I took this photo yesterday of blind Widget and three-legged Ella with Dr. Bryan Harnett, a board-certified internal medicine specialist at Vermont Veterinary Internal Medicine in Burlington. While our small animal primary care vets are nearby, the specialists are in larger cities in southern New Hampshire or in Vermont.
Burlington, which is a two-hour drive from here (about the same distance as Helena to Missoula), also has a Costco, where we get a lot of our supplies. The nearest (and only) Costco in New Hampshire is in Nashua, near the border with Massachusetts; that's a much longer drive, and there are no specialists in Nashua. And since we are all about maximizing our time and fuel usage by packing as much into one trip as possible, it made sense to use Burlington as our "medical and supply hub," as it were.
We were looking for an internal medicine specialist because Ella needed heartworm treatment. We knew she was heartworm positive when we she first came, but because of the timing of her other medical procedures (her amputation in Louisiana) and the impending move to New Hampshire, we needed to wait until she got settled here to begin the lengthy treatment. Although some primary care vets will do the treatment, our local vets at the Whitefield Animal Hospital were more comfortable referring us to a specialist for it. It can be very tricky, and while remote, there is the risk of death from pulmonary embolism. (For more detail on this subject, see the American Heartworm Society.)
Ella still needs to be spayed, too -- but we can't afford the risk of anesthesia for that procedure until she has the heartworms taken care of. Her amputation in Shreveport was emergency surgery because of her infected stump of a leg; we had hoped the vet could spay her while she was under the anesthesia then, but the operation took longer than the vet expected and he didn't want to keep her under any longer than absolutely necessary.
So first things first -- heartworm treatment! Ella had the initial injection yesterday, and then I will take her back in a month for a two-injection series over two days.
And since we were seeing an internal medicine specialist, I took Widget along for an ultrasound of her organs. We do this on a lot of our geriatric dogs as "insurance" -- we've had too many cases in the past where routine blood work looked fine but we lost them to an unsuspected tumor of some sort. (My own beloved Dolly was one of those.) The only thing Dr. Harnett noticed were some mild changes in Widget's kidneys. Nothing to suggest renal failure, but enough that we need to start her on a lower-protein diet and then re-check in six months for any further changes.
With more than 1,000 pounds (453 kg) of supplies in the back of the truck, I loaded up the two girls, said goodbye to Dr. Harnett and his wonderful staff, and headed back to New Hampshire.
Very informative article. Thank you.
Posted by: Tony Stark | August 18, 2010 at 10:17 AM
I also went back and re-read about Dolly, and I was in tears before I finished. The bushels of love you poured out on her you have continued to pour out on all of the other animals that have come into--and some gone from--your lives. Bless you both!
Posted by: Vicki Small | August 15, 2010 at 05:59 PM
Seeing Ella, I just had to go and contribute to your great cause again. There is something about her that just makes me want to hug her!
Posted by: Phyllis | August 12, 2010 at 04:08 PM
I'm so glad you "back-storied" about your Dolly. I agree with Felicia, I bet Dolly is so proud of you.
Posted by: Lynn (in Louisiana) | August 12, 2010 at 03:50 PM
Yeah Ella! So trusting! You now know who is going to help you and who you can trust. Yeah to Steve & Alayne for building that trust back in her. Speaks volumes for you 2. Also...good picture of just how short Widgets legs really are!! No wonder they have foiled some attempts at sneaking treats ;)
Posted by: Anne in Florida | August 12, 2010 at 09:42 AM
It's so wonderful to see that sweet Ella has come out of her shell. It's all that wonderful love and attention that you and Alayne give her (and everyone else, of course)!
Glad you thought to bring Widget so she could get checked out and now will get started on a new diet for her. She'll be Woo-wooing for years to come!
Posted by: Ann | August 12, 2010 at 02:04 AM
Ellas seems so special!! Just love her spirit! It somehow shows through your photographs!
Posted by: Shirley * James/Portland, OR | August 12, 2010 at 12:06 AM
Any chance your heartworm baby is
on Doxy? Not trying to be a vet..I do 2-5 treatments a week, week in and out and our mortality
rate has dropped to almost none..
Some vets do not recommend it, but it is inexpensive and doesn't hurt anything, kills off those nasty Wolbachia.. I'd rather you not post this and stir up multiple posts on it:) Houston is the number one consumer of Immiticide. I won a Pepsi Refresh grant for Immiticide so have done even more treatments than usual
and use doxy on all of the dogs..as well as pred when needed.
Janet
Posted by: Janet Huey | August 11, 2010 at 09:08 PM
I JUST WENT BACK & READ DOLLY'S STORY - WOW - BROUGHT TEARS TO MY EYES. JUST REMINDS ME AGAIN WHAT A GREAT THING THE TWO OF YOU DO. DOLLY WAS SO LUCKY TO HAVE HAD YOU IN HER LIFE - I'M SURE SHE'S LOOKING DOWN FROM DOGGIE HEAVEN & SMILING AT ALL THAT YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED.
Posted by: FELICIA | August 11, 2010 at 12:29 PM
Ella looks so brave! Obviously she knows she is with a safe person. Your patience has turned that big girls fears around. You guys are obviously wonderful. Did Widget like the vet too or was she ready to go home. Glad you found the vet. support that you need, even if you have to drive 2 hours from RDR
Posted by: Ev | August 11, 2010 at 11:01 AM
Oh Ella.... look at you sitting there like you've always been his best buddy!! That alone says it all, doesn't it?
Posted by: Kenna | August 11, 2010 at 10:59 AM
Ella has such a cute look on her face......like she is proud of herself and her confidence shines through......
Posted by: Marla | August 11, 2010 at 10:14 AM
Beautiful Ella is going to feel so much better once those icky heart worms are gone! Good catch on sweet Widget. She's such a character! We want her Woo Wooing for many years to come!
Posted by: Kathleen Rivard | August 11, 2010 at 10:07 AM
The first thing I noticed was Ella sitting next to the doctor with his arm around her!! Although she does look a little nervous, she has come a long way!! You go girl!
Posted by: Laura, Levi & Timmy | August 11, 2010 at 09:44 AM
God bless you for taking such good care of these girls - and all the others too!
Posted by: Lisa in CA | August 11, 2010 at 09:31 AM
This picture brought tears to my eyes. Seeing Ella sitting next to her new doctor, him with his arm around her. I can't help but be amazed at her. It seems like only yesterday when she was afraid to even walk around near a person. Now she actually cuddles.
Posted by: MarySue | August 11, 2010 at 01:38 AM
Wow! Ella sure has come along way, even letting a new person put his arm around her! Yay Ella!!
Posted by: Kate & Luke | August 10, 2010 at 11:41 PM