Our good-time Charlie’s got the blues 😞
In December, we told you about BTRC foster Charlie’s medical difficulties after a routine dental. Shortly after returning home, she started regurgitating food and water. She was taken to the ER hospital and stabilized, although the root cause of her problems had yet to be determined.
Earlier this week, Charlie saw the specialist for a series of diagnostic tests, including x-rays, endoscopy and biopsies. Contributing to her regurgitation issues, Charlie was diagnosed with BOAS or Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome. Surgery was performed to trim her elongated soft palate and enlarge her nares.
Again, Charlie came through the surgery well. Extra precautions had been taken, and she was sent home with a host of medications to help her stay calm and pain-free while she healed.
And again, Charlie started experiencing post-op complications. Taking no chances, her foster parents (who both work in veterinary medicine – one is a vet, and one is an RVT) rushed her to the ER. Similar to before, she had fluid in her stomach and in her lungs and was diagnosed with pneumonia, which in some cases is fatal.
Charlie is a fighter, and thankfully her condition improved overnight. Best news – with a long list of medications and precautions, and because of the medical knowledge of her dedicated foster caregivers, it was decided that she would be less stressed at home, and she is leaving the hospital today.
We’re waiting for results from some of her advanced testing, but at this point, we’re relieved to have her out of the hospital. Charlie can still use all help possible, so please send positive and healing thoughts her way.
And if you can make a small donation towards her care, we’d be grateful. Vet bills from her dental surgery to the estimated cost of Charlie’s most recent emergency care will top a staggering $18,000!
www.bostonterrierrescuecanada.com/donate
If asked how she spent her Christmas holiday so far, sweet BTRC foster Charlie doesn’t have the most joyful story to share.
It all started with a dental in mid-December. It was routine, with one incisor and two unerupted baby teeth removed. Charlie came through the surgery well, but shortly after returning home, she started regurgitating food and water. Was it stress-related? A reaction to the anesthetic or a complication from her surgery? Although the timing was suspect, was this something totally unrelated? Three vet visits and a combination of anti-nausea and gastrointestinal medication didn’t help, nor did switching to a diet for tummy upset and offering smaller and more frequent meals.
With no improvement and with her only getting weaker, Charlie was bundled up and taken to the emergency hospital.
Bloodwork was taken, x-rays done. Charlie was diagnosed with aspiration pneumonia, an inflammation of her lungs caused by inhaling vomit/regurgitation. After three days in hospital undergoing treatment for pneumonia, Charlie was doing well enough to be released and spent Christmas with her foster family. (It’s incredibly fortunate that both foster parents are veterinary professionals.) Although tired, Charlie was happy to find that Santa Paws hadn’t forgotten her and enjoyed her gifts and lots of cuddles and TLC.
Due to the holidays, no specialists were available to run the more advanced testing needed to determine what made Charlie so sick in the first place and what continues to cause her to get sick. She’ll be booked in for more diagnostics as soon as possible.
Please send lots of healing thoughts and positive energy Charlie’s way. We’ll keep you posted.
Dear Santa Paws,
I have a change of address this year – I’m living in Calgary with my foster family. This month has been full of changes for me. I have a new doggie friend named Bella. She said that she’s my foster sister. I don’t really know what that means, but she lives in the same house as me and she’s sooooo cool! I get to see her every day which is pretty awesome. I used to get stressed a lot but my foster home is very calm and so is Bella. I like having a big sister to learn from.
Bella tells me you come to our house every year, so I don’t have to worry about you not finding me. She said that the point of this letter is to ask for lots of stuff, but right now I’m just loving my life here, so I’m not sure what to ask for.
My foster mom says that Christmas is about caring, compassion to others, and lending a helping hand…or paw. So, Santa, this year my wish is for all humans to show kindness to dogs and to help them when they can. ❤
Love, Charlie
Introducing Charlie!
Charlie just recently arrived to rescue and is now settling into her foster home. She was surrendered because the changes in her family’s life circumstances were making Charlie increasingly anxious. They felt that Charlie needed a calmer environment to better match her needs, so they reached out to BTRC.
We are still getting to know 5-year-old Charlie, as she learns the ropes of her foster home (with the help of her older canine foster sister). So far what we know is that Charlie likes to be tightly tucked into bed with a warm blanket and if given the choice to wake up early or sleep in, she will choose to snooze! She also loves food, so her foster mom is using this as motivation for Charlie to learn some new tricks.
You will notice that Charlie’s nose looks rough and chapped. She has been diagnosed with “hyperkeratosis”, a condition to which snub-nosed dogs can be prone. It’s an over-production of keratin and in most cases is primarily cosmetic. A topical treatment is being applied to help rehydrate the skin on her nose.
Charlie is being fostered in Calgary, AB, and is not yet ready to be considered for adoption.