Eight year old Ruthie comes to Dobie-Rescue from an animal shelter on Florida's east
coast. Ruthie was turned into the shelter by her owner's roommate sometime in
September.
The roommate stated Ruthie's owner was incarcerated. It's hard to imagine that Ruthie's
inability to eat efficiently began at the shelter, but the enlarged esophagus went
undiagnosed until Dobie-Rescue volunteer Mary Ellen secured Ruthie from the shelter in
mid November. Ruthie's weight had plummeted to 38 pounds.
Mary Ellen immediately suspected Megaesophagus as the cause of the apparent
starvation, and with the help of Dr. Debbie Justice-Obley at Bradfordville Animal Hospital
in Tallahassee the diagnosis was complete. Ruthie had lost over 20 pounds while
suffering her own incarceration at the Animal Control Facility.
Megaesophagus is a condition in which the esophagus permanently loses muscle tone,
causing swallowed food to collect in an esophageal pouch instead of traveling on to the
stomach for digestion. Regurgitation of the swallowed food and water eventually occurs
after each meal. The process of regurgitation can introduce the food and water to the
lungs. Introduction to the lungs is Aspiration Pneumonia. Either of these scenarios,
pneumonia or starvation, causes death.
Finding an immediate food source to benefit Ruthie in her starved condition was the very
first priority. Nice round meatballs, pre-packaged from the frozen food section at the
grocer came to mind. The meatballs worked, but Ruthie had to be held upright to swallow
them successfully.
The chair enables Ruthie to sit up while she eats. Gravity helps move the food past her
esophagus to her stomach. Ruthie is finally up to 60 pounds. Spay surgery now
complete she is happy and excited to find her forever home. She is a wonderful dog that
will make a great companion to someone who has the heart to give her the loving home
she deserves. Her feedings are the only special care she needs, and she is quite
comfortable in her chair for the 30 minutes after each feeding. We are currently feeding
one time daily.
In addition to Ruthie's Megaesophagus, she has several masses along her mammary
chain and a few other locations. The current medical management plan is to remove as
many as possible during Ruthie's upcoming spay procedure. Thoracic X-rays show no
sign of cancer in her lungs.
Ruthie is fostered near Tallahassee, Florida and is anxious to find her forever home.
Please write to her foster mom for adoption information at Judy@Dobie-Rescue.org
coast. Ruthie was turned into the shelter by her owner's roommate sometime in
September.
The roommate stated Ruthie's owner was incarcerated. It's hard to imagine that Ruthie's
inability to eat efficiently began at the shelter, but the enlarged esophagus went
undiagnosed until Dobie-Rescue volunteer Mary Ellen secured Ruthie from the shelter in
mid November. Ruthie's weight had plummeted to 38 pounds.
Mary Ellen immediately suspected Megaesophagus as the cause of the apparent
starvation, and with the help of Dr. Debbie Justice-Obley at Bradfordville Animal Hospital
in Tallahassee the diagnosis was complete. Ruthie had lost over 20 pounds while
suffering her own incarceration at the Animal Control Facility.
Megaesophagus is a condition in which the esophagus permanently loses muscle tone,
causing swallowed food to collect in an esophageal pouch instead of traveling on to the
stomach for digestion. Regurgitation of the swallowed food and water eventually occurs
after each meal. The process of regurgitation can introduce the food and water to the
lungs. Introduction to the lungs is Aspiration Pneumonia. Either of these scenarios,
pneumonia or starvation, causes death.
Finding an immediate food source to benefit Ruthie in her starved condition was the very
first priority. Nice round meatballs, pre-packaged from the frozen food section at the
grocer came to mind. The meatballs worked, but Ruthie had to be held upright to swallow
them successfully.
The chair enables Ruthie to sit up while she eats. Gravity helps move the food past her
esophagus to her stomach. Ruthie is finally up to 60 pounds. Spay surgery now
complete she is happy and excited to find her forever home. She is a wonderful dog that
will make a great companion to someone who has the heart to give her the loving home
she deserves. Her feedings are the only special care she needs, and she is quite
comfortable in her chair for the 30 minutes after each feeding. We are currently feeding
one time daily.
In addition to Ruthie's Megaesophagus, she has several masses along her mammary
chain and a few other locations. The current medical management plan is to remove as
many as possible during Ruthie's upcoming spay procedure. Thoracic X-rays show no
sign of cancer in her lungs.
Ruthie is fostered near Tallahassee, Florida and is anxious to find her forever home.
Please write to her foster mom for adoption information at Judy@Dobie-Rescue.org
RUTHIE
