west highland terrier help

kiansdad · west highland terrier help

i have took in a 3 yr old ex puppy farm breeding bitch whom has ahd 5 litters of pups in her 3 yrs of life, she has sagging teets from breeding and she is only 7.7kg , my vet suggests feeding her 3 times a day to build her up,she also came with an ear infection and without skin on her belly and around her bottom/vagina. any suggestions as too any food that is good for building her up,im feeding her eukaubanka sorry about spelling, she also will have butchers tripe and natures choice wet food. the poor little mite is so subdued in her first day here, but is so lovely natured,. it makes me angry as too how people can treat bitches as a money making machine. she is also doing the odd wee in our house and poo. i have got my hands full with vet bills and perservering with her but i am not gonna give up on her. she is totally adoreable.

Rigsby

I think you will have to be prepared to allow a long period of time for recovery. I once took in a dog who had not lived in a house, had been abused and neglected and had no idea how to interact with people at all. She was very quiet and subdued for quite a long time and she too had ear infections and a sagging under carriage.
The ear infections cleared after a long period of antibiotics and the under carriage did go back as she got fitter and put on muscle. It took about 6 months for her to adjust to being in a home and feel relaxed and able to cope with household noises etc. She did learn to play and feel comfortable around people - infact she became so loving and grateful and for the chance of a happy life so please dont give up or expect things to change quickly. It will take time but I am sure you will rewarded a million times over. Smile

Sharonr - Admin

Hi there

I can only say that we have been there and have the t-shirt! Please see my avatar to the left and our beautiful girl, Sadie, our West Highland White.

Sadie is a Rescue Remedies girl who came to them from a Welsh puppy farm last year at about 3 years old. Went into foster with Janet, a member of this forum, and then came to live with us in May last year. She had brown paws, legs and underbelly from standing in her own urine. Plus apparently the worst eye infection the vet had ever seen and a saggy undercarriage. She also had an op for mammory tumours down one side and had the whole teet strip removed shortly after she came to us. The results of tests came back benign and shortly afterwards she got another lump on the other side. In view of the last diagnosis we are watching it closely, but it seems to reduce in size then come back so seems hormone related.

All I can say to you is that the changes since she came to our house last year have been phenomenal! It took her 6 hours to enter our house on the first day of her own accord and you could not cuddle her for months. She is now a playful, fun loving little minx who asks (no change that to demands), attention and with us and the other dogs in our home she is a normal dog. She still gets jumpy at some noises outside on walks, but we always keep her safe on an extending lead and never let her off. With visitors she is nervous and only peers into the room they are in, not quite there yet, but getting there.

My first suggestion to you is that if your girl is not spayed best get her done as soon as she is fit enough to do so for her later wellbeing. Sadie did really well on "Nature Diet" mixed with a good quality kibble. Her coat is now pristine white and luxurious.

Hang in there and let the girl do everything in her own time, give her space and you will be rewarded three-fold. We are still seeing improvements week by week Very Happy

If you need any help and want to talk send me a p.m. and I'll give you my number.

Before:

After:

Hope the above gives you some positive vibes - we wouldn't be without our little white mischief!

Tina D

Maybe also try some puppy food? Nature diet/ nature menu do a puppy version (i think) and they have a really high meat content (looking at the labels of some food it is astounding how little of them is actually meat!)

Good luck and well done for taking her on!!! We will need pictures when she is feeling up to it! xx

kiansdad · thanks

for sharon and all her advice. how do i add photo's. ?? . i have spoken to the b*tch (not the dog) whom sold me misty, again i got more lies. she eckons her friend gave misty her yearly jabs and she isnt a vet, one presumes this is illegal

Sharonr - Admin

Hi there

Nice to speak to you today. Hang on in there - I understand you are angry with the people that sold you your girl and are trying to help Misty will all her issues. From talking to you I'd say you are doing really well and have thought things through thoroughly. Just take it slowly, one step at a time - it will all work itself out.

To attach photos there is instructions on this thread: http://rescueremedies.myfastforum.org/about1020.html

If you still struggle, then e-mail me at sharon@rescueremedies.co.uk.

kiansdad

hope these have loaded ok, im a newbie to this site

Sharonr - Admin

Yep, well done. Owww bless her - she is very cute Very Happy

kiansdad · misty

kiansdad · westie 3

misty again

kiansdad · been to vets

had to visit vets again today,as the dog is totally going scatty chewing paws and moonwalking on her belly across the carpet. she is ultra subdued and miserable ,everything is too much of an effort today.
my vets says i need to expect a long process and large vet bills. today she has been given frontline spot on, also a anti biotic injection and a steriod called dexadresson. we have now got her home and her itching has stopped a little and she seems more happy in herself. the poor mite is very subdued and cant even muster enough energy to climb on a sofa or go upstairs, she refuses to go for a walk, i get to the end of the street and she is wacked. im stopping her walkies for a while as she needs to build her strength and i am feeding her on burns chicken and rice, and butchers tripe mix twice a day. i have read about using msm and also primrose oil in her diet, which i bought 2 days ago from holland and barret, i was told by vet though not to use these or any tea tree spray/oil or aloe vera

Sharonr - Admin

Hang on in there - you will see improvements given time. Once she starts to pick up there will be no stopping her.

The amount of TLC & care you are giving her she has probably never had in her lifetime before.

kiansdad · vets again

she is totally off her food and cant be bothered to get out her bed, i took her to the vets this morning at their request, and she is now on a one months course of anti biotics and steroids by tablet and some malaseb or something shampoo.

EmmaSemple

Sounds a silly question, but what did your vet say her heart rate was like?

Emma

stripe

kiansdad it sounds like you are doing everything you can
Just give it time and with the help of your vet she will get there
Don't hesitate to ask for advice as people are here too help you as much as they can.
All the best
Stripe

kiansdad · my vet

my vets did say her pulse was only 55 a minute but he said this could because she is new to myself and stressed, i have to check it in 3 days time it should be 90 i am told. he showed me how to check her pulse using her inner thighs as a pressure point

EmmaSemple

I did wonder.
Signs of heart problems are lethargy, not wanting to exercise (or physically not being able to), laying down in the middle of walks being that they need to rest and in some conditions a cough.

55 beats per minute seems quite slow to me. 70 beats per minute are a minimum really. I am sure that there is a margin for error though. Something like 70-180 beats per minute is fine (that is a guess though as I am trying to remember what I learnt in college without looking it up!)

If her heart rate does not speed up it may mean a heart condition and medication. Heart problems in Westie's are common especially in puppy farm bitches. The sad thing is that if she DOES have a heart problem then it would be hereditory and would be passed onto her pups. And they will pass it onto their pups... Sad

I would suggest that you get some proper heart tests done and it may mean you having to have her put on meds that regulate the heart rate such as Fortikor.

Emma

westielyn · westie problems

Hi Kiansdad

please give me a call ***** ***** [removed telephone number - this is an open forum]
westielyn

Sharonr - Admin

Hi Lyn

Will p.m. your number to kiansdad Wink

kiansdad · i will ring u later, working at mo

i will ring u later, working at mo !! hate working weekends

west highland terrier help

thanks

misty

westie 3

been to vets

vets again

my vet

westie problems

i will ring u later, working at mo