An update on Willow
Posted: 22 Mar 2009, 23:53
As many of you will remember, we helped to raise money for Willow (aka wheely dog) and helped the nurses at the veternary hospital to find her a new home. Unfortumately, the rescue was only assisting in this process rather than taking control and therefor the link to willows new home and subsequent feedback broke down...
Anyway - the good news is that we now have some feedback from willows new mum...
Dear Glenys,
I hope this finds you well. Last year at Crufts bought a lovely laughing yellow pup from your stall and mentioned that I hoped to be able to help your cause eventually. Little did I know that within 2 months I'd be taking on Willow! I know my communication with you all has been sporadic to say the least and it was unfortunate that you were unable to make Crufts this year as I took some pictures of her and was hoping to meet you - hence I really do hope this finds you well.
I am pleased to report that Willow - now called Milly as I already had a Willow - IS well. She remains the loving little character that you described. She is licky and appreciative of any fuss whatsoever - her little eyes close as she holds on to the moment if you tickle her chest and she is ever so patient when I fumble to put her boots on. Once the boots are on she is off and yips away madly as she chases tennis balls in the paddock. Invariably the boots come off and I have to carry her back until we find them again but she does so love it. She also loves just lying in the sun, sniffing the air and watching for anything that deserves her comment! If possible she bosses my other dogs around too, but on the whole they get on very well and it is always Milly that sounds the alarm if my boy Bracken has a fit! Sadly the first time he did she bit him so I now separate them if I'm not there!
I think it's fair to say that the hydrotherapy business has not been great in the past year and unable to give her full employment my vet nurse has had to leave (but happily she is back to being a vet nurse proper which is actually what she wanted all along). However, I am coping on my own and Milly still gets to swim, though not as regularly as before. However, she doesn't need it as much and tends to rely on her front legs anyway. She is still well exercised and YES she can walk unaided, but I don't think she will ever be able to 'go for a walk' or run. She's fine pottering around in the kitchen or garden and sniffing around on all fours, but once she wants to move quicker she drops to her knees and goes like the clappers!! So although her coat has improved and the bare patches on her sides have grown again her bottom is still bare and her hind paws need constant attention and covering up. I have not managed to find the type of boots she came with, which were the best, but we persevere with what we can get and tie old socks over them to protect them. It doesn't exactly look pretty but I've got lots of new socks as she gets all my others. As I said she is SO patient when being 'dressed' and we still use her wheels if we go out and about. She especially loves the beach. I think the sand gives her better purchase somehow and I can hardly keep up with her!
The down side is that she remains doubly incontinent. Liz Sweeney sent some nappies which I didn't like at first but came to appreciate. I adapt Pampers to accommodate the tail but tend not to use them unless I have to. Unattended she is quite likely to rip them to pieces. Pooh-wise she tries to head for the door, leaving an inevitable trail behind her but the intention is good. But she is a dribbler. Just before Milly came here I had to have my Ruma put to sleep and later tests showed she had leptospirosis so I had I took Milly for a booster with the others. Her next innoculation is in May and I will ask the vets whether they think she may have a urinary infection - all this moving along on her bottom does worry me - and I know you agreed to insure her so could you please forward details of her insurance as I may need it. Sadly neither Liz nor Karen has been in touch since I rang Liz at the beginning of October, which disappoints as having rescued her they seem to be too busy to check how she is and now I don't feel I can contact them. Incidentally I gradually put Mills on the same food as my other dogs and the end result is the same so I'll continue to do so. I know you agreed to pay for her specialist food but honestly I think your funds can be better used elsewhere. Now if you could find someone to sponser her in kitchen towels I'd be very interested!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Must go. With best best wishes from us all, especially Milly Jan Waite
Anyway - the good news is that we now have some feedback from willows new mum...
Dear Glenys,
I hope this finds you well. Last year at Crufts bought a lovely laughing yellow pup from your stall and mentioned that I hoped to be able to help your cause eventually. Little did I know that within 2 months I'd be taking on Willow! I know my communication with you all has been sporadic to say the least and it was unfortunate that you were unable to make Crufts this year as I took some pictures of her and was hoping to meet you - hence I really do hope this finds you well.
I am pleased to report that Willow - now called Milly as I already had a Willow - IS well. She remains the loving little character that you described. She is licky and appreciative of any fuss whatsoever - her little eyes close as she holds on to the moment if you tickle her chest and she is ever so patient when I fumble to put her boots on. Once the boots are on she is off and yips away madly as she chases tennis balls in the paddock. Invariably the boots come off and I have to carry her back until we find them again but she does so love it. She also loves just lying in the sun, sniffing the air and watching for anything that deserves her comment! If possible she bosses my other dogs around too, but on the whole they get on very well and it is always Milly that sounds the alarm if my boy Bracken has a fit! Sadly the first time he did she bit him so I now separate them if I'm not there!
I think it's fair to say that the hydrotherapy business has not been great in the past year and unable to give her full employment my vet nurse has had to leave (but happily she is back to being a vet nurse proper which is actually what she wanted all along). However, I am coping on my own and Milly still gets to swim, though not as regularly as before. However, she doesn't need it as much and tends to rely on her front legs anyway. She is still well exercised and YES she can walk unaided, but I don't think she will ever be able to 'go for a walk' or run. She's fine pottering around in the kitchen or garden and sniffing around on all fours, but once she wants to move quicker she drops to her knees and goes like the clappers!! So although her coat has improved and the bare patches on her sides have grown again her bottom is still bare and her hind paws need constant attention and covering up. I have not managed to find the type of boots she came with, which were the best, but we persevere with what we can get and tie old socks over them to protect them. It doesn't exactly look pretty but I've got lots of new socks as she gets all my others. As I said she is SO patient when being 'dressed' and we still use her wheels if we go out and about. She especially loves the beach. I think the sand gives her better purchase somehow and I can hardly keep up with her!
The down side is that she remains doubly incontinent. Liz Sweeney sent some nappies which I didn't like at first but came to appreciate. I adapt Pampers to accommodate the tail but tend not to use them unless I have to. Unattended she is quite likely to rip them to pieces. Pooh-wise she tries to head for the door, leaving an inevitable trail behind her but the intention is good. But she is a dribbler. Just before Milly came here I had to have my Ruma put to sleep and later tests showed she had leptospirosis so I had I took Milly for a booster with the others. Her next innoculation is in May and I will ask the vets whether they think she may have a urinary infection - all this moving along on her bottom does worry me - and I know you agreed to insure her so could you please forward details of her insurance as I may need it. Sadly neither Liz nor Karen has been in touch since I rang Liz at the beginning of October, which disappoints as having rescued her they seem to be too busy to check how she is and now I don't feel I can contact them. Incidentally I gradually put Mills on the same food as my other dogs and the end result is the same so I'll continue to do so. I know you agreed to pay for her specialist food but honestly I think your funds can be better used elsewhere. Now if you could find someone to sponser her in kitchen towels I'd be very interested!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Must go. With best best wishes from us all, especially Milly Jan Waite