Rolling Dog Farm Blog

One of our wonderful volunteers, Laura B. from Helena, brought Willie the blind Beagle and Spirit the paralyzed Yorkie back to the ranch from the vet clinic this weekend.  I took this photo tonight of Willie in our living room, enjoying the wood stove.  And making yet another appearance, over on the right is the sleeping geisha herself, Widget. 

Willie, who arrived recently from a Beagle rescue group in Atlanta, had a bad case of heartworms that needed treatment.  Before we could begin the treatment we needed to assess his heart function, where the heartworms were lodged in his heart, and whether he had any related pulmonary issues because of the compromised heart.  He also was dripping blood from his urinary tract, and it hadn’t responded to antibiotics.

All this meant chest X-rays, an echocardiogram of his heart, a heartworm test, urinalysis, a blood panel, and an ultrasound of his urinary tract and prostate gland.  Oh yes, and the heartworm treatment itself.  Total cost:  $511.44.

The good news is that Willie’s heart was in good shape and he’s already had his heartworm treatment.  Our vets kept him at the clinic to monitor because the treatment can be risky, but he came through just fine.  The blood in his urine is a prostate issue related to the fact that he isn’t neutered yet.  We have to get him clear of heartworms before he can go under anesthesia for neutering, so one thing at a time!

Spirit’s cornea in her left eye had an ulcer that is now healing successfully, thanks to surgery last week to speed the corneal healing process.  However, it turns out the lens in that eye is partially detached.  We won’t know for another 10 days to 2 weeks whether it will become completely detached or remain like it is.  So we’re not out of the woods yet, but Spirit was glad to be home after a long stay in the hospital.  Her bill came to $196.86.

This gives you a good example of why we’ve spent more than $30,000 so far in vet bills this year, huh?  Willie didn’t seem too concerned about the cost, he just wanted to make sure I kept adding logs to the fire. 

(Click on photo for larger image.)