Poppy Update! So Far So good! $1000.00 Matching Donation Challenge! Help Is Needed.

9 Month Old “Poppy”

We have added our Text-to-Donate feature! It’s simple and secure. You can use any major credit card as well as Google Pay and PAYPAL! Text the number 44321 (how easy is THAT number to remember?!) and type the letters SPR ( all capitals) in the message area. A secure link will come up with simple instructions. After that, you can text a donation of any amount to Small Paws anytime without filling out your information again! We hope you enjoy the ease and security of Text-to-Donate, to help the Bichons!

 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

Sunday Afternoon, July 24, 2022

Dear Small Pawsers,

I spoke to the surgeon at 2:40 A.M. He had just finished Poppy’s surgery. She made it through the surgery and he said the next 24 hours will tell. She is in ICU in critical but stable condition.

They were having issues with her blood pressure going down during surgery, but they were using medication to keep it up and of course they have her on warming packs.    

We figured out that both she AND her sister, Blossom, are only 9 months old according to their teeth.  

I have another update! She was standing in her cage this morning! They carried her outside where she stood and urinated on her own!

They are going to tube feed her to get some protein into her.

Her blood volume went down, as did her blood pressure, right before surgery, so they gave her a transfusion. Her blood pressure has gone back to normal and so far so good!

She is at the VCA Arboretum View Animal Hospital in Downers Grove IL.

We are about a third of the way there of being able to pay her bill.

We have a phone in matching donation challenge for $1000.00 from Joan and Pat Borders at jpborders@aol.com, for Poppy. Is there anyone who feels led to match this challenge, bringing us $2000.00 closer to our goal for Poppy?

Many thanks to you who have already helped her. And if you can’t help financially, please pray that someone else can. The next 24 hours are critical, but she STOOD and urinated outside THIS MORNING!

We’ve seen the healing power of prayer do miraculous things over the past 24 years for both dogs and people.

We are asking God for another one for Poppy. For complete healing. For funds to pay for her surgery, and for she and her sister to be loved for the rest of their lives. In Jesus’ Name I’m asking these things for Poppy. Amen.

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Late Saturday Night, July 23, 2022

Gem of the Day: No Time For A Gem. URGENT Medical Emergency for a 9 mos, old Bichon Mix.

9 mos. old “Poppy” was in the last newsletter with her sister, Blossom. Poppy is on the left with light grey ears.

Around 6 this evening, I got a phone call from an emergency care clinic that is located just a couple of blocks from our main vet office, which is Plainfield Veterinary Clinic.

Like thousands of other of our dogs, over the years, Poppy had been spayed and was wearing a thick plastic Elizabethan Collars, used to prevent dogs from chewing at their incisions.

The clinic had closed at 3 and Dr. Blaso had gone home. 

Somehow, and this has only happened to us twice in over 17,000 dogs and 24 years, Poppy was able to chew her collar off with her teeth.

One of the vet techs found her around 5:00. She called Dr. Blaso at home and he asked her to Facetime so he could see Poppy. Poppy was standing up and wagging her tail with her intestines outside of her body.

He instructed the vet tech to take her to the ER down the street, but this was beyond what they could really handle. We needed a Board Certified Surgeon if we had a chance to save her life. 

Dr. Paul Blaso, our main Chicago Vet for many years, drove there, picked her up himself and drove her to VCA Arboretum View Animal Hospital in Downers Grove IL.

Dr. Blaso called VCA ahead so that they could call in our great surgeon who happened to be on call, Dr. John Pryzywara DVM, DACVS. We call him Dr. John.

He’s the one who put our broken little “Thrown out of a car Elf” back together again and Elf is now living the life of Riley.

Dr. John has done many surgeries for Small Paws and I trust him, completely.

Dr. Bozelka, an Emergency Medicine Specialist, was the first to see Poppy when Dr. Blaso came in with her. He wrote this for all of you, regarding Poppy.

“Poppy was brought into the ER service in relatively stable but critical condition. Her spay incision has dehisced, (Editor’s Note: This means gaped or burst open) and some of her internal organs were outside of her abdomen. Her blood pressure and blood sugar were stable, but she was in a state of shock and cold. Upon arrival, the previous bandage was removed so the organs could be flushed, and a new sterile bandage was placed on before starting Poppy on supportive antibiotics and fluid therapy. Given the organs are no longer in her abdomen, immediate stabilization prior to surgical exploration was advised. We are worried that Poppy has cut come of her intestinal loops open with her nail while in her run, and she may need to have some of her small intestines removed. While complications such as those that Poppy is currently experiencing are certain something that animals can pass away from, we have seen plenty of dogs survive these same exact injuries with quick intervention and aggressive care. While we can make no guarantees, we do feel it is worth trying to stabilize and take Poppy to surgery so we may better assess what damage has been caused by this incident. If the damage is found to be irreparable, we would be able to make decisions about letting Poppy go while under anesthesia.”

We wouldn’t try to save her if three separate vets hadn’t felt she could be saved and could have a normal life. She’s only 9 months old. I hope this is what you would want us to do, to try to save her. I’ve always felt that you can always make more money, but you can never make more life.

In 24 years, we have never euthanized ANY dog due to a lack of funds.

I’ve been telling you about veterinary costs rising, like everything else. When I spoke to Dr. Bozelka, he told me that we are looking at around $12,000 to save her life. That is not including our rescue discount. The bill from the first emergency care clinic, to stabilize her, flush her wounds, wrap her wounds, and give her capped IV pain and antibiotics to travel, was $492.92.

There is no time for matching challenges tonight. If you are able to help, Poppy needs you.

They are getting ready to go into surgery now. Lord God, we need You.

I will give you all an update in the morning.

It’s going to be a long night. Please help us to get started with surgery. Robin