Penny

by westiemed in Stories

Penny is a 5 year old West Highland Terrier who was surrendered to our rescue, The Original Westies Rescued UK (TOWRUK) by her owner of 1 year, in September 2023. The reason he gave us was that Penny was too strong for him on walks and ‘pulled’ him over several times! Our transporter collected Penny and transported her to our lovely fosters, Kevin and Susan situated in North East England, who had not long ago lost their Westie Daisy.

Penny quickly settled in with Kevin and Susan and after a few days in foster care they noticed Penny was limping from her rear right knee so we booked her into our vets for a full health check. The vet on duty suggested Penny has x-rays to determine the cause of her limping and advised us, after her health check, that Penny was also suffering from Grade 4 dental disease and would require some tooth extractions. Penny’s previous owners vet confirmed that Penny’s leg and tooth conditions were previously diagnosed and recorded but not acted upon. To date Penny has settled in really well with our fosters and during our visits to see Penny she seems really happy. She has been spayed, had 9 teeth extracted plus a diseased bone removed as part of her dental procedure.

Penny’s completed x-rays have shown that Penny requires cruciate ligament surgery to her right back leg and possibly her left back leg in the future and was diagnosed with chronic arthritis in both of her back legs for which she will be put on recommended medication ‘Librela’ permanently.

We would like to very sincerely thank WestieMed for very kindly approving a grant to help with the costs of her veterinary surgery/treatment which she so desperately requires to help her to improve her quality of life. Her surgical procedure is planned for later this month.

Carol and Terry Riches

The Original Westies Rescued UK

Update March 3, 2024:

Penny has had her cruciate surgery to her back right leg and is recovering well, on the long road to full recovery. We will keep you updated on her progress. Her veterinary consultant is unfortunately confident her other back leg will require the same/similar surgery and will confirm after next x-rays after her recovery.

Kind regards,

Terry and Carol Riches, TOWRUK Officials

Update March 23, 2024:

Penny is recovering well from her cruciate surgery. The vets are very pleased with her healing. We will advise you when the consultant feels she is ready for the next x-rays to check internal healing and if her other leg requires any treatment/surgery.

Kind regards,

Terry Riches, TOWRUK Official

Update April 23, 2024:

Penny’s rear right leg cruciate ligament surgery went very well and following reviews of her recovery at her Vet Practice (Vets4Pets) and post op x-rays of both of her back legs the Orthopaedic Surgeon reports that the surgery was successful but unfortunately Penny will require Cruciate Ligament Surgery of her back left leg also. Penny seems happy in herself with improved mobility. There was evidence of wound infection so Penny was prescribed antibiotics and we agreed for the vet to take and send culture samples away for investigation. We have booked Penny in for surgery on the 7th May and will provide regular updates on her progress.

Very kind regards,

Terry and Carol Riches

Officials, The Original Westies Rescued UK (TOWRUK)

Update May 24, 2024:

Penny’s cruciate surgery went well and she is recovering well and her vets are happy with her progress to date.

Her mobility is improving and after the all clear from her consultant, we are planning treadmill/hydrotherapy to rebuild strength/muscle in her hind legs and will continue to update you on her progress.

Kind regards,

Terry Riches, Official TOWRUK

Update July 19, 2024:

Penny’s consultant is very pleased with Penny’s recovery. Recent x-rays have indicated surgery had a successful outcome and the next stage is for Penny to have rehabilitation therapy to strengthen muscle of both her rear legs via treadmill and hydrotherapy. Many thanks once again from us all at the Original Westies Rescued UK for your generous donation to help improve Penny’s health and well being.

Terry Riches, Official TOWRUK

Update September 3, 2024:

Penny’s mobility has improved immensely since her TPL surgery and rehabilitation.

Carol and I and our admin team at the Original Westies Rescued UK cannot thank you all at WestieMed for your very kind help and support towards giving Penny a much better quality of life than she would have had.

Very kind regards,

Terry and Carol Riches, Founders

The Original Westies Rescued UK

 

Herbert

Herbert

by westiemed in Stories

May 2021

Senior and special need dogs are very close to our hearts, so after losing three very special geriatric forever foster dogs within weeks of each other in April 2020, we became aware of Herbert, a 12-year[1]old Westie with chronic skin, back and leg issues and diminished eyesight. Herbert was found roaming the streets by a good Samaritan and Westie & Scottie Rescue of Houston took him in where he remained in rescue for 1 ½ years. They took fantastic care of Herbert, but with no potential adopters willing to take on Herbert’s chronic issues, the cost that goes with it and Herbert’s advanced age, we felt it was in his best interest to come to WROC as a forever foster.

Amid the pandemic, we flew to Houston to pick up Herbert and flew back to California the same day. Herbert is being treated by an ophthalmologist but unfortunately, due to the lack of care before he reached rescue, Herbert’s eyes are permanently damaged, and he will be on four eye medications, three times a day for the rest of his life. He is also being treated by our dermatologist specialist and though he no longer scratches and is comfortable, he has permanent hair loss due to damaged follicles. Along with having compressed discs in his spine, Herbert is now in need of bilateral TLPO surgery to repair his torn meniscus, torn cruciate ligament and luxating patella in both legs.

Herbert will have surgery on both legs at the same time in June with a board-certified orthopedic specialist to the tune of $9300.00. We knew going in that Herbert’s on-going medical issues would be costly, which was the reason we bought Herbert to WROC as a forever foster so that he will always get the care he needs. We can manage the irreversible damage to his eyes and skin due to previous neglect, but with Westie Med’s help, Herbert will receive surgery that will prolong quality of life, a promise we made to Herbert and all our forever fosters before him.

Thank you WestieMed!

Karen Simondet and Kay DeLoach, Westie Rescue of Orange County & Beyond

Update October 28, 2021:

It has been four months since Herbert had his bilateral TLPO surgery and what a difference it has made with his quality of life!  Herbert no longer limps and moves about very comfortably.  The surgery has also helped ease discomfort with his compressed discs in his spine.  He did gain two pounds which is a lot for a dog his size because he was on strict crate rest but now that he has recently been given the okay to resume his daily walks, we are working on walking off the extra pounds. 

Our little big Texan dog at heart is living the dream!

We owe WestieMed a huge thank you for helping Herbert live his very best life.

Karen

Update September 28, 2022

Our little big Texan is doing quite well since his bilateral TLPO surgery. it’s been a little over a year now and Herbert walks with ease. We noticed occasional limping and had him looked at by his surgeon and as suspected, he is feeling the effects of normal osteoarthritis. We are treating him with gabapentin and rimadyl as needed. The exciting news is that his dry eye has improved considerably. He just had his six month follow up with the ophthalmologist and his tear production went from 09 mm in both eyes to 22 mm since we changed his medication dosage and from drops to ointment. He is now on 0.03% Tacrolimus ointment, 2% Cyclosporine ointment, and Neo-polydex twice a day. The Optixcare Ophthalmic gel several times a day helps keep his eyes lubricated in between medications.

Herbert is a happy boy. He loves his routine, his favorite bed and his walks around the neighborhood and continues to try and lure us into the kitchen where he thinks all the magic happens.

Karen

Molly - WestieMed Recipient

Molly

by westiemed in Stories

January 2020

On March 2nd I was looking at the Next Door App on my phone when I saw a listing for a sweet girl who needed a new home due to the death of her owner. The listing stated she rescued about six years ago, and at that time her age was approximately two years of age. The listing didn’t mention what breed of dog Molly was, but she was definitely a Westie.

I immediately contacted the family member who had Molly and arranged to meet her the following morning at a park near our homes. We had two Westie’s, (Finley and Moxie) and wanted to make sure that the dogs all got along. All three dogs got along well during their initial meet and greet.

There was another individual who had expressed interest in Molly and would be meeting her later that same day. Later that evening we received a call that we were chosen to be Molly’s new family. Arrangements were made to pickup Molly the following morning and take her to our vet for a physical.

When we first met Molly, we were told that her age was closer to 10 years. We were also told that she had an abnormal toe on her right front toe and hoped that we still wanted her. Molly was also on the larger size, close to twenty-two pounds. We told her of course, we still wanted Molly, and her toe issue appeared to have been present for many years due to the fact that the entire toe tail had grown out abnormally thick.

Molly came to us with a packet of her records and personal items. The records indicated that she initially was found with a male Westie in Missouri. She had been rescued together with the male Westie, Mac, and they both moved to Phoenix Arizona many years later.

Our Veterinarian examined Molly and then her abnormal toe.  He told us that the toe growth had been there for quite a while, due to the changes in the joint and nail. Molly didn’t appear to have any pain in the joint and the skin was intact and didn’t show any signs that she licked or chewed at it. He provided us with an estimate to amputate the toe if there were any changes to this toe.

Molly adjusted well into our family. She is a very sweet girl. She likes to talk to us in a very low voice. She also gets down low to the ground and crawls to us when she’s happy.

Late November of 2019, Molly started limping and not putting any weight on her right rear leg. Our regular veterinarian diagnosed her with a torn cruciate ligament, and referred us to an orthopedic specialist.

The orthopedic specialist confirmed that Molly had completely torn her right cruciate ligament. I asked the specialist to look at Molly’s abnormal right front toe. The orthopedic specialist recommended x-rays of both Molly’s right knee, and right front foot. After the x-rays were taken, the doctor was very concerned about the x-ray of Molly’s foot and toe. The x-ray showed extensive destruction to the joint of Molly’s toe, and could possibly be a type of cancer. Molly’s toe needed to be amputated before we could proceed on treatment of her torn cruciate ligament.

Molly - WestieMed Recipient
Molly – WestieMed Recipient

Molly had her toe amputated in early December. She did amazing after the surgery and the surgery site has healed perfectly. The pathology came back as a benign cyst! The Vet even called and spoke to the pathologist two times to make sure due to the x-ray and the destructive nature of the growth.

We have decided to treat Molly’s torn cruciate ligament with physical therapy, and pain management.

My Story

Molly is the sixth Westie that I have had the privilege of welcoming into my home. The first Westie I got when I was in college!

I can’t say that I own a Westie, because they definitely own me!

I am a member of many different groups for Westie Lovers on Facebook and initially learned about WestieMed through a fundraising auction on one of the Westie Pages. I have bought auction items that supported Westie Med. I never thought that I would be the one in need, but my husband lost his job over two years ago and our finances have been extremely tight.

I am grateful that WestieMed has helped with Molly’s amputation surgery. And that they are there to help other rescued and or adopted Westie’s that are in similar situations.

Trish

Update June 30, 2020

Molly - WestieMed Recipient
Molly – WestieMed Recipient

Molly is doing great!!
She’s such a lovely senior Westie!
After her surgery, the amputation site healed perfectly.
Molly loves car rides and treats, too.
Hoping to see if she like to swim in our pool this summer.

Trish

Update December 1, 2020

Molly - WestieMed Recipient
Molly – WestieMed Recipient

Molly is thriving!! Such a sweet senior girl.
Molly is on the left in the picture.
Thanks again for helping us in her time of need.

Trish Duque