Trama – WestieMed

October 2002:

When my husband and I were combing the shelters for a few dogs to bring into our foster program, Little Orphan Angels, one Sunday, the animal control officer (ACO) showed us a little Westie they had been housing for a few weeks. She told us that he was found as a stray with his collar “growing into his neck” because it was too small. In addition, he had a bone lodged in the back of his jaw. He had apparently gotten so hungry he had tried to eat a bone which then got stuck. Because of the bone lodged in his mouth, he had a bad infection. If all that was not enough, he also had this black skin that looked like elephant skin (we now know to be Malassezia). The ACO said that when they bathed him for the first time the black skin and dirt just sloughed off and turned his bathwater black. They had to bathe him several times before they were satisfied, and still, he had black, scaley skin and a bad odor about him.

Soon after he was picked up and cleaned up, he went to surgery to remove the bone from his mouth. Then, he had to complete a course of antibiotics for the infection. Everyone at the shelter fell in love with his personality, but they were concerned that since he did not look (or smell) that great, he would not get adopted and would have to be euthanized. Hence, they pointed us to him on that Saturday.

Now, with a dog who has no significant medical conditions, we always check with the board and find the appropriate foster. So, we could not take the friendly little Westie that day. We did ask the ACO to put a hold on him and told her we would be back the following week. We did return to pick him up the next week and took him straight to our vet.

Unfortunately, Westie’s have very specific medical problems and not all vets are familiar with them. So, the first prognosis we received was not optimistic. Luckily, the newly named Boomer had a great foster mom who looked into the local Westie Rescue and got some information on a great, knowledgable vet. We drove across town and saw them and were given better news, but could not continue to drive so far for Boomer’s treatments and check-ups. Finally, we came across one of our regular vets who turns out to be very knowledgeable about Westie’s and got Boomer on the right course of treatment. This, of course, sounds like good news, but the right course of treatment for Boomer was quite a regimen! He had about 4 pills he took 3 times a day. He had to have a bath every other day with alternating types of shampoos, and he had to be on special food. Oh yeah, and he STILL smelled! He also itched! Boomer was so itchy, in fact, that he would drag himself across the room on his stomach!

Of course, no story would be complete without a happy ending, so here it is…Boomer was at the Petco where we do our adoptions several weekends and his various foster homes (he was a lot of work but so sweet, so our fosters took turns keeping him) for a few months. Finally, a woman who had previously owned a Westie in worse shape than Boomer e-mailed us. She was looking for another Westie since hers had recently passed away. They met, and it was love at first sight! The adoption was completed the following week.

Boomer now has a great home, is done with most of his medication, and is growing fur! He is the hit of the neighborhood and the best friend of his new owner (as pictured above)!

Thanks to Westie Med, Little Orphan Angels, the North Richland Hills Shelter, Parkside Animal Hospital, and his new owner Connie, Boomer is living the life every dog should lead–a very happy, healthy one!

March 2002:

Kati was a stray Westie not wearing a collar or any identification when she was hit by a car. She was taken to a veterinary hospital for emergency treatment of her fractured pelvis and badly lacerated leg.

At that point a Guardian Angel stepped into Kati’s life. A man was at the same hospital visiting his dog who was recuperating from surgery when he saw Kati being treated. When the hospital staff told him Kati was a stray, he immediately offered to adopt Kati despite knowing she would need orthopedic surgery for her injuries. During the requisite waiting period for strays, Kati’s previous owner did not claim her and the man was able to adopt her.

Kati did not appear mistreated or undernourished and is not frightened by strangers or other dogs. She seems to love people and gets along with her new owner’s dogs

After adoption, Kati’s new owner took her back to the clinic for a wellness exam, basic shots and heartworm check. The attending vet discovered that her tail was infected and it needed to be surgically “truncated.” While Kati was under anesthesia for the procedure, the vet also checked her teeth and found several badly abscessed molars. Six teeth were removed and the abscesses were treated.

Kati is recovering and healing nicely. The stitches will be removed from her leg and tail over the next two weeks. However, healing of her pelvis and hip is expected to take longer. Orthopedic surgery is anticipated in the future to repair the damage to her hip and pelvis when the wounds are healed.

Kati - WestieMed Recipient — Kati – WestieMed Recipient

Update September 2002:

Kati is doing wonderfully, thank you, and has established herself as the alpha-dog-in-waiting among our pack. She has totally subjugated our latest, a black lab puppy named Jack who now outweighs her by forty plus pounds, and is the undisputed head of the doggie fun patrol (if any dog is having fun without her, she breaks it up!). She has had no subsequent problems with the injuries that brought us together (Kismet?) and does not appear to need any additional orthopedic treatment, according to the docs at Pender Veterinary Clinic. Her amputated tail has healed completely and she has no trouble “communicating” with the stub, I can attest. She is, without a doubt, the yappiest dog I have ever heard, which is one of the reasons I like terrier breeds so much, and which drives my wife up the wall (an added benefit, from my perspective!…just kidding). She has a favorite spot at night, the pillow just above my head, from which she monitors and cows all the other dogs. She is also an avid squirrel hunter, along with our yellow lab, Sophie, and can spot one of those critters all the way across our 1-acre side yard. And, strangely, the first time I took her to the groomer she seemed to know where she was and what was going to happen…and was, from the groomer’s report, a little angel. I want to thank you again for making this “fit” possible, along with the local Westie Rescue League.

Keep up the good work…your program and related efforts are greatly appreciated.

Sincerely, Ed, Sue and Kati (and, grudgingly, Sophie (lab), Toby (lab), Jack (lab), Pogo (Cairn Terrier), Donner (Shepherd-X), Barkely (Yorkie), Millie (Beagle) and Kila (Blue Front Amazon parrot).

Update February 4, 2003:

Kati is doing quite well, thanks to you and some wonderful vets at Pender Vet Clinic, although at times she seems a bit suicidal! By that, I mean that she thinks she’s the alpha dog…even though four of the other seven dogs outweigh her by forty pounds or more, and the other three are in her weight class! She is definitely an “in your face” kinda dog. The new black lab puppy, Jack, is ten months old and now weighs about eighty pounds…and he is her personal chew toy. I can’t believe how he puts up with the abuse, but he seems to enjoy it, and it keeps her from attacking the other dogs. At night, her spot is on the pillow above my head, which is the only place where I can be assured that she won’t sneak up on the other dogs while they’re sleeping. Except for the missing tail, there is no evidence of her past physical trauma…and she wags the stub like there’s no tomorrow! Rest assured, she has definitely come to the right house/paradise, and has provided endless hours of entertainment by way of earning her keep. Now, if I could just keep her from attacking Barkley, the Yorkie, things would be just fine. We don’t have a digital camera, but I’ll “snail-mail” a couple of photos to you, she’s a wonderful-looking Westie, even with the horns! Take care, and keep up the good work!

Ed & Sue Duclos (and, of course, Sophie, Toby, Jack, Pogo, Millie, Donner, Barkely…and Kati…oops, and Kila, the parrot, too)

Update February 2003:

As promised, here is a photo of “Kati” in all her glory. At the top of her list of “loves” are: the beach, Jack (the 80# black lab puppy(?)), visits to the groomer, snapping at the other dogs, and snoozing on the pillow above my head…and the list goes on and on. She combines the scrappiness of my sorely missed Schnauzers, the protectiveness of my chocolate lab, and the no-holds-barred “rub my belly and I’m yours” affection of my beagle. In short, a great dog and very welcome addition to our “pack”. Thanks to all the folks at WestieMed, the local Westie Rescue folks, and even the idiot prior owners of Kati for NOT coming to look for her after her accident. Take care and keep up the good work.

Ed and Sue and all the mutts and parrot