• Address: Taunton, MA 02780 (map)
• Date Posted: 10/31/09
• Offered by: Shelter

Yorkshire Terrier Yorkie - Small - Baby - Female - Dog - Posey-S
Description
Update 8/20/09: Posey has turned a year old and is doing amazingly well. If you did not see the neck brace you would not think there was anything wrong with her at all. She weighs about 3 1/2lbs and is full grown. She still loves to run and play and try to get every other pup to play with her...shedoesn't always take no for an answer. We are still looking for that special home that will understand the seriousness of her condition even though she looks and acts very normal. She will always need to wear the brace but is otherwise very healthy and happy. Read all of Posey's story below: This little pup is very very special. She is a teeny little 13 week old female Yorkie who became paralyzed about 13 days ago. She can move all four legs but can not walk or stand at all. She also falls over if you sit her up. The breeder is not sure what happened but he didn't have the heart to put her down. So we have stepped in to see if there is anything possible that can be done. We already have an appointment set up with a specialist...We are praying something can be done. Right now she needs help doing almost everything. She needs to be propped to eat or hand fed and also needs help getting to her water. And because of her size she needs to eat and drink every few hours. She will also bark to potty and we have been here to help her to the wee wee pad to relieve herself. She came home in a pouch and is being carried around in a pouch or pocket this gave us the inspiration for her name "Pocket full of Posey" or Posey... we hope you feel it fits her. If there is something that can be done for her we will be doing it... but we can't without your help. If you would like to become a "Friend of Posey" please use her donate button below. All friends of Posey will be listed. Please keep her in your prayers and check back for updates. update 10/1/08: We have some very sad news on our special pup....Posey has been seen by two specialists one at Cape Cod Veterinary Specialist and then off to Angell Memorial yesterday. Sadly both feel that euthanasia is not out of the question for her and her prognosis is not promising. She has been diagnosed Severe AtlantoAxial Subluxation w/ non-ambulatory Tetra paresis. In layman's terms she has a severe congenital defect between discs 1 and 2 in her spine at the base of her neck. The gap is very large and because of her age and size they simply cannot do anything for her. Her bones are two small and soft. We found the news almost unbearable looking at this tiny little face so ready for life. She is in a very fragile state as her neck could easily become even more damaged to the point she would be in excruciating pain or not be able to breath and that is our biggest fear and concern. Because we cannot give up on her so easily and she is not in any pain right now and we have seen such promise in this little ones attitude we are trying the only thing possible right now. Her neurologist at Angell Dr. Farabaugh suggested a neck brace to stabilize her so that she isn't likely to do more damage. We were expecting what we typically see in a human neck brace and were quite taken a back when she came back to us in a full upper body cast. She is tolerating it fairly well and continues to eat and drink and signal to us to potty. So we will be seeing how she does for now with this hoping for some miracle that she grows big enough to be a surgical candidate. Needless to say she is not up for adoption right now and continues to need your support and prayers. We will not let her suffer and if we see that she is we will have to make the decision then...right now we want to focus on allowing her some time with love and attention. Update 10/06/08: We have some wonderful news to report! Since having her in her brace Posey has started sitting up on her own and taking up to 10 steps at a time in just a few short days!! We feel very hopeful! We do fully understand that this may mean nothing as far as her being a surgical candidate but we do see her spunk and determination and her Yorkie attitude will at least be there to back her through all this! And just maybe she will be our little miracle!! PLEASE keep the prayers and good wishes coming. Her next visit with the neurologist is Weds and this will be another expense....we desperately need your help with donations to continue. Update 11/6/08: For the past week we have seen Posey continually have more trouble getting around. She was falling more than ever before and seemed very frustrated that she could not do the things she was able to do just the week prior. I emailed her neurologist Dr. Farabaugh at Angell Memorial with our observations and asked if this meant we had no more options for her. He emailed me back almost immediately and said that what we could be seeing is just that the cast she was in was not giving her the support she needed and could we get her in right away today for a cast change. Our appointment was for noon today and he took her in right away. The cast she is now in is very much like her original cast. We should know in 72 hrs if she will get improvement and have back what she had gained mobility wise. We are very much praying that this is the case and was an easy solution. But the doctor also said that if we do not see the improvement it very well may mean that she is deteriorating and that a decision might need to be made. PLEASE keep positive thoughts and prayers heading her way. She has fought so hard and come so far and is such a little miracle we hate to see it slip away. UPDATE:12/06/08 Posey's cast change worked last month and not only has she recovered what she was doing prior to her set back but she has gained mobility and is doing wonderful!! We are more the excited to say she is actually running and chasing her foster siblings and is trying to keep up with just about everything they can do! Today she was seen again for yet another cast change and Dr Farabaugh was THRILLED at her progress! She is backing up, spinning, can sit, lay down with head up and can climb up into a bed about 4 inches high....so she is definitely aclimated to her cast....and as she grows it doesn't seem nearly as big. Prayers are working please keep them up! Update 1/4/09:UPDATE 1/03/09: Posey is doing just wonderful! She was seen for another cast change on Sat and Dr Farabaugh felt we could try cutting her cast down to give her more mobility. It's working! She is starting to try jumping up and has a little bounce in her step. She can now get a real belly rub and it's so nice to have her look like more puppy and less cast! We do have to watch for raw spots were the cast can rub but if all goes well we do not have to take her in for another cast change for three weeks! Update 2/4/09:Update 2/04/09: Posey had another cast change today and Dr Farabaugh is absolutely amazed and the improvements she continues to make! He stated that she has far surpassed what they had ever expected for her at this point. We can go forward with caring for her in other ways. So we have scheduled her spay surgery at Angell Memorial so that Dr Farabaugh will be on hand. She will also be under the care of Dr Rosenblad for the removal of her retained baby teeth while she is under anesthesia. We didn't want her to have to go under twice so they are coordinating it for her to get all she needs at once. Her cast will remain on during the surgery for the needed stability of her still very fragile vertebrae. We were asked to do a video of her playing in her foster home and we hope to have that done and posted soon. There is no keeping this little imp down and we are so very pleased at how she's doing and that Dr Farabaugh has given her this chance! UPDATE 4/19/09: Posey has been fitted with a permanent removal brace that she will have to wear for life. But she knows no different and like the true terrier she is, she continues to be determined not to be stopped! Posey is just about ready to be adopted. Because of the severity of her special needs and how fragile she will remain for life we will be looking for a very special home. Our requirements for Posey are very specific. We are looking for a home where the main care giver will be home most of the time. Experience in small dogs and or medical background is also required. The home must have no stairs in the main living quarters. Posey is not a very cuddley pup but instead loves to play with other pups her size. We ask that you have one or two other low-key small dogs 5lbs or under so that Posey would have a playmate...or be willing to adopt a companion for Posey. No children and a fenced yard or area is also required. Also, because Dr Farabaugh at Angell Memorial Hospital has been so instrumental in Posey's well being we are requiring the new home to continue her care there. The new home must not be more than 1 hour away from the Boston area. If you feel you are that special home please submit an application at www.yorkiesinc.com to be considered. Any questions please email Cathie@yorkiesinc.com
Characteristics
Breed: Yorkshire Terrier Yorkie
Age: Baby
Size: Small
Gender: Female
Offered by: Shelter
Petfinder ID: 12027301
additional information
Home without cats preferred Home without children (<5 yrs old) Pet has been spayed/neutered
Yorkies Inc. placement service | Taunton, MA | www.yorkiesinc. | Cathie@yorkiesinc.com
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