Thank you Darley House!

Just wanted to share with you that Darley House Veterinary Centre in Bolton have raised £292 for Tailwaggers via a Christmas raffle and a collecting box in the surgery!
If your vet surgery, dog training group etc would like to organise a raffle for Tailwaggers we'd be really grateful and Dogs Today would be delighted to donate a subscription as a prize!
If you'd like to organise a raffle prize email rachael@dogstodaymagazine.co.uk and she'll sort it all out for you!

Khan's huge fall and even bigger bill

In July, 18-month-old Khan suffered horrendous injuries after falling 34ft from a railway bridge. The accident traumatised her family, the Lawrences, and left the Boxer-collie cross fighting for life.
Khan had followed Joanne Lawrence’s children, Melody and Ryan, up onto a bridge during a walk along a disused railway line. Joanne called her children down but to her horror Khan tumbled off the side.

Joanne remembered, “Every emotion went through me: I was numb and scared and a lot of guilt set in later.”

Then, on the way to find help, Joanne’s father Ian collapsed. Torn between helping him or her dog, and with Melody and Ryan deeply upset, Joanne telephoned an ambulance and ran to Khan’s side. With Ian in the paramedics’ care, Joanne rushed Khan to the vet’s.

Khan had suffered a break to one paw and a back leg, which had a massive haematoma, and hairline fractures to her pelvis and another paw. She stayed at the vet’s for over a week after a major operation and went back later for further surgery. Joanne said, “The staff at The Animal House in Rugby saved her life; I think they’re heroes.”

Khan is slowly recovering and has had to spend much of her time in a cage, unable to enjoy her young life.

Joanne has been let with a bill totalling £4,500. Thankfully Khan is insured, but up to a limit of £2,500. Tailwaggers has made a donation towards Khan’s treatment and Joanne is now appealing to fellow dog owners for help towards the rest of the bill.

Joanne said, “To be able to do the normal things with her would mean everything to me and my family; she is a great friend and I couldn’t imagine a day without her.”

Fluffy needs our help

Eight-year-old Fluffy had a lump successfully removed from his leg in September, but when his owner, Susan Smith, picked him up from the vet's, she immediately knew something was wrong: Fluffy's stomach had started to swell.

"I couldn't believe what I was seeing," said Susan. "Fluffy's vet tried to expel the gas, but after five minutes he told me that Fluffy's stomach had twisted and he had only minutes to operate."

Fortunately, Fluffy's life was saved after a two-hour operation involving three vets, which caused Susan's bill to rocket to £1,519.94.

"I feel so lucky that we were at the vet's at the time," she said. "I still can't believe I have my boy."

Susan has spent the last few years battling breast cancer, which thankfully she has now recovered from. Susan's beloved Bullmastiff was her rock throughout her treatment, but being unable to work meant she couldn't afford expensive insurance premiums.

"I had six treatments of chemo and after each I was exhausted," said Susan. "Fluff would be lying next to me and I could see in his eyes that he knew I was unwell. I would talk to him and tell him I was going to be okay. After all that treatment, Fluff will not leave my side."

Susan found a job at Morrisons, but unfortunately the branch where she worked burnt down and her work hours have been reduced. Tailwaggers Club Trust has donated towards Fluffy's treatment, the PDSA has given £80 and Susan has paid £100. She would warmly welcome any help with the remainder of his vet bill.


To make a donation towards Fluffy's surgery, visit http://www.justgiving.com/tailwaggersfluffy/ or click the appeal box under the facebook panel to the right of this article or send a cheque payable to 'Tailwaggers Club Trust' c/o Dogs Today at our usual address.  

Fluffy in happier and healthier times

In the unlikely eventuality that we receive more funds than needed for this case we reserve the right to redistribute funds to other needy cases.

Trying to save her husband's dying gift

Just had a very emotional conversation with Mrs Pritchard who approached Tailwaggers Club Trust for some help.
Having heard the full story I thought I'd open this one up as many brains may help untangle this one...
Mrs Pritchard's husband was diagnosed with terminal cancer and they had not long lost their beloved dog. He didn't want her to be left alone after he had passed so set about finding a new dog. They visited rescue sanctuaries but her husband couldn't find, "the one".
It was when they met a Sheltie that they realised this was the dog for them. They visited a breeder and Jack was found. A beautiful tricolour dog.
There was a lot of sadness in Mrs Pritchard's life. Not long after her husband died her ex husband was found to be terminally ill too. She nursed him and took in his dog, an elderly Corgi. Then Mrs Pritchard herself fell ill with Ovarian cancer.
Jack went in to be castrated, but shortly after coming home he couldn't stand up, he was falling over. His back legs didn't seem to work.
Lots and lots of tests were done at the vets but nothing could be found to explain his back leg weakness.
Jack appeared to get better, although he always did have a jippy tum. Mrs Pritchard put him onto James Wellbeloved and things seemed to calm down. 
Then two weeks after his booster vaccine, Jack had some fits and was foaming at the mouth. He was hospitalised and more tests were done and the vet seemed to think the earlier problems were related and it could possibly be IBS.
Mrs Pritchard is a pensioner, a widow. The vet bills are massive and the problem as yet unresolved.
She has already cashed in an ISA and is now looking at extracting some equity from her house to pay the vet bills.
Jack is currently out of hospital and urinating every hour - which means she is getting up all night to let him out.
Jack means the world to her and she is worried sick about him. He is currently on prednisolone, zitac and netoclopranide. He has lost a lot of weight and his coat looks dull and seems to be changing colour.
She feels her vet couldn't try any harder, he wants Jack back in for more tests. He wants to look at possible Thyroid problems next.
Her total vet bills to date are close to £4k and rising.
I have suggested she might wish to consider a referral to a holistic vet - just to see what the alternative world can suggest in this case. Looking at perhaps changing the diet as if this is an extreme form of IBS then maybe a more simple diet may help. And also to try to reduce any further challenges to this poor dog's immune system by looking at blood testing before further routine revaccination.
It could just be coincidence that both health crisis have been after surgery and vaccination - but could this be an autoimmune condition that is flaring up after any challenge?
Money is very tight and after all the money spent to date Jack remains very poorly and without a clear diagnosis.
Mrs Pritchard says she is open to any logical suggestions and feels very worried for her beloved dog.
She lives in Cornwall between Plymouth and Tavistock.
Can anyone recommend a nearby holistic vet?
Mrs Pritchard said it had been lovely to talk to Tailwaggers as it has been so hard going through all this with Jack alone, but that she will go to any lengths to save Jack. She has every confidence in her vet, but would not like to leave any stone unturned.
I will set up a JustGiving appeal on the Tailwaggers blog for Jack as no matter what Mrs Pritchard who receives pensions credit is struggling with the bills she already has.
Anyone got any ideas? Anyone in Shelties seen or heard of something similar? Mrs Pritchard says that the stud dog owner has had some colitis problems in her dogs. Mum is apparently of Russian descent, but the breeder has moved so Mrs P can't contact her. The pups were reared on raw mince so it seems likely the breeder was a raw food feeder.
I've set up an appeal for Jack on Just Giving.

The excessive urination is probably being caused by the prednisolone - this
is a common and well recognised side effect of steroids.  It may be possible
to continue with the prednisolone but at a much reduced dose.
As your correspondent Queenie says, there may be a Burns food which is
suitable for Jack.  All our adult foods are very digestible and low in fat.
They will not cause irritation to the digestive system.  The feeding amount
should be less than the recommended amount and should cost no more than
40-45 p per day and possibly less.  Mrs Pritchard should not attempt to
manage this on her own; she needs to work in consultation with the Burns
Nutrition team.
When we decide what food to go with we would be willing to supply her with a
free bag to try.
John Burns BVMS MRCVS
Burns Pet Nutrition

Vada needs your help

In April, Vada, a previously feisty and playful terrier cross, developed a limp. After several visits to the vet’s, it was discovered that she has suffered serious damage to the carpal tendons in her front legs. The seven-year-old requires expensive surgery – costing over £3,500 – to enable her to walk again.

 

Her owner, Kristy Allen, said, “I was devastated for Vada. I also felt helpless, this had happened so quickly, at first she was just limping. Then to be told her tendons were damaged beyond repair, it was just awful.”
Unfortunately, Kristy was unable to insure her dog because of pre-existing health conditions. Sadly, Vada’s condition is now deteriorating; she can’t walk for more than 10 minutes, can no longer run and play with Kristy’s other dog, Max, and is completely flatfooted.
In September, it was also discovered that Vada’s lymph nodes were inflamed; there was a chance she may have lymphoma. Thankfully Vada was given the all clear, much to the delight of Kristy and her husband, Nicholas.
“It was like a weight had been lifted – such relief!” remembered Kristy. “It was a shock for possible lymphoma to be thrown into the equation, I remember thinking how could things be so unfair?”
Kristy and Nicholas, a self-employed roofer who is experiencing difficulty finding work, are expecting a baby, due in December. The couple have decided to use the money they’d saved for the new arrival on Vada, and by also auctioning off items on eBay and selling their car, they have accumulated £1,000. Fortunately, their family have bought the items needed for their baby, and Tailwaggers Club Trust has kindly made a donation for Vada’s desperately needed surgeries.
Kristy said, “Saying it would mean the world for Vada to have her little legs fixed doesn't seem to cover it. It would mean everything to me; Vada means everything to me. She's my family.”
You can donate to Vada's Tailwaggers appeal via JustGiving by clicking the box to the right of this story or clicking here.

 

Oliver's twist - update

Who can forget Oliver? We featured him on this blog a little while ago and in Dogs Today magazine's October edition. This three-year-old Springer-Patterdale cross suffered an extremely painful spiral fracture to his hind leg. Out-of-work owner Darren Puttock sold his car and his computer to pay Oliver's vet bills, but when there were serious complications the vet bills spiraled out of all control and Darren had nothing left to sell. 

Thankfully Oliver’s break is nearly healed, but unfortunately he is still having to make regular trips to the vets, visiting three or four times a week.

 

Although he is able to put weight on his leg, this is proving a double-edged sword. As Oliver can now move his limb, his wounds keep reopening, meaning they have to be treated often.

Also, with Oliver bearing weight on his leg, his bone has broken through the skin where he lost the pads on his paw, which sadly cannot be dressed.

Oliver’s owner Darren remains positive, however, and very much hopes that with the continued help of generous dog lovers, his best friend will soon be back to full health. 

Oliver and Darren would like to thank everyone who has responded to Oliver's Just Giving page. "Thanks for your messages of support and donations, you guys and girls are amazing, thank you so much. Oliver & Darren."

If anyone is able to help Darren and Oliver in this final phase of his treatment please click on the link to his Just Giving page. They are still short of what is needed to get this lovely dog back on all four of his feet!

Storm is under the weather

Two-year-old Storm has been diagnosed with a life-threatening heart defect. His owner, pensioner Rita Lynch, fears she will lose her companion forever unless he has an expensive operation she simply cannot afford.

The white German Shepherd was taken ill in early August and diagnosed with a heart condition by vets, but the full extent of his problem was not realised until a referral to the Queen Mother Hospital in Hertfordshire. Storm has suffered a heart defect undetected since birth, called patent ductus arteriosus.

The ductus arteriosus is a blood vessel that should close shortly after birth. In dogs with the condition the vessel remains open, causing abnormal blood flow though the heart and lungs. Unfortunately, Storm was also diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, or an irregular heartbeat.

Rita said, “I was very shocked to hear of Storm’s diagnosis as he showed no signs of being ill; he was so active and would never rest. Storm is being treated with tablets at the moment but these will not make his condition better – he will deteriorate within a year.”

Storm’s young life will sadly be cut short without an operation to close the blood vessel causing the problems.

The operation costs £3,500 – an expense Rita’s pension will not cover, especially considering she has already paid £700 towards the initial consultation fees, with some support from her family. Tailwaggers Club Trust has donated £750 towards Storm’s operation; now Rita is appealing for help from fellow dog lovers and would be hugely grateful for any donation – no matter how small – that they could manage. 

Rita explained, “Storm is my friend as well as my pet, as he knows when I am not very well myself and lays by my side or puts his head on my lap. He came to me at seven weeks old and what a little pickle he was, but I loved him for it. He has grown into a beautiful dog and I don’t want to lose him – it would destroy me.”

Update

I have some very sad news to pass on. Storm has died very suddenly at home, possibly of a blood clot. Rita's son attempted the kiss of life, but nothing could be done. Rita is obviously devastated, but she still asked us to thank everyone for their help and support. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with Rita and her family at this terribly sad time.
Beverley