Elsa was born in May 2022. She was purchased by a “breeder” from another “breeder” for the sole purpose of producing puppies. In February 2023 she was taken for a routine exam so she could be declared fit so that her owner could start breeding her. During the exam, the veterinarian diagnosed a heart murmur. Her owner now considered her useless and did not want to bother following up with a specialist. However, her owner did reach out to a group in Kansas that helps dogs get to rescue to surrender her. This group (Friends of Animals) reached out to us having worked with All About Paws in the past knowing we will always help special needs dogs. We of course said yes, bring her to us. We will absolutely help.
Elsa was transported to our rescue in St. Louis Missouri in early March. Not knowing the exact extent of her heart issues, we immediately scheduled an appointment with a cardiologist. During that appointment, Elsa was diagnosed with PDA (Patent Ductus Arteriosus). This is a common congenital heart defect in dogs and basically means the blood is not flowing how it should through the heart. For most dogs if this is not fixed it can lead to cardiac heart failure- basically a death sentence. Elsa’s cardiologist felt surgery needed to be performed soon so this can be avoided. Elsa has been an absolute delight in her foster home and we believe she deserves the chance to live a full, happy, and healthy life in a loving home.
After her surgery, Elsa was medically cleared and then we had her spayed. All About Paws is incredibly thankful to WestieMed for helping us help Elsa live her life to the fullest.
All About Paws Rescue St. Louis, Missouri
Update April 18, 2023:
Elsa arrived bright and early on April 17, 2023 at VSS for her rescheduled appointment with Dr. Marshall. We were notified several hours later that the surgery was a success. Elsa remained at VSS overnight for monitoring. Dr. Marshall informed All About Paws when we went to get her that Elsa was being a little naughty as she just wants to play play play. Of course we had to keep her calm and relaxed so she could heal. She returned to VSS two week later for suture removal.
Update May 13, 2023:
Elsa’s surgery and recovery were a complete success. Her surgeon gave the OK for her to have her spay surgery and the hunt for her fur-ever home began. Lots of folks were interested in Elsa and she got lots of wonderful applications. All About Paws received a fantastic application that checked all the boxes we wanted for Elsa and today she got her happily ever after. Elsa joins a family where she has two fantastic dads, Richard and Mike, and gets a Westie brother named Belin. Happy “Tails” Elsa. All About Paws sends their gratitude to WestieMed for helping us help Elsa.
I rescued a three-month-old puppy (now five months) from the East Valley Animal Shelter in Feb. She and her sister had been abandoned in a backyard. We are guessing because Valentine (my dog) is missing one eye, and her sister only has three legs.
All adopted dogs are required to be spayed before you can even take them home but they called me to pick up Valentine early because they detected a heart murmur and it needed to be monitored during the surgery and they didn’t have the equipment to do that at their facilities. Upon taking Valentine to the Vet for her initial check-up we found out that the heart murmur was extremely high grade (6/6) and the odds weren’t too great for a puppy so small and blood work and an ultrasound needed to be done before we could find out what was wrong and what she needed.
Those are, unfortunately, very expensive tests. I spoke with the shelter and they said I could give her back and choose a new dog within thirty days but they didn’t say too much about the fate of Valentine. Even after a day, I was so in love with this sweet dog I couldn’t let her go. The vet recommended waiting a month to see if she grew out of the murmur, then getting the tests if she still needed them after that. The month passed, and the murmur was still there so we went ahead with the tests and discovered that Valentine has a PDA (patent ductus arteriosis) and all the extra work is enlarging her heart. Basically, when you are in utero, there is a valve that bypasses the lungs because you are getting oxygen from your mommy. It closes when you are born, but Valentine’s didn’t so her little heart was working extra hard and going all around trying to pump blood throughout her body. The good news is, that with the surgery, she should be a happy healthy puppy just like her sister!!!
Valentine is the most amazing dog, she has the most amazing personality! Even though I want to smother her with kisses she loves her “space” under the bed, she thinks she’s a big dog (and struts around like one too), and she is amazing with dog, cats, guinea pigs, and humans alike. She loves to give kisses and play! Sometimes she acts like she needs to go out to potty, but really she’s just trying to meet more dogs to play because when we go out she’s just looking around wagging her little tail, you can’t even be mad.
I am SO grateful to WestieMed and their generosity. With their help, my baby is going to be able to have the surgery she needs and the fabulous life she deserves.
Gilley and Kenna were born on December 3, 2007, in a kennel in Kansas. Oklahoma Westie Rescue received them through another rescue group on June 28. It was readily apparent that there was something wrong. They were certainly frightened but were also more low key than most pups their age. When we picked them up, our fears were confirmed. When I placed my hand on Gilley’s chest, it felt like my hand was on a washing machine. He reached his little head up and gave me a kiss on the nose and I was instantly smitten. One of our volunteers, who is a paramedic, listened to their hearts and confirmed that both the pups and their mother, who was also released to us, had heart murmurs, though Mom’s was not near as bad as the pups.
Since my house was full, we sent Kenna to Edmond to be fostered by my co-president to lighten the load and hopefully to keep the pups calm. That Monday, we both took our respective pups to different vets and were both told that they highly suspected that they had PDA (Patent Ductus Arteriosus), or holes in their hearts that should have closed shortly after they were born.
Our vets referred us to Oklahoma State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital. We made appointments for them and took them together for echocardiograms and a complete physical. The pups had lab work done, chest x-rays, to make sure that they didn’t have any other congenital anomalies. The echocardiograms confirmed that they had profound PDA, with no other congenital defects. We were also told that, without the surgery, they would likely not make it to their first birthday.
When we received that news Kenna was on Theresa’s lap and Gilley was on mine. Almost at once, they both looked up at us with adoring eyes and we knew that we had to try to save them.
They are undergoing surgery July 22 and, if all goes well, they will be in ICU for two to three and be released to come home to the loving care of one of ours retired volunteers, who can devote copious quantities of attention on them both and nurse them back to health.
Once recovered, their prognosis for a long and happy life is excellent.
Thank you, WestieMed for considering our application for aid and for helping these two adorable Little White Dogs!
Meredith Butcher and Theresa Stewart Co-Presidents Oklahoma Westie Rescue
Update July 23, 2008
A quick update on the pups. Meredith and I sat on pins and needles most of the day yesterday waiting to hear from the hospital. OSU finally contacted us twice, once at 2:30 p.m. to let us know that Kenna made it through her surgery and was in recovery and again at about 6:00 p.m. to let us know that Gilley had made it through his surgery. Both dogs are now recovering and if all goes well we hope to bring them home by the end of the week. They aren’t out of the woods yet but each day that goes by is a step in the right direction. We will keep you posted on their progress and we will take more pictures to send as they recover.
Update July 26, 2008
Kenne and Gilley – WestieMed Recipient
Good news everyone!
Kenna and Gilley are home from the hospital and recovering nicely. They will be confined to their crate for an entire month and that is going to be hard on them as they are already wanting to run and play. We have to keep them very still and not allow them to run, jump and play during their recovery. They are going to be two bored pups!!!! LOL
Attached is a picture of Kenna and Gilley and their surgical team. On the right is Kenna with her student vet, Hannah who took care of her in ICU and on left is Gilley with his student vet, Cara who took care of him in ICU, in the middle is the surgeon that performed their surgeries, Dr. Ricker and on the far left is Natalie, another one of the cardio dept vets who helped with their care.
Kenne and Gilley – WestieMed Recipient
This picture is Kenna and Gilley’s recovery crate at Maureen’s house, not their favorite place to be!! LOL
We will provide more updates next week!
Thanks, everyone for your support for these two little ones!!
Westie Hugs!
Theresa and Meredith Oklahoma Westie Rescue
Update July 31, 2008
Kenne and Gilley – WestieMed Recipient
Both pups are doing well. They are really bored so I had stopped by PetsMart and bought them Kongs and peanut butter to go in them. Hopefully, that will keep them occupied for a while.
Gilley wants desperately to be out and about and he loves to be held. While you hold him he loves to nibble on your ears!
Kenna is still somewhat subdued but coming around pretty quickly. She is still quiet but you can tell she is ready to be out of those crates as well. She too loves to be held. Picking them up and holding is somewhat tricky as you have to be very careful to avoid their incisions and they don’t exactly wait for you to get them in the proper places before they try to race off to go do something fun.
One week from tomorrow, their staples come out and two weeks after that they will no longer be crate confined. We are all counting down the days.
Above is a picture of Gilley and their foster Mom, Maureen.
Update August 27, 2008
As of last week, Kenna and Gilley were released from their crates. They haven’t stopped running yet!! Since they were so sick as pups they didn’t play much but NOW my goodness!! They have about eight months of their puppy life they are now trying to cram into their days. They run, play, jump in the kiddie pool and run and play some more.
Gilley is vocal, he would prefer to be inside with people and he barks to let you know what he wants in or to tell you that you aren’t paying enough attention to him. He will stand up on his hind legs to tell you that he wants to be picked up. As soon as you pick him up he immediately snuggles and licks your ears.
Kenna is a little bit more bashful, she prefers to play with Gilley and is forever jumping on him, grabbing his paws, biting his ears and whatever else she can do to annoy her brother. She too is loving but is rather bashful about it. She comes up to you quite shyly and is a little bit timid until you start petting her.
Their spay/neuter appointment is tomorrow and if all goes well they will be available for adoption next week. Both dogs will be adopted together as we won’t separate them at this point. They both should live normal happy lives just like any other Westie. Thanks, WestieMed for helping us give these little ones their lives back!
Theresa Stewart Meredith Butcher Oklahoma Westie Rescue
Update February 11, 2009
Kenna and Gilley now called Bonnie and Clyde “The Heartbreak Kids”
Kenne and Gilley – WestieMed Recipient
We have been thoroughly enjoying our new lives with these dogs. They are very engaging, active, and have distinct personalities. They have learned how to go up four steps, go through their dog door and then down four steps to go out to the backyard. Bonnie often goes down balanced on her front feet with her back feet in the air.
Bonnie definitely has a more independent personality and she is very intelligent. We have had to get a crate with a different type of latch because she figured out how to open the spring-loaded type and slip out. She also has learned to climb over a 20-inch freestanding gate and a 27-inch gate. Now, if I’m gone for several hours, I have to put the 20-inch gate inside the 27-inch and so far she hasn’t tried to go over them. With the gates up, they have access to our kitchen area, their food, and water, and can go outside at will.
Kenne and Gilley – WestieMed Recipient
At first, Bonnie did not want to walk. Now she will walk with Clyde if they are on a tandem leash. We go for two-mile walks some days. Bonnie definitely thinks of herself as a guard dog. At the least little noise, she is halfway out the dog door surveying the territory to make sure things are OK. Bonnie is very jealous when other dogs come to visit, but she is getting better at backing down quickly once she has let them know this is HER home.
Clyde is very mellow. He pretty much lets Bonnie do what she wants. He loves to play and they chase each other back and forth across our back yard at high speed. Clyde loves to meet new dogs and play. Our daughter has an 80-pound yellow lab and a 50-pound black lab. When they come into town, Clyde loves to play like he’s a big dog and they run for hours.
At night, if we are watching a movie, the dogs love to sit on our laps and nap. They enjoy a treat at bedtime when they go in their crate for the night. They still share a crate at night, though during the day they like their separate spaces. If I am working in my home office, Bonnie goes under the desk at my feet, and Clyde is right behind my chair. They are very good companions.
Though they have come to realize that Mom is their pack leader, they love to play on the floor with their Dad at night when he comes home from work.
They have been very healthy-we have only been to the vet for their initial welcome checkup. He was pleasantly surprised that he could not find evidence of a heart murmur in either of them after their surgeries.
We are very grateful to Oklahoma Westie Rescue and WestieMed for these little white dogs. They have enriched our empty nest in ways we did not anticipate.
Abbey came to Westie Rescue of Austin through another rescuer who found her in the Temple, Texas animal shelter in October 2006. Kathy placed her in a home but Abbey was returned due to an undiagnosed bladder infection that caused her to tinkle all the time. Once the UTI was cleared up, Abbey was fine. Kathy lived with Abbey on a farm with other animals, and Abbey persisted in chasing the chickens, so Kathy contacted Westie Rescue/Austin Thanksgiving weekend to take her and find her another permanent home. Abbey is about two years old.
Jim had been waiting as an approved adoptive home so when Abbey came into our program, Jim was thrilled to be given the opportunity to foster-to-adopt little Abbey. Abbey went into his home the next day, and within a few days, Jim noticed something terrible was wrong with Abbey. We took her to our vet for a check-up and it was discovered she had a heart murmur, which explained the funny feeling we could feel when we held her chest. She was also unable to go for long walks without becoming exhausted and collapsing.
Abbey was taken to a veterinarian cardiologist who diagnosed the murmur as patent ductus arteriosus, left to right shunting, with mitral regurgitation (mild) and left ventricular dilation (moderate), and felt she had a good chance of surviving open-heart surgery. Her prognosis with surgery was excellent. Without it, she would most likely develop congestive heart failure and not live a normal lifespan. The expense was more than the limited funds of Westie Rescue/Austin or Jim could afford so an appeal for help was sent to WestieMed for Abbey’s surgery. The WestieMed Board of Directors approved Abbey’s case (bless them) and the surgery was performed on 12/6/2006. Abbey came back home on the 8th and her recovery has been speedy and uneventful. She is returning to the perky, active, inquisitive Westie she was meant to be, and her brother, Murphy Lee (also two years old) is delighted to have a healthy sister to play with.
Our undying gratitude goes to WestieMed for giving this adorable little Westie girl, Abbey, a second chance at a wonderful long life. Thank you for being there for her.
Barbara Ott Westie Rescue/Austin
Abbey – WestieMed Recipient
Update January 2008:
Abbey is the best she has ever been, (not to the doctor for three weeks), with only one more dipping for mange in two weeks. She remains on Hills Science Diet CD and it has been determined she has a weak immune system so she will more than likely be “higher maintenance” for me forever. However, she is loved very much and keeps Murphy company while I am at work what is just what I planned.
She has learned what it is really like to be loved and have a nice big backyard to chase the squirrels in. She actually barks once in a while now too, something I think she never did much if at all before. Both the pups are spoiled and as you might suspect have ME trained pretty well. Thanks for everything!
