekend and Wilson had to confine his outside duties to shoveled paths/driveway, but by the second day the snow had compacted a bit and his short legs were able to break through the snow to the ground allowing him to bound along through the open snowfields. He was very cute there, and about everywhere else. He is allowed on our property off the leash and seems to enjoy the freedom, but it makes him a less willing walker on a leash. We are on a private access road so he doesn’t have access to a road with traffic on it. We also supervise his outside times, and somehow seems to know where our upper property ends, he never leaves that area even if he is in hot pursuit of White Tail Deer, yes they are frightened and bound away, off into the woods and Wilson stops at the end of the mowed areas.

I think Wilson is doing well and we continue to learn how to deal with his sensitivities to food and other possible allergy reactions. He has a regular veterinarian was he has been examined and resulted in us having an abscessed tooth removed. This relieved him of pain, we believe. With help from Lisa we selected a grain-free, limited ingredients sweet potato/fish kibble for his basic food.

I continue to work on developing trust and obedience that allows me to groom and trim nails…progress is being made. He will nip and fight back. I have used a Dremmel drum sander on his nails one foot at a setting, and not all the way down on each nail. He is somewhat comfortable with that maybe due to his familiarity with a hairdryer after a bath. He is quite reasonable about taking a bath. The Dremmel and hairdryer are perceived mostly by the vibration, not hearing as his hearing is very poor – not an effective watchdog but boy can he bark, sounds like a much larger dog.

He seems to be very comfortable living here and with us.

Jerry and Barbara Peterson

Update November 17, 2013

Wilson was in for surgery on October 14, to remove a sizable growth on his left cheek and a smaller one on his neck. Attached is a picture of that event. While there he was again diagnosed with Yeast problems and has been on Ketoconozole tables each day and the ear medicine now only his left ear. His feet and legs are about back to normal with hair and while he continues to like to lick, he is not licking his feet and legs, they must have itched.

The vet also put him on a very strict prescription diet by Hills Z/D, it has only modified protein and we have even stopped using HeartGuard as it has a beef flavor. He is not one a topical heartworm med, forget the name.

If we can identify a food allergy we may be able to get him off of prescription medications such as ketoconazole, albeit we’ll continue it in his bath regiment. I have the approval to give him baked potato (microwave) and white rice with nothing but the cooking water. He likes those as a treat, and does okay with the prescription kibble, he liked the salmon and sweet potato much better, I also used a canned salmon to add interest…hope he can eat fish in the future.

I am beginning to think Wilson may have been abandoned by a family in the city area who simply couldn’t afford to treat him, and was ashamed of his condition to the point of not taking him to an animal shelter – he may not have been in Liberty State Park long before animal control picked him up. This guess is not important but reflects our affection for him and wondering about his earlier life. He has many “family dog” characteristics, he was not simply a “puppy mill” caged breeder.

Hope your good work helping our dog friends is going will, you remain in our high regards for your good work, and some even for non-Westies : ) which is a lovely breed I have come to believe, albeit they are a Terrier!

Jerry

Wilson’s care was funded by a grant from The Pedigree Foundation.