I just spoke with Dr. Wey, Tiny's cardiologist. Tiny had a follow-up ultrasound to make sure the "hardware" that plugged the hole in Tiny's heart was inserted right and it was GOOD NEWS! Not only was the hardware in properly, Tiny's heart has already started shrinking - about 1cm, which Dr. Wey said was about 20%!! Tiny does have a secondary heart leak (don't ask me the specific terminology cuz I know I'll screw it up) but Dr. Wey said that if Tiny's heart continues to shrink, which he is expecting it will, that the leak will close off on it's own.  Michelle will be picking him up today to go home!

Dr. Wey wants to do a follow-up ultrasound in 3 months to determine how well he is healing and to be able to give a more definite prognosis - of course, Tiny would have died SOON without surgery, and Dr. Wey said now it's just a matter of whether he'll live 3, 4 or 10 more years.... is how he put it. But he is optimistic that Tiny has a great chance of a good long term prognosis!!

What a tough little guy. He's eating and drinking well. Dr. Wey performed the surgery by going through a vein in his hind right leg, and that leg was a little sore yesterday, but Tiny seemed to be much better today. That loud swooshing nose is gone and you can no longer "feel" it in his chest. There is still a murmur, but is much softer. He said Tiny actually "looks" better. I can't wait to see him!!

THANK YOU EVERYBODY for your good thoughts, prayers and donations towards Tiny's surgery. Special thanks to Dr. Wey, who gave Ratbone a very generous 20% discount on Tiny's surgery and care. My holistic vet told me that at the clinic down near her, this surgery would cost between $4,000 and $5,000. So far, Tiny's vet costs, including diagnostics (initial visit) and the surgery itself, has been approximately $2,300. There will be another $300 for his follow-up ultrasound, but I'm confident that we will raise all funds necessary to cover all of Tiny's vet care, with the help and generosity of all the members and supporters of Ratbone!!

If you'd like to donate, please click on the link below for Tiny's Raffle Fundraiser:

http://rat-terrier.com/Home/tabid/37/forumid/7/postid/260587/view/topic/Default.aspx

Thank you!

Sue in NY

You're a tough little guy TIny

Posted By DaisysMom on 04/24/2008 9:57 AM
Sue!!! What fantastic news I am so glad that the surgery went very well and that he's already feeling better!!! God bless Dr. Wey (and you and everyone else that helped Tiny).

I'm not usually one of those people who gets "feelings" (intuitions) about things, but for some reason I feel like Tiny has a special reason for being a survivor, like there's something he's supposed to "do". But time will tell, I suppose, if his forever family keeps us updated.

Tracey, at first, I was extremely concerned that even with surgery, Tiny's prognosis was going to be poor. Dr. Bart, Dr. Wey and Dr. Tina, my holistic vet, ALL said that they were concerned because he had PDA untreated for so long, and usually dogs who go a year and a half without treatment will die from PDA. But they were all amazed that he was still strong and not showing any major signs of heart failure!! That gave me hope that Tiny was going to pull through and be OK! I got scared the night before surgery when Michelle said he was having problems breathing, cuz Dr. Wey did say, we caught him in the neck of time and without surgery, he would have died soon. How sad that would have been, because he is such an awesome little boy!

Yay for Tiny ! I'm so glad he's doing better!  I hope he get's his forever home soon  I bet he won't have any trouble