May 2007:
Meet Missy… her foster Mom calls her The Baby. She is a seven-month-old female who loves to cuddle, role around on her back in the grass and swing on the hammock when her foster Mom reads her book in the afternoons. Missy does not have full use of her rear left leg, which is causing her to arch her back to compensate for using three legs. This, of course, is not good for a developing puppy. She lifts her leg when she walks which has caused some of the muscles to atrophy. This sweet little girl is a sweet kisser… an absolute Gem!
Missy’s owner purchased her from a breeder in Missouri in April 2007 and was shipped in a crate to Louisiana. When she arrived, the new owner noticed that when Missy came out of the crate, she did not put any weight on her rear left leg and lifted it when she walked. Her local Vet took x-rays and diagnosed her with a degenerative disease of the hipbone, and that Missy would need corrective surgery to have the damage repaired estimating to be over $3,000. Since the owner was a young mother with a toddler, she stated that she could not afford the surgery and follow up physical therapy.
The owner called the breeder who instructed her to have the puppy put down and that the breeder would send her another puppy at a later date. The owner was upset by these instructions and was advised by a neighbor to call Louisiana Westie Rescue (LWR). LWR took possession of Missy right away. The Companion Animal Clinic in Hammond, Louisiana took x-rays and diagnosed her with Calve Perthe’s Disease (Aseptic necrosis of the coxofemoral joint) of the left rear limb and referred the case to the LSU Veterinary School in Baton Rouge. The LSU Vet School proposed to remove the diseased bone and, because Missy is a young dog, her muscles can be conditioned to compensate for the missing coxofemoral joint. They report many successes for this surgery from small dogs to very large.
It is a blessing that WestieMed was able to help this little girl. Louisiana Westie Rescue operates solely on the contributions taken in from adoption fees and a medical issue such as this was going to be cost-prohibitive for the organization. The volunteers of WestieMed are the Angels who watch over our special little Westies who are victims of careless breeders and handlers. LWR extends blessings to them many times over!
Missy had her surgery May 10, 2007 and came through it with flying colors. The vet manipulated her joints and they are moving with ease. Missy is reluctant to put any weight on the rear leg to date (May 11, 2007) but some of her muscles have atrophied and will have to be exercised first by using passive range of motion exercises and then aqua therapy and walks three times a day. Her foster Mom has a pool and a Westie-sized life vest so Missy will start her swimming therapy within the week.
Louisiana Westie Rescue is extremely grateful for the aid from WestieMed and will send updates and additional pictures as Missy gets back on all fours.