We are once again turning to you with a story about how we managed to save the life of a young dog in very serious condition.
We took him from his owners on 16 March 2025. According to them, he was a healthy dog…
He was 1.5 years old, very small, weighing 4 kg, very skinny, with sparse fur.
His mouth and ears were fine, he tested negative for heartworm, one of his testicles was in his abdominal cavity, and we were waiting for his blood test results. We managed to place him in a family environment right away. He seemed like a sweet little dog, but trained eyes noticed some oddities in both his movement and behavior. We were already worried at this point.
Then the phone rang. Koko was lying motionless, unresponsive, drooling. Minutes later, he was at the Vahúrvet clinic, where he was urgently examined and put on an IV. Meanwhile, his blood test results arrived. They were catastrophic… We couldn’t wait, so we immediately headed to the University of Veterinary Medicine, where Koko was admitted to the intensive care unit. Special tests were started, and the initial suspicion was confirmed by ultrasound: a liver shunt… This is an anomaly affecting the vascular system, in which blood from the abdominal organs bypasses the liver and goes directly to the heart, so that the absorbed nutrients enter the systemic circulation. The liver is unable to perform its functions, resulting in toxins accumulating in the bloodstream. This explains a lot, including her small stature, strange movements, dizziness, nausea…he needed surgery within days.
On 22 March 2025, he was discharged from the hospital, and we were waiting for a surgery appointment.
He was weak and dizzy, was drinking and urinating a lot, needed a special liver and stomach-intestinal diet. He also needed almost constant supervision because if he had a seizure, we had to take him to the hospital immediately.
He didn’t want to eat on his own, so we fed him several times a day with a syringe, in small amounts, so that he wouldn’t become completely weak and vomit all the medication he was receiving. It is a huge task to try to keep him alive and strong until the surgery.
On 25 March 2025, we woke up to another seizure at dawn.
We got in the car immediately and headed to the emergency room. The seizure slowly subsided. Meanwhile, the doctor had already arranged for him to be admitted to the university hospital. By the time we arrived, he had started having another seizure. Koko was taken to the intensive care unit again. Leaving him there was a terrible feeling.
On 31 March 2025, the serious procedure took place.
The vein bypassing the liver was tied with cellophane tape, which gradually constricts and slowly closes the vein.
In such cases, the first 1-2 days after surgery are critical, as serious problems may arise depending on how the body reacts to the procedure.
We waited for news every day, and Koko got better and better. He was transferred to the surgical ward, from where he was finally able to come home on 4 April.
On 11 April 2025, we went to the University of Veterinary Medicine for a post-operative check-up and to have the stitches removed. Based on the abdominal ultrasound scan, everything was progressing as expected, and the doctor gave a positive assessment of the blood test results too.
A follow-up examination with the liver specialist took place on 19 June 2025.
His laboratory values were improving nicely and we had to continue feeding him special liver support food. The next follow-up was scheduled for September.
The follow-up examination with the urologist was on 23 June 2025.
The prolonged weak urine flow had improved, but an ultrasound examination was performed as a precaution.
He will be neutered later this year, depending on the recommendation of his doctors at his check-up in September.
He is currently in excellent spirits and feeling great. His body and muscles are gradually building up, and his coat is beautiful.
Pásztor Zoltán
Westie Rescue Hungary
Gyuszi
We received a phone call from a veterinary clinic that they had a Westie that had been dropped off by his owner to be put down. Within hours we were there to pick him up and give him a second chance.
Gyuszi, 8 years old, came to the vet with suspected pancreatitis, emaciation, dehydration and high blood sugar, but his owners did not want to spend any more money on him because their baby was born.
With the notice of abandonment in hand, we immediately drove to Budapest, to the University of Veterinary Medicine, where we had made an appointment by phone, and they were waiting for him.
Gyuszi could barely walk, he was exhausted, but he endured the tests peacefully. He was in intensive care, barely eating, but his condition was stable. He spent 5 days in hospital and underwent many tests.
He was transferred from the hospital to a temporary family with experience of caring for diabetic dogs.
Our main task was to normalize his blood sugar levels.
Providing the prescribed amount of exercise, feeding a special diet and administering a digestive enzyme. Blood glucose measurements every day at 6-8 specified times, feeding to the gram and insulin every 12 hours. These values were accurately recorded in a table and discussed with the doctor every few days. Gyuszi adapted very quickly to the daily routine and was very cooperative.
Meanwhile, Gyuszi has settled into the pack and is starting to show his true Westie self, but is very well behaved, loves to play ball and go for long walks. He seeks human companionship and is eager to cuddle.
In October he was neutered. The surgery, due to Gyuszi’s diabetes, took place at the University of Veterinary Medicine with the help of an experienced team. There were no complications, and he recovered quickly.
He received his missing vaccinations after the stitches were removed.
As his bodyweight was considered a little low and we couldn’t get him to put on weight with the food he was given, we tried again using a different formula.
We are now at the stage of adjusting the new food and the amount of insulin, in consultation with the vet, every 3 days.
We will soon be looking for a forever home for him, which unfortunately will not be an easy task with his medical condition. We are in no hurry; he is with a great family, and we are looking for the perfect owner.
As we have many other dogs in the care of Westie Rescue Hungary besides Gyuszi, and his examinations and treatment have been a strain on our financial resources, we are very grateful for WestieMed’s support to help not only Gyuszi but also the other rescue dogs.
Westie Rescue Hungary
Update July 17, 2025:
We reached a relatively stable state with Gyuszi at the beginning of the year, so we started looking for an owner for him. We advertised him for a long time, but due to his illness, we did not find any takers.
Then the miracle happened, we received a fantastic letter from a young couple. A phone conversation revealed that their intentions were well thought out and they were not afraid of special tasks. The boy had never owned a dog before.
They came to meet us, and very quickly they got to know each other. Their intention grew stronger, so we moved Gyuszi to Szeged. They were waiting for him with maximum preparation, but there were some difficulties in the first period. The new environment, the new people made Gyuszi’s blood sugar level fluctuate again more than at home and there were behavioral problems. We kept in daily contact with them, helping them with everything. Their doctor and our doctor talked a lot by email and in face-to-face meetings. Thanks to their perseverance and the help of their doctors, they found the most suitable diet and adjusted the insulin dose. They even completed a basic dog school where they learned a lot.
Gyuszi is in excellent health, has a beautiful coat and has also visibly gained muscle. They have developed a very close relationship. They came to visit us a few weeks ago. It was a great pleasure for us to see them happy.
From Gyuszi’s new owners…
Gyuszi has lived with us for 7 months, we really know every move he makes. He is not an ordinary dog.
From now on, with the help of Hajni and Szabolcs, he walks and learns together.
Thank you all for helping WRH with Gyuszi’s considerable medical expenses and for following his fate!
Üdvözlettel,
Pásztor Zoltán
Westie Rescue Hungary
Maxi
Around her second birthday Maxi lady escaped from her home. We don’t know the reason, but after meeting her we realized that maybe this happened for the better. Unfortunately she was hit by a car and found on the street by dog loving, kind people. They rushed to a veterinarian clinic with the bleeding, shaking dog who was in a shock from her injuries. They found out that she has a microchip and her owners were called to tell them what happened. Due to the fact that Maxi was in a horrible shape and her treatment would have cost a lot of money, they decided to give up on her.
This was the point when Westie Rescue Hungary came in to the story. We were informed by another organization about Maxi and we were requested to help her. She was already hospitalized and had good care and treatment, but her condition was still unstable. She needed more examinations which were not possible to make there, so we took her to Budapest, to the Veterinarian University where they have more expertise for such cases. MRI, CT, several other tests were done. Maxi had fractures on the skull and jaw, a huge hematoma, and she was not able to see at all at that stage. She was in a lot of pain constantly.
She was hospitalized for a week, we did not know if she would survive at all, able to recover, to regain her vision or if she will remain disabled in any way. We only had hope and faith that she was strong enough to stay with us. We had to be very patient. And I can tell now, that Maxi made it. Day by day, week by week she is got better and better. We need to wait a little bit more and then we can find her a forever home where she will be happier and will never think of running away again.
Bandi
The story of Hungarian Bandi
Bandi is a 14 year old Westie gentleman, who never had the life a Westie supposed to have.
He was found in 2020 on the streets of Eger, Hungary in a very bad state. The local shelter knew him already, as he was wondering around many times. Previously he had a better life (maybe), but when a newborn came to the family, he was given to the grandmother, who obviously did not gave a damn. This time he was so dirty, so weak and hurt, that they immediately contacted us. Together we achieved that the owners give him to our care. In Hungary, the legal procedures of animal protection are quite complicated, so this was the fastest way to have Bandi and help him.
We took him to our vet immediately. He had holes in his back area (under the tails), worms were coming out from the wounds, we have never seen anything like it. He had a papilloma on his eyelids, hurting him all the time. He could barely walk due to a previous injury and he was underweight. He was very kind and grateful for the care, he knew that his life will change from now.
First we started to take care of the wounds, he got antibiotics and immune boosters. Obviously it needed time, but they healed very well. When he was strong enough for his first surgery, we had his eye fixed. Thanks to the great care, he took anesthesia without any problems. Then he had a couple of months break before we had the orthopedic surgery to remove a fractured femoral head. He had some complications afterwards, seemed that some nervous problem, but with proper medication we could make his status better. He regularly have physiotherapy treatments since then. The last surgery after a another break was neutering. We did not want to put him through another trauma, but he had a tumor in his testicles and we wanted to make his life as long and as healthy as possible. So he had 3 surgeries within a year, which is quite a lot in his age, but he recovered well.
Bandi found his furever home with the lady who took care of her during the rehabilitation. He is now living the ideal senior life, having his own bed, yummy food and a mom, who cares for him and will love him until his last heartbeat will come.
Thank you WestieMed that you made this happen and helped us make Bandi such a happy guy.
Kind regards, Viktória
Üdvözlettel,
Hatvani Viktória
Westie Rescue Hungary
Update November 11, 2021:
Bandi was adopted by his foster carer, as they passed so many time together during the rehabilitation, that he became a true family member. We took him regularly to phisiotherapy afterwards as well, so his legs and walking improved a lot.
He became a real sofa-dog, he enjoyed it a lot and he went regularly for big walks with his boxer-brother. Despite the fact that he was quite aged, he was perfectly housebroken, he learned the daily routines well and was a wonder to all who met him. He was such a lovely boy. And why I am speaking in past time…. After 6 months of happiness he became ill fast, his liver stopped functioning from one day to another. Unfortunately, even he got treatment asap, his little body couldn’t hold on anymore.
We are happy that we could give him this time, see him happy and living without pain.
Thank you again for your support, it meant a lot to Bandi.
Kind regards,
Viktor
Lencsi
Lencsi is an approximately nine to ten years old Westie lady who was rescued in May 2016 in Hungary. She was found in the countryside on the street in horrible condition, so Westie Rescue Hungary picked her up immediately the same day. She did not have a microchip and her owner was not found. Probably that was her luck.
During her first examination at the veterinarian, the following was diagnosed:
- Ultrasound examination – small lime crystal sediments are visible on the liver and kidneys. Hernia, probably the uterus is protruded. Operation is URGENT.
- Lacrimation check – very low, KCS disease, treatment twice a day.
- Skin issues – infections, alopecia, scratching, postulate, the overall state is devastating. Antibiotics for 2 weeks, mono-diet with hypoallergenic pet food, biweekly bathing. The ear also infected daily treatment.
- Blood was taken and sent to the lab – the result is promising, only the leukocyte is higher but only due to the inflammation in her body.
- Heartworm test: POSITIVE
- Transponder inserted
So we needed to look into her eyes and decide how to proceed, we had to be honest since we had doubts if we can succeed. She was in a lot of pain and we probably never had such a complicated case. But her sweet face and calm, kind nature convinced us that she will fight, she will recover so we started the long rehabilitation
Due to the heartworms, before the surgery we made a heart ultrasound examination as well, which showed that the adult worms are in the lung artery, blood pressure was normal. We operated on her hernia and was obviously neutered her at the same time. Although it was a dangerous operation, her will to survive was strong enough to stay with us. Both back legs had a torn knee ligament – examined by a specialist before the surgery – but we concentrated first on the heartworms and her general condition.
In July allergy test was performed as the improvement was not that satisfying. After the results, we continued with suitable hypoallergenic pet food.
In August we could proceed with the heartworm removal with a catheter which was performed by an Italian specialist – the first time we had this kind of surgery on a Westie. As a result, two adult heartworms were removed and medical treatment was continued. Her skin became better and better with time.
In December we made a control blood test and the results were perfect. The lacrimation check also showed significant improvement. All vaccinations could be given to her and the control heartworm test gave a NEGATIVE result. So we were very happy!
We got the green light to do the surgery of her leg and in January 2017 after an x-ray, the surgery was performed. Her leg will never be perfect, but she won’t have pain anymore. After a short break, we plan to operate the other leg in March. And after that, almost one-year rehabilitation will end and Lencsi will hopefully find her forever home.
Lencsi’s medical costs were high, so we can say that she is one expensive Westie, but WestieMed will help us to cover most of it for which we are very grateful.
Update November 22, 2017
Lencsi had been adopted yes and she is doing fab.