Pet of the Month

“LEXIE” – 13 year old pitbull survives attack

Lexi and Mr. Krull

Lexie’s story begins on July 23rd, when her owner came home from a trip and found her laying on her side unable to get up with large multiple lacerations to her body. Her owners immediately rushed her to the Veterinary Emergency Clinic of Central Florida in Leesburg to get her help. It was obvious she had been attacked by something (???) and that infection was already spreading throughout the body as well as tissues to vital organs such as the lungs.

Just so you can get a mental picture of how bad Lexie was, the following statement were the physical exam notes from the Emergency Clinic.

PHYSICAL EXAM: Quiet, depressed, responsive. Patient was laterally recumbent on right side. Multiple lacerations over body. Right elbow swollen and painful, feels mildly warm to the touch. Small lacerations lateral right elbow. Two large adjacent lacerations with skin flaps (approximately 5″ across each) over caudel dorsal neck with muscle bellies exposed and damaged. Approximately 3 inch laceration over lateral left shoulder with muscle bellies exposed and damaged. Approximately 1″ laceration over left lateral mid thorax. Approximately 1.25 laceration over right lateral stifle. Necrotic tissue present at all wound sites.

Now with this in mind remember Lexie is 13 years old, pretty old for a large dog, but her owners never gave up on saving her. Diagnostics and emergency treatment began that night, she was then transferred to our clinic for continued treatment. At this time, even with everything that we can do for her, the prognosis for her survival was still poor. For the next three days her owner (Mr.Krull) brought Lexie to our clinic every morning at 8:00 A.M.  Each day we carried her in on a stretcher and immediately began I.V. fluids, pain medications, antibiotics and wound bandaging throughout the day. Mr. Krull then would pick her up at 5:00 P.M. to take her home where he could monitor her through the night, returning the next morning to do it again. Lexie slowly showed signs of improvement. After that  her visits went to every two to three days, then to once a week for the next five weeks.

Lexie’s wounds had to heal and close on their own, her heart and lungs were in no condition to undergo anesthesia and suturing. As of her last visit on August 28th her wounds have almost healed and we have her heart and lungs fairly stable. Lexie looks great and is feeling much better. She actually looks happy to come in and see us. Lexie reached all of our hearts with her gentle demeanor and her will to live. She let us do anything to her and never gave us any trouble at all, she knew we were trying to help her.

All of us here at Lake Veterinary Clinic truly believe her survival was possible due in part by the treatment and care from Dr. Thomas Oakes and to the dedication and timeless efforts Lexie’s owner (Mr.Krull) devoted to her care. Mr. Krull followed all of Dr. Oakes instructions and returned for every re-check as asked. Mr.Krull also assisted us with her treatment by bandaging wounds daily and administering medications at home. Without his love and dedication, she might not have made it. We all worked very hard to save her.

Lexie is doing good at this time and she makes our day happy when we see her walk in and wag her tail as she greets us. Thank you Dr. Oakes for your care and treatment, and thank you Mr. Krull for giving Lexie every opportunity available to help her survive this ordeal. She is a great dog!!

Our relationship with “Ollie” started in April of 2012 when he ended up at Lake County Animal Services, how or why we do not know. From the shelter he was transferred to the Cat Protection Society where he lived for almost 2 years. Like many of the adult cats living in shelters, life for “Ollie” proved to be a challenge and an adjustment. He got plenty of food and medical care, it is just hard for them to live among a large number of cats. “Ollie” struggled to adapt, not thriving and loosing a lot of weight, until January 2014 when a volunteer for the Shelter (Heather Ferguson) made a connection with “Ollie” and felt he needed to get out of the shelter and into a home to survive. The Cat Protection Society was grateful for him to get a chance for a so called “normal life.”

On January 21, 2014 “Ollie” began his recovery and new life. He was brought to us weighing 6.8 lbs. suffering from many of the typical shelter diseases, such as upper respiratory disease, ringworm, etc. For the next four months Heather and “Ollie” made many trips to the clinic for bloodwork and treatment. Due to the determination and dedication Heather put in to helping this cat following the treatment regimen recommended by Dr. Laura Fisher and the support the shelter provided for the treatment, “Ollie” now weighs a generous 13.75lbs. and is a happy, healthy cat.

We would like to take the time to thank the Cat Protection Society for all the work they do to try to help all of the many many unwanted and homeless cats. Even with everything shelters offer and provide for these cats, it is still a stressful and abnormal life for many cats that cannot adapt. We know all of our clients already have many pets, but if you can find extra room in your heart and home for a shelter animal we could help some find a healthier and happier life.

If you would like to know more about The Cat Protection Society or are interested in adopting a shelter animal you can click here to visit their website, or pay a visit to them at 2700 Getford Rd, Eustis, FL 32726. Call ahead for hours: (352) 589-6228.

Meet the Booth Family

Beverly, Gary and their two dogs Molly and Rusty

 They are our client and pets of the month for May 2014. The Booth’s have been clients of Lake Veterinary Clinic since the 1980’s. They have opened their hearts and home to past dogs such as “Lucky” a mixed breed, “Hope” a Border Collie, and “Jacob” a Shepherd mix.

This brief story starts with “Rusty” on August 19, 2005. Gary and Beverly acquired “Rusty” in August of 2005, from that point on a numerous list of illnesses began. As a puppy he started with a cough and lung issues that sent the Booth’s to Florida Veterinary Specialists in Tampa for treatment. This was followed by routine skin and ear problems. Then in November of 2011, they found themselves at the University of Florida School of Veterinary Medicine for treatment and chemotherapy of a malignant melanoma that had been removed from “Rusty’s” mouth.      Throughout all of this he has battled both food allergies, and studies have since provided “Rusty” with prescription diet pet food.

If this is not enough, we still have “Molly.” In 2006 “Molly” was acquired by the Leesburg Humane Society and was brought to our clinic for treatment and spaying. Of course, this breed of dog is not that common and we immediately called the Booth’s since they had just gotten “Rusty,” another Irish Terrier. Being the animal people they are, they came and adopted “Molly.” She did not come without her fair share of medical problems as well. Bouts of pancreatitis, liver issues, and routine skin and food allergies also. Due to the exceptional care and treatment Gary and Beverly have given to “Rusty” and “Molly” they have been able to overcome many obstacles to provide them with a happy and fulfilled dog’s life.

Thank you for being such a valued client for so many years!