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Annie
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09/03/10: Important
Update - Annie needs
your continued thoughts
and prayers....
We
received a call from
Annie's foster mom at 6
a.m. this morning. Annie
has been losing weight
the last couple days, is
pale today, and has
developed a white rash
on her belly. Annie is
at the vet and we will
update you as soon as we
here more - this is very
concerning and we ask
you to keep her in your
thoughts and prayers..
08/13/10:
Cost of Annie’s
Treatment is Expensive
But Her Progress is
Amazing
Annie’s return visit to
the vet went well.
The doctors decided that
they should once again
begin treating her for
Inflammatory Bowel
Disease (IBD).
There is still a chance
that she has a less
aggressive form of
lymphoma, but we
are hoping she will
continue to improve.
Only time will tell.
The following are the
recent test results and
the doctor’s treatment
plan for Annie:
Annie was started on the
drug cyclosporine (50 mg
twice a day) after her
vet visit, and then
returned for a
blood test to
check her cyclosporine
level six days later.
Her prednisone dose was
decreased by one third
(from 15 mg twice a day
to 10 mg twice a day).
Two days after reducing
the prednisone, Annie’s
diarrhea came back with
a vengeance. When
the prednisone dose was
bumped back up to the
previous dosage the
consistency of her stool
returned to normal.
When Annie’s blood
results came back from
the lab, they showed
that her cyclosporine
levels were way too low
(her levels were 13, and
they should be
200-400!). The
cyclosporine dosage was
then doubled (100 mg
twice a day).
She will return to the
vet to recheck levels in
10 days and if levels
are good they will once
again attempt to
decrease the prednisone.
If the levels are not
good, they will stop the
cyclosporine and try the
drug leukeran instead.
Leukeran is an oral
chemotherapy agent (used
in cats for IBD as
well).
A special hydrolyzed
protein diet was started
(Purina
HA dry and
Science Diet Z/D
canned for pills) and
will be continued as the
only food/treat/etc. for
8 weeks.
The downside of
Annie’s medical care is
the cost. Below is
an account of her
current charges:
-
Leukeran - $6.88 per
tablet and she would
need to have 2
tablets a day for 2
wks, 1 a day for 2
weeks and then a
maintenance dose of
1 every other day
-
Cyclosporine - $4
per capsule and she
is getting increased
to 2 twice a day.
-
Blood Test - $100
each time her levels
are checked
-
Purina HA Food -
$94.76 for a 32
pound bag. Annie
eats about a pound a
day, so this
would last about 1
month.
-
Z/d Food - $40.05
for a 12 pack.
This will be used to
give her medications
twice a day so
this should last for
1mo. She also
really likes her
canned food, so she
will take this as
treat when the other
pups get biscuits.
Please help us to
continue the care Annie
rightfully deserves.
She is a wonderful
spirit and is finally
experiencing the joy of
a happy life.
08/04/10: New Pictures
07/29/10:
Annie Has Thus
Far Defeated The Odds
Annie
appears to have
proven the doctors
wrong as we were
hoping. She has
continued to improve
and do well to the
amazement of the
doctors. They feel
that she probably
does not have
lymphoma as
they had expected
because she is still
alive. Her diarrhea
continues to be
under control and
she has gained more
weight. She is
going back to Tufts
for another checkup
this week and, if
the exam goes well,
the plan is to treat
her with medication
for
Inflammatory Bowel
Disease
(which will include
reducing the dosage
of prednisone).
Annie is
happy, energetic and
enjoying life;
exactly what we
wanted for her. Her
foster mom cannot
say enough about
what a joy she is.
Annie’s
expenses are still
climbing (over
$4,000) and we need
your continued
support to help pay
for her ongoing
medical treatment.
As you can see by
the newest photos,
your donations are
helping Annie begin
a new chapter in her
life and she is very
grateful as are we.
Annie's life before
coming into rescue
was hell and, I am
sure you will agree,
she now deserves the
best that life has
to offer.
06/22/10:
We Are Praying For
Little Orphan Annie
Annie
continued to go downhill
after she came into our
Rescue. We knew
something was terribly
wrong and decided to
take her to the ER at
Tufts Hospital.
She had chronic
diarrhea, vomiting and
severe weight loss. She
weighed only 33 pounds
when she arrived at the
hospital and was
severely emaciated.
The doctor’s first
concern was to get her
stabilized and to stop
the
vomiting and diarrhea.
They put her on
IV fluids where
she remained on 24 hour
watch for EIGHT days.
She received several IV
medications and was also
put on a special diet.
The
hospital did numerous
diagnostic tests
including
blood tests,
cultures, x-rays, an
endoscopy and
colonoscopy along
with taking several
tissue specimens for
biopsy (throat, colon,
small and large
intestine). Annie
was obviously severely
ill and seemed to be
deteriorating. Her body
condition was terrible.
Results of the tests
were inconclusive and we
were given two possible
diagnosis. The
biopsies indicated
inflammatory bowel
disease or
intestinal
lymphoma.
Unfortunately the
Doctors were leaning
more towards lymphoma.
Annie
was taken to be seen by
the Tufts Oncology
department for
evaluation of possible
treatment but they felt
she was not a good
candidate for
chemotherapy because of
her poor body condition.
The doctors recommended
that we might want to
have her euthanized.
However, we did not want
to give up on her if she
was not suffering and
there was a chance she
could improve. The
day they called us with
this “suggestion” Annie
seemed to be doing
better. A fourth
year vet student at the
hospital came forward to
foster her so we made
the decision to send
Annie home.
Annie’s new foster mom
had fallen in love with
this little girl and she
offered to take her home
so she could have some
quality time with people
in her last days.
The doctors expected
that she would fail
quickly in a few short
days, and we tried to
prepare for the worst.
To
everyone’s surprise it
has now been over three
weeks since Annie was
released from the
hospital. She has
improved daily and is
happy and playful.
The only issue that
remained was getting her
diarrhea under control.
Numerous foods were
tried until we finally
found one that agreed
with her digestive
system. The down
side of this food is the
price, which is costing
$10 per day to feed her.
Annie has a ravenous
appetite and has
CONSISTENTLY gained two
pounds per week.
Annie
is housebroken but has
to be let out during the
day every four hours;
much of that is due to
the prednisone that she
is taking on a daily
basis. This
medication makes her
drink and urinate more
than normal. She is
living with three other
dogs and they all get
along great.
Since
Annie has made such a
remarkable turnaround
the doctors are more
optimistic about her
prognosis. She has been
back to Tufts for a
re-check; the Doctor’s
were amazed at how good
she looked and they were
impressed with her
energy level. She
also received her weekly
B12 injection for
her low vitamin level.
Annie
recently started to have
a nasal discharge.
The doctors wanted her
foster mom to keep a
close eye on this since
they were afraid she
might contract
pneumonia. Once
again, to everyone‘s
surprise, the day they
were going to prescribe
antibiotics her
discharge cleared up.
We are
hopeful that Annie will
keep on getting better
and better and will
continue to prove the
doctors wrong. No one
can deny Annie is a
fighter!
Below
is an update from her
foster mom:
“Annie
is doing great so far.
Since I brought her home
she has gained
tremendous strength and
has a great appetite.
She had completely
liquid diarrhea for the
first week, but since I
changed her diet she now
has normal stool.
I also
checked a PCV/TS after a
week and they were both
almost within normal
limits (her PCV is now
35 and TS is 5.8), which
is a huge improvement
from where she was when
she left the hospital.
I am amazed by how much
she is acting like a
normal healthy dog.
I did
have a concern about the
mucoid white nasal
discharge that appeared,
but it has completely
disappeared without any
medication.
I hope
Annie keeps improving,
she is a great girl and
she fits right in with
my three other dogs.”
Note:
Annie’s
medical bills
have exceeded $4,000. We
need to ask for your
financial support and
appreciate any amount
that you can spare.
Please donate
to help Annie
06/01/10:
Annie has been
ill and in and out
of the vet hospital
since shortly after her
arrival and her
diagnosis isn't looking
good - please check back
while we puzzle together
a update on poor Annie
and keep her in your
prayers.
05/13/10:
Annie's Life Has Been
Spared Twice
Annie is
a loving 5 year old
boxer who was used as a
backyard breeder.
When her family no
longer had any use for
her their plan was to
take her in the backyard
and shoot her.
Another family
intervened and took her
in. This family
who saved her life loved
her, however, Annie was
sick. They brought
her to the vet because
of a gastrointestinal
problem.
The
doctor sent Annie home
with medications and
told the people to
restrict her diet.
Unfortunately they did
not stick with the
necessary treatment and
decided to return to the
vet and have Annie
euthanized.
Thankfully one of the
vet technicians at the
hospital stepped in and
had Annie surrendered to
her. She did not
want Annie to die and
set out to try and make
her well. Her intention
was to keep Annie
permanently, but she did
not mesh well with the
other dogs in the home.
Annie
was under the doctor’s
care for the past
several weeks.
Many diagnostic tests
and various treatments
have been tried.
Annie improved but she
never got completely
well. She was
under stress in the
hospital environment and
NBR was contacted for
assistance.
Fortunately for Annie,
she has been placed in a
foster home that has
experience helping dogs
with gastrointestinal
problems. We are
hopeful that once Annie
has acclimated to yet
another change in
her environment we will
get a more accurate
assessment of her
condition. We will
then have a better idea
of what follow-up
testing and treatments
will be needed. At
this time, she will be
given several small
meals a day with
supplements until her
system gets used to a
more nutritious diet.
She is seriously
malnourished and has
some loss of fur.
We are not sure if this
is being caused by
allergies, diet, or
seasonal
alopecia.
Her medical records
state that she weighed
over 60 pounds at one
time and she currently
weighs only 37 pounds.
Below
is a report from the vet
tech who saved Annie’s
life the second time.
She helped transport her
to our foster family and
took her home the night
before the trip.
“Annie
is home w/ me tonight,
she is just so lovable!!
My gang has been
wonderful about
welcoming her, and to be
honest, I think she is
so happy to be out of
the kennel that she is
tail wagging bending in
half happy. No
problems w my dogs this
afternoon. She ate
well (as always, she
loves to eat!!), but her
stools are still loose.
She went soon after we
arrived here, but I
already see that she is
relaxing. I think
a calm, steady place
will be wonderful for
her! I must tell
you that as awful as she
looked in these pictures
weight wise, she looks
better (not like she has
gained weight, but
better). Her fur
was just coarse, kind of
bare in spots, and she
is filling in in those
areas. I really
hope this foster home
works out for her
because as loving as her
spirit is, she is a
fragile girl. I
have 2 rescued boxers
living with me now, and
I know what wonderful
dogs they are. My
heart has just melted
and broken for her,
which is why I stepped
in to save her at our
clinic. I so wish
it could have worked out
here for her, but I
believe the best thing
for Annie is to be the
"Belle of the Ball" for
once in her life.
She is so smart, wants
to learn, and is so
eager to please!!
As I told you on the
phone, her 1st owner
used her as the breeding
money maker, when he was
done with her, the 2nd
family rescued her from
being shot in the mans
back yard. The 2nd
family loved her, but
when she became sick,
they didn't seek help
early on, they didn't
stick with any
treatments long enough
for them to work, they
didn't have the money to
put into her and lastly,
they didn't understand
her special needs.
The child in the house
was literally on top of
her at all times, and I
know she ate whatever
table food, snacks and
garbage they gave her (
by the way she was on
kibbles & bits up until
she went on the
hamburger diet with
them.... ick!!!
Poor thing!!
Please let me know how
she does. I will
be hoping for the best
for her. My gift to her
was saving her life.
She has been yet another
lesson in love for
myself, my husband and
our children.”
Below
is the Day 1 and Day 2
updates from Annie’s
foster mom:
Day 1
- “It was a delightful
ride back from
Vermont..... I
sat in the back with
Annie for half the ride
and then drove while
hubby got to sit in back
with her..... equal
bonding time. :)
She is
great in a car, as long
as she can be touching
some part of you at all
times. At some point
we'll teach her about
riding in the back seat
while the humans ride in
the front but I have no
intention of doing
anything but showing her
love (and nutrition!)
for the next week or so.
She is starved for both
and she's going to get
it.
The
introduction to our
other three dogs went
great... I really think
mine are used to having
strange dogs come and go
.... they all did a
group sniff for a few
minutes and then pretty
much went about their
normal routine.
When we all came into
the house Annie
immediately ran around
checking out all the
rooms and different
levels of the house....
my three dogs parked
themselves next to me
and we all just watched
her explore. I was
thrilled to see she
didn't do any
marking!!!!
A
couple of times already
she has gotten all
wiggly and happy, looked
us right in the eyes,
and did a bunch of
barking. Not
aggressive or upset....
it really seemed like
she was very happy and
excited and talking! Of
course each time she did
it I took her towards
the door to make sure
that's not what she was
trying to tell me but I
think she was just
overwhelmed with
excitement and couldn't
contain herself.
The
little smarty pants has
already figured out how
to come in the pet door
from the yard.
She's hesitant to use it
to go OUT unless I hold
the flap up for her but
since she's picked up
the concept in less than
30 minutes I have no
doubt she'll be going in
and out at her leisure
by the end of the day.
Well,
Annie just had her first
taste of raw chicken and
she did not HESITATE for
a second.... she took to
it like she had been
eating it all her life.
I only gave her about 5
or 6 chicken necks
because I'm not sure how
her system will handle
it and besides, she's
such a skinny little
thing she needs
frequent, small meals
instead of big ones.
But there will be no
problem feeding her that
- she loved it and
chomped away like a pro.
I
stopped on the way home
and got her a dog bed
and some toys. Of
course it won't STAY her
bed.... all four dogs
will rotate between the
beds and toys but I
always like to bring a
new, fresh one in with
every foster so they at
least feel like they
have something that
belongs to them.
Then they can work out
amongst themselves who
gets which one. I think
we're all going to head
up to the living room in
a few minutes because
Mom here needs a nap.
Got home late last night
and up very early this
morning so I think we
could all use some down
time. It will be
interesting to see how
the dogs work out who
gets to be on the couch
with me. Nothing more
to report.... she's only
been here an hour or so
but so far, so very
good.”
Day 2
- “Annie is doing
beautifully .... she
acts as if she's always
lived here. She's
very comfortable and
relaxed and has already
joined forces with my
male in protecting the
house. When he
barks at something, she
runs over to him and
barks right by his side
(even if she has no clue
what they are barking
about). Then the two of
them run over to check
on me, then back to the
window or wherever they
heard a suspicious
noise. Very cute
to watch the two of
them.
My
senior
female boxer
really wants nothing to
do with Annie..... she
only gets close enough
to pick up a toy or
treat that she wants to
claim as her own. And my
female great dane is a
big, gentle, nurturing
type. She has gone over
to Annie and licked her
ears and eyes and then
walks away. I'm blessed
with a couple of real
sweeties in this house.
It's
hard to fathom how Annie
can be so pathetically
thin when she eats
everything and anything
so voraciously. I 'm
making sure I don't let
her eat too much at one
sitting because I am not
sure she'd know when to
stop. However, we
free feed quality kibble
(in case they get the
munchies before or after
their
raw chicken meal)
and that she just
nibbles at occasionally.
When I
left for the office this
morning I lured her into
a huge crate with a
piece of cheese..... she
didn't seem to mind
going in or being in
there at all. I
didn't see or hear any
crying or whining as I
was leaving and no
evidence of her trying
to claw her way out.
When I got home for
lunch she started doing
her happy little bark
when she saw me and
wiggled herself crazy
all the way outside.
She is such a happy
girl! The dogs had
lunch, laid out in the
sun for a while, came in
for a nap, and when I
left 90 minutes later I
put her back in the
crate. She didn't
seem to mind at all.
Right
now she is curled up on
the couch next to me
while I type this on my
laptop...... she's got a
full belly, a warm
couch, and is leaning
against a human.
That seems really
important to her so she
looks like a very happy
camper right now.
That's all for now......
all is well on Day 2.”
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Can you donate to help
Annie?
You can send a check directly
to: Northeastern Boxer Rescue
P.O. Box 95 Sunderland MA 01375. or use PayPal
makes it easy and secure to send
payments online via credit card.
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