Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease

Amber

April 13, 2022January 5, 2023 by westiemed in Stories

Hello to the WestieMed family and to the supporters and recipients like myself who have received help from the WestieMed community. With gratitude I’m pleased to share my experience about the WestieMed family! I call them family because this is who I see them as. From the beginning to end these folks have been more than I expected for me and my baby Amber.

Amber was rescued and after 6 months we found an issue with her hip/ leg called Legg-Calve-Perthes disease. This affected her ability to walk and, at times, even worse it broke her spirit. From the start Amber was a loving, sweet soul always cheerful by waggling her tail showing affection and so forth. But 6 months in I saw a drastic change where she began hopping on 3 legs – that is when I realized something was definitely wrong.

With me living on a fixed income, the first thing that came to mind is if a problem is discovered, where would the funds come from to cover the cost.

This is when I first encountered the WestieMed family. I reached out to them seeking help and some assistance. Within minutes the WestieMed family replied in concern to help and the requirements needed for assistance. I provided the information to them and they didn’t hesitate to render their assistance!

I received financial help to correct that issue and Amber had surgery. I felt the issue was taken care of, however, periodically Amber would begin hopping on the leg like before and also lost her appetite. I took Amber for a veterinary consult and I found out the same issue was still there and the surgery did not repair it!

Second time around I reached out to the WestieMed family and again they walked with me through every step of the way! Amber’s surgery was a success and was paid through the WestieMed organization.

My Ambie can now live free from this issue and we look forward now to a normal life! I am grateful and thankful for all the help we received from the WestieMed family and just want to say I can’t speak about any other Charitable organizations out there but this one. The dignity, respect, integrity, support and the relief of stress this organization offers is immaculate.

May I say thanks again for the help and assistance we’ve received from you. It is truly appreciated.

Because of the WestieMed family Amber is recovering and healing up, even moving around periodically on the leg. She went for a post-op surgical care appointment and all is well.

She will have to do therapy because over time she lost 90% of mobility on that leg, but thankful and grateful we found the WestieMed family to help us through our trying time.

Update December 28, 2022:

Season’s Greetings WestieMed family!

It’s been a while since I have reached out, but i have not forgotten you guys. I am just reaching out before the year ends.

Amber is doing ok, but every now & then she’ll hop off the bad leg especially when it’s very cold. All I can say she might have to live with this issue for the rest of her life.

But I am grateful to have had WestieMed in our corner when we needed you. I hope you all are doing well. Just can’t thank you enough.

Thanks for your help.

Amber

March 1, 2016December 24, 2020 by westiemed in Stories

Amber became a companion and close friend to me for the past two months. Amber is so affectionate, full of so much love.

One day while going about my ways on the street a complete stranger came up to me and said she is getting rid of the dog and asked if I wanted the dog. I asked why don’t you want the dog, what is wrong? She responded she can’t have her in the building where she lives. During this time a million thoughts came to my mind but the one thing resonated was how can I rescue this dog with sadness in her eyes, looking ungroomed. She looked like she wasn’t taking care of. I couldn’t walk away and leave her not knowing what this person would’ve done with her. The fear of not knowing if she would be abandoned on the streets would rest on my mind. So I took her knowing I am on a fixed income.

My sadness came two weeks later when I noticed Amber was hopping and holding her right back leg up. I took her to the veterinarian and found out she has Legg-Calve-Perthes disease that can only be corrected through surgery. If not done quickly inflammation can cause problems to her other leg. My heart was broken not being able to come up with the funds to help my little Amber.

I am thankful to WestieMed for reaching out acknowledging by giving animals a second chance to stay healthy and live a normal life.

Thank you kindly.

Sincerely,
Millicent Spence

Update April 2, 2016

I just wanted to give you an update on my little Amber. She had the surgery on March 31, 2016, and spent the night at the hospital but is back home and recovering fine. I can’t thank you WestieMed enough on how grateful Amber and I feel. Without you, it wouldn’t be possible. I am sending a picture of her back home. She has to stay off the leg for a while and the collar stays on for two weeks. But I am happy that she will soon be out of the pain and suffering. Thanks so much!!

Sincerely,
Millicent Spence

Update October 3, 2016

Hi WestieMed family,

I am so pleased to tell you Amber is doing ok – better than before surgery! I was told by the doctor that I would see significant improvement within three-four months. Well, it’s been five months and every now & then I see her slightly limping on the bad leg! She runs around on it though! To my understanding I thought after the surgery she would’ve picked up much more moving on her foot without a limp, but I guess it’s taking her more time to heal completely! But she is doing ok.

I want to thank you so much for your help, it is greatly appreciated.

Millicent

Update May 18, 2017

Amber is doing ok but not 100%. She still hops on off the right leg that she had surgery on more when she just had a shower are something to activities she will hop off that leg.

I don’t have the funds to her to another veterinarian facility to get checks up to see if the issue with her leg wasn’t addressed are what did the veterinarian surgeon did at the time to correct the issue she had, but it takes money to do so I am disabled and don’t have the funds to really do so.

Hoping something comes up to help so I can take her to get checked out but for now, she is running around and has happy as can be.

I so thank you for assisting in helping Amber with her surgery expenses

Millicent

Sammi

September 1, 2007January 28, 2021 by westiemed in Stories

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

Missy

May 1, 2007January 29, 2021 by westiemed in Stories

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.

Lucy

April 1, 2006February 6, 2021 by westiemed in Stories

April 2006:

My name is Lucy. I was born in a puppy mill but then was purchased by a very nice family who owned several other pets as well. Once it was discovered that I had Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, they felt it would be better for me to live with another family that could better afford the surgery.

Boy, did things work out for me, thanks to Westie Rescue and WestieMed! A family with an only child, Lainie, who really wanted a Westie, was looking for a female. This family had been on the Westie Rescue list for more than a year. The mom and dad (Anne & Jim) were determined to wait until just the right Westie needed a new home. Luckily Anne had previously owned a Westie so she knew how great Westies are and she also personally knew the Central New York Westie maven, Karol Woythal. When I became available in Western New York, Suzie Nowak, the Westie Rescue contact, phoned Karol to see if there was anyone who was looking for a dog. Thank you, Karol (you’re the best!) for recommending my family! Anne & Jim agreed to rescue me with the understanding that they could apply to WestieMed for financial help with the corrective surgery.

Westie Rescue and WestieMed, thank you so much for helping me! I’ll be able to run and jump without pain after my operation. My new family loves me and can’t imagine life without me.

Lucy