Macey says ADOPT ME!!

OBIE

Obie is a purebred male Soft Coated
Wheaten Terrier. His estimated DOB is
5/08

Obie was found wandering as a stray.
The people who found him took him to a
vet who found he has a grade 4 heart
murmur that may require surgery to
correct.

We were contacted to take him into
rescue so that he can be seen by a
specialist and get the help he needs.

At this time we have Obie in a foster
home and will have him evaluated to
decide what course to take.

Health Update - 12/14/08

We took Obie to see the Cardiac Vet Sat.
We have more than one heart problem
with Obie. The worst is Patent Ductus
Arteriosus if I have the name right.
There is a hole allowing blood to flow
from the aorta into the pulmonary artery.
This is normal before birth but in his
case it didn't close after birth. With
surgery it can be closed with high
success. He has 2 leaks in other valves
but they are small and very minor
according to Dr. Borde. He
recommended starting lasics and
benazepril, both to regulate his
blood pressure. He strongly
recommended surgery as soon as
possible due to the severity of the
condition. Accordingly, we scheduled
the surgery this Tuesday. That way Obie
can recuperate while I am home over
Xmas. The surgeon will keep him at the
clinic in Fort Pierce for several days to
monitor his progress before releasing
him back to use possibly Friday.

Health Update - 12/16/08

Puppy came through the surgery and is
just waking up from the anesthesia. We
got a call from the surgeon. The hole
was much larger than anticipated and it
took twice as long as expected to finish
the surgery. She said it made her
sweat!!!! He might still have a slight
murmur but we'll have to wait and see.
She seemed pleased and felt we did the
right thing by going ahead with the
surgery. He'll be monitored 24 hours a
day and hopefully get a little stronger
every day. She will call us with daily
updates. We hope we can bring him
home later this week. Keep the little guy
in your thoughts. Part way there.. to a
healthy little puppy...

Health Update - 12/17/08

I spoke to Obie's surgeon this afternoon.
She is very pleased with his
progress. He is sore but that is to be
expected. He still has a heart
murmur but she and the Cardiologist, Dr.
Borde, think it is from the 2 other
leaking valves, not the repaired site. Dr.
Borde wants to see him in a month or 2
for a recheck. He will continue with the
blood pressure medicine and the lasics.
If he continues to progress as expected,
she thinks that I can pick him up on
Friday and bring him home. I guess my
car will go on auto pilot for awhile back
and forth to Fort Pierce... I wish it were
closer so I could visit but I am in the
midst of final exams at school and
Melissa is home from Holland. I'll keep
you posted on any other updates as
I hear from Dr. Phillips.

Health Update - 12/20/08

Obie is home form the hospital following
his surgery. The PDA (patent
ductus arteriosus) was ligated, but Dr
Phillips noted on the surgery report
that Obie does have other congenital
abnormalities (his valves are not
shaped normally). The PDA did cause his
heart to enlarge but now that it
is fixed it may shrink perhaps. Time will
tell. She felt he probably would
have died by his first birthday, without
the surgery to close the opening.
He came home with the plastic cone
around his neck to prevent him from
licking his 5 in incision. My vet will
remove the stitches on the 29th and we
are to take Obie back to see the
Cardiologist, Dr. Borde, when he returns
to Fort Pierce, sometime in Feb for
a recheck. Currently he is taking 6
different medicines. I made myself a
chart so I could keep them straight. Luck
for me I have no school so I have
lots of time to sort them out. He's
resting a lot and not as energetic as
he was but that's to be expected right
now. He doesn't appear to be in any
pain but he is getting medicine for that
also. I think he's on the mend now
and very soon he'll be back running and
bouncing around the back yard.
Merry Xmas to everyone.

Obie is neutered and up to date on shots.

FEBRUARY 2009 - A FOREVER
HOME!

Obie has been adopted by the
Bollo Family of Florida

CONGRATULATIONS!