A lady who is a Westie lover saw this young puppy advertised for adoption. It was noted that the dog had a problem with her heart but there was hope that it was a condition that she might grow out of. The adopter had made arrangements with the family to help look after the puppy while she was at work.
Unfortunately, things came crashing down with unexpected health issues hit her family and then tests by her vet showed that Lola’s condition is much more serious than expected and she wasn’t going to grow out of it. She needed serious medical care if she had any hope of a normal life. She loved this little girl enough to make the hard decision to surrender her to us in the hopes that we can give her the care she needs.
Once our specialist vet did some tests on Lola he found pulmonic stenosis, which means one side of her heart is too blocked to function properly. It is possible that she could suffer heart failure or sudden death at any time.
Right now she is being monitored closely and taking heart meds that the vet ordered. Monitoring her is crucial because she feels fine and she’s a puppy. You can’t keep a good Westie puppy down. Her foster family makes sure she takes her breaks and rests well.
Thanks to the help from WestieMed, we can now plan the surgery that could give her a more normal life. Thank you to everyone at WestieMed for giving us the necessary assistance to help this precious little pup. Thank to the board for granting our request for help!
Aggie Laytak Sunshine State Westie Rescue
Update June 24, 2016
Lola – WestieMed Grant Recipient
She is doing very well.
She enjoys running in the backyard and playing with the other dogs.
The vet she saw recently said he wouldn’t have known she had a heart problem if they didn’t tell him.
Thank you for the grant to help Lola.
Update December 1, 2016
Lola – WestieMed Grant Recipient
I finally got an update from Lola’s family. They said her health is perfect.
She loves to play fetch (all day if she could). She mostly keeps by her dad’s side from the minute he comes home from work. She actually waits until he goes to bed before she will settle in for bed.
As of now, there are no concerns about her health and she easily maintains a constant 10.6 lbs for her girlish figure. They are totally in love with that sweet girl.
Emma is a petite 5-month-old Westie girl who came to Canine Friends Foundation on 2/7/08 when she was eleven weeks old. She was relinquished to rescue by a commercial breeder who had taken her for a “well puppy” vet check where it was discovered she had a Grade II/VI heart murmur. Since she could not sell her, the breeder contacted me to see if I wanted to take her into rescue before she euthanized her. This breeder was aware that CFF rescued Robbie and Roy (both grateful Westie Med alumni) who were diagnosed with heart murmurs caused by pulmonic stenosis last year.
I picked Emma up the next day and was shocked by her small size and thin frame- she only weighed three pounds! Based on her poor condition, it was obvious that the breeder had just stuck her in a cage and neglected her after the diagnosis. However, that did nothing to stop this little girl’s sweet and spunky attitude and indomitable spirit! Upon her arrival at my house, she was welcomed with kisses and “let’s play” doggie bows by the resident Westies- Rowdy, Katie, Darby, and Robbie.
I immediately took Emma to my vet, Dr. Ted Foster, who agreed that a referral to VA Tech Veterinary Teaching Hospital’s Cardiology Dept headed up by Dr. Jonathan Abbott was in order. She was scheduled for a cardiac evaluation and echocardiogram for 4/7/08. Since the appointment w/Dr. Abbott was nearly two months into the future, we began working on Emma’s bodybuilding and weight gain program. Needless to say, she has certainly enjoyed all the playtime and scrumptious food and treats she has been allowed to have for the past several weeks, in addition to the countless hugs and kisses and constant attention!
Emma arrived at VA Tech VTH on 4/7/08 where she had a physical exam followed by an echocardiogram. It was found that her heart murmur had worsened to a Grade IV/VI and that she had pulmonic stenosis-narrowing of the outflow tract of the pulmonic valve on the right side of her heart caused by abnormal pulmonic valve development. Pulmonic stenosis makes her heart work too hard when it pushes blood from the right ventricle of her heart into her pulmonary artery. Her heart will gradually become enlarged from overuse and will progress into congestive heart failure and death without surgical intervention.
The severity of the pulmonic stenosis is determined by the pressure gradient between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery. Balloon valvuloplasty is recommended for dogs w/pressure gradients greater than 80 mmHg-Emma’s gradient was 85-90mmHg-thus she needs to have the procedure done as soon as possible. Balloon valvuloplasty involves dilating Emma’s narrow pulmonic valve with a balloon, which will stretch and open it up, reducing the pressure gradient between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery and decreasing the amount of stress on her heart. The procedure has a good success rate and I am hoping that with the surgery, Emma can continue to grow up like any other healthy Westie and lead a long and happy life.
I am deeply grateful to Westie Med for providing the financial support needed to proceed w/scheduling Emma’s surgery and giving her a chance. She is currently scheduled for June 23, however, Dr. Abbott is working on getting that date moved up since Emma’s pressure gradient is already so high.
Emma has touched everyone she has met w/her outgoing, bubbly personality–she is absolutely beautiful both inside and out and quite the little charmer! Hugh and Colleen Pettis, a retired couple from Staunton, VA, and lifelong Westie lovers/owners, fell head over heels in love with Emma when we stopped by their home to visit them and their eight yr old Westie girl, Silver Lining-adopted from CFF and who had been rescued along w/Emma. They want to adopt her (of course) and they are praying for the success of Emma’s surgery so she can soon join their family and become their beloved and totally spoiled little Westie girl.
With many thanks and deepest appreciation to Westie Med, Susie Branham, Cofounder, Canine Friends Foundation and Emma
Update June 1, 2008
Emma – WestieMed Recipient
Emma returned to VA Tech’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital for her recommended pulmonic valvuloplasty on 5/28/08 after I received a call from Dr. Jessica Gentile, cardiac resident, that they had a procedure cancellation for 5/29. I was very relieved, as Emma had started coughing when she awoke in the morning and I was concerned she was going into the early stages of congestive heart failure.
Upon arrival, Emma and I were met by her senior veterinary student, Michael Hickey, who would be in charge of her care for the next two days. Emma’s outgoing personality and charm quickly won him over and they became fast friends. Dr. Gentile joined us, advising they planned to do an echocardiogram that afternoon to determine if there had been any change in Emma’s pressure gradients since her 4/7/08 appointment. The results of the echocardiogram showed the pressure gradient between the right ventricle of Emma’s heart and her pulmonary artery had worsened from 85-90 mmHg to 100 mmHg over the past seven weeks. This information confirmed Emma’s pulmonic stenosis was worsening and that she would eventually develop congestive heart failure and die without surgical intervention.
Emma’s surgery started at 9 a.m. on Thursday morning, May 29. A catheter with a small inflatable balloon on the end was placed in Emma’s jugular vein through a small incision in her neck. The catheter was guided to the narrowed pulmonic valve and the balloon was then inflated several times, opening up the valve and decreasing the pressure gradient across it. This allows the oxygenated blood to pass more freely between the right ventricle of Emma’s heart and the pulmonary artery and means her heart no longer has to overwork itself to maintain the correct blood oxygen level for her to survive.
Emma – WestieMed Recipient
I waited all morning w/my heart in my throat, saying little prayers for Emma until Dr. Gentile called me at 11:40 a.m. to advise Emma’s surgery had been “textbook perfect” and she was just waking up. A call from Mike, senior vet student, later in the afternoon revealed Emma was awake, alert, hungry and ready to play!!
Emma’s post-surgical pressure gradient was evaluated Friday morning w/a repeat echocardiogram. Her pressure gradient was found to be 30mmHg and her heart murmur was reduced from Grade 4 to Grade 2-3/6, which is a dramatic improvement according to Dr. Gentile. Emma was her usual outgoing and happy self when she was discharged late that afternoon by Mike and Dr. Gentile, who was still elated by the overwhelming success of her surgery. Everyone who participated in her surgery came in to say goodbye before we departed and Emma distributed sweet Westie “thank you” kisses to all without reservation!
Emma must remain quiet while her neck incision heals. This is probably going to be the hardest part of the process since she feels so good. We will return to Blacksburg for another echocardiogram in three months to ensure the pulmonic valve remains open and her pressure gradient remains low since pulmonic stenosis can never be truly fixed, just reduced through stretching the narrowed valve with balloon valvuloplasty. Her chance at living a normal Westie lifespan has been dramatically increased w/this procedure. If her pressures are stable at her follow up appointment, she will be ready to go to her new adoptive home, where Hugh and Colleen Pettis and Silver Lining the Westie (now known as Cupcake) are eagerly anticipating her arrival.
Emma – WestieMed Recipient
Again, WestieMed has provided financial support and helped save the life of one of CFF’s precious rescued Westies. It is hard to believe that breeders routinely kill these little ones with heart murmurs without giving them a chance. Emma and her foster brother and best friend, Robbie, (Westie Med alumni March 2008), have brought much fun and laughter to this foster home and their antics and natural charm never cease to make me and all who meet them stop and smile!
I am deeply thankful to WestieMed and VA Tech’s cardiology department for their help in the effort to save the lives of sweet Emma and CFF’s other two pulmonic stenoses diagnosed Westies, Robbie, and Roy, this year. CFF would not have been able to fund these major surgeries without the assistance of WestieMed–THANK YOU for being there for these little ones!
Gratefully and joyfully from the bottom of our hearts, Susie Branham, Canine Friends Foundation, and Emma
Update March 1, 2010
Emma – WestieMed Recipient
Precious Ms. Emma has continued to do well since her pulmonic valvuloplasty which was done in late May 2008 (funded by WestieMed). She loves her life here at my house with the rest of the rescued K9 Friends dogs and has a special friend in Pup Pup, a miniature poodle who is usually her partner in crime!! (Emma loves to climb up my desk chair and grab anything she can off my desk including checkbooks, glasses, highlighters, dog collars).
Emma has been returning to VA Tech Veterinary Teaching Hospital every six months and visiting with her friends Dr. Jonathan Abbott and Dr. Jessica Gentile and whatever senior vet student that is currently doing cardiology rounds. Emma was noted to have possible endocarditis (infection at the site of her surgery) at her August 2009 visit to Tech. She was started on antibiotics and we all held our breath hoping it would not develop into a more serious problem, but we had to wait three LONG months to find out.
Emma returned to Tech on 11/4/09 for repeat echocardiogram and assessment of her pulmonic stenosis and pulmonic valve endocarditis. Emma’s pressures remain at 39 mmHg which indicates mild pulmonic stenosis (unchanged after her pulmonic valvuloplasty 18 months ago–YAY!!) She did still have a small, smooth abnormality on her pulmonic valve leaflets but it appeared to be inactive and did not require further treatment.
Emma – WestieMed Recipient
Emma will continue to return to Tech for six months follow-ups for the rest of her life but she could care less. She is having a ball here playing with her Westie and Poodle friends–right now in the snow–and living life like any other Westie.
I can never say it enough, many thanks to WestieMed for giving Emma the chance to live the life of a normal Westie….she is lovin’ every minute of it and I am enjoying every minute of it!!!
With deepest appreciation, Susie Branham Canine Friends Rescue
Robbie is a sixteen-month-old Westie boy who came to Canine Friends Foundation (along w/his little brother, Roy) from a local commercial breeder on 5/11/07 after her vet diagnosed them both with Grade 3/6 heart murmurs during their puppy checkup. The breeder contacted me to see if CFF would take them into rescue since she had no use for the puppies and planned to euthanize them.
Robbie was found to have a Grade 5/6 heart murmur by my vet the following Monday when I took them in to be neutered. She and I decided to get the puppies to the VA Tech Teaching Hospital’s Dept of Cardiology ASAP for evaluation due to the severity of the murmurs. Robbie had an echocardiogram on 5/23/07 with the diagnosis of moderate valvular/subvalvular pulmonic stenosis (a deformity of the pulmonic valve leaflets which control blood flow from the right ventricle of the heart into the pulmonary artery). Pulmonic stenosis makes the heart work too hard and enlarge and it eventually progresses to congestive heart failure and death without intervention.
Due to the fact that Robbie was not showing signs of clinical heart failure at the time of the initial evaluation, it was recommended that he be allowed to grow up and be monitored closely for any changes in condition. Robbie has been living w/me as a foster and spends endless hours playing tag w/his favorite foster sister, two-year-old Katie Westie, and every stuffed animal he can grab!
Robbie was seen at VA Tech on 2/13/08 for re-evaluation and echocardiogram. It was found that his heart murmur has worsened to Grade 6/6 left-sided systolic murmur. His pulmonic stenosis has worsened to where his pressures are high enough to benefit from having balloon valvuloplasty performed. Balloon valvuloplasty will open up the stenosis, decreasing the pressure across the pulmonary valve and hopefully prevent Robbie from developing congestive heart failure and subsequent death. Although it does not have to be done immediately, Dr. Abbott, our cardiologist, has advised that the sooner it is done, the less damage will occur to Robbie’s already overworked heart and the more likely the surgery will be successful which will help him be able to live a long and normal life.
Robbie – WestieMed Recipient
Thanks to assistance from Westie Med, Robbie is scheduled for pulmonic balloon valvuloplasty on 4/10/08 at VA Tech.
We will be looking forward to having Robbie’s surgery and his recovery, so this sweet and spunky little boy can then find his forever home with a wonderful Westie loving family. He will be hanging out here, playing with his Westie foster brother and sisters and enjoying the spring sunshine, until then.
Again, a big THANK YOU to WestieMed for giving Robbie the opportunity!!!!
With deepest appreciation, Susie Branham, Cofounder, Canine Friends Foundation Small Dog Rescue and Robbie
Update April 12, 2008
Robbie – WestieMed Recipient
Robbie returned to VA Tech’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital on 4/9/08 in preparation for his scheduled pulmonic balloon valvuloplasty to be done on 4/10/08. He quickly made friends with Ashley Davis, his assigned senior vet student, and the hospital staff by asking for the thing he loves most in the world-tummy rubs. An echocardiogram was done that afternoon which confirmed that Robbie still had high pressures across his narrowed pulmonic valve and surgery was necessary to save his life.
Robbie’s surgery started early Thursday morning and a catheter with a small inflatable balloon on the end was inserted into his jugular vein. The balloon was passed through Robbie’s heart into the stenotic pulmonic valve and the balloon was inflated several times. This procedure widened the narrow valve and decreased the pressure across the pulmonic valve. With decreased pressure, Robbie’s heart does not have to overwork itself to get the oxygenated blood that it requires. Robbie was awake and in the recovery room by noon–I was the happiest person in the world when I got a call from Dr. Gentile, cardiology resident, advising that his surgery had gone very well and that he was alert and hungry!
Robbie’s pressure gradient was re-evaluated on Friday morning and it was found the pressure had come down even more from the previous day. Prior to surgery, the pressure gradient had been above 90mmHg; on Friday morning, his pressure gradient was 38mmHg. Decreasing the pressure gradient by more than 50% was the goal of the surgery, thus Dr. Abbott and Dr. Gentile consider Robbie’s surgery a complete success!!!
I picked Robbie up at the VTH yesterday afternoon and his tail still hasn’t stopped wagging! He was happy to see me and even happier to get home and see his Westie friends-Rowdy, Katie, Darby, and little Emma. Now, the biggest challenge is going to be keeping him quiet for the next week while his neck incisions heal-he is not supposed to run, jump, or play (all I can say is, we are trying….).
Although pulmonic stenosis cannot be truly “fixed”, Robbie now has a great chance at having a normal lifespan and the opportunity to be adopted into his forever home. He will return to Tech in mid-June for another echocardiogram and re-evaluation by the cardiologists. If his pressure gradient is stable at that time, he will be ready to be adopted into a Westie loving and owning family who will be required to live close to VA Tech (or other veterinary teaching hospital) and be financially able and willing to take him there on a regular basis to monitor his heart for the rest of his life.
Robbie – WestieMed Recipient
I cannot begin to thank WestieMed enough for the financial help that allowed sweet Robbie to go ahead and have his surgery-he is such a good boy and so worth saving! I am eternally grateful and feel so lucky to have found them. CFF is a small rescue and we operate solely on our adoption fees and occasional donations-not enough to be able to pay for these big surgeries and continue w/the day to day cost of rescue (Robbie is our third heart surgery this year-one PDA repair and two pulmonic valvuloplasties).
The ability to have the surgery before his condition started deteriorating meant that Robbie went into surgery with significantly less heart damage and a much greater chance of survival and success-that was proven by his good result!! I will look forward to telling his ongoing story as he recovers and begins looking for his forever home in the near future. Meanwhile, the other Westies and I will continue to enjoy his company until his adoption day! WestieMed-you all are the best!
With great joy and sincere thanks, Susie Branham, Canine Friends Foundation and Robbie
Update June 26, 2008
Sweet Robbie returned to VA Tech’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital yesterday for re-evaluation and repeat echocardiogram to determine if the pulmonic valvuloplasty he had on 4/10/08 was truly successful. Robbie loved being able to have his foster mom all to himself for the hour and a half trip to Blacksburg, alternately playing with his favorite squeaky toy and then climbing in my lap to snuggle.
We were met by our good friend, Dr. Jessica Gentile, cardiology resident, and Robbie’s senior vet student, Steve Garnett. Robbie quickly made himself at home, giving kisses to everyone and then doing the “Robbie Rollover”, presenting his belly for all present to rub!
Robbie’s echocardiogram showed that his pressures have remained low (48 mmHg) and that means the surgery was successful in lowering the pressure gradient across the pulmonic valve. According to Dr. Gentile, Robbie’s pulmonic valve pressure should remain about 50 mmHg since it has been stable for the past two and half months. This means the procedure has been of long term benefit to Robbie’s quality and quantity of life!!! He will continue to be monitored by the VA Tech cardiologists every six to nine months in case any rare changes do occur.
I am so happy for Robbie and so grateful to WestieMed for helping to get us to this time and place. He is a wonderful little Westie boy who is just lovin’ life! The best news is that Robbie has been adopted and is going to his forever home tomorrow, June 27. His new mom, Lisa Morgan, actually came to look at Robbie to adopt last year prior to his diagnosis of severe pulmonic stenosis. The adoption was contingent on the cardiac eval, thus she ended up adopting a beautiful little pug mix puppy, Lola. Lisa and Lola are looking for a new family member and they have decided they want to share their lives w/Robbie after falling in love w/him for the second time during a visit to my house last weekend! They live only 1/2 hour away from VA Tech, so it will be easy for him to go back for his return visits to see Dr. Abbott and Dr. Gentile. I think it is the perfect match for Robbie, Lisa, and Lola!!
I cannot begin to express my gratitude to Westie Med for the support they have given CFF’s special “Heart Westies”-Robbie, Roy, and Emma- this year. Lisa will remain in close contact w/CFF so we can ensure that Robbie continues to do well w/his recovery and sees his friends at VA Tech VTH Cardiology Dept on a regular basis.
Robbie’s story is truly a wonderful, uplifting one-he is so deserving of the second chance given to him by the VT cardiologists with the help of WestieMed. I will continue to provide updates as he begins his new life w/Lola, the little diva, and new forever mom, Lisa. I am really going to miss Robbie-he is my little shadow-but I am so excited he is going to have a family of his own…
With the deepest of appreciation to WestieMed, Susie Branham, Canine Friends Foundation, and Robbie
Update June 27, 2008
Robbie – WestieMed Recipient
I came home this afternoon and low and behold, Robbie was curled up in the metal water bowl that I keep out in the yard for the dogs to drink from…they usually do like to stand in it, but he had curled his little 14# body right into it and was enjoying a good soak!!
By the time I grabbed the camera, he had hit the bushes to dry off… He is celebrating his new life…and I know I am going to cry my eyes out when he leaves this evening…he is such a little love and has been my constant companion for the past thirteen months…this picture is Robbie being Robbie!!!!
Hugs, Susie and the pups
Update March 3, 2009
Robbie came back to my Canine Friends last week to spend a couple of days before going back to VA Tech’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital for his nine-month cardiology follow up. Since he was adopted in late June 2008, Robbie has been doing great and actively enjoying life with his new family. Lisa Morgan, his adoptive mom, dropped him off on Monday and he walked into my home like he had never been away. The resident Westies greeted him with kisses and “request to play” bows and then they all dashed out the doggie door for a big game of chase in the yard.
Robbie – WestieMed Recipient
Robbie and I drove down to Blacksburg on Wednesday where we were greeted with open arms by our friends, Dr. Jonathan Abbott (cardiologist), Dr. Jessica Gentile (cardiology resident), and the cardiology staff. Robbie was his usual self, greeting everyone with exuberance, wiggles, and lots of Westie kisses.
Robbie was introduced to Tom Blaszek, the senior student who was assigned to him and was then whisked away for his exam and echocardiogram. Dr. Abbott and Tom met with Robbie and me after the exam and advised that Robbie is doing great–his echocardiogram was consistent with the one done in June 2008, which means his pressure gradient has remained in the acceptable range. Dr. Abbott also advised that Robbie’s ventricular septal defect has not progressed or altered the pressures in the ventricles. Bottom line–Robbie is doing GREAT almost one year after his pulmonary balloon valvuloplasty procedure. We were all THRILLED to receive this good news, as I always hold my breath when I return with one of my “heart puppies” for a re-check.
Robbie – WestieMed Recipient
Robbie will need to return to VA Tech VTH for re-evaluations and echocardiograms every six to nine months for the rest of his life. However, this is a small price to pay for him to have a normal life. AND, all of this would not have been possible without the financial assistance from WestieMed to help pay for his surgical procedure last spring.
To watch Robbie run (more like a big hop!!) through the yard, carrying a stuffed animal and turning to see if anyone is chasing him, is wonderful to watch, knowing his medical history and everything he has been through in the two years of his life. He is a very lucky boy!
Robbie is staying here with me for a few weeks while his mom cares for an ill family member. We all love having him back – he enjoys hanging out and playing with the resident Westies and we all enjoy his sweet presence and playful antics. My forever thanks to WestieMed for giving Robbie the true “gift of life” – he is certainly enjoying every minute of it!!!
With love and appreciation, Susie Branham, Canine Friends Rescue, and Robbie
Roy is a fourteen-month-old Westie boy who was rescued (along w/his brother, Robbie) by Canine Friends Foundation (CFF) from a small commercial and show breeder in on 5/11/07. The breeder had called me the day before advising that she had two six-month-old male Westie puppies that her vet had diagnosed with Grade III heart murmurs. She said she would not be able to sell them and was planning to euthanize them if I did not want to take them into rescue. Of course, I told her I would be there first thing in the morning!!!
“The Boys” went straight to my vet for further evaluation where they were diagnosed with Grade V (not Grade III) heart murmurs. Dr. Byrne and I decided to send them directly to VA Tech Veterinary Teaching Hospital’s Dept. of Cardiology in Blacksburg, Virginia for evaluation and echocardiograms to determine the cause of the murmurs. Roy’s diagnosis was severe pulmonic stenosis (a deformity of the pulmonic valve leaflets which control blood flow from the right ventricle of the heart into the pulmonary artery). Pulmonic stenosis makes the heart work too hard and enlarge and it eventually progresses to congestive heart failure and death without intervention.
Dr. Abbott (our wonderful cardiologist) recommended waiting for Roy to finish growing before we decided to proceed with any medical intervention since he was showing no signs of congestive heart failure at the time. Upon his return from Blacksburg, Roy went to live with one of CFF’s foster families, The Skelton’s, and their little dachshund, Frankie for the next seven months, where he learned how to be a member of a family.
Roy returned to VA Tech on 12/17/07 for repeat evaluation and echocardiogram which showed that his pulmonic stenosis had become more severe since his last visit in May. Dr. Abbott is recommending proceeding with balloon valvuloplasty which should “open up” the stenosis, decreasing the pressure across the pulmonary valve and preventing congestive heart failure and death. Roy is now back in my home, part of my small “herd” of foster and forever Westies and Westie mixes. With the help of WestieMed, we are looking forward to having his surgery done and helping sweet Roy on his way to finding a wonderful forever home and life!!!
Roy and Robbie were the only two puppies in their mom’s first litter. Dr. Abbott advised me to tell the breeder that she should spay the mom as pulmonic stenosis is a genetic problem. I am happy to say that the breeder did indeed spay the mom and place her in a (hopefully) loving pet home.
Thanks, Susie Branham and Roy Westie Co-founder, Canine Friends Foundation Small Dog Rescue
In a very loving memory of Duffy, CFF’s first rescued Westie puppy who died unexpectedly 2/1/06 while waiting to grow big enough for his heart surgery.
Update February 20, 2008
Roy – WestieMed Recipient
Roy Westie and I left home early this morning for the 85 mile trip to the VA Tech Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Blacksburg, VA in preparation for his balloon valvuloplasty which is scheduled for early tomorrow morning (2/21/08). The pictures show him checking out the car and then settling down for a snooze during the trip.
Roy was met by his “team”, Anna Barnes, senior vet student; Dr. Jessica Gentile, cardiology resident; and Dr. Jonathan Abbott, cardiologist. He greeted them with his usual sweet Westie kisses accompanied by plenty of tail wags. He had blood work and an echocardiogram done, followed by playtime, dinner, and an early bedtime. When I left, he was busy getting some serious belly rubs from Anna and Dr. Gentile.
Roy – WestieMed Recipient
Many thanks to Westie Med for providing the financial assistance needed for Roy to proceed with his surgery and have the chance for a long, healthy life with his own family. We could not have gotten there without your help!!!
With deep appreciation,
Susie Branham, Co-Founder, Canine Friends Foundation Small Dog Rescue, and Roy Westie
Update February 25, 2008
Roy went into surgery early last Thursday morning (2/21/08) with the hope of having his narrow heart valve (pulmonic stenosis) dilated by balloon valvuloplasty. Prior to surgery, an EKG detected an atrial septal defect in his heart that was allowing oxygen-depleted blood to bypass his lungs and be recycled, which results in keeping his oxygen levels lower than normal all the time. When the catheter was inserted for the ballooning, Roy’s blood pressure and oxygen levels dropped dangerously low and the catheter was removed. Roy’s blood pressure remained low and Dr. Abbott decided to halt the procedure rather than risk Roy’s life.
Roy spent the next twenty-four hours recovering and being coddled by his Senior vet student, Anna, and the hospital staff at VA Tech VTH. He was his lively self when I picked him up on Friday afternoon, where he was discharged to home amid lots of kisses and a few tears. One of his caretakers, Robin, was so touched by sweet Roy that she gave him a St Francis of Assisi medallion to wear on his collar for protection.
I am sad that Roy was unable to have the surgery that could have extended his life, however, I am very grateful to WestieMed for giving us the opportunity to try. Roy’s foster family is committed to loving and caring for him for the rest of his life and Canine Friends Foundation will continue to oversee his care and ensure he receives any and all medical care needed.
Roy was overjoyed to see his family and Doxie buddy, Frankie, on Saturday morning when they came to pick him up. For now, he is living life like any other happy fifteen-month-old Westie boy and we are going to do everything we can to make that last as long as possible…
Again, many thanks to Westie Med for caring about this wonderful little Westie!!
Gratefully,
Susie Branham, Co-Founder, Canine Friends Foundation and Roy Westie
Update July 7, 2008
I just spoke w/Jamie, Roy’s foster mom, and he is doing great! He is happy and playful w/no clinical signs of heart failure. They just returned from a ten-day camping trip to VA Beach where Roy was introduced to the ocean and loved the game called “Let’s Dig Up the Beach”! The Skeletons always thank me for “allowing” them to foster Roy and I always thank them for “allowing” him to become a beloved member of their family. They are a very special family and he is a very lucky boy!
I pray that Roy continues to do well and has many more days like the ones he is having this summer…sounds like he is having a blast! I will send pictures next time I stop by for a visit…
A big THANK YOU to Westie Med for caring about and helping Sweet Roy and the other CFF rescued Westies.
Susie Branham, Canine Friends Foundation Rescue, and Roy
We live out in the Southwest in New Mexico where the popular breeds of dogs are medium to large such as chows, rottweilers, labs, Pitbulls, and shepherd mixes. Currently, we own a yellow lab and a Cairn terrier. My Cairn did not come from New Mexico as there are no breeders in this state. I love the breed and have really enjoyed the smaller terrier dog for many reasons. But in this part of the country, there are very few of these types of dogs available. The availability of Westies and Cairns are few and far in between.
I decided I wanted a rescued dog this time, either another Cairn or a Westie. I fell for the Westie breed the first time I saw one at the lighting store where I shop here in town. The owners have one that goes to the shop with them, and she was the cutest thing I ever saw. I knew one day I would have one.
So, I discover Petfinder.com on the Internet and start searching for my new dog. Mind you my husband told me he would leave me if I got another one. In addition to the two other dogs, we have a Bearded Dragon lizard, two goldfish, and three children. Every day I searched the Internet to find my “new” dog. This search started in late June of this year and continued through September.
And then one day there was “Glenda” as she appeared on Petfinder.com. She was located in another state, a rescued two-year-old female who had been a puppy mill-breeding dog. “Glenda” was beautiful and I said to myself, this is the one! I’ve got to have her!
So I contacted the rescue group which had her and told them I really wanted to adopt “Glenda” and the adoption process began. I made arrangements to fly from Albuquerque, New Mexico to Kansas City, Missouri, to pick up “Glenda”. Oh, by the way, neither my family nor I liked the name “Glenda” for her, so decided we were going to change her name to Kaycee, short for Kansas City.
I took my twelve-year-old daughter on this trip to get Kaycee as I wanted company and I thought it would be good for mom and daughter to share some time together. We got into Kansas City late on Friday, September 19, 2003, and were met at the hotel by Kaycee’s foster mom and Kaycee. Kaycee had been previously been checked out by a vet, spayed, and was also found to have a mild heart murmur, but the vet indicated it wasn’t anything we should worry about. Kaycee was also very thin, weighing only twelve pounds, but I didn’t think anything of it since I knew she came from a puppy mill and knew about the deplorable conditions in those places.
We flew Kaycee home the next day via two plane trips through Dallas. She was quiet as a bug the whole way home, not a peep on the plane. Actually, Kaycee is very quiet most of the time and very sweet. She has had to make so many adjustments to be a “pet” for the first time in her life. Kaycee gets spooked easily by noises and was not housebroken when I brought her home, but she has made significant improvements. First, she had to learn her name. I know these puppy mills don’t name their animals, and it was obvious that Kaycee didn’t respond to any name yet.
I took Kaycee to my vet for her first checkup and my vet immediately detected a “significant” heart murmur. She recommended we do an x-ray of her chest, which we did, and it revealed an enlarged heart. My vet told me the only way to tell what is going on is to have an ultrasound done on her heart, and she would have to go to this other clinic where the people who do it come down from Santa Fe once a week. They work for a Cardiologist Vet doctor who does consult only. In the meantime, I take Kaycee home feeling very saddened by what is happening.
I take Kaycee for her ultrasound and find out she has problems with the right side of her heart. There is a thickening of the valve, which is not allowing enough blood to go to her lungs to get oxygenated. There are two defects within her heart; the report comes back telling me she has Pulmonic Stenosis and tricuspid valve regurgitation. The changes are severe according to the medical report. This is a congenital heart defect which not only does she have, but was passed on to all the puppies she gave birth to at the puppy mill. What a disgrace. The breeders should have never allowed Kaycee to have puppies. But I think they knew she had heart problems and that is why they “retired” her. You can tell she gets tired easily and pants a lot when resting whereas my other two dogs don’t.
The medical recommendation for Kaycee is surgery and, either she will need balloon valvuloplasty (similar to angioplasty in humans), or if she has another type of pulmonary stenosis then it could be heart surgery where they do the incision in her chest.
The latter is harder on the dog than the balloon procedure, but both procedures will take about 4-5 hours in surgery. If she doesn’t receive the surgery, she will develop right-sided heart failure. After discussing everything with my vet, we felt that she is a good candidate for the surgery. The doctors have told me that this will certainly be an improvement in her life and allow her more years on this earth than if she doesn’t have the help. I felt that Kaycee’s first two years were so awful that she deserves a chance at living a nice, quiet, happy life at home with us and her sister and brother and family she now has.
The main obstacle in this whole situation is the fact that there is not a single veterinary doctor/surgeon in New Mexico who can perform this specialized surgery. The closest place that can do this surgery is in Fort Collins, Colorado, at Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital. They have a special cardiac unit with cardiology specialists in small animal care and they have the expertise and state of the art facility to do heart surgery.
Thanks to the caring, generous people and their donors at WestieMed, Kaycee will be able to have her surgery. I just could not afford this kind of expense (plus the cost of traveling) to Colorado for 4 days was making things tough on me. WestieMed is a wonderful group of people and I hope to meet some of them one day soon to thank them.
So, as of today (October 29, 2003), I have made my plane reservation for next Tuesday, November 4th to fly Kaycee and myself up to Denver and drive about an hour north to Fort Collins (it’s supposed to snow while I’m there!) for the surgery. On Tuesday, November 4th, Kaycee has her exam with the surgeon and pre-surgery tests, and on Wednesday, November 5th is her surgery. We won’t know which procedure the doctors will do on Kaycee until they examine her. I will stay up there through Friday just in case they have to do the “heart” surgery since that requires Kaycee to spend an extra day in the hospital for recuperating. Then we will fly home. The following week on November 14th, I will have surgery on my broken foot (which was delayed to take care of Kaycee’s needs), and Kaycee and I will be recuperating together, watching movies, lying around the house doing very little.
We will keep you posted. Donna
Update, November 6, 2003:
I went to see Kaycee today at the hospital and she is doing wonderfully. I had her on my lap for about one and a half hours. She had to be bandaged all around her body since the incision is in her lower groin and was leaking blood earlier last night. But that has stopped and she has a large hematoma there so it doesn’t look pretty but the blood and its nutrients will be reabsorbed into her body as I was told. She has been eating and is not messing with the incision (yet) and is alert and the good news I was told is that her abdomen is no longer distended from fluid!!! The fluid is gone so the doctors believe that they think they did more to improve her situation than previously thought. This is a good sign since that fluid was at a moderate level when we got here and was the beginning of congestive heart failure. I am really happy that she is such a trooper and such a good girl. Kaycee has really meant a lot to the fourth-year medical student who has been caring for her and she was in the surgery with Kaycee too. Even the women at the hotel Sleep Inn have been overwhelmed by Kaycee, they just love her. Anyway, she is staying tonite at the hospital, and we go home tomorrow. I get her early in the morning. She will be on anti-inflammatory and blood pressure meds. Blood pressure meds for a long time. Gotta go will talk later
Hugs to all Donna
Kaycee – WestieMed Recipient
Update, November 7, 2003:
Pictured to the right is Donna and Kaycee checking out of the hospital and heading home!
Update, November 13, 2003:
Kaycee woke up this morning with labored breathing and her color pale and not looking well. I gave her her medicine (atenolol which is for blood pressure). I just took her to the vet and they have her there while they do some blood tests and chest x-ray. She was doing wonderfully through yesterday so this is a surprise. The vet said she had a little fluid in her abdomen and they are checking for internal bleeding either around her heart, the valve area, or elsewhere. I will let you know as soon as I find out from her doctor.
Update, November 14, 2003:
Kaycee is staying in the hospital. I took her to the vets this morning and had to take her to a larger hospital so they could do an ultrasound on her heart. I had to take her there with an IV in her leg to keep the fluids going in her. The hospital Vet Dr is trying to get hold of Dr. Bright (Kaycee’s surgeon in CO) because it is hard to tell what is happening with her. Her heart for some reason is enlarged more and she had very labored breathing and turning pale today. It isn’t fluid around her heart as they first thought. It might be a blood clot that got loose but this is hard to tell. This was thought by the other cardiologist specialist in Colorado that spoke to the Vet here. They did another ultrasound on Kaycee today. In the meantime, she has been put into an oxygenated cage to give her more oxygen. They did an EKG on her and that was normal. It is perplexing as to what is happening but if it is a blood clot then it could be bad. They are going to give her some low dose heparin injections for potential blood clots but they have to be very careful as it causes bleeding so they are being very cautious. Kaycee is stable for now. I have to go back to the hospital tonite to give them her medicine (Atenolol). I will certainly know more about what is wrong by tomorrow when Dr.Bright gets in touch with the Dr here in Albuquerque. She will most definitely want to know what is going on with Kaycee and have some ideas. I thought Kaycee was over the hump but apparently not.
Update, November 15, 2003:
Kaycee is still in the hospital. It is Saturday and she is making some improvement but not quite out of the woods yet. But it looks better than yesterday morning. I got the call from the vet at the hospital here right before I had my surgery and she had turned blue in the oxygen cage and had labored breathing. That was yesterday morning. Since then, The vet here in Albq spoke with Dr. Bright/Colorado yesterday and they seem to agree that a blood clot did get loose in Kaycee and went into her lungs. Dr. Bright said she has never had a patient that this has happened to and she has done many of these operations and is an expert at the balloon valvuloplasty procedure so she would know. This is very unusual. But the good thing is since yesterday Kaycee has been holding steady and hasn’t had any setbacks since yesterday morning. And she is eating well, some color improvement since yesterday so I keep praying she beats this. The vet will call me tonite with another update since late this afternoon. They will be increasing the Heparin medication for blood clots as well.
Update, November 18, 2003:
Kaycee came home tonight finally after 6 days n the hospital. She looks much better and is taking it very very easy. I have to keep her calm and not very active for a while. She is getting Heparin injections three times daily for a few days along with taking Warfarin tablet (half a day) and half baby aspirin per day along with her atenolol two times a day. Dr. Bright said that until the area they did surgery on in the arteries (where they had to use three different size balloons) heals in about 3-4 weeks then blood clots can develop. That is why she must be on the blood-thinning meds. And once a week, I believe, I will need to take her to my vet to have blood tests to determine her bleeding rate. So at least she is home, what an improvement. She seems pretty tired out and has been resting in her bed in a pen in the kitchen. Her stitches from her heart surgery came out yesterday and that area looks so much better. Hematoma is gone. Now she is on the mends. The hard part is keeping her from running around and keeping her separated from my other two dogs. I will let you know how Kaycee’s doing little by little. But the doctors said she was doing very well, so I am happy.
Update, January 10, 2004:
Kaycee is such a doll. She is very, very lively and happy and has some piss and vinegar in her too. I notice that she tries to be the dominant female with my yellow lab who is also female. It is quite funny to watch her get her feathers ruffled with the lab and starts to bark at her when she comes into the house at the end of the day (the lab stays outside during the day in her pen and comes in late in the day).
Anyhow, Kaycee has done a miraculous comeback after the heart surgery and subsequent blood clot. I think it also made a big difference that I was home with her full-time during November and December (due to my surgery and holiday vacation time off from work). I know that without the heart surgery she received, she probably wouldn’t be with us today. Her health was declining rapidly and if you saw her now you would not have any idea that she had been so sick. She runs around the house like a crazy Westie along with her pal Cosmo who’s my Cairn terrier. The two terrors.
Kaycee was weighed at the vets yesterday and weighed 14.2 lbs. She finally got some meat on her bones and no longer looks scrawny like she did when she first came to our home. She has done very well with housebreaking, although she’s not 100% yet, she mostly is. She follows the other dogs outside where they do their business now and she finally gets it and has her favorite spot. At first, she didn’t understand this process.
Kaycee – WestieMed Recipient
Kaycee sleeps on my bed along with the Cairn who likes to go under the blankets while Kaycee is on top of them. She’s a love bug. Truly. I cannot imagine how she lived in the puppy mill before this. She wouldn’t trade places for anything. She is quite content at being a spoiled poochy. She also enjoyed her first Christmas and got lots of goodies and toys under the tree along with my other two dogs.
Attached is a picture taken recently.
Regards, Donna
Update, February 4, 2004:
I thought you could use a current update on Kaycee. She is doing wonderful. She is extremely happy and active and you would never know this dog had heart surgery a few months ago. Although early last week she had me concerned by her breathing as it seemed a bit strained for a few days. I adjusted her blood thinner medication (the doctor had just increased her dose) so that it is now given two times a day instead of all at once in the morning. She hasn’t had any problems since I made the change. Compared to when I first got Kaycee she used to have breathing problems that became so difficult for her. She was always panting as though she had just run a race. Now she isn’t breathing that way and I can see the difference the surgery has done for her. She is such a sweet, loving dog who has gotten sooo spoiled and loves the company of the other two dogs here at home. She enjoys sleeping on the bed with us at night and runs around the house like a maniac at times playing with my Cairn terrier. Kaycee goes to the vets for blood tests every other week, for now, to monitor her bleeding rate since she is on blood thinners. She must take Warfarin (blood thinner) full tablet once a day as well as baby aspirin and atenolol for her blood pressure.
Kaycee has made a marvelous adjustment to life here at home with us. Her house training is not quite 100% but she has made significant improvement. She occasionally pees submissively if you go to pick her up and she sometimes gets scared still. Other than that she has been very good in the house. She does have her normal routine in the morning and throughout the day along with the other dogs here. She has also become quite the watchdog along with the Cairn terrier. They make such a racket when someone comes to the door. It would be impossible for anyone to break into the house and no one would hear it!
Well enough for now. Kaycee says hi and so do I. Donna P.
Update, April 2004:
I’ve been thinking of you all and how Kaycee wouldn’t be here with us today without your help. Kaycee is doing terrific. Right now she is sound asleep on the futon couch next to me along with Cosmo my Cairn terrier and Tara the lab; all very tuckered out after a busy day. Kaycee and Cosmo got to go to the Canine Country Club, up the street from my house because I am having some landscaping done in the backyard today and tomorrow and my little dogs go crazy barking their heads off (esp my Cairn) when strangers come to the house. So today they got to go stay at a very upscale kennel near our home (we take our dogs there when we go on vacations) and they get doggie daycare during the day and lots of neat treats and spoiled rotten.
Kaycee has adapted very well to life here in New Mexico. She is truly the sweetest little girl who has such an easy-going personality. She will sit on your lap for hours and I even take her to my son’s little league baseball games and she just sits and watches everything, and of course, small children have to come up and pet her. She has never displayed any mean or snippy behavior with anyone, except Tara my lab who is also female. The two of them can get into it sometimes but they will keep their distance just enough. But the snarling and growling and chasing each other you would think one of them would get hurt by now by the sounds of it.
Kaycee sleeps next to me every night in our bed and she follows me wherever I go through all hours of the nite. If I go upstairs and then back down, there’s Kaycee at my side. I guess when I first found her on the internet last year, I just knew she was going to be my new baby and it was fate, I guess. She’s a very lucky girl, and I am too to have her. She is very loved by all of us (my husband is very attached to her and he was the one who didn’t want another dog!!).
Regards from the Land of Enchantment Donna, Kaycee and family
A Very Sad Update, June 2004:
This is not the kind of update I wanted to give all of you regarding Kaycee. Kaycee passed away sometime during the night of June 5th or Sunday morning June 6th. Unfortunately, I will never know. We were returning from a weeklong trip to California and Kaycee was with our Cairn, Cosmo, at a boarding kennel at home. We stopped Saturday overnight in Phoenix before returning to Albuquerque on Sunday. I received a phone call from my sister-in-law that the kennel called her informing her about Kaycee at 6 a.m. Sunday and she immediately called me. Kaycee was doing wonderfully before we left for California, so I didn’t have any hesitancy to leave. She had been well all this year with no health problems since her hospitalization last November, and I was so pleased with her recovery. So you can imagine how shocked I was to get this horrible news. There hasn’t been a day that goes by that I don’t constantly think about her and how sorry I am that I wasn’t there with Kaycee. My Kaycee was an amazing Westie, and a total love bug who had such a tremendous impact on my family and me for the short time we were together. She was only two and a half years old and I felt she deserved more time to be with us in a happy place here but it wasn’t meant to be. At least she got some quality time outside of the puppy mill where she came from and left in September 2003. My Cosmo greatly misses her as well, and it’s obvious there is a void there. She will be greatly missed.
I want to thank WestieMed and all those who contribute to WestieMed for the amazing things they make happen with their love and generosity.
