September 2007:
Age of Dog: Two years Rescue State: Georgia Medical Condition: Degenerative Joint Disease and Legg-Perthes
Synopsis: Sammi was encouraged to be surrendered by a good Samaritan who knew the owner was handling the dog irresponsibly in that she would let the dog run loose and it was frequently being lost. She wasn’t getting any attention and had been neglected in the sense of any grooming or hygiene. One of our members worked with one of the wonderful regular vets of the West Highland White Terrier Club of Greater Atlanta (WHWTCGA). WHWTCGA took Sammi into the rescue program called upon this vet to assist us and Sammi. She was a scruffy mess that desperately needed cleaning up. She was given a general physical and was treated for hookworms and spayed. She was anemic and not very playful at that point. She was then placed in foster to recover and be evaluated. When she became comfortable in her foster home, she started snapping and biting particularly when approached from the back or picking her up. It was initially thought that she needed behavior training by the club’s trainer, but prior to sending her there, we thought it was best to have a vet re-check her for any other medical issues. It was determined that she was in pain from her left hip because she had extreme degenerative joint disease (Legg-Perthes) and possible spine problems. The treatment of choice was an FHO — femoral head ostectomy — which was successfully performed. But the surgery would have to be followed by several weeks of therapy to get her to exercise and use her leg.
Sammi has made great strides thanks to our loving foster home. From what we can tell the pain is gone! She will let you pick her up although she reverts back to her alpha habits occasionally so we have continued her in a foster home that has another Westie and an older cat. She goes on walks daily and uses her leg more each day. After two surgeries, multiple x-rays, some medications for the pain, and physical therapy she has now participating in some training classes to assist in the bad behavior habits she has developed through her medical issues. If it hadn’t been for the good Samaritan’s knowledge of Westie Rescue and the lady surrendering her neglected Westie who knows how long poor Sammi would have suffered leading to an inevitable biting incident.
From her picture you can also see what basic grooming, proper hygiene, and diet with a little TLC will do for the looks too – isn’t she adorable? It will be several weeks before she will be ready for any forever home placement, but she is definitely on the right road to a great Westie life thanks to our volunteers, caring vets, and the support of WestieMed!
–WHWTC of Greater Atlanta
Update March 1, 2010:
We have not heard anything since early 2009 from the forever home. At that time Sammi had well recovered from her surgery and was enjoying life healthy and happy. She won’t set any land speed records but her mobility was excellent.
We will call her again just to see. The adoption home had not renewed her membership with the club for 2010 and we didn’t see her at meetings in 2009.
Kristine Tarrer WHWTC of Greater Atlanta