PETS WHO BEAT THE ODDS!

Very Strange... Penny Lane...

ON  THE  BRINK 

WITH  NIKI 

BAILEY AND

HER 6 PUPPIES

TALES OF SQUIRRELS

AND STICKS

Jackson - A Good Dog!

VERY

STRANGE…

Penny Lane…

Penny Lane is a beautiful young (4 years of age) collie that was presented with a lameness that progressed over several weeks.  It progressed to a gait abnormality (she was weak and stumbling) along with atrophy (loss of muscle mass) over her shoulders.  Last winter Penny had a brief incident of limping but that was resolved in just a few days.  We performed diagnostic tests including blood chemistries, tick titers, immune=mediated tests, urinalysis, radiographs, and a complete neuralgic examination but could not get a definitive diagnosis for Penny’s condition.  A referral was made to the University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Hospital.  Penny had further, more sophisticated tests, performed including a CT-scan, cerebrospinal fluid tap, and electromyography.  Even with these advance diagnostic tests, the veterinary neurologist could not find the answer as to what was causing her problem.  It was mixed news, there was not an obvious tumor impinging on her nerves or a ruptured intervertebral disk or cyst, but there was still not an answer.  The recommendation was made to try acupuncture and see if there was a response.  No one knew whether she would continue to deteriorate and no longer be able to hold herself up or if she would reach a plateau and still have problems walking, or if she would start to regain her strength and muscle mass.

Penny received eight acupuncture treatments over the course of several weeks.  Her treatments were short sessions formulated to “awaken” her nerves and try to regain her lost muscle mass.  We also gave her injections of vitamin B, an important nutrient for the nervous system.  Amazingly, Penny Lane started to improve shortly after acupuncture sessions were started.  We still don’t know the cause of her “idiopathic peripheral neuropathy,” and we’ll never know if her dramatic improvement  was due to the acupuncture but we do know she is once again running, playing and is back to her mischievous ways!

Some times we can’t find the answer but we can refer board certified veterinary specialists when needed.  Some times even the specialists can’t find the answer.  We always will continue to work toward achieving a good quality of life for those pets and other special needs pets.

Meet Niki, our latest “Pet Who Beat the Odds.” 

Niki is currently being treated for immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA).  Anemia is a reduced number of red blood cells.  It is not a specific disease but the result of some disease process.  The most common clinical sign of anemia is a loss of the normal pink color of the gingivae (gums).  Anemic dogs have little stamina so they seem very listless or tired.  IMHA is a serious, life-threatening specific type of anemia in which Niki’s own immune system was targeting and destroying (hemolyzing) her red blood cells.

IMHA is always a serious disease; approximately one-third to one-half of affected dogs will die during the acute phase of disease, from early relapsing disease, or from the side effects of immunosuppressive therapy.

The main causes of hemolytic anemias include:  autoimmune disease, blood parasites (including tick transmitted Rickettsial diseases such as Ehrlichi equi), chemicals or toxins, or neoplasia (cancer).  Recently, adverse vaccine reactions have been studied as contributing to IMHA, but no statistically significant association has been proved.

Niki’s treatment for her anemia included 2 blood transfusions.  Dogs have eight blood groups but usually can tolerate their very first transfusion without cross-matching of the blood.

Niki had her first transfusion here at the Animal Hospital with blood from a “donor” dog called Oreo (Oreo lives with Amy, one of our kennel attendants).  When a pet needs a transfusion we need a “donor dog” to provide the needed blood for the transfusion.   Donor requirements include:  a dog greater than 65 pounds, less than 8 years old, in good health, and heartworm free.  We usually inquire if there is another dog within that family that fits the requirements for donating blood.  We also have relied upon many of the dogs that live with our team members.  Amy, Danette, and Laurie have all brought their dogs in when needed as blood donors.  In some cases our clients have generously volunteered to have their pet placed on a donor call list for transfusion needs.

When Niki required a second transfusion a few days later,  she was taken to the University of Minnesota-Veterinary Teaching Hospital where she was cross-matched prior to the transfusion.   Niki is currently on immunosuppressive therapy to halt the  destruction while her system is regenerating new red cells.  She still needs months of careful monitoring while she continues to recover at home.

We are always happy to have donor dogs (and cats, too!) put on our call list.  If you have a pet that fits the criteria for donating blood, or if you have questions regarding the donor program, please call our office.

BAILEY AND HER 6 PUPPIES - JULY, 2004

Bailey is a 5 year old Beagle mix that is owned by Mike and Tara.

Bailey was struck by lightening while camping with her owners in a tent two years ago this month. She was brought into the hospital early that Sunday morning on an emergency visit with a severe concussion from the lightning strike. Bailey was in the tent, next to Tara when the lightning struck her. It probably saved Tara's life by being positioned so close to Bailey in the tent.

A few weeks later Bailey was presented for apparent blindness. She had developed cataracts as a result of the lightning strike. She has adapted well and her owners are considering an appointment to see if she qualifies for cataract surgery.

Bailey has since become a mother of six and is living happily with her family. Three of her puppies are staying in the immediate family so they can grow up together.

TALES OF SQUIRRELS AND STICKS

The morning started out with an early morning phone call to the Animal Hospital.  A family friend called to say their dog Rio had been chasing a squirrel and had run into a stick.  Rio's family was on their way in.  They phoned again to let us know they were just pulling into the hospital.  We were ready for the first emergency of the day; at least we thought we were ready.

When Rio and family arrived, there indeed was a stick impaled in the dog, but it was more like a tree limb, projecting out 6 inches from under her front leg.

Rio was remarkably calm although exhibiting some discomfort.  After an initial assessment, pain medication was given and thoracic radiographs were taken.  Radiographs revealed a pneumothorax (air within the thorax resulting in collapse of the lung) from the "stick" penetrating the chest wall.  The remainder of the stick could be seen outlined on the x-rays within the chest cavity along side the heart and extending all the way to the diaphragm.  That meant twelve more inches of that stick were inside the chest.

Rio was prepped for an emergency thoracotomy (surgery to open up the chest to remove the stick.)  The prognosis for Rio was guarded at best.

There were questions that could not yet be answered.  Had the stick damaged the lungs?  Had it damaged the heart?  What about all the contamination along the route the stick traveled in the chest?  Her complete blood count indicated an already low white blood cell count making her even more vulnerable to severe infection from her injuries.  Her chemistry profile revealed low protein levels, which could affect healing abilities.

During surgery, Danette monitored Rio and provided her with intermittent breaths (when the chest cavity is opened, the body is no longer able to take in air and inflate the lungs properly so assisted ventilation must be provided).  Rio remained stable through her surgery recovering with pain medications on board.  She had many well-wishers with some family and friends visiting her while she remained hospitalized.

Three days after her accident and surgery, Rio's condition deteriorated.  She developed severe pleuritis, a complication from the initial injury causing inflammation of lining of the lungs and chest cavity.  Rio's owner was informed of her deteriorating condition and her prognosis was now downgraded to very poor.

She was not expected to survive.  Knowing the odds were not in her favor, her family made a decision that they wanted us to do what we could to try and control the inflammation and fluid now building up around her lungs.  A chest tube was placed and we started intensive lavaging (flushing) of the chest cavity to help remove inflammatory and infected material.

Four days later, the chest tube was removed.  And Rio went home two days after that.  Recovery at home was a little difficult; she wanted to go outside and run again but was under strict exercise restrictions.  At Rio's last visit she was almost completely back to her old self.  She was enjoying being on the cross-country trails with her family, and was back to her squirrel chasing.

Rio, her family, and the Team here all experienced a once-in-a-lifetime event.  There were many factors that lined up for such a freak accident to occur and there were many factors, including Rio's strong constitution, which were aligned for her to beat such terrific odds.

His nature is sweet and loving to all, animals or humans.  He doesn’t whine, growl, snap or bark.  He does have seizures, caused by hydrocephalus, and I try to do my best to help him live with them.  He gets a high quality dry dog food and I cook him brown rice to supplement it. He also like watermelon, cantaloupe, bananas and peas but gets these in moderation. He gets his medications at regular 12-hour intervals to allow for their best effect. He gets lots of milk thistle to help his liver and fish oil and antioxidants. He likes the powdered greens (algae, seaweed, etc.) that I sometimes mix into his food. Once or twice a week he gets his ultimate favorite, a Greenie chew bone. He gets check ups and blood work tests done to monitor his condition with the best vets in the world at the Animal Hospital of Chetek!

Because of his hydrocephalus, he sees the world a little differently than other dogs.  His eyes don’t refocus so he doesn’t see well and he doesn’t communicate properly with other dogs.  But since he was born in our home and lives there with his brother, mom and dad, they get along with each other just fine.  He is typically happy and cheerful, always ready to explore or keep me company on my chores.  He loves to help me feed the birds, chickens and deer.  His chosen spot is to walk on my right side and if I don’t walk fast enough (usually) he’ll circle round me so he can keep up his trot and still not lose track of me.  On walks, if I forget to give him a snack (piece of his dry dog food) or he thinks it is time, he will gently remind me by grabbing my pants cuff and then letting go.  After all, he is polite and wouldn’t think of hanging on to it.  If I agree, he’ll get his snack and then he patiently waits as time passes until enough has gone by to request another.  He is by no means greedy or pesky about it.

He always comes when I call, usually at a run, happy to see me, and to find out what good thing is going to happen next.  His self chosen method of entry into the kitchen is usually to jump over the two steps to land in the kitchen with a flying leap.  Why walk up steps, when you can jump and skip them?  He is generous, sharing his dog house and electric blanket in the winter with the cats.  He’ll share his food with anyone, cat, dog, or chicken.  They know he is a friend who is not selfish.

Jackson is all heart - kind, loving, and brave.  He will go anywhere I ask him to, even if he is unsure about it.  He trusts me implicitly and I will never knowingly betray him.  I love Jackson and I know he loves me.  When he hears my voice, his head will pick up with an alert snap to look for me.  You can practically see him smile and I always smile when I see him.