Westie Rescue SouthEast was alerted about Lily from a Veterinarian’s office when she was brought in by a good Samaritan when the owner would not. It was noticed that her eyes were swollen while pet sitting. The vet office contacted Westie Rescue in the event the owner agreed to surrender the dog.
Upon the owner’s return, the sitter mentioned that Lily needed to go to the vet, and was told, “if you think she needs to go, then you take her.” This person graciously did take her in and paid out of pocket. The owners subsequently agreed to release Lily into our care, but not the other dog living in the home. We hope that eventually, we will be able to help this dog as well.
It was found that Lily had abscessed teeth which were causing the swelling and subsequent rupture under both eyes. There were infections and pain. She was treated with antibiotics and pain medication.
Once we had transport in place, Lily was picked up and transported to our foster home and was immediately seen by the local Vet for assessment. We were told she would need at least six teeth removed, and the remaining teeth would be cleaned. It was also discovered that she had a growth on her side that would need removed as well and possibly biopsied. (When the surgery was done, they did feel like a biopsy was in the best interest of Lily).
Lily is doing well post-surgery in her foster home and is a sweet and loving 14-year-old senior lady. We eagerly await the results of the biopsy and hope that Lily can live a happy, pain-free life in her golden years.
Davey is a 14-year-old Westie that came to the shelter at the request of the police due to gross neglect. We called every day for 6 weeks to inquire about his possible release date. We were desperate to get him to WROC knowing that a little senior boy of his age would fail to thrive in the shelter environment.
Unfortunately, animals are legally classified as property in the United States, therefore Davey was being held as “evidence”. Our wish finally came true when an officer from the shelter called us on a Tuesday morning, May 8th. The officer handed Davey over to us that very afternoon with tears in his eyes.
Davey was taken to our vet immediately where he was treated for ear and eye infection, received a complete blood panel, clipped his extraordinarily long nails that curled inward making it very difficult to walk, and we scheduled a dental for later in the week. Davey would nip when anyone would get near his mouth so we knew he had a lot of issues going on with his teeth.
Davey – WestieMed Recipient May 2018
We took him home, bathed and shaved out all of his mats, including rock hard feces stuck in between his pads. This was very stressful for him and he was given many breaks throughout the ordeal.
He later received his dental where fifteen abscessed teeth were removed. We were shocked that all fifteen were accessed and worried about his dental recovery. A mass was also found in his mouth which was removed and sent out for biopsy. Davey has five teeth left. The rest must have fallen out at one point.
He is now receiving antibiotics, anti-inflammatories and immune building supplements and his skin have improved quite a bit from the sores the mats left behind.
We were in for a huge surprise! In just one week in foster care, he is recovering beautifully and his personality is really beginning to shine. He no longer nips when we touch his head or mouth. His recovery is something to behold. Davey is happy and we are so grateful we got him when we did so we could treat the pain his infections caused. He is turning into a very happy dog!
Karen Simondet Westie Rescue of OC & Beyond
Update July 2019
We knew we would have very little interest in Davey due to his age but that would never stop us from helping a senior boy. Davey is officially a WROC Forever Foster dog, and making that decision was not a hard one to make at all. Being deaf with limited eyesight, we felt it was in his best interest to stay with us since he had been through so much. This little fellow loves to be loved, eats like a horse and snores like a lumberjack. He is gentle, feisty, grumpy, loving, and quite bossy. Our favorite kind!
Hello everyone my name is Pearl. I feel lucky to be telling my story. My birthday is on March 15, 2001. I am just over two and a half years old. I was sold from a Petstore when I was twelve weeks old. Lots of people wanted to buy me as I pranced and played in my cage.
My new family said I was adorable they called me Sara. I lived with them for exactly three months. I was a frisky puppy but one day my front legs became hot and stiff and my jaw felt heavy and my head seemed bigger. One morning I woke up and could not eat my kibble anymore but my family did not notice. I tried to tell them…they finally figured out something was wrong when I stopped growing. They took me to the Vet and did all sorts of tests and the Doctor shook his head. I felt tired and weak and worn out.
I fell asleep after my appointment and woke up back at the Petstore. My new family had returned me! My feelings were so hurt. They did not want me and somehow I was not cute anymore. I overheard the people there saying that I could not be sold again. I was sick and alone.
I had not waited too long in my cage when a woman came for me. She was a stranger but I was glad to go. I said good-bye to my puppy friends and we left. I was weak. I only weighed six pounds and I was six months old. My new person took me to the Vet but she later told me that I was sick and nobody was quite sure how to help me. She made me feel special. She made homemade chicken and rice in the blender with tasty puppy milk for me. I ate six times a day. When I was too sick to eat she would encourage me with steak and hamburger bits. I had to learn how to eat without opening my mouth. You see I have a disease that won’t allow my jaw to open. It also made my legs burn and ache and my head swell.
My person would soak in the tub with me with special salts and talk quietly to me. She gave me baby aspirin and cortisone tablets. I never wanted to give up and she knew it. She called me her little fighter. She phoned lots of Veterinarians and talked about me and my problem a lot. She named me Pearl in honor of a well known local animal rescuer. I felt proud of my new name and my new place. I had been rescued by Friends Forever and I felt loved.
After 1 solid year of special care and baby food, I finally felt better. I was bigger and stronger and started to play. I remember the first hole I dug in the yard. My person seemed thrilled. I am embarrassed to admit how much I want to bite my cat friends. They know I can’t and they tease me. I have been spayed which was a big deal because my mouth still does not open but 1/8 of an inch. I made out fine. I have had shots and seen many Vets but nobody has been able to help me open my mouth. My person thinks this is a real benefit when clipping my nails. I don’t.
My person has found a Vet who can help me. I am so excited. She is very kind to me. Her name is Dr. Hunt. She has made me feel better with her magic machine that she puts on my jaw. I am hoping to be a Westie that can deliver a swift nip or two to my cat buddies before long!
Pearl has Craniomandibular Osteodystrophy (CMO) which is a devastating inherited disease. She is currently undergoing therapeutic Ultrasound treatments at University Animal Hospital in Greensboro, North Carolina under the care of Dr. Christine Hunt. This innovative treatment using sound waves may result in Pearl being able to open her mouth. Pearl is fostered by the President and Founder of Friends Forever, Lucy Boette. Pearl’s treatment is being funded by a grant from WestieMed.
Pearl – WestieMed Recipient
Update: October 2006
Hi. My name is Pearl. Maybe some of you remember me. WestieMed helped me a few years ago. You see I have Craniomandibular Osteodystrophy (CMO). Basically, I can’t open my mouth very much. Westie Med provided me the opportunity to receive therapeutic ultrasound and acupuncture to see if my mouth could open. And it worked, a little. I was so happy, I stuck my tongue out all of the time, and boy, did I enjoy my food.
Lately, I haven’t been feeling well. I’ve lost some weight and just don’t feel like running around. All I want to do is stay in my cuddler, my teeth hurt. The vet says I have severe tooth decay and it’s causing all sorts of problems. My doctor has me on antibiotics and wants to do a major dental invasion as soon as I can gain some weight. My people have been feeding me several times a day and I think that I have put on a pound or two. If this keeps up, I may lose my girlish figure!
WestieMed is going to help me get my mouth cleaned up. I am so grateful for Westie ed. I can’t wait to feel good again. Thank you WestieMed.
Update November 2006:
Pearl is such a sweet fighter! She had 18 diseased teeth removed. It was a long-drawn-out deal and her mouth and tongue were very swollen. She had to be on morphine but is now a million times better. She can put her tongue out of her mouth and lap her food for the first time ever. Her poor tongue was worn down from pushing on her front teeth for all these years. Dr. Hunt advises that the remaining teeth will continue to decay and have to be removed over time but everything is very stable and good after the recent dental work.
She will be able to continue gaining weight. She has gained over two pounds since I first wrote to you all. She yips and barks and generally happy now. I am so grateful for all you have done to help us with her. She has a new lease on life now for sure!
THANK YOU so very much on behalf of Pearl. WestieMed has made a world of difference in her life…in fact I think she is posterpup material!
All my best, Lucy
Update November 17, 2008:
My name is Andrea Borden and I adopted Pearl in December of 2007 from Friends Forever and you helped Pearl in 2003. I just wanted to thank you
for helping Pearl and giving her the opportunity to live. She is my heart and I truly believe without your help she may not have been here today. I also wanted to thank you for all the Westies that you have helped. You are truly an amazing agency that stands for a wonderful cause.
Kati was a stray Westie not wearing a collar or any identification when she was hit by a car. She was taken to a veterinary hospital for emergency treatment of her fractured pelvis and badly lacerated leg.
At that point a Guardian Angel stepped into Kati’s life. A man was at the same hospital visiting his dog who was recuperating from surgery when he saw Kati being treated. When the hospital staff told him Kati was a stray, he immediately offered to adopt Kati despite knowing she would need orthopedic surgery for her injuries. During the requisite waiting period for strays, Kati’s previous owner did not claim her and the man was able to adopt her.
Kati did not appear mistreated or undernourished and is not frightened by strangers or other dogs. She seems to love people and gets along with her new owner’s dogs
After adoption, Kati’s new owner took her back to the clinic for a wellness exam, basic shots and heartworm check. The attending vet discovered that her tail was infected and it needed to be surgically “truncated.” While Kati was under anesthesia for the procedure, the vet also checked her teeth and found several badly abscessed molars. Six teeth were removed and the abscesses were treated.
Kati is recovering and healing nicely. The stitches will be removed from her leg and tail over the next two weeks. However, healing of her pelvis and hip is expected to take longer. Orthopedic surgery is anticipated in the future to repair the damage to her hip and pelvis when the wounds are healed.
Kati – WestieMed Recipient
Update September 2002:
Kati is doing wonderfully, thank you, and has established herself as the alpha-dog-in-waiting among our pack. She has totally subjugated our latest, a black lab puppy named Jack who now outweighs her by forty plus pounds, and is the undisputed head of the doggie fun patrol (if any dog is having fun without her, she breaks it up!). She has had no subsequent problems with the injuries that brought us together (Kismet?) and does not appear to need any additional orthopedic treatment, according to the docs at Pender Veterinary Clinic. Her amputated tail has healed completely and she has no trouble “communicating” with the stub, I can attest. She is, without a doubt, the yappiest dog I have ever heard, which is one of the reasons I like terrier breeds so much, and which drives my wife up the wall (an added benefit, from my perspective!…just kidding). She has a favorite spot at night, the pillow just above my head, from which she monitors and cows all the other dogs. She is also an avid squirrel hunter, along with our yellow lab, Sophie, and can spot one of those critters all the way across our 1-acre side yard. And, strangely, the first time I took her to the groomer she seemed to know where she was and what was going to happen…and was, from the groomer’s report, a little angel. I want to thank you again for making this “fit” possible, along with the local Westie Rescue League.
Keep up the good work…your program and related efforts are greatly appreciated.
Sincerely, Ed, Sue and Kati (and, grudgingly, Sophie (lab), Toby (lab), Jack (lab), Pogo (Cairn Terrier), Donner (Shepherd-X), Barkely (Yorkie), Millie (Beagle) and Kila (Blue Front Amazon parrot).
Update February 4, 2003:
Kati is doing quite well, thanks to you and some wonderful vets at Pender Vet Clinic, although at times she seems a bit suicidal! By that, I mean that she thinks she’s the alpha dog…even though four of the other seven dogs outweigh her by forty pounds or more, and the other three are in her weight class! She is definitely an “in your face” kinda dog. The new black lab puppy, Jack, is ten months old and now weighs about eighty pounds…and he is her personal chew toy. I can’t believe how he puts up with the abuse, but he seems to enjoy it, and it keeps her from attacking the other dogs. At night, her spot is on the pillow above my head, which is the only place where I can be assured that she won’t sneak up on the other dogs while they’re sleeping. Except for the missing tail, there is no evidence of her past physical trauma…and she wags the stub like there’s no tomorrow! Rest assured, she has definitely come to the right house/paradise, and has provided endless hours of entertainment by way of earning her keep. Now, if I could just keep her from attacking Barkley, the Yorkie, things would be just fine. We don’t have a digital camera, but I’ll “snail-mail” a couple of photos to you, she’s a wonderful-looking Westie, even with the horns! Take care, and keep up the good work!
Ed & Sue Duclos (and, of course, Sophie, Toby, Jack, Pogo, Millie, Donner, Barkely…and Kati…oops, and Kila, the parrot, too)
Kati – WestieMed Recipient
Update February 2003:
As promised, here is a photo of “Kati” in all her glory. At the top of her list of “loves” are: the beach, Jack (the 80# black lab puppy(?)), visits to the groomer, snapping at the other dogs, and snoozing on the pillow above my head…and the list goes on and on. She combines the scrappiness of my sorely missed Schnauzers, the protectiveness of my chocolate lab, and the no-holds-barred “rub my belly and I’m yours” affection of my beagle. In short, a great dog and very welcome addition to our “pack”. Thanks to all the folks at WestieMed, the local Westie Rescue folks, and even the idiot prior owners of Kati for NOT coming to look for her after her accident. Take care and keep up the good work.
