A great vet and a great nurse...

[Richard Crowe]

We rescued Mitzi, a year old Maltese-Poodle, from a Los Angeles area shelter and noticed that she was having respiratory problems...

We assumed that it was kennel cough, so we isolated her and used a humidifier and began a regimen of antibiotics. Although kennel cough is viral in origin, antibiotics are usually prescribed to prevent any secondary bacterial infection. The humidifier also generally helps the dog breath.

However, Mitzi did not improve so we visited our vet who took an X-ray which indicated that this little girl had a rupture in her diaphragm allowing her intestines to press against her lungs preventing normal breathing. Our vet recommended surgery for the next morning.  Dr. Pearson of Pearson's Animal Hospital in San Marcos, CA, is wonderful and gives us great care at a remarkably low price for our rescues.

She charged six hundred dollars for the surgery which would have cost between two and three thousand dollars anywhere else.

Mitzi came through her surgery but needed her chest aspirated every two hours to remove any fluid build-up.  Our vet doesn't have 24-hour care so Judy called several 24-hour vets who quoted prices of between one and two thousand dollars for the night's care. Judy is a retired registered nurse with operating and recovery room experience.  Our vet taught Judy how to aspirate Mitzi.  We picked up Mitzi at the vet's closing time and Judy cared for Mitzi.  

We brought Mitzi back to the vet at 6:45 this morning.  She will stay with the vet all day and we will take her home tonight and bring her back to the vet tomorrow morning.  If there is no fluid by tomorrow, they will remove the catheter.

However, when the vet saw Mitzi this morning, she smiled and said, "I think that we have saved her!"  This is a combination of a great vet and a dedicated nurse...

[F, Calla & Luca]

I missed this post. What a great story and as ever boundless care taking and caring by you two.

[Griffin's Mom]

Happy to hear that she is doing better. Poor thing..

[Gail and Bailey]

How sweet!  She looks like she is ready for all of this to be over!  You and your wife are such caring folks! :)

[Robin and Libby Louise]

Thank goodness!  Little sweetie.....

[Richard Crowe]

Mitzi is doing great and we are reasonably certain in expecting a full recovery..

[Richard Crowe]

FOLLOW-UP

Mitzi is doing extremely well, is eating and all her bodily functions seem to be working.  I think that we are out of the woods...

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

Lovely story !  thank you all for caring and doing! 

[Robin and Libby Louise]

Great story!  You are angels!

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Great great story. Your love and compassion is never ending.

[AndySharon BoomerShaynaMariner]

Both you and Judy continue to amaze us all with your compassion and dedication.