Hip Surgery – WestieMed

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.

Emma

June 1, 2002January 7, 2021 by westiemed in Stories

June 2002:

Emma came into my life on June 15th. Emma is a rescue as her owners felt they could not deal with her skin allergies any longer. When Emma joined my brood (my two westies Kelsey is ten and Mollie is six) she was just a bundle of energy and fun!. I took Emma to my Vet to review her allergies, and schedule her for spaying. I put her on the ARF diet and she loved it! Within a week her skin was looking good and she was recuperating from her surgery. I did notice at this time though that Emma was walking much slower than she had. One night she just kept falling over, so I took her to the emergency Vet. They did a blood panel (good) and x-rays. The x-rays showed her left hip sock was basically gone. The Vet said she must have been in a lot of pain for quite some time. It just broke my heart to know this little one had been suffering for so long.

The next day, I took Emma’s diagnosis to our Rescue board, to ask for their approval for her surgery. A week later Emma was home, resting soundly. I did notice though after about a week she was still having a lot of difficultly walking, and when she was sitting her head would sway back and forth. I had to start to hand feed her, as she just had no energy/strength to do it on her own. Everyone I spoke to said this was not unusual given what she had just been through (with the hip surgery) and it would take her a few weeks to recover.

The next week I called my Vet and asked to bring her in for another follow up (she had had two since her surgery) as I just felt something was wrong. Later that night Emma started having seizures. I rushed her back to the Emergency Vet and they put her on Valium and Phenobarbital. . They asked to keep her overnight and to review her progress in the am, while they ran some tests.

I got home and just cried. I had never felt so helpless. I got on the Internet and started emailing breeders; Westie Club of America and Westie Med. Angie emailed me right back! She was just the shot in the arm I needed not to let any negative thoughts get the best of me!

The next day, I went in to see Emma, it was a heartbreaking sight. She was on Phenobarbital and was completely out of it. She was having involuntary muscle spasms. If I touched her the spasms increased. The Vet said so far all of her tests were normal, which ruled out epilepsy. The Vet said I should think about an MRI, as they believed at this point Emma’s condition was neurological.

I followed up with Westie Med and submitted Emma’s request for help. Westie Med moved so quickly, letting me know Emma was approved for her MRI within twenty-four hours! I can’t tell you how great it is to know so many cared about Emma and were there cheering her on!

Emma had her MRI and I came to see her later that day. The E-Vet said Emma had come thru just great and was actually sitting up, taking in water and food (which was a surprise to us all given where she had been twenty-four hours earlier).

MRI did show a lesion on her brain (in the back where her motor functions are, which did help to explain why she was having trouble walking). Also, there was a high level of white cells in her spinal fluid, which indicated she may have one of three possible infections: Distemper, GME, or Cancer (which was a distant third).

The E-Vet then shared that we could have sent her fluids out to be tested (to narrow down the cause) but they had missed the Fed-X delivery person and the fluids wouldn’t hold for another twenty-four hours. It was then I stepped in and took over. I said I would get the vials to Fed-X (even though the office manager insisted it was too late). I started calling around and found a Fed-X open until 8:00 pm, which gave me forty-five minutes to get there. Twenty-five minutes later (and still no packages) I headed back to the E-Vet area and said I would pack the vials myself as I had only twenty minutes to make it to the location. I started putting the Fed-X boxes together, while I “watched” the technicians put everything else together.

I arrived at the Fed-X location with five minutes to spare. When I got to the counter the agent asked me what I had. When I shared what it was she insisted on opening the boxes to see how they were packed. To make a long story short, they informed me they were not packed correctly and they wouldn’t go out. I explained the urgency, but unfortunately they said they could not let the boxes go out. I turned to the people in line behind me and asked them for help- Emma was truly blessed that night! Two people in line were medical supplies sales people and had everything I needed. We went out to the parking lot and re-packed the vials! The Fed-X team kept the office open for me!

The next day Emma was sitting up and off of all her IVs. The E-Vet started her on prednisolone (to help with the inflammation). They said if all went well she could come home. I brought Emma home last Saturday (6/29) and it was just great to have her home! I immediately started Emma on vitamins and minerals to pump up her immune system. I know how hard prednisolone is on the body, and the only way she was going to be able to fight this was with some help!

The first three days were very hard, as Emma needed to take her meds every couple of hours and needed to be carried to the grass to do her duty. I called on my neighbors and my critter sitter for help. I came home every day at lunch as well. By the fourth day, Emma had control of her bowel movements and was really trying to walk.

I took her to a holistic Vet and we started her on an acupuncture program. The next day (7/4) I was taking my dogs for a walk and Emma started barking up a storm, tail wagging all excited! Well, I couldn’t leave her home. So I called my neighbor and asked her if she could help me walk my dogs. I put Emma on the lawn with Cindy (my neighbor) and I went in to get my girls. Cindy called out that Emma was walking! I ran out to see, and she sure was! Now, I am not going to say the acupuncture was the cure, as she was definitely trying on her own before, but I can’t help but believe it did help her! Emma made it two blocks before she pooped out! During this time Emma’s test results (two of the three) have come back negative. The remaining one is the distemper test. The E-Vet said she believes it is GME (which is so rare no one knows much about it). All I know is that Emma is making great progress, I know I have to take one day at a time with her as I may only have her with me for a few months (if it is GME the prognosis is not good). But my little girl is walking, eating, playing, and in all ways a truly stubborn Westie!

I just want all of you to know HOW GREAT WESTIEMED IS! if it wasn’t for them, Emma would not be here right now – that I know for sure!

Lisa

Update January 2003:

Hello! Miss Emma is doing fantastic! All of her hair has grown back in, she is running, jumping and is all and all a normal, happy go lucky Westie!. She is a dedicated BARF eater, and (in my opinion) it has kept her healthy. As you know, many thought she had GME (which is fatal)…after six months she has beaten the odds (if she has it) and is very strong!

Update June 2003:

Emma is doing just great! She is big and healthy!. You can barely tell she could not walk, she runs and plays like all westies who are loved and incredibly spoiled!

Kati

March 1, 2002January 7, 2021 by westiemed in Stories

March 2002:

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.

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)

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.

Ed and Sue and all the mutts and parrot