PERRY, FLORIDA.....We were contacted by a fellow Rescuer that had pulled a small Boston Terrier / Chihuahua Mix that had a Prolapsed Rectum in February, 2014 that weighed SEVEN pounds. He and his Mom was originally picked up by Animal Control as part of a hoarding case. The Mom was adopted but he was left behind. Sweet Remmy is approximately 18 months old and has had a horrible year based on what we have since learned about him. We were contacted to see if we would help with his transport to NC. I saw the condition of this sweet pup and offered to take him into our medical program. He was named Tiny Tim at the time, but we changed his name to Remmy since we have Timmy that looks a lot like this sweet Angel.
We took Remmy to the Critical Care Facility we use in Charleston, SC, and he was immediately admitted to ICU. We expected an emaciated pup that had constant diarrhea. What we got was the saddest situation I have seen in a long, long time. Timmy was covered with diarrhea because he could no longer control his bowels. He was hunched over in unimaginable pain and was always trying to go to the bathroom. His bloodwork was all over the place. He was anemic and was starving. Something terrible was going on with this desperate little pup. Dr. Kristin Welch is our Critical Specialists, and she was put in charge of his case. It seemed like the more we looked into what Remmy had been through, the more upset we got.
In February, Remmy was taken to a vet and was treated for a mild Rectal Prolapse. He was treated with manual reduction and some meds. He was still prolapsing and was not gaining weight. The Vet. did exploratory surgery on 2/26/14 with no abnormal findings and did not do any BIOPSIES during the procedure because the Rescue Group could not afford them. On 2/28/14, a Purse String procedure was done to keep the rectum inside. On 3/19/14, more prolapse surgery was done, and part of this sweet pups colon was resected. It was after this resection that Remmy went downhill fast. He was straining all the time and had bloody diarrhea. Up until two weeks ago, he was in foster care. His condition has gone from bad to horrible. The diarrhea was unresponsive to medication. The Vets were recommending EUTHANASIA. As if this sweet pups medical could not get any worse, he developed Bilateral Perineal Hernias from straining. These are outpouchings on either side of the tail base that are openings or holes in the underlying musculature. The opening on the right allows his bladder to move into the Perineal Hernia when he is straining. Fortunately, since the opening is very large, the bladder returns to the abdomen with manual pressure when he stops straining. He also has three types of GI parasites. The parasites are probably what caused his prolapse in the first place.
Once we got Remmy stabilized, we did an Upper and Lower GI Endoscopy with GI Biopsies. During the procedures, we discovered a Rectal Stricture that was in the area where the resection was done. During the Colonoscopy, the Rectal Stricture was manually broken down. The Stricture Expansion procedure will be completed every two weeks until a sufficiently large orifice remains for Remmy to defecate. His body will continue to make scar tissue so this may be a Lifelong problem that will require medical management intermittently. Once he starts feeling better and stops straining, we will surgically repair the Perineal Hernias.
To say this adorable pup has suffered is an understatement. What started out as a Vet helping soon became several different Vets not doing their Due-Diligence and finding out what caused the issues in the first place. It is very clear from our findings that several of these proceedings should not have been done. The biggest problem was the Resection that cause Remmy to have a stricture in the first place. The Surgeon at the time should have known what had happened and corrected this immediately. Instead, Remmy was deemed unfixable and unadoptable and should be PTS.
Remmy is the sweetest, most affectionate little pup that has had so many wrongs done to him. It is unconscionable, for Vets to keep operating on him without knowing the cause. For a Vet to do Exploratory Surgery and not take a Biopsy because of money, is unforgivable. You don't have to send the Biopsy out which is where the cost comes from. You could have at least taken the biopsy and saved it for future tests, so this sweet pup did not have to endure more procedures. There is no excuse for this happening to Remmy. Too may Vets have forgotten why they are Vets in the first place. DO NO HARM should be the first requirement to being a Vet.
Remmy's diarrhea has improved, and his straining is less. We have made great progress but still have a very long way to resolving these issues. NO procedures will ever be done on this wonderful dog unless it will enhance his quality of Life. We are taking it one step at a time to make sure we are not creating any new issues. So far, the Specialists we have on his case have shown us great progress and compassion toward getting Remmy WELL. He is much happier and finally pain-free. He is monitored round the clock by Specialists to stay on top of his condition. We finally are feeling good about this wonderful little dog. He is finally safe from anymore HARM being inflicted on him. Remmy's Medical Bills went through the roof in the first 48 hours we had him. Being in ICU is one of the most expensive places to be in a Hospital. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE Help us with his long Medical Care. He is going to be with us in the Hospital for as long as it takes for him to get well. Give Remmy the same Gift we give all the pups we take in, the Gift of Life surrounded by unconditional LOVE and CARE.
