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Success Stories
The Story of Maisey
Success in not always measured in dollars, especially in the veterinary profession. The story of Maizy is a success on every level that counts.
On a cold day in late November 2009, Dr. Bianucci’s wife, Susan, was driving on Maybank Highway. She saw a heart wrenching site. It was a mere skeleton of a dog stumbling along the road being blown down from the draft of passing cars. The dog was barely able to struggle to her feet before being blown over again. Susan stopped and approached the dog, which weakly wagged its tail and then collapsed. She lifted the dog into the car and quickly brought her to the Mount Pleasant Office of Veterinary Emergency Care. Dr. Bianucci met her there. About his impression of the dog, Dr. Bianucci describes, "In my career, I have never seen a more pathetic sight. This creature was so dehydrated that her eyes could not even be seen for being so sunken in. She could not raise her head to eat or drink. She had a tumor at the tail base that was the size of a grapefruit."
Further examination revealed that the tumor had spread to her abdomen and a similarly sized mass was there. This poor dog had lost nearly all of her hair and only weighed a frail 29 lbs. Her body temperature was to low to register. When her blood was drawn, it was so thick it resembled syrup, because she was so dehydrated. The decision was made by all present that she should be put to sleep. The only dissenters were Susan and Dr. Bianucci. Dr. Bianucci explains, "We could not help but feel that this dog had been so terribly neglected and had recent suffered so badly that to let her go now amid such misery was wrong. She deserved to experience some love and care. So we started her on fluids and electrolytes and the entire staff gradually signed on to this project, but there were plenty of doubters at first.
Dr. Bianucci and the rest of the staff decided on a name for the rescued dog that might or might not have a hope for survival: "Because she was found on Maybank Highway, she was named Maizy Maybank"
Within a few days, Maizy began to walk: a few days later, she could eat. Dr. Bianucci notes, "As her hydration improved, her beautiful brown eyes came into view. After a week, we decided it was time to go to surgery. This was risky. The mass on her backside was huge and adjacent to the anus. The one in the abdomen was also huge and was surrounded by the bladder, major vessels and nerves. The surgery was difficult and there were times during which putting her to sleep seemed reasonable, but we moved forward. As a result of the team’s efforts, Maizy made a wonderful recovery! She did beautifully. Her recovery was remarkable. The tumor is on that chemotherapy can help. So, our oncology specialists volunteered their services and she began chemo."
Maizy was adopted on Christmas Eve by one of the surgery technicians at VSC, Christine. She and her family have given Maizy a loving home in which Maizy assumed top dog status! Within 3 months, all of Maizy’s hair had grown back; she now weighed a healthy 52lbs versus her mere 29lbs and was cancer free.
Maizy was treated by the Emergency Service, then Surgery, and then Oncology. It was truly a combined effort and a leap of faith.
Maizy lived with her new family for 9 months (which is the equivalent of 5 human years) and received the love she deserved after her surgery. She returned that love to her new family and taught everyone a lesson about being a fighter and what can be achieved with a little faith and a combined effort of care and compassion.
Sadly, Maizy’s cancer returned 9 months later and we lost her. Maizy will be loved and remembered always as the sad, neglected little dog she started out as, to the sweet, unconditional loving pet she became. Although Maizy was only with us 9 months, success was achieved all the way around. Maizy was given a 2nd chance at life to live in a loving home and for all that were fortunate enough to know her, we learned that a little love can go a long way.
Dr. Bianucci adds, "It is impossible to describe what a sweet dog Maizy was."
Lena's Story
Monday, Oct. 11 began as normal, phones ringing early at home, animals waiting to be fed, personal work stacked up, and a lot of catch up from a super busy prior Saturday where Pet Helpers had done a record 102 cat and dog spay and neuters at their clinic in one single day. A call from Matt, a local vet tech came in asking if we could 'please help this little dog who had been hit by a car and left on the side of Chisolm Road on Johns Island-her lower spine was fractured.' Phyllis Savenkoff and Robert Holladay, kind citizens who found her, rushed her to a local vet clinic, where she was stabilized, and X-rays were sent to Dr. Henri Bianucci, Veterinary Specialty Clinic in Mt. Pleasant to see if anything could be done.
"Miss Lena", as she was named, a young 7-8 mo. little black with white boots Beagle/Daschund terrier mix, was fighting hard to make it. The question was "could Pet Helpers just hold her for 24 hours and give Dr. Bianucci time to look at the X-rays to assess the damage."
Pet Helpers director Carol Linville went by the clinic to just talk to the doctor, knowing this would be a huge challenge medically, financially, and emotionally, if she made it. Linveille knew they could not keep her there and was prepared to say this was just too much for Pet Helpers to take on, financially, as she knew the medical cost would be huge if surgery was possible. And who would do the post care, as they are so busy with very long shelter days and lots of animals at home?
Linville went in and as you can figure by now, she saw 'Miss Lena'… her bloodshot eyes looked at me, with little cuts on her body from the car hit, as she sat hunched over, holding herself up with her front legs, unable to walk. Linville sat down next to her and she just glued herself to her, looking up at me with those eyes. Amazingly, per the local doctor, she had deep pain response in her back legs, so there was a chance.
If Dr. Bianucci couldn't help her, Linville knew they would have to put her to sleep. She knew the emotional pain that I would face, but she had to take the risk and give her that chance.
Linville took her home for the night.
She carried her outside in a 'sling' and she pulled herself along to do her business, her gentle spirit strong and her eyes thanking her. The next day, off they went to Dr. Henri.
After looking at her X-rays, he was totally astonished that she could have any pain response, but she did. He looked at Linville and said "we have a good chance here, but it is a $2800-$3500 surgery; I will do what I can to help." Linville looked at Lena, so young, and by no fault of her own, had the misfortune to be left to run the road, and she just could not say no. "I know how much our community cares and we will somehow raise the money," she said.
So, Dr. Henri immediately went into surgery; three hours later Linville got a call at home. At 9 p.m. surgery was over.
So that is Miss Lena's story up to now. "She is the most sweet, loving, gentle little girl, all 24 pounds of her. She will have to be spayed and cared for," said Linville. "She will need 100 percent crate rest and carried outside three to four times a day for at least the next four to six weeks, a lot of hard work and longer hours, given my and our very long days, but we will do this for Lena, because that is what I and our dedicated staff at Pet Helpers do," Linville said.
How you can help? Donate what you can to Pet Helpers Miss Lena Fund; send your tax deductible contribution to Pet Helpers, 1447 Folly Rd., Chas., S. C. 29412 or donate online www.pethelpers.org ; please be sure to note Miss Lena Fund. Pet Helpers also accepts Visa and Mastercard. Call 795 1110. Visit the website to learn details about The Furball Saturday at the Marriott Hotel on Lockwood.
Thank you Testimonial
Dear Dr. Love:
My name is XXXXXX. My husband, dogs, and I live in Asheville, NC. This year, for the first time ever, we decided to break away from family and spend the holiday in Charleston. (I'm 45 and my husband is 54.)
On December 24th, Christmas Eve, we had been enjoying watching our "pups" play on the beach of Sullivan's Island all morning. As we loaded up the girls to go eat lunch at Poe's, I noticed that Barley's left pinky nail had split all the way to her paw, with the quick exposed and bleeding. We knew there was no way she could (or should) withstand that sort of discomfort the entire weekend. I also knew that her nail tear was far beyond anything I could repair myself. Thus, we set out to find a veterinarian on the afternoon of Christmas Eve. Lots of luck, I said to myself.
At lunch, we asked our server if she knew of a vet. She pointed us towards the one on the main thoroughfare (Coleman Ave?) in Mt. Pleasant. It wasn't far from the Publix there. As I suspected, however, the vet was closed. Mercifully, there was your number on the window, so I called.
Tricia was amazing and oh-so-kind. She gave us very good directions, which led us to your door post haste. Your vet tech, Lindsey, was not only informative, but compassionate and genuinely caring. Though I knew the cutting of Barley's nail would not be pleasant for her, I felt Barley was in the care of someone who deeply loved animals and would not only be professional, but loving at the same time. I was 100% accurate.
Lindsey also went to great lengths to explain post-operative care (for lack of a better description) and gave me the supplies to treat Barley myself until her bleeding stopped. She also told me they would be there for us again if necessary. She took the time to get to know us personally, turning what could have been a dark cloud on our Christmas into a Shining Star! While this may sound corny, Lindsey and Tricia expressed the true meaning of the season by their kindness to us and love towards our dogs. (Yes, Lindsey even loved up on Cocoa.)
Your staff exceeded my expectations in veterinary medicine in general, and went off the scale with regards to emergency vet care. If it weren't so impractical, I would drive the 4+ hours to have your staff take care of my two babies. Your office is to be commended on their holistic and loving approach to the vocation they have chosen.
I hope you will share this with Lindsey, Tricia, and anyone else you deem appropriate.
With much gratitude, hugs, and sloppy, wet kisses from the dogs,
Monte, Clay, Barley and Cocoa
Story of Cedona by Dr. Holly Mims
“Cedona” 10yo FS Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Dr. Holly Mims - Veterinary Specialty Care Internal Medicine
Cedona was presented to the Veterinary Emergency Care for vomiting and anorexia for two days and acute onset diarrhea. She had a history of arthritis and has been treated with Deramaxx and tramadol. She was temporarily taken off of Deramaxx due to an elevated ALT in January of 2010, but this was rechecked in March of 2010 and was normal; therefore, the Deramaxx was restarted. At the time of presentation, she was found to have mild abdominal discomfort. Blood work, a urinalysis, fecal examination, and imaging (abdominal and thoracic radiographs) were performed. The blood work revealed a mild anemia [Hct 34% (37-55%)], azotemia [BUN 60.9 (9-29mg/dl), Creatinine 4.9 (0.4-1.4mg/dl)], hyperphosphatemia 6.0 (1.9-5.0), and elevated liver values [ALKP 672 (0-140U/l), GGT 16 (0-14U/l), and total bilirubin 7.3 (0.0-0.5mg/dl)]. The UA showed a specific gravity of 1.019, 1+ proteinuria, and 3+ bilirubinuria. Fecal cytology and float was negative. The imaging was also unremarkable. Cedona was admitted to the hospital and treated with IV fluids, Famotidine, Metronidazole, and Maropitant. She was transferred to Veterinary Medical Care the following morning for further treatment and diagnostics.
At the time of presentation, she was noted to be depressed and icteric. An abdominal ultrasound was performed and her gall bladder was noted to have thickened walls and to contain sludge, but it was not obstructed. Her kidneys were mildly hyperechoic. Leptospirosis titers were submitted and returned negative. IV fluid therapy was continued in addition to Enrofloxacin, Unasyn, Famotidine, and Maropitant with the goal to improve her azotemia prior to surgical exploration for cholecystectomy and liver biopsy. The following day, her renal values were noted to have worsened (BUN 87mg/dl, Creatinine 7.4mg/dl) as had her liver values (total bilirubin 8.8mg/dl). Treatments were continued and her renal values began to fall the following day. Unfortunately, her liver values continued to climb. After 5 days of diuresis, her renal values were stable enough to consider surgical exploration. At that time her total bilirubin was 16.7mg/dl, ALT 155U/l, ALKP 688U/l, GGT 50U/l. Clotting times were checked prior to surgery: PT 18.3 (14-19sec) and PTT 107.9 (75-105sec). A plasma transfusion was administered to supply clotting factors and Cedona was taken to surgery. At the time of surgery, Cedona’s gall bladder was felt to be thickened and the bile not easily expressed although the gall bladder was not obviously obstructed. A sample of bile was obtained for culture and a cholecystectomy was performed. Liver biopsies were obtained and an esophagostomy tube was placed to supplement nutrition and to ease medication administration in anticipation of eventual discharge.
Cedona made daily improvements and was discharged 9 days after initial presentation. At that time, her total bilirubin was 11. Treatments at that time included Famotidine, Denomarin, Ursodiol, Clavamox, Enrofloxacin, and Tramadol. Within 48 hours of discharge, she began eating at home. Her liver and gall bladder biopsies indicated mild chronic nonsuppurative hepatitis/cholestasis and chronic lymphoplasmacytic cholecystitis respectively. Copper accumulation was noted and a copper stain returned consistent with moderate copper accumulation consistent with Copper Storage Hepatopathy. The bile culture returned with no growth. D- Penicillamine (10-15mg/kg PO q 12hrs), Vitamin E (400-500IU/day), and Prednisolone (1mg/kg/day) were added to her treatments. In addition, Cedona was started on a copper restricted diet (Hill’s l/d).
Copper is a trace element and essential micronutrient. It is absorbed from the diet and transported to the liver for use in daily cellular functions. Bedlington terriers have been identified to have an inherited defect where the gene required to excrete copper is deleted. Excessive copper accumulation has also been reported secondary to cholestatic diseases such as hepatitis. Since the primary mechanism for excreting copper is through bile, some researchers speculate that compromised bile flow is the underlying cause of copper retention in breeds other than Bedlington terriers. It can take months to reverse the effects of Copper Storage Disease, but at this time Cedona is doing well at home. Over the following months, her total bilirubin and renal vales returned into the normal range and her liver values have steadily declined. Her esophagostomy tube has been removed and she is back to playing ball!
Thank you
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We brought our dog, Dixie in to your Mount Pleasant location last Saturday. She had been very sick all morning and I was very worried about her. Everyone at the clinic was very friendly and helpful. The vet, Dr. Kelli Klein, made me feel right as ease. She was very knowledgeable and had a great attitude. I had no qualms about leaving Dixie in her care. We were able to bring Dixie home that night and by the next morning she was back to her trouble-making self. Thank you so much to Dr. Klein and the rest of the staff for taking such great care of our girl! |