UPDATE AUGUST 19, 2013
Willie is so happy now! I have to say I am so glad he was returned, his previous owners should never be allowed to own a dog again. Denying him the urgent vet care he needed, and failing to get a diagnosis to help him, was 100% negligent. Leaving him in a crate 16 hours a day to fester in his urine was abusive, bottom line. If I could get charges laid upon you, I most certainly would.
All that aside, I want to thank his new mom (who was his foster mom after he was returned) for adopting Willie, and understanding his need for stability, love, and finally – CARE!!
Please continue to donate towards Willie’s outstanding vet bills. We got enough to cover his ultrasound, however, the xrays, blood tests, urinalysis and medications are still outstanding.
Thank you everyone!!
UPDATE ON WILLIE – April 16th, 2013
Willie is doing so great!! He is now at a healthy weight, he no longer drinks excessively, and no longer urinates all the time. he is back to being a normal little dude! His fur has grown in so beautifully – after all the urine scald he suffered. He is on a raw food diet and his fur is so thick and soft! he is gorgeous. Willie is ready to find his real forever human – one who is willing to give Willie everything he needs, but also one who is willing to allow Dhana Metta to be in his life frequently. This means updates, visits, photos… we are not going to let Willie suffer ever again. We really wsh his current foster mom would keep him, as he is so in love with her, and she takes such great care of him… he even gets to sleep in the bed. But foster mom’s other half won’t allow Willie to stay forever… Which really breaks my heart 😦
UPDATE ON WILLIE (no longer Rico) January 15th, 2013
I don’t even know where to start or how to start with this update. I might forget something, but will try to get all the details to all those who have been waiting for this update. Here goes.
Willie was returned to us on December 20th 2012 after having been adopted 2 years before. When he arrived he was in a small carrier, one that he could not even stand straight up in… and I guess that was ok at the time if it was just for travelling in. I opened the door to the crate, and was absolutely SHOCKED at what I saw come out.
What happened to my sweet darling Willie??? He was emaciated, almost as bad as when he was first rescued. My face became hot, my hands started to shake. I was angry but had to contain my feelings. I asked the lady “What happened to my dog???” She said “He refuses to eat” .. so I put a bowl of food down for Willie infront of this woman and he started to eat immediately. Really? He refuses to eat? I was beside myself with anger and had to send this woman on her way before I said something I would regret.
I held him in my arms and cried, I begged for his forgiveness, for entrusting his life to someone so not deserving of his love. They knew his background – how could they let it come to this? He could hardly stand, or walk, he was so weak I thought he was going to die in my arms. I felt horrible, responsible.. and booked a vet visit immediately.
The visit showed that his urine specific gravity was far too low. His body was unable to concentrate his urine. So he drank water like crazy, almost a liter per day. And he would pee this water all out as fast as it went in. The urine was clear, with no color or odor. Very unusual. This is one of the reasons he was being returned (we were told by owner that he pees all the time, and she is having a baby and could not deal with this very senior dog – Willie is 7). He did not have kidney disease, or kidney failure, no cushings disease either, no cancer. His bloodwork was good.
I brought him home and fed him small meals every hour. He loves his turkey with yams.
This photo is of Willie 2 days after being returned. The large bowl of water infront of him would be gone in 4 hours.
Willie just wanted to be loved and held. He was urinating in his bed, not even trying to get out of it to pee. I figured out why after asking his adopter where she kept him during the day when she worked, and while she slept. She worked a full time job 5 days a week, and Willie would stay in the small crate he was returned in all day, without access to water, and not being able to get away from his urine. So he sat in his urine all day long and all night too, hence being totally urine stained as you can see in the above photo.
No wonder he stopped eating and just wanted to die. If I had to sit in my piss all day and all night, I would want to die too.
Willie bounced back quickly. You could start to see life in his eyes, the will to live, eat, and actually get out of his bed to go to the bathroom. Soon he realized that he didn’t have to sit in his urine anymore. He had the space to pee when ever he needed to, his bedroom laced with pee pads, and with a large bowl of water to drink when ever he wanted. And food – anytime he wanted. Within a week, Willie had gone from 2 kgs, to 2.4 kgs.
I was so happy that he was gaining weight, and happy that we went to vets that could pin what was going on with Willie’s excessive water consumption and excessive urinating. And it sure was an easy fix. I am a little peeved that his adopter didn’t look further into this issue, but instead just let him fester in his urine unnecessarily. Willie was diagnosed with Diabetes Insipidus. (water diabetes not sugar diabetes), and all he needs is an eye drop per day of demopressin. SO easy!!! After only 2 doses of this medication, Willie stopped drinking excessively and stopped peeing excessively, he is now a pretty normal little guy!! His weight after 10 days – 2.7 kgs.
At his recheck yesterday (Jan 14, 2013) his urine specific gravity is in the low end of the normal range 10.22!!! The medication is working and his weight is 2.83kgs, just perfect!! This took all of approximately 3 weeks. Pretty amazing that someone didn’t think he was worth it.
There are still some concerns with Willie’s insides – and he will be getting an ultrasound on Friday Jan 18, 2013.
We are asking our dog loving supporters to please donate to “Willie’s GET BETTER FUND”. Even though it has only been 3 weeks, we have reached a veterinary cost of close to $600 including bloodwork, double urinalysis, ultrasound, and his medication is also costly and he will need to be on it for life. Willie will also need a dental and possible surgery to fix his messed up knee.
Willie will no longer be adopted out to anyone, he will be looking for a permanent FOSTER home only. We are looking for one selfless person who will be willing to care for Willie for the rest of his life, all medical needs will be paid for through Dhana Metta Rescue Society. Random home visits will be made to ensure Willie is being well cared for. We are not going to let this little man suffer ever again. Donations are also needed to be able to pay for Willie’s ongoing care, for the rest of his life. Please help us give only the best to Willie.
We will be posting more photos and videos of Willie as they come. Donations can be made through our website at:
Welcome to Dhana Metta 