Teeth Extractions – WestieMed

Journey

March 1, 2020February 26, 2021 by westiemed in Stories

March 2020

My beloved 14-year-old Westie Baxter passed on Christmas Eve, 2019. He was my first Westie and he fought a long hard battle with Westie Lung Disease. It was a devastating loss for me. Baxter was the last of my three dogs. Lexie was a Corgi and my first, then along came Wiley a mixed breed, and finally, Baxter came into my life. Both Lexie and Wiley passed away in 2016 leaving just Baxter and myself and we bonded very closely for the next 4 years. Christmas was very hard and to wake up without my faithful friend Baxter was so hard to get through. It was the first time in 15 years I didn’t have dogs around me and it was an extremely empty feeling. Christmas came and went and each day that passed was harder and harder without Baxter. I determined that although each person is different in how much time they need to process and accept a loss, I determined for me personally I needed a dog sooner rather than later and so many are in need of help.

I learned from my good friend Michele that a little white Westie was found in Kansas, wondering alone and out in the middle of nowhere near an Indian Reservation. He was in bad shape and covered in yeast and mange. He we very underweight. The person who found him brought him to the nearest Animal shelter many miles away. He underwent emergency evaluation and care. They helped him get stabilized and attempted to locate his owners. They even advertised that he had been found. No one claimed him. Many shelters can only give dogs so much time before they must make room others. Luckily, the shelter knew a true a Westie Warrior based in Kansas named Penny Reames of Northern New England Westie Rescue. They called her and told her about this amazing Westie that was found. Penny went directly there and took one look at him and knew she had to take him to her rescue which helps Westies from Kansas area out of bad situations like auctions and puppy mills then transports them to New England for permanent homes. Michele and Penney are friends and through them I was presented with the opportunity to have an amazing Westie that was named Journey! Penny named him that as no one knew what this little dog’s actual journey was. He was feisty like my Lexie. Found wondering covered in mange, like my Wiley, and he had a sweet loving spark in his eyes like my Baxter. After seeing Journey’s picture, I knew I had to have him and to help him. I felt very good vibes and signs from all of my three dogs that Journey should be mine.

Journey came into my life on February 10, 2020 and I picked him up in New Hampshire after his transport from Kansas. I entered the rescue with Michele with me and Journey ran right past her and everyone else and jumped right into my arms and couldn’t get enough of me! Everyone was shocked as it was like our destiny was sealed. When Journey entered my house it felt like my 3 dogs had a divine conversation with him prior to his arrival. He knew where everything was, jumped right up on the sofa with a toy and made himself right at home as if he had been living with me all along. He was so well mannered and housebroken but just a little rough around the edges in his play which was a bit rough. He quickly picked up on what was acceptable and not. Prior to Journey’s arrival I purchased probiotics and immunity boosters and omega 3 oils to help work on his skin and coat. I immediately brought him to my veterinarian for evaluation and skin scrap, blood work and special shampoos. His ears had yeast in them as well and needed to have a good teeth cleaning with a few extractions. It was determined after testing that he also suffers from KCS as his eyes were not producing tears.

Today Journey is showing much improvement with dips twice a week as his hair is starting to grow in. His eyes are now producing tears but he will need lifelong medication to help with that. He loves to go on hikes and long walks and is a very playful and happy little guy. So thankful to Northern New England Westie Rescue for saving Journey and bring him into my life. I am beyond grateful to WestieMed for their generous help towards the much needed care that Journey needed and will continue to need. We thank all the great people at WestieMed for their dedication, love and support for this amazing breed.

Dan

Update February 22, 2021:

I appreciate this group so much but it’s been a long crazy year. Journey just celebrated his 5th birthday , well I am calling him 5 no one really knows his age but most are in agreement 4-6 range. He is doing for the most part really well. I do have him now at a dermatologist and we have created an immunotherapy allergy protocol for him which he just started. It’s pretty expensive but I am determined to do my best for him. I did allergy blood testing and he is allergic to 13 items common to New England. The immunotherapy should help but can take awhile to start to see improvement. He is very itchy at times. Other than that he is doing well, full of Westie energy and happy. I will enclose a few pics. In July I took another rescue named Willy, he a 14 year old Westie with not much hair, they asked if I would give him a good retirement and since no one wanted him , I couldn’t say no, he is a really great Westie just like Journey. I hope all is well at WestieMed and thank you all so much for what you do. I will keep you posted on Journey’s progress.

Photo is from his Birthday, which was also the first day he came to me a year ago!

Take Care,

Dan

Gracie (Formally Tiffy)

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

August 2007:

Hi–My name is Tiffy. I want to tell you my story with a happy ending. I used to work in a kennel. I was a breeding dog. It wasn’t much of a life. On a hot summer day, I was rescued. I didn’t realize it at the time, but rescue is a great and wonderful thing! It wasn’t as simple as it sounds, but it was the best thing that ever happened to me. I am a young Westie girl of about 4 years. But my lifestyle was causing me to feel much older. My wonderful foster Mom says that most of my problems come from carrying or caring for puppies most of my life. She said that kennel must have thought I was just a puppy factory! She thinks my short life has been a hard one. She told me that because I had been bred so much; my rear end is smaller than the rest of my Westie frame. The nice vet, Dr. Franks said I was carrying puppies so much of the time and not getting exercise while my body was still trying to grow. Because of that, I now have and will most likely always have weak hind legs and hips. My foster Mom Carol is working with me daily on regular exercise and supplements but says I will probably always be weak in my hindquarters. She also says that the reason my skin is so saggy all over is because of the weight from constantly being pregnant. Foster Mom also said I got a bad report on my teeth. Again, probably because I was always expecting puppies. That robbed my body of what little calcium I got, passed it on to my pups I was carrying and I got left with very little if any. Dr. Frank’s office worked on my teeth while I was asleep getting spayed. Foster Mom is going to continue to work on keeping them clean with as little tarter build-up as possible. I found out at the vet that day that I had yeasty ears. I didn’t know my ears weren’t supposed to itch. It sure is nice though. The medicine worked great! I got vaccines and some meds to take with me that day.

Guess what makes my story have a fairy tale ending? WestieMed and my foster Mom Carol. You see, WestieMed paid for all my vetting and medicine that day. They love to help rescued Westies. They know what a tough road we breeder dogs have traveled. They take pleasure in lightening our load. Isn’t that the neatest thing you have ever heard? Three cheers for WestieMed!! Now as for my wonderful foster Mom Carol, I have a secret to tell about her. She is a failure at fostering. Yes, that’s right. She broke the main fostering rule. She fell head over heels, hopelessly in love with me. She couldn’t help it, I mean look at me. She changed my name to Gracie. I love my new name. It helps me forget my old life and it is such a pretty name. She said I could live with her and her other two Westie kids furever if I wanted to. And boy do I want to!!! She said I am the sweetest of all the Westies she ever had. I have fallen right into the daily routine with my new fur siblings! My Mom Carol tells everyone that she wouldn’t trade me for the world. I’m no expert, but that sounds like a gigantic compliment to me. She feels that I, along with the other rescued Westies she has fostered, am so very appreciative of anything and everything that is done for us.

I am very happy and much healthier now thanks to Dr. Franks, her staff, and my new friends at WestieMed. But guess what the very best part is? My Mom Carol says that I am definitely now one of the family. I have a family!

Loving my new life,
Gracie

Nashville 7 - WestieMed Recipient — Tiffy is one of seven Westies rescued from a puppy mill in Nashville, Tennessee.

Update January 2008: Tiffy now called Gracie

My precious, Gracie…

Oh, how I can’t imagine life without “Miss Bossy” to keep the other Westies in line (the two other rescues who live with me AND any fosters we have to come through our household!)

While Miss Gracie (named for a couple of reasons…” saved by the grace of others,” and also after “Miss Grace,” the Carolina Beach Music hit from the ‘60s, that only true Carolina Beach Music lovers would recognize…) is a wonderful addition to our home, we also have to work diligently with her to make her realize that Mom is the pack leader and not her. She sometimes wants my thirteen-year-old daughter to think she is the pack leader and Caitlin, my daughter, is in her pack. I think all those three to four years in the “breeding” backyard made her as bossy as she is. I truly believe she was the breeder’s “cash cow.” Her poor young body (which looks MUCH older than it is or should look) has taken a real beating with her probably being pregnant every six months from the first time she went into heat… She is on an every-other-day half dosage of Rimadyl, which the vet said won’t hurt her, because of the decreased dosage, and it really seems to help her joints in her hind legs. She truly had a rough go of it, and in my estimation, she probably won’t grow to be a really old dog, I do believe that a good diet, regular exercise, and her Rimadyl will do wonders. I could be totally surprised, and be giving you an update on her in 10 years! Let’s hope that is the case!!!

Sweet Gracie (who weighs about twenty-two pounds now), is very, very clumsy when she plays. Caitlin and I have nicknamed her the “Jawalrus,” because we say she is the cross between a Walrus and a Jellyfish (because when you pick her up, she doesn’t seem to have a backbone!!!!). I know it sounds silly, but it’s so dead-on, and she just melts into your arms!!!

I have to admit that Miss Gracie is by far the prettiest Westie I have. She has the most beautiful coat I’ve ever felt on a Westie, and when she goes to the groomer, she is always the best-behaved of the three, and appears to feel like a princess when she gets home. She just KNOWS she’s beautiful!

Thanks to WestieMed for ALL they did for her during her rescue. On top of providing her basic vetting, the wonderful vet also cleaned her teeth while she was under being spayed. It made all of the difference in the world, because Gracie was diagnosed with having severe mouth/gum problems. Now, she has quite the Ultrabrite smile!

We can’t thank Bette and WestieMed enough for all they do to help precious Westies in need. As a founding member of Westie Rescue of Tennessee, I know I will personally do all within my power to help any Westie in need to best of my ability. Having WestieMed on our side is a SUPER PLUS!

Thank you Sooooooooooooooo much!

Carol Gore and Gracie

Shadow

December 1, 2006February 5, 2021 by westiemed in Stories

December 2006:

Shadow’s journey.

How do we know that God exists? One way to tell is if you have ever seen a small child wandering in a department store or on a busy city street without an adult right next to them holding their hand. If you look around you will see virtually every eye of every adult in the area will be fixed on the child and many of them starting to move forward to help…until of course the child’s adult companion shows up and everyone relaxes…I think that is one way that God acts in this world… through the eyes, hands, and hearts of good people here on earth who step forward and do what is good and right for those that can’t help themselves. And that is precisely what has happened to Shadow. It started with Westie Rescue of Missouri when Angie Jamison heard there was a Westie at a shelter in Northern Illinois. She then called Debbie Kolze who lived nearby to see if she could help.

Here is Debbie’s story of the rescue and her and her husband’s excellent and heroic foster care:

“Angie at Westie Rescue told me that there was a shelter in Seneca, IL that had a Westie. He was turned in to them by another rescue transport. When they got him he was full of fleas, ticks, was filthy, and literally nothing but skin and bones and missing large patches of fur. The shelter was very full, and Shadow did not do well there. So after a few days, they shipped him off to a woman named “Lee” who will take in the overflow animals at the shelter since she apparently has a farm or lots of land or something and is willing to help if the shelter needs assistance. Anyway, Lee gave him flea baths and wormed him. She said he wasn’t housebroken when she got him, but she trained him. She said he ate okay but everything he ate was just running out of him.
“On May 16th, 2006 I went to pick him up. I met Lee outside of Seneca, IL off I-88 at a convenience store parking lot. She handed “Duffy” to me as she had nicknamed him, and gave me a bag with some gravy pouches and some dry dog food. She said I could keep the collar and leash, then she signed the makeshift release form I gave her and drove away.
“Duffy” stood most of the way home in the front seat of my car. I thought he might be a Westie mix, maybe part Collie or Sheltie because he wasn’t very white and his face looked more like a Collie than a Westie. After a while, he laid down but just for a few minutes only to stand up again. I sensed that his back hurt. When I touched his back it was arched up high and I could feel every vertebra from his neck down to his tail. I didn’t like touching him at all, he was just a skeleton, and he smelled. But when he looked at me with the one lone round star in his right eye (he has cataracts that have blinded him), I said to him, “I think you are going to break my heart.” Because I didn’t think he would live another week since he was such a mess.
“I had called my vet before picking him up and had an appointment for later that afternoon. He weighed in at under 13 pounds. The vet said he was full of infections, his teeth, his ears, and suspected internally too. He was given an antibiotic shot and put on a couple of prescriptions for the infections and the obvious pain in his back or hind legs. I was told to bring him back in a week. He went back before that for severe diarrhea.
“After having him one week we took him to the groomer and he surprisingly did look like a Westie, a very very skinny Westie. I hate to say how much I disliked touching him other than his face those early days. When he started to gain weight, I’d touch his face and neck, and as he filled out I could touch his shoulders. He was just so skinny he felt awful. When he finally got to his optimum weight only the very end of the spine could be felt, and a little of his hips.
“I put him on a diet of dry food, that I’d moisten and microwave soft so that he could eat it with his badly infected teeth. I introduced different foods slowly and one at a time to see how he handled them. I knew I had to put weight on him, but slowly, I wanted him to build muscle. I fed him 4 times a day. The dry dog food mix soon was mixed with canned food in the morning and evening, and a snack of something like cottage cheese or a hard-boiled egg at lunch and again at bedtime, usually mixed with more dog food. The canned dog food was a turkey-based Adult Science Diet rather than beef or something else. Once he had his dental in June I no longer softened his dry food, and once he got up to eighteen pounds he only ate twice a day. It took him about three months to gain the six pounds. Then it was easy to pet him, pick him up and hold him and love him and not feel like I was hurting him.
“Around the same time he had the dental done, he got a one-year Rabies shot and started his heartworm meds. That was also when he seemed to developed allergies. He was scratching and itching and biting, so he got put on Advantage for fleas, just in case. He has bitten himself till he has bled, “hot spots” they call them, so he went on Benadryl. At one time he was getting three to four different pills a day. He was on Baytril for eight weeks, he was on Rimadyl for pain for at least that long, as well as the Benadryl, and other things along the way. Like things for his ears, he had a couple of ear infections while with us, it seemed to clear up and then come back. Just a note, the Rimadyl made it easier for him to go for long walks and he appeared to be more comfortable while on it. It’s a drug that is not good for long-term use I am told.
“Since he liked to follow us around wherever we went we decided to name him “Shadow” as in me and my shadow.
“That’s Shadow’s story until he was adopted by you on November 6, 2006.” Debbie

Debbie did such great work with Shadow that all my vet could find wrong with him was a couple of remaining skin hot spots and his severe difficulty with cataracts which have essentially made him blind. Shadow has that classic walk of a blind dog in that he walks with his head down and in a very halting, hesitant, and stiff-legged fashion…tail between his legs. Well, we have gone to two of the leading veterinary ophthalmologists in the Chicago area for their opinions and they both have identified a hyper-mature cataract in the right eye blocking 100% of his vision and a mature cataract that blocks perhaps 90-95% vision in his left eye.

Since Shadow has not been neutered, the vets have theorized that Shadow was used as a puppy mill stud and when he could not perform any more he was “thrown away”. From the age of cataracts and their configuration, one of the eye doctors said that the right eye could have formed its cataract from a blow or trauma to that eye as the one on the left seems to be a naturally formed one due to age. So it is easy to see that Shadow was not a pet and was just caged and used for years by his unscrupulous keepers.

I see some further evidence of his background in his behavior around the house now. He doesn’t know how to play, nor is he at all socialized to how humans pet or hold dogs. His world at the puppy mill was one of being used until he was no longer useful with no love or care for any of his needs.

Well, Angie, Lee, Debbie, and I have each in our way tried to shower him with enough care to try to make up for his years of imprisonment. He is much better now, his skin has cleared up, his ears are clean and healthy and he even gets excited and gives lots of tail wags when I come home from work. He’s even striding more bravely on walks and is showing more confidence and poise around the house. He’s a gentle little guy who never barks and never puts up a fuss when he gets his eye drops or is examined at the vets…it’s all new to him.

Now, thanks to WestieMed’s grant, he will be able to have a chance at opening up his world and having his sight restored with cataract surgery. For however much time he has left it is wonderful to think that it won’t be spent alone in the dark, anymore. Now he has friends reaching out to help him and care for him…finally. On behalf of Shadow and all of us who have helped him along the way, thank you very, very much.

Sincerely, George Kase, Shadow’s new dad.

Update January 2008:

t is with an enormous amount of sadness that I must tell you of the passing of my boy Shadow on this past Monday morning, January 28th at the Veterinary Specialty Hospital in Buffalo Grove. From internal bleeding caused by complications of his Kidney disease.

Shadow was truly a lionhearted being. Courageous in everything he did, he never let his blindness nor his weakened muscles stop him in any way. He enjoyed his walks and sniffing as well as just exploring for the fun of it. He liked to lay on his blankie and particularly after a good meal, he really liked to roll around on it with abandon. One hobby he developed in recent months was a particular affection for finding one of the other dog’s bowls during mealtimes for a quick snack before being caught. I can’t say enough about him and how much richer he made my life for the brief time he lived here.

He’ll be missed very, very much.

George

Pearl

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

October 2003:

Hello everyone my name is Pearl. I feel lucky to be telling my story. My birthday is March 15, 2001. I am just over two and a half years old. I was sold from a Petstore when I was twelve weeks old. Lots of people wanted to buy me as I pranced and played in my cage.

My new family said I was adorable they called me Sara. I lived with them for exactly three months. I was a frisky puppy but one day my front legs became hot and stiff and my jaw felt heavy and my head seemed bigger. One morning I woke up and could not eat my kibble anymore but my family did not notice. I tried to tell them…they finally figured out something was wrong when I stopped growing. They took me to the Vet and did all sorts of tests and the Doctor shook his head. I felt tired and weak and worn out.

I fell asleep after my appointment and woke up back at the Petstore. My new family had returned me! My feelings were so hurt. They did not want me and somehow I was not cute anymore. I overheard the people there saying that I could not be sold again. I was sick and alone.

I had not waited too long in my cage when a woman came for me. She was a stranger but I was glad to go. I said good-bye to my puppy friends and we left. I was weak. I only weighed six pounds and I was six months old. My new person took me to the Vet but she later told me that I was sick and nobody was quite sure how to help me. She made me feel special. She made homemade chicken and rice in the blender with tasty puppy milk for me. I ate six times a day. When I was too sick to eat she would encourage me with steak and hamburger bits. I had to learn how to eat without opening my mouth. You see I have a disease that won’t allow my jaw to open. It also made my legs burn and ache and my head swell.

My person would soak in the tub with me with special salts and talk quietly to me. She gave me baby aspirin and cortisone tablets. I never wanted to give up and she knew it. She called me her little fighter. She phoned lots of Veterinarians and talked about me and my problem a lot. She named me Pearl in honor of a well known local animal rescuer. I felt proud of my new name and my new place. I had been rescued by Friends Forever and I felt loved.

After one solid year of special care and baby food, I finally felt better. I was bigger and stronger and started to play. I remember the first hole I dug in the yard. My person seemed thrilled. I am embarrassed to admit how much I want to bite my cat friends. They know I can’t and they tease me. I have been spayed which was a big deal because my mouth still does not open but 1/8 of an inch. I made out fine. I have had shots and seen many Vets but nobody has been able to help me open my mouth. My person thinks this is a real benefit when clipping my nails. I don’t.

My person has found a Vet who can help me. I am so excited. She is very kind to me. Her name is Dr. Hunt. She has made me feel better with her magic machine that she puts on my jaw. I am hoping to be a Westie that can deliver a swift nip or two to my cat buddies before long!

Pearl has Craniomandibular Osteodystrophy (CMO) which is a devastating inherited disease. She is currently undergoing therapeutic Ultrasound treatments at University Animal Hospital in Greensboro, North Carolina under the care of Dr. Christine Hunt. This innovative treatment using sound waves may result in Pearl being able to open her mouth. Pearl is fostered by the President and Founder of Friends Forever, Lucy Boette. Pearl’s treatment is being funded by a grant from WestieMed.

Update: October 2006:

Hi. My name is Pearl. Maybe some of you remember me. WestieMed helped me a few years ago. You see I have Craniomandibular Osteodystrophy (CMO). Basically, I can’t open my mouth very much. Westie Med provided me the opportunity to receive therapeutic ultrasound and acupuncture to see if my mouth could open. And it worked, a little. I was so happy, I stuck my tongue out all of the time, and boy, did I enjoy my food.

Lately, I haven’t been feeling well. I’ve lost some weight and just don’t feel like running around. All I want to do is stay in my cuddler, my teeth hurt. The vet says I have severe tooth decay and it’s causing all sorts of problems. My doctor has me on antibiotics and wants to do a major dental invasion as soon as I can gain some weight. My people have been feeding me several times a day and I think that I have put on a pound or two. If this keeps up, I may lose my girlish figure!

WestieMed is going to help me get my mouth cleaned up. I am so grateful for WestieMed. I can’t wait to feel good again. Thank you WestieMed.

Update November 2006:

Pearl is such a sweet fighter! She had 18 diseased teeth removed. It was a long-drawn-out deal and her mouth and tongue were very swollen. She had to be on morphine but is now a million times better. She can put her tongue out of her mouth and lap her food for the first time ever. Her poor tongue was worn down from pushing on her front teeth for all these years. Dr. Hunt advises that the remaining teeth will continue to decay and have to be removed over time but everything is very stable and good after the recent dental work.

She will be able to continue gaining weight. She has gained over two pounds since I first wrote to you all. She yips and barks and generally happy now. I am so grateful for all you have done to help us with her. She has a new lease on life now for sure!

THANK YOU so very much on behalf of Pearl. WestieMed has made a world of difference in her life…in fact, I think she is poster pup material!

All my best, Lucy

Update November 17, 2008:

My name is Andrea Borden and I adopted Pearl in December of 2007 from Friends Forever and you helped Pearl in 2003. I just wanted to thank you for helping Pearl and giving her the opportunity to live. She is my heart and I truly believe without your help she may not have been here today. I also wanted to thank you for all the Westies that you have helped. You are truly an amazing agency that stands for a wonderful cause.

Andrea Borden

Payten

September 1, 2006February 13, 2021 by westiemed in Stories

September 2006:

Little is known about Payten’s early life or even how old he is. The vet’s and I predict he is about two years old. I came to know Payten after my three-year-old Yorkie died of a herniated disk and I felt a burned desire to help dogs in need of love and attention. I searched the web looking for rescue organizations and decided on another Westie because I already had one and knew I loved the breed so much. Since we live in Kansas, I contacted Westie Rescue of Missouri, which sponsors MO, KS, AR, and IL. Once all the paperwork and home visits were completed, the rescue volunteer told me she knew of a lady in Arkansas that was a foster parent and she might have just the dog I was looking for. Since I am originally from the very area were Karen, the foster parent, lived it would not be a stretch for me to go visit and make a decision.

I had originally told the volunteer that I wanted a female and one that was younger than my current dog who was seven and a half at the time. When Karen contacted me she told me about the female she was fostering but she was actually older than I wanted but I was still considering it. During our conversation comparing notes about how we both loved Westies and how Karen knew the breeder that I had gotten my Westie from, she finally mentioned that she had just received a young male dog if I might be interested in a male instead of a female. I had read that you shouldn’t get two dogs of the same breed and same-sex because it could cause fighting if they both want to be the Alpha so I was reluctant. However, since I was going to Arkansas in a couple of weeks to visit my family, Karen and I decided to meet up so that my Westie, Baylea, and I could see Payten.

In that first conversation, Karen had told me that she had only had Payten, who she was calling Malco, a couple of days. A young woman who had found him in a Malco theatre parking lot brought him to her. The young woman thought he might get hit so she scooped him up and took him to her apartment for a couple of days while she asked around about his owner and placed fliers around the area. She also contacted several vets in the area and called the humane society to see if anyone had called asking about a missing Westie. Since she couldn’t have animals at her apartment, she knew about the Westie Rescue and turned him over to Karen with what little information she knew. Karen called the Humane Society as well and was told that another Westie was found in the same area and was brought to them. Karen asked what their plans were for that dog and they indicated that they would keep him for two weeks and if no owner came to claim him then he would be adopted out. They said there was already a woman who worked at the society that wanted theirs so he would be placed quickly. Karen stayed in contact with the society and when the two weeks passed with no word from an owner she and the humane society decided to find the dogs new homes.

Karen called me that Friday night in February and said since no one had come forward she would let me take Payten if I decided he would work for us. She said when he was found he had a collar on, looked like he had recently been groomed, and was already neutered so she couldn’t imagine what his story was. Since they didn’t know anything about his veterinary care she decided to give him a round of shots, have his teeth cleaned and give him a bath. She said he was such a good boy through all of it and was a very affectionate little guy. He seemed to get along well with her other dogs but he did have trouble with her cat. Other than that Payten seemed well mannered and was housebroken and knew some basic commands already. We kept wondering what could have been the problem for someone to dump such a wonderful dog.

When we finally meet Payten that cool day in mid-February, we fell in love with him and quickly decided we needed to help him. I told Karen that since it seemed someone had been caring for him, we should continue to look for the owner for a couple more months. But as each day went by with no word, it became clear whoever had been his family didn’t want him anymore so Karen said I could keep Payten if it was working out.

Payten and Baylea have adjusted to one another very well now. At first, it must have been confusing for both of them and they didn’t always agree. Payten was more aggressive than Baylea had ever been but I knew they just needed to work out their differences and since their bickering wasn’t violent I usually let them be. Baylea is more of a feet on the floor let me run type of guy whereas Payten is more of a let me sit beside you and you can pet me type of guy. That works perfectly for me. The most frustrating part of having Payten was the anxiety he was suffering during the transition which resulted in him marking territory in the house. We quickly made some adjustments to help him and bought a very good carpet cleaner and now he is much better. A few other things we have learned about Payten are that he has bad teeth and we have to clean them often and that he has a sensitive stomach so we have to be careful changing foods. Also, Payten is somewhat clumsy and was always running too fast and spraining his ankles. However, recently it has gotten worse and we have had him at the vet several times due to excessive weakness in his front limbs. Payten has also been experiencing seizures, which ended up landing us in the specialist’s office. The specialist thinks Payten may have inflation in his brain or spine causing the weakness and knuckling in his front paws. Payten is currently on Prednisone to help reduce the pressure and inflammation and will be re-evaluated in a couple of weeks to see if further testing is needed. It was suggested that he might have vertebral disk disease but that is yet unknown.

Many thanks to WestieMed for their financial support as we strive to give this abandoned little boy a better life.

Subrina, Baylea and Payten

Update as of November 8, 2006:

Payten underwent a spinal tap on October 17, 2006, which revealed an elevated nucleated cell count in the sample. According to the neurologist, this confirmed the presents of infection causing the inflammation in Payten’s spinal column and brain. The sample was sent off to a veterinary pathologist for further testing to determine the nature of the infection. The pathologist reported finding erythrocytes presents as well as 14% neutrophils, 60% lymphocytes, and 26% monocytes. The neurologists explained that the path report narrowed the problem down to a protozoa infection such as Toxoplasmosis or Neospora caninum. He suggested we start Payten on a four-week treatment of clindamycin along with the doses of prednisone. Payten has responded very well to the treatment and is almost back to normal. Again I would like to extend special thanks to WestieMed for their continued support for Payten.

Suki

March 1, 2003January 10, 2021 by westiemed in Stories

March 2003:

Suki came into our lives just a short time ago and we can already not imagine life without her. She is a little white ball of fur that loves life even though she has been dealt with some low blows.

My search for A Westie started a few months ago. I have done pet therapy at a local children’s hospital for over eleven years with a golden retriever. I also knew that it would be helpful to have a smaller, huggable dog to take to see the children that could get on the bed. My Mother had a Westie years ago and I remember just how wonderful he was.

After some time Joan contacted me (from Westie Rescue) and said she had not “A” Westie but two girls who were in need of a home. They had already been used for therapy. Since I believe in “more is better”, we said yes.

Suki and Sasha were a little confused and very cautious when we first met them. Joan had bathed them and brought along all of their belongings. We picked them up on a Sunday and were prepared to love them no matter what. Their owner had recently lost her husband and needed to move.

That is not where the history of Suki begins. Suki was born sometime in September of 1993. She was kept in a cage and force bred for years. Rescue in Miami found her and she was in very bad shape. Her back legs did not work very well from breeding and caging. She was very overweight from a poor diet. She didn’t know what grass was or how to play. Westie Rescue took over and saw that she had medical attention and they found her a good home. She came to us with hand-knitted blankets, lots of toys, etc. She was loved, but circumstances changed for the owners.

We were so fortunate to have Suki(and Sasha ) come into our lives. After picking them up, we made a vet appointment to get the girls caught up on shots and a checkup. Suki had some bad news. She had a very large mammary tumor and some bad teeth. She had surgery for tumor removal and lost a few teeth but she made it. She now runs around our house with an Elizabethan collar on like the world was hers! Unfortunately, the lab results were not good for Suki. It was cancer and could recur. BUT thanks to support from WestieMed, she has a fifty-fifty chance. In the meantime, we are loving her, playing with her, walking her, and just plain enjoying every minute with her. What a joy!!!!

We want to love Suki and Sasha and make their years with us happy ones so they forget the low blows life had dealt them. If you get a moment, say a prayer for Suki. She’s a fighter and I think we have many years ahead of us.

Thank you, Edie Hoover

Update, September 2003:

Thank God Suki is doing very well. No problems so far. She loves to take walks, sleep in the bed(needs help getting up there), chase my shoelaces, play with ANY stuffed animal, and run after our golden retrievers. She and Sasha are now ten and thirteen years young. The vet had said we would have to watch her closely for a year to see if the cancer came back. If it did it would probably be in her mammary glands again or her lungs. So far so good. She eats well and seems to love life. Follows me everywhere. Tell me where to send pictures and I would love to.

Thanks again for the help. Edie

Amica

March 1, 2003January 10, 2021 by westiemed in Stories

March 2003:

Last November I lost my twelve-year-old male Westie, Brady, to cancer. It was a devastating loss, and my other dog, a shih tzu mix (a pound adoption) really regressed without his buddy. After a three month grieving period, my two teens and I began looking around for another dog. We checked the Humane Society, the SPCA, the Animal care council, and various shelters on line. There were many cute faces, but none called to me. It was then that I realized in my heart that nothing would do but another Westie.

A friend of mine had done a few Golden Retriever rescues, so I went online to see if there was such a thing as a Westie rescue organization. I found one in New York State and dropped them an email asking for information. A mere three days later, I received an email from Suzie Nowak, from the Westie Rescue group. She had word that there may be a middle-aged female Westie rescued from a puppy mill near Ithaca (along with many other dogs in pretty bad shape). The little gal was at Cornell University Animal Hosp getting spayed, and a thorough workup to see what her prognosis was. She was malnourished, had worms and many of her teeth had rotted out. She may need some extensive work, which I was concerned about being able to afford.

That’s when Suzie told me about Westiemed.com, a group that was able to help with initial rescue medical costs. I was told that when she returned to the Tompkins Co SPCA, I could arrange a visit. Suzie was as excited as I was about this visit. She did give me a lot of information about the early personalities of rescue dogs, as well, so I would be prepared.

I arranged the visit, and on Saturday, Feb 22, my kids and I drove an hour to Ithaca to visit. The staff put us in a little room and brought the Westie in. I had expected her to be scared and not really friendly because of the misery she had lived through. To my surprise, however, when I squatted down, she came over to me, climbed up onto my knee and kissed me on the nose! Well, I knew it was love at first sight, and no matter what her ailments were, she was going to be part of our family.

We took her home that day and named her Amica, which is Latin for a beloved friend. She traveled well but had such a sad look in her eyes for days. And she needed to be housetrained after all these years. I thought she may be deaf, but my vet confirmed that she was not used to human voices and would learn to respond. She didn’t wag her tail, didn’t bark, and sat mainly in one spot, staring ahead. It was apparent that everything was so new to her, perhaps overwhelming and frightening. She was a blank slate on which to begin to open a new life.

As of this date, we have had her for three weeks, and I can’t begin to put into words what it is like to see a dog like this blossom. She has the sweetest personality, wags her tail freely, has learned how to play and run, eats like a vulture, knows where the treats are kept, loves my other dog, barks when we get home from work, loves to cuddle and gives unending kisses. She has quickly carved herself a permanent place in our family, and is learning that life is about being warm, fed, happy and loved. My children get so excited when Amica does anything for the first time. This has truly been as wonderful an experience for myself and my children as it has been for Amica. We tell her each day that she has hit the “doggie lotto” and that she will live out her life as part of a warm, loving family….just as all pets should. Although the work and learning continue, this rescue has been a wonderful, life-altering experience, and I would encourage anyone who truly loves animals to consider this option. After only twenty-one days, my family cannot even imagine life without Amica.

I just wanted to thank WestieMed for your help and support. I really appreciate the financial help. This has been a wonderful first experience for me. I will not hesitate to encourage others to consider the “rescue” route when looking for a pet. Amica is such a gem and has completed our family in a special way.

Thanks, again, Rebecca Lupo

Angus

November 1, 2002December 30, 2020 by westiemed in Stories

November 2002:

Angus had been at the Halifax Humane Society (Daytona, Florida) for several weeks. He apparently was found in the home of his owner, who had been dead for a few days. After much legal action (certified letters and such), he was released to Westie Rescue.

Angus is about eight years old. He has mild to moderate cataracts, and is mostly deaf, probably due to chronic ear infections. He has bad skin, but that is clearing up with the help of antibiotics and medicated baths (and flea control).

He is an absolute love. He really doesn’t know how to play but tries. He does toss toys around and tries to catch them. He doesn’t do it for long, but I think it is because his teeth bother him (that will be taken care of after Thanksgiving!). He loves sitting on laps and giving kisses. He gets along with other dogs and cats, but would love a ‘special somebody’.

WestieMed has been incredible with his medical bills!
Beth Garwood Florida

Update December 2000:

Our Angus is doing just great! He’s a funny ole guy, but a pleasure and much loved.

There are many responsible for making Angus’ rehab. a reality and we are grateful to all who made it possible—most especially Beth who took him to the doctors, etc. and gave him her special loving care.

Angus’ stocking is hanging up, waiting for Santa to fill—-probably some soft, small toys that he can throw up in the air and TRY to catch (not much luck, however.) I’m sure that in his own way he wishes you all at Westie Med—-and Beth—-a joyous holiday season. And, I add our glad tidings, too!

Elizabeth