Pugs in Need

Sunshine’s appointment at Eddie’s Wheels for Pets on Saturday, September 8, 2007:

When Sunshine was examined by Gena Silver at the Mass. Veterinary Referral Hospital on September 6, she recommended a cart from Eddie’s Wheels for Pets, located in Shelburne Falls, Mass. www.eddieswheels.com The owners are Eddie and Leslie Grinnell.

On Saturday, September 8, Ken and I took Sunshine to Eddie’s Wheels. When we arrived, a client was outside with his dog who was trying the “wheels” for the first time. We got to see how quickly a dog starts using the wheels.

Before retiring, Eddie was an engineer. When they had a dog that couldn’t walk, he constructed a cart for his dog. That is how the business started. Eddie uses his engineering skills to fine tune a cart for each dog (or cat). The carts are designed as a mobility aid and for maximum rehabilitation.

While we were in the large room, Eddie and Leslie assessed Sunshine as they watched her scoot around. It is their professional opinion that Sunshine will eventually use her back legs while she is in the cart and could possibly stand on four legs. They said that the cart serves as physical therapy. Sunshine already has a lot of movement. Also, because of the cart, Sunshine’s spine will not be as curved, which will mean messages will travel along the spine more easily.

Eddie and Leslie have a Dachshund named Daisy. She is an example of the therapeutic benefits of using the cart. Prior to the cart, Daisy could not use her back legs. She now uses her back legs. Daisy enjoys demonstrating her skills, so while Ken and I were there, she ran, walked, and slept while in her cart.

Before Eddie saw Sunshine in action, he was going to build a cart with stirrups, which would keep her back legs and feet elevated. But after seeing that Sunshine uses her legs and feet, he is designing a cart that allows Sunshine to use her legs. Because one of her legs turns inward, Eddie is making a special loop that will keep the leg straight. Because Eddie believes that Sunshine will begin using the two back legs, he believes she will eventually need another type of cart.

Other benefits of the cart: When Sunshine eats, she loses her balance and has to keep readjusting her sitting position. With the cart, she will stand on all fours, stable, while she is eating. Also, when Sunshine goes outside to pee, she ends up peeing on herself. If the grass is wet or cold, her body becomes wet and cold. With the wheels, she will be elevated on all four legs and pee normally.

Because Sunshine has a fracture that did not heal correctly, and she has a curve at the top of her spine, the cart is being designed to lessen the weight in that area. For a custom fit, Sunshine’s specific measurements were taken during the appointment.

Sunshine’s cart will have a flag and a reflector light that goes on and off. If she outgrows her first cart, the second cart will be yellow for Sunshine! On Saturday, September 22, we are bringing Sunshine to Eddie’s Wheels for her cart.

The findings from Gena Silver's exam included " ... severe pelvic limb paralysis with poorly muscled pelvic limbs."

When she looked at the X-rays taken at the Burlington Veterinary Hospital, Gena said that Sunshine's spine, instead of being straight, is like a roller coaster. She said she was born with that problem, but being abused probably added to the problem.

Sunshine was mildly sedated, so additional X-rays could be taken. Based on those X-rays, they feel that Sunshine's spine is deformed due to a congenital abnormality. Regardless of the cause, it can't be corrected by surgery. Gena recommends a wheelchair/cart for Sunshine.

She wrote in her report, "As she grows, the paralysis can worsen including fecal/urinary incontinence. She may also develop pain due to the spinal compression. Gena Silver said that only time will tell.

Last week, I pointed out to Ken that Sunshine's back didn't look right. Instead of staying straight when she ran, it would pivot back and forth. Also, lately Sunshine has been incontinent. Those two things now make sense after today's diagnosis. Gena said that because Sunshine's spine is not straight, messages are not getting to her brain. That is why she is paralyzed.

Sunshine was not given an MRI because Gena said none is needed. The X-rays showed the problem. Gena said, "She can't be fixed."

Gena recommends a custom-made wheelchair from Eddie's Wheels for Pets in Springfield, Mass. http://www.eddieswheels.com/ She said that Sunshine's running activity should be limited because of her spine. Because of this, I am going to make an appointment as soon as possible. Also, when we take Sunshine outside, we won't let her run back and forth anymore.

Gena found Sunshine's breathing to be normal for a pug. Sunshine can be spayed without a problem. She hasn't gained any weight, but Gena said that as she grows, it will probably cause problems with her back.

I asked why Sunshine doesn't bark. She said it could be from being punished for barking or possibly she never learned how to bark.

In non-layman's terms, the report reads: "The radiographs note kyphosis of the spine from T1-T7. There are only 9 dorsal spinous process noted for the 13 thoracic vertebral bodies. There are only 6 lumbar vertebral bodies (normal is 7). The femoral neck of the left femur is resorbed (possible old trauma/fracture)."

I asked Gena Silver how common this spinal deformity is. She said that it occurs quite often in small breeds. The spinal problem isn't obvious in a small puppy, but is noticeable as the puppy grows. She recommends that when people are going to buy certain small breeds to have them X-rayed first.

Today's news about Sunshine was totally unexpected. I thought maybe she could have orthopedic surgery if her breathing was okay. It's going to take me a few days to digest all of this.

She will be fitted for a wheelchair. The man was very nice on the phone, and when he asked how much Sunshine weighs, I think he was surprised when he heard, "eight pounds."

Sunshine is a 9 month old, fawn pug who was a victim of domestic abuse. She was stomped on by her owner when she was five months old as a punishment for messing on the floor. Due to this abuse, she cannot walk. She gets around by using her front legs and dragging her back legs.

PPRA was alerted that Sunshine (9 months old and five pounds) was in a “kill” shelter in Tennessee and due to be euthanized. Arrangements were made with another rescue to pull Sunshine from the shelter. She was temporarily fostered until Sunshine could be transported to New York. After a week in New York, Sunshine arrived in Massachusetts where she is now being fostered.

On Tuesday, August 7, Sunshine went to the Burlington (Mass.) Veterinary Hospital for a vet appointment. Sunshine was thoroughly examined and X-rayed. The X-ray shows that Sunshine has a broken left hip and because it was left untreated, it isn’t connected. Sunshine also has a broken left knee, and because she received no medical care right after she was stomped on, the two parts of the knee do not join.

The X-ray also shows a fracture near her shoulder blade, which didn’t heal in the right place. Sunshine has a pushed-in sternum, which affects her breathing. The vet is not sure if this is a birth defect or from being abused.

The vet recommended a neurological examination and an MRI. This is to rule out any neurological problems and for an opinion about Sunshine’s breathing. The next step would be orthopedic surgery, but first Sunshine’s breathing has to be evaluated.

Sunshine’s appointment at the neurological clinic in Woburn, Mass., is Thursday, Sept. 6. The vet recommended that we wait until September for two reasons: Sunshine is in heat and she wanted Sunshine to settle in/ feel secure in her foster home.

The cost for her neurological exam is $180. The cost for an MRI is $2,200 to $2,500. The Hospital does not accept a payment plan, so the money is needed “before” Sunshine can have an MRI. Additionally, she may need orthopedic surgery and/or a special cart to help her walk again. Her medical care is going to be quite expensive.

As you can see from her photos, Sunshine does not know she has a disability. Her former owner broke her hip and broke her knee, but he did not break her spirit!

Would you please help Sunshine walk again? If you do want to help this precious puglet, please send donations to:

Linda Van Duzer
P.O. Box 324
Bearsville, NY 12409
(Please make checks payalble to PPRA)

If you prefer, you may send a donation through PayPal (It's fast, free and secure!) by clicking on the link below.

MAX NEEDS YOUR HELP

Max was dropped off at a Manhattan shelter with a spinal injury. It is a mystery on what caused this injury. The owners had had him for all of his 9 years and couldn't afford to help him. He was sprung from this shelter which surely would have ended his life and taken upstate to another 'no-kill' shelter where he was staying in the kitchen. He was taken into PPRA foster care.

Max can stand for a while but is weak and will sit down. He cannot fully use his back legs and scuttles around with his front legs for the most part. He is 18 pounds and has heavy tartar and cataracts also due to his age. He is a good dog and gets along well with other dogs. He deserves the chance to see if he can walk like a real pug again. He is a real trooper, following his foster mom around the house just like the other pugs.

He has special fleece socks to wear at this time so that he will not tear open the skin on his paws when he drags them around. He also has a fleece walking sling that I designed which allows him to do his business outside by supporting his back end. He actually prefers to potty outside but will also go on a wee wee pad.

Vet assessment has deemed that he see a neurologist and get an MRI ($2500) to see if anything surgical can help this poor puglet walk again correctly. If not, he would be a good candidate for a cart as his front legs are strong.

Won't you please help Max walk again???

If you do want to help this precious puglet, please send donations to:

Linda Van Duzer
P.O. Box 324
Bearsville, NY 12409
(Please make checks payalble to PPRA)

If you prefer, you may send a donation through PayPal (It's fast, free and secure!) by clicking on the link below.

Please find it in your heart to help this poor little guy. Scrappy is only 3.5 years old and already has to undergo major surgery. Scrappy came to PPRA barely able to walk. Once we had taken him to the vet we were informed that Scrappy had a severe case of Luxating Patella in both of his knees.

In some dogs, because of malformation or trauma, the ridges forming the patellar groove are not prominent, and a too-shallow groove is created. In a dog with shallow grooves, the patella will luxate (jump out of the groove) sideways, especially toward the inside. This causes the leg to 'lock up' with the foot held off the ground. When the patella luxates from the groove of the femur, it usually cannot return to its normal position until the quadriceps muscle relaxes and increases in length. This explains why the affected dog may be forced to hold his leg up for a few minutes or so after the initial incident. While the muscles are contracted and the patella is luxated from its correct position, the joint is held in the flexed or bent position. The yelp is from the pain caused by the knee cap sliding across the bony ridges of the femur. As would be expected, medical therapy has little corrective ability in this disorder and surgery is therefore required and is the treatment of choice Unfortunately the surgery costs over $3,500. Please find it in your hearts to help out this wonderful puggy.