Blanche – February 2, 2016

1/7/12: Meet Blanche, a four year old female rescued from a breeding operation in South Carolina. Thank you Melissa Digusto Brown for making contact with the breeder and getting this girl to safety. Blanche’s (formerly Chubby Butt)only purpose in life was breeding but wasn’t doing a great job of that apparently. No puppies, no money coming in. Fortunately, the breeder was willing to give her a better life. After spending the weekend in Augusta, Blanche made the trip to ATL this morning and is now resting at Riverside. We don’t have much medical information to share at this time, poor little girl was so nervous. Allowing her to calm down over night, before we start the evaluation. We do know that she has skin issues and is very itchy. She also has a respiratory infection. When she’s ready, this little girl will need a quiet home with someone willing to slowly introduce her to life experiences. Welcome to the good life baby girl!!!

Update 1/8/12: Dr. Ross was only able to do a partial exam today because of Miss Thangs anxiety level. The anxiety coupled with her respiratory infection made the anxiety even worse. They put her on antibiotics to treat the lung infection (which will also treat any skin infections she may have) and will wait for a couple of days before they stress her further by drawing blood, heartworm test and skin scrape. We are going to take it slow.
 
Update 1/9/12: Things got a little worse for our scared sweet girl today. Melissa had noticed an unusual vaginal discharge when she got her, she was reassured by the “breeder” that she was just going into heat. Melissa commented that the…e discharge was a bit different than what she is used too. On initial and quick examination, Dr. Ross thought that she had a vaginitis. Today, Miss Blanche didn’t seem to be feeling very well and Dr. Ross sent off blood work…this demonstrated a elevated white blood cell count (indicating infection), higher than would be expected with a respiratory infection. On more thorough exam, Blanche has an infection in her uterus called pyometra. The only reason Blanche is not dead right now is because there was a small enough opening in her uterus to allow the infection to drain a bit, Open Pyometra. Closed pyometra, if not recognized quickly, is fatal. In either case, the condition is a surgical emergency. This entire picture is complicated by her respiratory infection and skin infection, making surgery more dangerous. We must proceed with surgery at this point. Please keep Blanche in your thoughts and prayers. With all the other issues going on, the surgery and her recovery is going to be difficult but we have to give her a shot at the good life, the alternative is not acceptable.

On a positive note…she is heartworm negative.

 

 

 

 

March 2, 2016: Blanche joined GEBR in January 2013 from a shelter in SC.  After a few months in rescue she was healthy and ready for adoption.  Of course her foster parents Dave and Robin adopters her!  Unfortunately she passed away unexpectedly at the emergency vet.  Please keep Dave and Robin  in your thoughts.

Rest In Peace Blanche

 

click photos to enlarge