Jenny came to WRSE (Westie Rescue Southeast) as the owner was asking to have her euthanized. As an 8 year old dog, the vet would not do so. One of our volunteers, (Also Jenny) picked her up, made a vet appointment for her and agreed to foster her. The vet visit resulted in finding she was in Ketoacidosis due to untreated Diabetes. She was immediately hospitalized to try and get her blood sugar normalized.
During the time she was in the hospital, WRSE was able to place her in a Westie-wise home with people who had experience with a diabetic dog. They lovingly took her in when she was stable enough to go home. She enjoyed her time with the family, but her illness returned and she had several visits to the ER in a short period of time. She needed an ultra-sound and was moved to a facility where they could accomplish this and care for her other needs. She had 2 nodules on her bladder. They were sent for tests and are yet to be determined.
Over the course of a few days she wasn’t eating, and had serious gastro-intestinal issues, along with complications of Diabetes and possible Cushing’s Syndrome. The hospital stayed in contact with us and kept us looped in at all times. On Friday, February 23, she took a turn for the worse. The Vets feared there really wasn’t much more that they could do for her. Her body was tired and worn out, which made recovery very difficult. She had been left untreated too long.
Despite the efforts of WRSE, many volunteers and supporters, we had to say goodbye and she is now healthy again at Rainbow Bridge. She knew she was loved, even if only for 6 days with her foster family.
Molly was surrendered to WSRH a year ago, after she was diagnosed with diabetes at eight years old. Her owner had trouble keeping up with her food and insulin schedule, and poor Molly was suffering the side effects. Her experienced foster was able to get her on a schedule and on the road to feeling better. A grant from WestieMed helped Molly get the testing she needed to establish her insulin dose and stabilize her blood sugar levels.
Molly is almost completely blind from cataracts, and the eye dogtor said she would be a suitable candidate for surgery once her blood sugar was stabilized. We booked her for a much-needed dental with her primary vet, who was concerned by some of her bloodwork and requested an abdominal ultrasound. Molly has shown symptoms of Cushing’s, but so far testing has been normal. The ultrasound showed no irregularities.
Molly continues to do well in her foster home, receiving her food and medications on a fixed schedule, and getting her blood sugar under control. WSRH is grateful for WestieMed’s assistance in helping this beautiful Westie feel better.
Kind regards,
Maggie Escriva
Volunteer, Intake Coordinator Westie and Scottie Rescue Houston
Emma is a delightful 7 year old Westie who came to WSRH because her previous owners could not manage her diabetes. She was incontinent and underweight when we received her, and we immediately placed her with a foster who is experienced with diabetic dogs.
Since she came to us, Emma has been placed on a set feeding and insulin schedule, and has had several checks at the vet. Each glucose curve or fructosamine test has indicated additional insulin needed, so her medication has been adjusted accordingly. While Emma’s blood sugar is still in the process of being stabilized, she has returned to a normal weight and no longer has issues of incontinence. We are grateful to WestieMed for helping us get her ready for her furever home.
Kind regards,
Maggie Escriva
Volunteer, Intake Coordinator Westie and Scottie Rescue Houston
Update June 23, 2024:
As we started looking for a furever home for sweet Emma, we received an inquiry that caught our attention:
“My family previously adopted a Westie that I cared for 14 years before she passed. My 12 year old daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes a few years ago. It’s a challenging lifestyle but we understand it very well and the importance of a good schedule… I would really love to be able to care for her and it would be very special for my daughter as well.”
We encouraged this mom to fill out an application, which she did, and the family completed our application process with flying colors. Next, the family made a road trip to come meet Emma. Here is an update from them:
“Our family feels so lucky to have been able to adopt Emma. We are grateful for the good care she received while waiting for a forever home and that she had access to the supplies and medicine she needed while we transitioned her to our vet and got to know her better.
“Emma knows her routine well and loves exploring the backyard, she enjoys neighborhood walks and going to our daughter’s soccer games. She has also motivated and comforted our oldest daughter who also has type 1 diabetes.
“Emma had a good bill of health at her last vet appointment and she just got a puppy cut at the doggy spa to get her through this hot summer! She loves adventures and also stretching out in a comfy spot. We can’t remember what life was like before her. She is very settled in and is very much a part of our family.”
Kind regards,
Maggie
Volunteer, Intake Coordinator
Westie Rescue Houston, also known as Westie & Scottie Rescue Houston
Molly is an 8 year old diabetic Westie. She came to Westie and Scottie Rescue Houston when her person made the decision to surrender Molly due to her recent diabetes diagnosis.
Before coming to Rescue, Molly lived in an apartment with her person. This worked well because she is OK as an only dog. Morning and evening walks were fine with her. When her person began working from home, Molly got more walks during the day.
Then her person noticed Molly was having incontinence issues during the day and was unable to keep her bedding dry. Molly was diagnosed as diabetic and prescribed daily insulin injections and this is when her life changed. Her person had to return to the office and found Molly’s medication schedule was hard to follow with her work schedule. Molly began going to different in-home doggy daycare that were given instructions on how to administer insulin. She continued to be incontinent as insulin was not being given on schedule, if at all.
Since Molly arrived at Rescue, she has had two glucose curves and her insulin dosage has been increased. She is on a consistent daily food and medication schedule which has shown great results. She is no longer wetting her bed and has more energy for her daily walks. She alerts her foster mom when needs to go out and uses a dog door.
She does have some loss of vision and is seeing a specialist to determine what treatment is appropriate. Molly likes people but does not seem to care about other dogs in her environment. She is a good companion dog.
Cathy Norris, Molly’s Foster Mom, Westie and Scottie Rescue Houston
Update August 16, 2023:
When Molly arrived at WSRH, she was incontinent due to uncontrolled diabetes and fluctuating glucose levels. She immediately moved in with an experienced foster mom who knew that she needed specific testing and maintenance to get her diabetes under control. Thanks to help from WestieMed, we were able to do testing to get her on the correct insulin dose and diet, with follow up testing to make sure her dosage stayed right. Now that Molly is on a consistent food and medication routine, she’s much healthier and happier. She is now able to keep her bedding dry all night and needs to go out fewer times during the day. She has adjusted well to her food and medication schedule.
Molly is blind from cataracts and has been to the eye dogtor, who says she may be a candidate for surgery now that her diabetes is under control. Her foster mom will be taking her back for further assessment and help Molly make plans for her future. She is available for adoption and still hoping for her perfect furever home.
Kind regards, Maggie Escriva Volunteer Westie and Scottie Rescue Houston
11 year old Kandy was ill and her family couldn’t afford her vet care. Their plan was to have her euthanized because they couldn’t help her. They had never spayed her or, it seems, done any meaningful medical care throughout her lifetime, so she needed a lot of vet care which would be expensive. Kandy had been a service dog to help her previous owners them with their anxieties. Thankfully, their son couldn’t bear to have her die without the opportunity for treatment and reached out to North Atlantic Westie Rescue (NAWR) to see if there was anything they could do. They had a volunteer pick her up at her home in New Jersey, just outside New York City. She showed all the signs of having been sick for a long time: extremely dehydrated, not eating, her rib and hip bones sticking out and loss of much of her muscle, as well.
She spent her first night in foster and by the morning, she was vomiting and unable to stand, obviously very sick. In an effort to get her to a local vet immediately, NAWR contacted Scottish Terrier Club of Greater New York Rescue nearby, who they have worked with many times in New Jersey, they carried Kady into a specialty vet with an Emergency Clinic that they used frequently. She was examined and admitted for emergency care and observation. After doing a myriad of tests, we were informed that she was a totally unregulated diabetic, seriously dehydrated and was in critical condition. Approving her care and hospitalization, the vet went ahead and got her on IV fluids and antibiotics to try to stabilize her condition. The next hurdle was to try to regulate her diabetes, so she was started on IV insulin once she was better hydrated. She was monitored every two hours throughout the night. The second day in the hospital, she stayed on IV and was weaned onto insulin shots. Her blood sugar which had been over 600 upon arrival was steadily coming down in the right direction. As she became fully rehydrated, she started feeling better than she must have felt for a very long time. By late that evening, Scottie Rescue was notified that she could be picked up and her insulin shots, prescription diet, and the remainder of her medications could be maintained at home. She spent a few more days with them and although weak, she was definitely recovering, getting stronger, and showing more of her bouncy Westie personality.
In early January 2023, she was transferred to North Atlantic Westie Rescue (NAWR) in Delaware and is doing very well. She’s running around, beating up lots of toys, barking when her meals aren’t ready fast enough, and just being a happy little Westie girl. She still looks and acts like a puppy, so we feel she still has years ahead of her to enjoy her second chance at life. Kandy’s NAWR foster family renamed her Chloe because they embrace their dogs’ Scottish heritage by giving all of their pups Scottish names. Chloe is an adorable and sweet, spirited, petite Westie with a big personality, and so worth it to give her another chance at life.
Erica Cerny
Scottish Terrier Club of Greater New York Rescue
Update April 2023:
In late April 2023, as soon as Chloe was out of her heat cycle and her vet agreed that her diabetes was stable and she was strong enough to have her spay surgery, her NAWR foster family scheduled the procedures. This sweet little girl also had a walnut sized anal gland tumor that had to be removed. Her surgeries were successful! In just one week since her surgery Chloe is back to her playful self. She loves to boss her packmates around and tends to run the household kitchen with excited barks at mealtimes if her meal isn’t prepared fast enough for her!
We’re very grateful to WestieMed for agreeing with us and paying for this life-saving medical care for Chloe!
With great appreciation, Vicki Fuchs North Atlantic Westie Rescue
Update June 15, 2023:
I am the foster mom of Chloe. She has recovered from her surgeries very well. The tumor in her anal gland was malignant so we are just praying the vet got clean margins and that she has beat the cancer!
She is a spunky little girl. She tends to boss the two male Westies that we have in the house, and they don’t mind it one bit! We have noticed over the past few days that her skin issue has returned so I plan to call our vet in the morning to discuss this. In the past we have given her an antibiotic injection, Convivia, along with Ketoconazole orally. It acts like Malassezia so we bathe her with an antifungal shampoo also. Fingers crossed we can get her some itch relief tomorrow. Otherwise she is doing well.
Thanks so much for all your help with this sweet littile girl!
Kind regards, Vicki Fuchs
Update February 8, 2024:
Chloe is a fiesty little lady! She continues to have skin issues which require twice weekly baths with Micoseb shampoo. We also give her benadryl at night to help her get some relief so we can all sleep. We have removed anything from her diet that may be causing the irritation so that she only gets homemade food now. She hasn’t been on ketoconazole since late November, but we are planning a visit to the vet soon. Of major concern, she has difficulty geting her rear legs to work at times. She will be walking or running when one leg or the other just won’t move forward for her. She sits down and waits a bit then tries again.
She still loves to go for our walks alongside her pack mates Angus and MacKenzie so we take a stroller along for her when she gets too tired. She remains a very loving, sweet and playful little dog!
