Alex
July 2003:
My Little Old Man
I met Alex one day driving down the road. I stopped at a stop sign and as I looked to my right this skinny virtually hairless dog caught my eye. He had a collar and was walking rather slowly. I stopped my car hoping to help the little guy home. As I approached this poor little dog I noticed he had no tags. He couldn’t hear too well because he was older and had severe ear infections. His eyes were infected, his nails were about and an inch long and he smelled really bad. I felt so bad for him how could anyone neglect this innocent creature. I brought him to a couple of animal hospitals in the area to see maybe if they knew him. They did not. I was also told by my vet he was anywhere between ten to fifteen years old. I was than asked if I wanted to keep him I should run a battery of test. My heart sank. I knew I could not take him home. I already had two Wheaten Terriers, Jake and Bailey, a nine-month-old baby and my cocker spaniel, Joshua passed away one year ago. I knew where I had to go next, the dreaded animal shelter. I couldnt bear to see him go. I cried and cried. This nice woman who ran the shelter saw I was upset. She told me she knew someone who could help place “Alex” in a home. I felted a sense of relief because I knew he would not be adopted from the shelter because of how he looked, smelt and his age. This woman called this angel and she said she would pick her up. I left my number for this kind individual and asked if she would call me so I could find out Alexs future (In the meantime I hung lost posters in the three surrounding towns where I lived to see if I could find the owner. Of course nobody called. I thought that was probably the best thing since they neglected this poor little animal).
A few days later I received a call from Karen and she said she had someone to adopt him. I felt good but, at the same time sad because I had developed a bond with the little guy. I told Karen if anything fell through to please call me and I would try and take him but the chances were slim. Well Karen called back and told me the woman could not adopt Alex. She told me she was going to have to bring him back to the shelter at the end of the week and have him destroyed. She couldnt keep him she already had too many animals.
I WOULD NOT let this poor dog be destroyed. I knew I had many medical bills ahead of me. Alex was put on eye drops for his eye infection, Baytril for his respiratory infection (he had massive amounts of mucous draining from his nose and eyes. He had so much mucous that one of his nostrils was closed shut many days), steroids, ear drops, antihistamine and ketoconazole. He was diagnosed with Malassezia along with a host of other problems.
I have had Alex now for about one month and he has turned around so much. He has become a member of my family. At first because he apparently was sleeping in the streets where he was always disturbed he probably never had a good sleep. Whenever he would sleep he would jump, startled if approached. Now he sleeps like a baby. He initially could barely walk. He still has some problems but he runs and plays with his toys and has a great appetite. He no longer has mucous discharge. He is very sweet dog everyone loves him.
I wanted to extend my thanks to Westie Med for helping with Alex’s medical bills. I am sure Alex appreciates it as well. I am glad I was able to help my little old man. Thank you again.
Sincerely, Connie P. Blue Point, NY
Alex has a skin condition called Malassezia (yeast infection of the skin). This condition is becoming more and more prevalent among Westies. Westie Rescuers are seeing cases of this all over the country. This condition is very treatable…if treated properly. To help other Westie owners, we are making information about this condition available on our web site. You can read about it here: Malassezia.
Casey
January 2003:
Terese from Missouri.
Casey was purchased as a pup in St. Louis, MO.
A mother with a sick ten-year-old daughter thought a puppy might help her daughter get well faster. As the daughter got better, the mother realized that she really didn’t want a dog in her house, and also thought that some of the family may be allergic to Casey, so she moved him outside permanently.
Casey learned to play with a soccer ball, and empty two-liter bottles in the back yard all by himself. When he was bored, he would grind his teeth on the lava rocks in the garden until his canines were all completely flat. This continued in the heat of the summer and the cold of the winter for the next 6 years. In that time, Casey developed problems with his eyes, ears, and skin from being exposed to such severe weather, and from having very little attention paid to him by anyone. He was rarely groomed, and no one seemed to have the time for him.
One day, a very muddy and matted Westie came into the kennel/day camp, where I worked, to be groomed. It was Casey. I never saw him or his owner, but she had decided that they were not able to take care of him anymore and left a yellow stickie on the bulletin board. “Free six-year-old Westie, owner allergic.”
I went home with the note that day and my husband and I took a ride to the house. The owner came out of the house and said that the dog was kept in the back yard and that she could not come with us, as if she went near him, she would have to shower again. We opened the gate and the friendliest, biggest Westie we ever saw came running up and wanted us to play with him so very badly. The woman told us his name was Casey and we had to discuss him through the kitchen screen window. I told her that Casey had a sore above his eye and she said she couldn’t touch him, so I asked for some peroxide and some cortisone cream. I fixed him up and then started to take a good hard look at him. We were both shocked at the black elephant skin on his belly and his nose, and the inside of his ears was black and smelled terrible. When we looked into Casey’s beautiful golden eyes, we saw green goop and could tell his eyes weren’t as clear as they should be. It was just so awful to see such a sweet and loving dog in such terrible condition. We just looked at each other and knew we would take him with us immediately. We asked if we could take him overnight to see if he would get along with our Cairn and our Poodle-mix puppy. They fell in love when we brought him home, as we already had. The next day we took him to the vet and knew it would take lots of love, time, and money for the next few months to get Casey into good shape.
For months, we had to put steroid drops in his eyes, use several medications for his skin condition called Malasszia, and clean and apply medicine to his ears. As the months passed by, and we were the happiest of families, Casey began to throw up in the middle of the night. Then he got diarrhea. We noticed a tiny seizure one morning and brought him in for blood tests. We knew something was terribly wrong but hoped for the best. Casey’s albumin level in his blood was a 1.9 when it should have been a 2.4, and we were told to change his diet immediately and to watch him carefully because his poor body could just shut down at any time. He was most likely suffering from something called PLE or protein-losing enteropathy. He was put on steroids and anti-diarrhea medication in an attempt to get some of his symptoms to lessen, or go away. I actually started to make his food, since this disease can be caused by a food allergy. To confirm the diagnosis, Casey would have to have a stomach lining biopsy and internal organ x-ray, which were very costly, and we knew we couldn’t afford them.
I started looking on the Internet for help, and through WestieRescueMO we found the wonderful people at WestieMed. Casey goes in tomorrow for a follow-up blood test, and we will be talking to the Dr. about the biopsy and x-ray, now that WestieMed is there to help us with the bill. All we can say is thank you, thank you, thank you … and God bless the fine and generous people at WestieMed who care so very much! We would also like to thank the people of WestieResueMO for all of their caring and support. Casey had to learn how to sleep through the night and to sleep with us and not in a pet taxi, and he had to learn to play with us and not just by himself. He is Mama’s lapdog now too! We just love the little fella and are glad he was put in our path.
Terese and Steven Ward and Casey, Rocky and Tugger
Casey has a skin condition called Malassezia (yeast infection of the skin). This condition is becoming more and more prevalent among Westies. Westie Rescuers are seeing cases of this all over the country. This condition is very treatable…if treated properly. To help other Westie owners, we are making information about this condition available on our web site. You can read about it here: https://westiemed.org/malassezia
Minnie
November 2002:
I received a call from the Westport, SPCA about a Westie/mix they had in their shelter and they wanted to know if we had any room for her. Minnie was brought in by the dog control officers from someone’s farm. It appeared that someone dumped her on their farm and drove off. The officer had to carry Minnie in as she was unable to even stand up. Her nails were so long they curled under and we’re into the soft pads of her feet, she had no hair and open sores on her body. Both eyes were infected as were her ears.
The Westport, SPCA did an awesome job with Minnie and tried hard to find her a home as they dealt with her ever-mounting medical problems. When Kerry called me they had had Minnie for two months and felt if a home could not be found for her she would be euthanized soon.
My husband and I headed out to the shelter days later to see Minnie. Doing rescue for a few years we thought we had seen it all, but when we saw Minnie, she raised the bar for us of what we thought was shocking. We both spent time with Minnie and Kerry and talked a lot about the care and long-term prognosis – but I think we all knew we were going to take her home and get her some help.
Soon we were heading out for the long trip home and Minnie laid on the seat being a perfect angel except for constant scratching (and, well. causing our eyes to water from the smell). As soon as our feet hit the front door, Minnie was in the tub. She sat perfectly still for the whole 10 minutes the shampoo had to work while I massaged her poor skin and tried to assure her that we would get her back to health. We set her up in the kitchen away from the other pets in case she could possibly pass something to them, and she laid down and slept for four hours.
Her first vet visit turned into an overnight stay. The number of things she needed checked and done just couldn’t fit into a visit, so I reluctantly left her in their care and headed home alone. I must have called them four times checking on her and while they were not optimistic at all, by the next day the vet was as anxious as we were to get Minnie back to health. They saw in her what we did – the sweet pup with a sparkle in her eyes that even her extreme health couldn’t diminish. We headed home with shampoos, medications, creams, and sprays and fell into a schedule by the end of the weekend.
She now receives one bath a day in alternating shampoos and sometimes a second bath a day in oatmeal shampoo if she’s having an itchy day. She is on antibiotics, medication for the Malassezia, eye drops four times a day, and an antibiotic for the eyes twice a day. Her ears were infected so she also has cleanings and antibiotics twice a day for that. She loves her oatmeal spray and Gold Bond powder which not only helps her itching but she looks white and smells so much better. We have noticed for the first time yesterday that the odor is better and her eyes are clear of infection.
When we take her somewhere, she does draw a lot of angry looks from folks, and I know the anger is directed at me thinking we did this to her. But once we explain, they are on the floor on all fours talking and petting her and telling her what a sweet girl she is. She eats it up.
We are heading into our second week with Minne. Her ears no longer have an odor and she is running around the kitchen now and playing for the first time. She is very shy around strangers still but she lays in my lap and seems happy to just have a family. She does not shrink away when we touch her now and she has even barked a few times and wagged her tail for the first time yesterday.
WestieMed, thank you so much for the help you have given us – not just for vet bills, but for emotional support and also great insight and information. Minnie is slowly showing us the sweet little dog that has been hidden and it’s because of your help that this is possible.
Mary Adams West Highland Rescue of NY
Minnie has a skin condition called Malassezia (yeast infection of the skin). This condition is becoming more and more prevalent among Westies. Westie Rescuers are seeing cases of this all over the country. This condition is very treatable…if treated properly. To help other Westie owners, we are making information about this condition available on our web site. You can read about it here: https://westiemed.org/malassezia
Boomer
October 2002:
When my husband and I were combing the shelters for a few dogs to bring into our foster program, Little Orphan Angels, one Sunday, the animal control officer (ACO) showed us a little Westie they had been housing for a few weeks. She told us that he was found as a stray with his collar “growing into his neck” because it was too small. In addition, he had a bone lodged in the back of his jaw. He had apparently gotten so hungry he had tried to eat a bone which then got stuck. Because of the bone lodged in his mouth, he had a bad infection. If all that was not enough, he also had this black skin that looked like elephant skin (we now know to be Malassezia). The ACO said that when they bathed him for the first time the black skin and dirt just sloughed off and turned his bathwater black. They had to bathe him several times before they were satisfied, and still, he had black, scaley skin and a bad odor about him.
Soon after he was picked up and cleaned up, he went to surgery to remove the bone from his mouth. Then, he had to complete a course of antibiotics for the infection. Everyone at the shelter fell in love with his personality, but they were concerned that since he did not look (or smell) that great, he would not get adopted and would have to be euthanized. Hence, they pointed us to him on that Saturday.
Now, with a dog who has no significant medical conditions, we always check with the board and find the appropriate foster. So, we could not take the friendly little Westie that day. We did ask the ACO to put a hold on him and told her we would be back the following week. We did return to pick him up the next week and took him straight to our vet.
Unfortunately, Westie’s have very specific medical problems and not all vets are familiar with them. So, the first prognosis we received was not optimistic. Luckily, the newly named Boomer had a great foster mom who looked into the local Westie Rescue and got some information on a great, knowledgable vet. We drove across town and saw them and were given better news, but could not continue to drive so far for Boomer’s treatments and check-ups. Finally, we came across one of our regular vets who turns out to be very knowledgeable about Westie’s and got Boomer on the right course of treatment. This, of course, sounds like good news, but the right course of treatment for Boomer was quite a regimen! He had about 4 pills he took 3 times a day. He had to have a bath every other day with alternating types of shampoos, and he had to be on special food. Oh yeah, and he STILL smelled! He also itched! Boomer was so itchy, in fact, that he would drag himself across the room on his stomach!
Of course, no story would be complete without a happy ending, so here it is…Boomer was at the Petco where we do our adoptions several weekends and his various foster homes (he was a lot of work but so sweet, so our fosters took turns keeping him) for a few months. Finally, a woman who had previously owned a Westie in worse shape than Boomer e-mailed us. She was looking for another Westie since hers had recently passed away. They met, and it was love at first sight! The adoption was completed the following week.
Boomer now has a great home, is done with most of his medication, and is growing fur! He is the hit of the neighborhood and the best friend of his new owner (as pictured above)!
Thanks to Westie Med, Little Orphan Angels, the North Richland Hills Shelter, Parkside Animal Hospital, and his new owner Connie, Boomer is living the life every dog should lead–a very happy, healthy one!
Angus (Formely Buddy)
On the morning of May 5, 2001, I got a call from the director of the Islip Town Animal Shelter saying they had a Westie they thought I should take a look at. He was picked up as a stray and they thought he might be around five years old. I was told he was in pretty bad shape but I was not prepared for what awaited me. When they brought him to me in the director’s office my first thought was that this dog had been set on fire. His skin was blackened with raw, red patches, sores oozing yellow and fur falling off in clumps. His eyes were two pools of yellow pus and his ears were so infected and swollen they were closed, causing him to be deaf. He was extremely thin and weak. Not able to lift his head he would rest his nose on the floor. I did not think this dog could be saved. Then he slowly, painfully walked to me and wagged his tail ever so slightly. I scooped him up and brought him to my vet.
Dr. Pollack worked on Buddy for two hours, cleaning eyes, ears and taking tests. Buddy was found to have severe Malassezia which developed into a fungus. The infection in his eyes was due to dry eye and his deafness because of a raging yeast infection. The test showed Buddy’s white blood count was dangerously high and his blood proteins were very low. He weighed in at just fourteen pounds and couldn’t keep any food down. We were in a fight for Buddy’s life.
That first day I was sent home with Optimmune Cyclosporine ointment, Triple Antibiotic HC ointment, Synotic, Maleseb shampoo, Keflex, Atarax, and Ketoconazole. Buddy needed to be bathed daily and have his eyes and ears flushed. He was fed small amounts of food until he could eat without vomiting and then we just let him eat as much as he could hold. The vet said puppy food would be best as it was higher in calories and Buddy needed to gain weight.
Dr. Pollack saw Buddy approximately every ten days to do a complete blood workup. In the first two weeks he didn’t gain any weight and his blood count was worse. Then gradually Buddy began to respond to treatment. His eyes cleared up and his ears started to open. He was gaining weight and his hearing was slowly returning. His skin wasn’t so raw and had started to heal. But his blood work continued to worry us. Dr. Pollack ordered some x-rays and found his liver was slightly enlarged but everything looked okay.
We continued to give Buddy his daily baths and medication. He started to act more like a Westie, bouncing around the yard, barking at rabbits and investigating everything he could get his nose into. The next round of tests gave us good news. Buddy’s blood work finally came back normal. He was up to nineteen pounds and the fungus was nearly all gone.
On June 25, 2001, Dr. Pollack gave us the go-ahead to have Buddy neutered. His appointment is set for June 30. Once he is recovered from surgery, Buddy will be going to the forever home that has been patiently waiting for him.
Thank you WestieMed for your assistance with Buddy’s enormous medical bills!
Renee Savaria New York Westie Rescue
Update August 2001
Angus has been bathed twice this week. he gets his pills in a ball of liverwurst and loves it. He is a good eater and also likes the dog biscuit treats we got for him. He takes turns following Gene and me around the house. He sits in my gym and watches us work out every day and runs right over to be petted, whenever either of us stops to rest for a few seconds.
It is hard to believe that he has been with us for just one week today, for he has become a full-time member of our family, sitting on the couch with us or lying in bed with us and getting scratched or petted constantly. He does not kiss us yet, but we make up for it by kissing him. He is happy and full of life, wagging his tail at lightning speed, playing with the tennis balls that I bought him. He immediately decided that if we roll them to him he can roll them back with his nose, paw or mouth. If he uses his mouth, he does it by clicking his teeth together and it can be heard throughout the adult community we live in. Our grandchildren adore him and the youngest, Jacqueline, informed everyone that he is happy because “he loves her so much.”
We have told the folks in the village about his background and he is now pointed out and viewed as a hero, which, indeed he is, cheerfully coming through his horrendous past. He was truly blessed by Westie Rescue and his “nurse” Renee Savaria and my wife and me are now blessed with Angus. His new name hasn’t caught on with him yet, but I told him, this morning, that he and I share our Celtic heritage and that is why God gave him to us. Thank you all for filling our home with happiness.
Ed and Gene McGrath
Update July 2002
Angus is healthy and extraordinarily happy, since the entire adult community where we live, Sunrise Village, love him, as well as our children and grandchildren. The grandchildren are more thrilled that Angus is coming to visit, than the fact that we are arriving at the same time. Our children have gotten dishes and food for him, at their homes. When we take him into the town of Sayville with us, he is surrounded by children and adults alike. It is difficult to get through the town with his fan club. When he meets new folks, we always tell them about Westie Rescue on line. However, his skin condition is constantly lurking in the background and will flare up at any moment. What surprises us is that it gets almost out of control within a few days, despite bathing, apple vinegar dips, and medication. We started to take him to our original veterinary but felt that they didn’t understand the urgency or severity of his allergies and so, we have returned to the Sayville vet. Everyone who has treated him there has been very caring and seem to be more knowledgeable about his condition. He is diagnosed with a dual problem. The first is the skin allergies to his environment, grass, etc., which we treat, along with his eyes and ears, on a daily basis. They feel we must get this controlled and then attack the virus, which they refer to as “elephant skin” or areas of dark, thick skin. We hope to get it all under control by the Fall. We love him and it is evident that he loves us and has made himself at home. By the way, he is incredibly well housebroken. He is just a good guy. Many thanks to you folks. By the way, he weighs 23 pounds and may have to lose a pound, to regain his svelte shape.
Ed & Gene