CalWEAR

Save Scarlett

Welcome! This page is a duplicate of the "updates" page on Scarlett's YouCaring site. Please feel free to leave Scarlett a message, below! Xoxo, Team CalWEAR

08/02/2015
by Team CalWEAR
Sunday, August 2: Relapse Apologies for not posting an update in a few days. We were taking x-rays of Scarlett's chest and getting opinions from a radiologist and Scarlett's critical care and internal medicine specialists. We are approaching another very difficult junction in Scarlett's journey. Although she has been enjoying being a non-hospitalized puppy -- the easiest, most well behaved puppy at that, according to her foster parents -- Scarlett's breathing has become more rapid and labored and x-rays show that her pleural effusion (fluid around the lungs) and pneumothorax (air leakage from the lungs into the chest cavity) have recurred. This means that the blood pleurodesis was only a temporary fix. We can and will have the air and fluid removed if Scarlett's breathing deteriorates further, but her doctors agree that she most likely does have an abscess and/or necrosis in her lung(s) and the major surgery we avoided last week [i.e., a thoracotomy with probable removal of portion(s) of her lung(s)] is inevitable. We have completely exhausted our donations and volunteers' own personal funds to pay for Scarlett's 21 days of intensive care. Surgery seems like an impossibility at this point. We are applying for a donation match from a pet food company but it is a long shot. We so appreciate your love for Scarlett and your contributions to her care. If you are comfortable doing so, please SHARE this fundraiser with anyone (everyone) you think might be able to help. We are also open to your fundraising and donation ideas and connections. Auctions, sales of donated merchandise... anything that can help raise another $10,000 (!!!) for Scarlett's surgery. She has come so far and is enjoying life. We don't want to have to let this special girl go. With love and gratitude, - Team CalWEAR P.S. Please visit www.Facebook.com/CalWEAR for photos of Scarlett enjoying life out of the hospital. She loves shoes!
07/28/2015
by Team CalWEAR
Tuesday, July 28: A Message from CalWEAR's Co-Founders SCARLETT HAS BUSTED OUT OF THE HOSPITAL!!!!!!! And now, a brief (or not so brief, sorry) message from your CalWEAR co-founders, Kim and Anne: When we launched CalWEAR last year, we had a goal of sustaining a financially solvent operation. In other words, we weren’t here for the million dollar dog. CalWEAR was built on the philosophy that we were best utilized assisting Weimaraners who were generally healthy and of stable mind, and who just needed a little boost to get to where they were going. Over the last 14 months, we were able to quietly and steadily assist 36 Weimaraners without any fundraising. Not because we didn’t want the help, but because our model was getting by without it. Enter Scarlett. CalWEAR committed to getting Scarlett out of the East Valley shelter, but when it was determined that she was very, very ill and there wasn’t much we could do unless we had a LOT of money to put down, we tasked ourselves with buying her some French fries and just being with her until her time was up. Enter an angel. With wings. And this angel said, “I don’t care how much it costs, I want to see if she will respond to the next 24 hours of treatment.” With this angel’s financial commitment, we were able to get Scarlett to Advanced Veterinary Care Center, where she was under 24/7 surveillance and treatment. Simultaneously, CalWEAR launched its first-ever crowd-funding campaign here at You Caring so that she would have a chance should she require continued hospitalization and treatments. A team was set up to monitor Scarlett’s progress and every evening we made the decision as to whether or not it was in Scarlett's best interest to continue treatment and, if so, if we could fund it. On Saturday, July 17, we got the call that Scarlett was not doing well. To make matters worse, we knew that we had exhausted every penny that had been donated and were already into our personal funds to pay Scarlett's bill. With a broken heart, we authorized the team to let Scarlett go. You know what happened next. A Hail Mary effort that day bought Scarlett another day. And then another. And another. And then yesterday, we got the call that surgery was NOT REQUIRED and Scarlett would be discharged TODAY. We broke down in tears of relief and joy. We’re not out of the woods, but with Scarlett out of the hospital we know we’ve come a long way. From all of us at CalWEAR, thank you, thank you, thank you. (We know who you all are and you will be getting hand-written thank you notes full of lipstick kisses, soon.) We may not be able to save them all but today, WE SAVED SCARLETT. Please visit www.Facebook.com/CalWEAR for videos of Scarlett's freedom ride and her having a blast at her foster home. And if you are interested in adopting Scarlett, please go to www.CalWEAR.org for our adoption application and guidelines. With SO much love and gratitude, Kim & Anne CalWEAR Co-Founders
07/27/2015
by Team CalWEAR
Monday, July 27: Oh Happy Day! Scarlett continues to prove, time and again, what a little miracle she is. Her lungs are healing so well that her medical team has decided that she does NOT need surgery for the foreseeable future! Scarlett's chest tubes were removed this morning, after which she RAN around the critical care unit "like a crazy puppy". She was play bowing, jumping around and behaving exactly like a healthy, happy 3 month old Weimaraner. Scarlett will remain in the hospital tonight for observation to make sure that there are no complications following the removal of her chest tubes. Unless something unexpected happens, she is scheduled to be discharged to her foster home tomorrow (Tuesday) evening. Scarlett's lungs will probably never be normal. Her left lung lobe may never re-inflate (which may never be a problem) and she will most likely have some scarring from the pneumonia and pneumothorax. But we and her doctors are cautiously optimistic that she will have enough residual lung function to live a perfectly normal, happy life. Things we are watching for from here on out are the health of Scarlett's collapsed upper left lung lobe; recurrent pneumonia; and a possible genetic immune problem (leukocyte adhesion deficiency). She has not yet been tested for the latter, but she will be if her pneumonia returns. It will be some time before Scarlett is healthy enough to be safely vaccinated, so she won't be able to immediately go to training classes, the dog park or areas where dogs socialize, but we have plenty of fun activities planned for her in the meantime. We'll be sure to post another update tomorrow (and going forward) to let you know how Miss Scarlett is doing. And as always, please visit www.Facebook.com/CalWEAR for photos and videos of Scarlett in action. xoxo, Team CalWEAR
07/27/2015
by Team CalWEAR
Sunday, July 26: The miracle of blood pleurodesis? We can hardly believe it, but the "patch" procedure (blood pleurodesis) that was performed on Scarlett on Friday seems to be working. By Saturday evening (just 24 hours after the procedure) there was barely any air leaking from Scarlett's lungs and, as of this evening, there is NONE. To test this trend, Scarlett's chest tubes won't be suctioned until Monday morning, after which imaging studies will be done to see what her lungs look like. Scarlett's entire medical team will be meeting Monday morning to discuss her case and next steps, but it is entirely possible that she won't need surgery (at least not immediately) and be discharged to her foster home Monday evening. Scarlett continues to do great without oxygen supplementation; is now taking all of her medications via mouth (no more IVs, hooray!); and is eating and drinking like a champ. She is bright, curious, active and playful. And the sweetest thing ever. The staff in the critical care unit have been referring to her as their mascot and therapy dog. She socializes with every person on the floor and checks on all of her fellow patients. We don't think it's a stretch to think she could be a certified therapy dog someday... To everyone who has contributed to Scarlett's cause, THANK YOU. The positive thoughts, prayers and donations have literally saved this little girl's life. But the fight isn't over yet. Scarlett *may* have long term respiratory concerns and *will* require close monitoring and veterinary care for the foreseeable future. We have some whopper hospital bills to pay now and, if Scarlett does require surgery, in the future. You have been so generous and we are so grateful that you have championed Scarlett and shared her story. We'll be sure to post another update on Monday after we meet with Scarlett's doctors. In the meantime, please keep those fingers and paws crossed! xoxo, Team CalWEAR P.S. Please visit the CalWEAR Facebook page for the latest photos of Miss Scarlett. She may have committed another Weim Crime this weekend. ;) www.Facebook.com/CalWEAR
07/24/2015
by Team CalWEAR
Friday, July 24: Surgery... The rate of air leakage from Scarlett's lungs has not decreased, so she is indeed going to need surgery. We have (narrowly and on faith) figured out a way to proceed with it on Monday, July 27, when VCAWLA's full complement of surgeons and internal medicine specialists can perform and consult on the procedure and post-operative care. We have carefully considered and thoroughly evaluated the risks, benefits and costs of the surgery versus maintaining the expensive holding pattern of the status quo. Surgery is no small undertaking and we are only proceeding because it is Scarlett's best chance for a full recovery and happy forever after. Scarlett will remain hospitalized over the weekend, during which time she *may* receive a minor, non-invasive and relatively inexpensive treatment that *might* help the to heal the leak(s) in her lung(s) by recruiting Scarlett's own blood cells to "patch" them. It is a long shot but it may be worth a try. We are hoping and praying harder than ever that Scarlett's lungs might heal enough over the weekend to prevent her from needing surgery on Monday. Wouldn't that be a miracle! We are so incredibly grateful for the continued and renewed support for Scarlett. The social media shares and reposts are helping to spread her story far and wide and we are in awe of the number of people who are rooting for little Miss Scarlett. We are buoyed by the uptick in donations and are beyond grateful for every dollar. Every cent goes directly to pay Scarlett's hospital bills. Please continue to keep Scarlett in your thoughts this weekend. We will keep you updated here and on Facebook, where you can see photos and videos of Scarlett in action. :) www.Facebook.com/CalWEAR With full and hopefuly hearts, Team CalWEAR
07/23/2015
by Team CalWEAR
Thursday, July 23: Please Keep Scarlett in Your Thoughts Today brings mixed news about Miss Scarlett. Although she is off oxygen and continuous suction, her oxygen saturation has declined and her left lung is still leaking air. Today's x-rays reveal that while her pneumonia has improved overall, one of her left lung lobes is still heavily consolidated and collapsed. The remainder of Scarlett's lung culture report came back yesterday evening, and explains why her pneumonia is so severe and persistent. She is infected with some nasty organisms! One of her antibiotics has been switched to something a bit more specific to her bugs, and we are hoping this helps. However we can't say if it will make a difference in healing Scarlett's left lung, as Scarlett was already on great antibiotics. The plan is to continue with intermittent manual suction of Scarlett's chest tubes and hope and pray that the amount of air leakage declines enough in the next 12-24 hours to indicate that her lung is healing. Otherwise Scarlett will require surgery to remove the diseased/defective lung lobe(s); surgery that we simply do not have the funds to pay for. We are doing everything we can medically to prevent the need for surgery and your continued thoughts, prayers and support are greatly appreciated. Scarlett has come SO far and we want to see her live the full and happy life she deserves. With gratitude, Team CalWEAR
07/22/2015
by Team CalWEAR
Wednesday, July 22: Oh Happy Day! Although Scarlett wasn't able to be weaned off of oxygen yesterday, as of this morning she is no longer on oxygen and is doing just fine without it! Scarlett's arterial blood gas values are MUCH improved from yesterday; so much so that her critical care team "is happier than a pig in mud" (direct quote). The values are not yet normal, but they are getting there. The plan is to discontinue continuous (mechanical) chest tube suction this evening in favor of intermittent, manual suction throughout the night. If Scarlett's fluid output is significantly decreased tomorrow, the chest tubes will be removed, after which chest x-rays will be taken. If Scarlett's chest tubes are removed tomorrow and she is continuing to improve on Friday, she could be discharged then. Although there are a lot of "if/then" statements in this update, the bottom line is that Scarlett turned the corner yesterday. She is brighter and more energetic; is breathing much easier; and is acting more and more like the three month old puppy she is. We had a great visit with her yesterday evening during which we were able to hold her in our laps, walk her around the critical care unit, and play a little. We also received lots of kisses. (Note: She now has normal puppy breath!) To all of you who have been following and sharing Scarlett's story, keeping her in your thoughts and prayers, and making and encouraging donations: THANK YOU. Scarlett's recovery is nothing short of miraculous and would not be possible without YOU and this community of supporters. But it isn't over yet. We still have enormous hospital bills to pay, and Scarlett is still recovering. Once she is discharged from the hospital, Scarlett will need continue veterinary care and monitoring (exams, medications, x-rays, blood work, and nebulizer and coupage treatments), as well as foster care. Please help us keep the fundraising momentum going so that we can reach our goal and ensure that Scarlett doesn't relapse due to a lack of funds. Again, THANK YOU. We -- and Scarlett -- are so very grateful. Team CalWEAR
07/21/2015 by Team CalWEAR
Tuesday, July 21 First, THANK YOU for the continued support. Every share, good thought, prayer and donation makes all the difference for little Scarlett. It is incredible to think that less than three days ago we were going to have to take Scarlett home to be euthanized. Thanks to her supporters -- and her incredible spirit and resilience -- Scarlett is alive, stable and continuing to make steps toward recovery. Scarlett's chest tubes are continuing to do their job of draining fluid from around her lungs and keeping them inflated, and our little miss is eating, drinking, going potty normally, wagging her tail and asking for belly rubs. (When the nurses take Scarlett out of her cage to walk around, she rolls over and presents her belly to be rubbed. Too cute!) Later today we will have some additional blood test results that will give us an indication of how Scarlett's lungs are healing, after which her doctors will decide whether to take chest x-rays today or tomorrow. The goal for today is to wean Scarlett off of oxygen. This will make a big difference in our ability to fund her care, so please keep fingers and paws crossed that Scarlett's lungs cooperate with today's plan! We had a great visit with Scarlett last evening and can't wait to see her again tonight. With love and gratitude, Team CalWEAR
07/20/2015
by Team CalWEAR
Monday, July 20 Little Miss Scarlett is still fighting a very good fight. Her chest tubes are doing their job of draining fluid and keeping her lungs fully inflated. Scarlett is breathing comfortably, albeit still with the assistance of oxygen. After trying to wean her off oxygen a couple of times in the past 36 hours, her doctors have decided to wait another day before trying to wean her again. Scarlett continues to require ICU care but she is stable and, overall, all signs point to her moving toward recovery. She is eating, going potty normally, wagging her tail and sleeping a lot thanks to pain medication. Specialized blood tests show no indication of irreparable damage to her lungs or heart. When we visited Scarlett Sunday evening she was VERY happy to see us! She vocalized, wagged her tail like crazy, and asked for lots of belly rubs (which she very well got)! We were able to sit with her for an hour and pet her through the port holes in her oxygen cage. She slept on an off, apparently dreaming of running, swimming and/or counter surfing because her paws were very busy! Scarlett is a staff favorite at VCAWLA, just as she was at AVCC. It is not hard to fall in love with such a sweet, innocent and STRONG little puppy. She has come so far in the past 12 days. We just need to find a way to fund her care at VCAWLA until she is off oxygen and can be cared for at considerably less expense. Her life is hanging in the balance as we scrape together every penny to pay for each day of her care. THANK YOU for your continued support; for sharing Scarlett's story; and for donating to her care. PLEASE KEEP IT UP! We've said it before and are saying it again: It is because of YOU that Scarlett is not only alive, but is on the road to recovery and her happy forever after. With love, gratitude and hope, Team CalWEAR **Please visit us on Facebook for photos and videos of Little Miss Scarlett: www.facebook.com/CalWEAR
07/19/2015
by Team CalWEAR
Update: Saturday, July 18 Today was a very emotional day during which, for a few hours, it appeared that our only option was to take Scarlett home, feed her a last meal, hold her in our arms, tell her she is loved and a very good girl, and have her compassionately euthanized. We are THRILLED and RELIEVED to report that instead, Scarlett is currently stable and resting comfortably at VCA West Los Angeles (VCAWLA), where her doctors have gathered some promising information about her prognosis. (More about this below.) THIS IS THANKS TO YOUR GENEROUS DONATIONS as well as the volunteers who put down their own personal credit cards to pay Scarlett's hospital bills and admission deposits. We have updated the gallery with images of Scarlett's bills, estimates and deposits so as to be COMPLETELY TRANSPARENT about the fact that your donations are going directly to Advanced Veterinary Care Center (AVCC) and VCAWLA to pay for Scarlett's care. Scarlett's bill for her 10 days of hospitalization at AVCC was $11,335, of which we were able to pay all but $3,264 today. [We have until August 8 to pay the remaining balance, which is expected to be reduced to $997 when they confirm CalWEAR's 501(c)(3) not-for-profit paperwork and apply a 20% rescue discount to the bill.] Today we also paid a $3,000 deposit to admit Scarlett to VCAWLA for a CT scan, bronchoscopy with biopsy, and placement of chest tubes to continuously remove fluid and air from Scarlett's chest to keep her lungs inflated and more functional. These procedures, which were performed under general anesthesia, are estimated at $3,000 and Scarlett will need to be hospitalized at VCAWLA for an as-yet-to-be-determined number of days at an estimated additional cost of $800-$1,000 per day. So... What happened today? The condition of Scarlett's lungs became more emergent overnight and by noon today it was time to either gather more (and expensive) diagnostic information to help us decide whether it was in Scarlett's best interest to potentially intervene with surgery (and determine if that was even possible given her condition and the expense), OR compassionately euthanize Scarlett because we weren't sure we could fund the diagnostic tests, let alone surgery. After many tears and phone calls, we decided (and figured out a way) to at least take Scarlett to VCAWLA for diagnostic tests so that we would know what she/we were facing. The appropriateness of this decision was immediately confirmed when we picked up Scarlett from AVCC. She wagged her tail in excitement to see us and, during the 60 minute car ride to VCAWLA, was mesmerized by the rain on the car windows and the movement of the windshield wipers (she had probably not seen rain in her short 3 months of life); delighted in sniffing fresh air through the car's air vents; and (because she is teething) tried to chew up a few things in the car. ;-) Aside from her compromised lungs, she is alert and curious; enjoys being held and petted; is showing improved blood values each day; and has completely cleared her gastrointestinal infection. She wants to live and has tremendous strength and spirit. Although final/confirmed results of today's CT scan and bronchoscopy will not be back from radiology and pathology until probably Monday, Scarlett's doctors at VCAWLA see no indication at this point that she will need surgery. (PHEW!!!) Their impression is that she has a severe case of pneumonia that can at this point be treated with the chest tubes that were put in today and the continuation of antibiotics and nebulizer and coupage treatments. Everyone's hope is that by keeping Scarlett's lungs fully inflated via chest tubes, her lungs can expel the gunk and antibiotics and Scarlett's immune system can better reach and clear the infection. However, please keep in mind that this information and plan is preliminary and could change if the radiologist's and pathologist's final reports are different from what was observed during today's procedures. From the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU for making it possible for Scarlett to receive some encouraging tests and continued care as opposed to having to go to the Rainbow Bridge at only three months of age and without anyone knowing if she could have survived if we only had funds to pay for her care. BUT WE STILL NEED YOUR HELP. Please share Scarlett's story, YouCaring page and updates (www.YouCaring.com/SaveScarlett) with anyone and everyone you think might be able to donate even $1. Every bit counts and is making all the difference in giving Scarlett the happy forever after she deserves. Please also visit and share the CalWEAR Facebook page (www.facebook.com/CalWEAR) for photos and video from Scarlett's car ride to VCAWLA today. :) We will visit Scarlett tomorrow and will keep you updated in the meantime. With love, hope and gratitude, Team CAlWEAR
07/17/2015
by Team CalWEAR
Breaking News: Friday, July 17 1:00 p.m. PT We just got off the phone with Scarlett's doctors, who report that she has developed another pneumothorax (i.e., her left lung is collapsed and leaking air into her chest cavity). They are proceeding with removing the air and some accumulated fluid now. This points toward a more urgent need for surgery, as well as a need to keep her at the critical care hospital as long as she is requiring these procedures. Please keep sending good thoughts, prayers and donations. Scarlett needs them.
07/17/2015
by Team CalWEAR
Friday, July 17 Thanks for your patience with the lack of updates yesterday. We wanted to be sure we had the most current, comprehensive information and a game plan before we shared it here. THE GOOD NEWS: Scarlett is stable. She continues to eat and is alert and wagging her tail a little more each day. She is so strong a sweet, and tolerates her treatments without complaint. Yesterday she even barked at a dog that was being walked by her isolation room! And last night she spent about 30 seconds trying to shred one of her potty pads before she decided it was time for bed. It is great to see this mischievous puppy behavior. THE BAD NEWS: Scarlett's breathing is still very labored, her blood proteins are still very low, and her lungs are not clearing. There is *slight* improvement to her right lung each day, but her left lung remains FULLY OBSTRUCTED there is still a small amount of fluid around it. Her white blood cell count is very, very high, indicating that her immune system is trying very hard to attack her pneumonia. Based on her symptoms, x-rays, ultrasounds and blood work, Scarlett most likely has an abscess and/or necrosis (cell and tissue death) in her left lung, neither of which will resolve with medication. THE ONLY TREATMENT IS MAJOR SURGERY; specifically, a thorachotomy with lobectomy to remove the pus and diseased tissue. This is very expensive and is risky given that she has pneumonia. However, in the big picture Scarlett will not recover without surgery. We are getting estimates and a second opinion for surgery, and are putting our heads together to figure out how to fund it and when to proceed with it. In the meantime -- and to manage the costs of Scarlett's continued hospitalization (her bill is currently at about $8,000 with the 20% rescue discount applied) -- we plan to transfer Scarlett to Bay Animal Hospital for monitoring and treatment on weekdays. Volunteers will monitor and care for her at their home at night and on weekends. As long as Scarlett continues to eat, tolerate oral antibiotics and breathe without oxygen, we can care for her this way until surgery is possible. WE NEED YOUR HELP. Please spread the word about Scarlett to encourage continued donations. It is because of your generosity and support that Scarlett is not only alive, but is a different puppy than the one we took in last Wednesday. We weren't sure she could survive and it is nothing short of miraculous (and a testament to the power of love, prayers and donations to pay for great medical care) that Scarlett still has the potential to live a full, happy life. This fundraiser for Scarlett is the first time we have asked for the public's help, and it is because her needs exceed what we CalWEAR volunteers can fund from adoption fees and our own personal funds, both of which have made up 99% of the dollars that have gone directly to rescue, treat, foster and place nearly 40 dogs in the past year. If you or someone you know has even $5 to spare, every little bit will help. And Scarlett could sure use it. With gratitude and love, Team CalWEAR
07/16/2015
by Team CalWEAR
Evening Update: Wednesday, July 15 Scarlett continues to be brighter and happier each time we visit her. Please visit the CalWEAR Facebook page for a video of her beautiful tail in full happy wag mode! That said, we are meeting tomorrow morning to consider our options and make decisions about Scarlett's situation going forward. Good thoughts, prayers and donations are more important now than ever. Every dollar and measure of support counts, as evidenced by how far Scarlett has come. Thank you so much for caring. You are making a difference! xoxo, Team CalWEAR
07/15/2015
by Team CalWEAR
Wednesday, July 15 Little Scarlett continues to do well. She is doing a GREAT job of eating (she is licking her plates clean) and has not had to have ANY fluid removed from around her lungs. This means it has been 2.5 days since she last needed a chest tap! Her red cell count is holding steady and her blood protein has gone up! As long as she keeps eating, her blood protein levels will only improve. Scarlett's right lung continues to improve but her left lung is being stubborn. We'll see how her lungs look on x-ray this afternoon. Scarlett wagged her tail for her doctor this morning! This brings the observed tail wag count to TWO. We're hoping to see Scarlett's beautiful, long tail in action when we visit her this evening. (Fingers crossed we can capture it on video...)
We are so incredibly grateful for the generous donations and support, and for the excellent and loving care being provided by Advanced Veterinary Care and Bay Animal Hospital. THANK YOU. xoxo, Team CalWEAR P.S. Be sure to visit the California Weimaraner Education and Rescue page on Facebook, where you can view more photos, videos and the latest news: https://www.facebook.com/CalWEAR
07/14/2015 by Team CalWEAR
Tuesday, July 14 Scarlett did well overnight and is continuing to do well today. She is still eating, going potty (no diarrhea for two days now), moving around, and breathing without oxygen supplementation. She still has to expend more than normal effort to breathe, but her respiratory rate is good. Blood work and x-rays will be re-checked this afternoon, and we'll be visiting Scarlett in the early evening. Please keep sending good vibes and sharing Scarlett's story. It is working. :) xoxo, Team CalWEAR
07/13/2015
by Team CalWEAR
Evening Update: Monday, July 13 Our little Miss Scarlett is full of (happy) surprises! Shortly after our morning update she decided to eat (very well I might add), drink, breathe easier, rest easier, and move around more. As of this afternoon BOTH lungs show improvement. She is doing fine without her nasal oxygen catheter,,so she won't have another one placed unless her oxygen sats drop. Fluid has not re-accumulated around her lungs, and she had a normal GI status today. When we visited Scarlett this afternoon we got to see her eat (standing up!), pee, walk around, and jump back into her cage. Now that she is breathing easier she is able to lie down and sleep -- after circling several times and making a nest out of her bedding, naturally. We are thrilled to see this Weimy behavior. Please keep the good thoughts, prayers and donations coming. They are working. xoxo, Team CalWEAR
07/13/2015
by Team CalWEAR
Morning Update: Monday, July 13 Apparently Miss Scarlett wore herself out with last night's activity. Overnight she refused to eat and was again having more difficulty breathing. Ultrasound confirmed that fluid had re-accumulated on her lungs, and another 300 mL was removed. As of this morning she will only take food via syringe, and on x-ray her lungs are unchanged. Please keep thinking of Scarlett and sending all good things her way. She still has a lot of healing to do, and it is thanks to you that she has a chance. With gratitude, Team CalWEAR
07/13/2015
by Team CalWEAR
Breaking News: Sunday, July 12 This just in: Scarlett has begun trying to get at her catheters, and has found her voice. She is protesting being in a cage and hooked up to IVs, which is EXACTLY what we want to see in a puppy. Go Scarlett, go!!!
07/13/2015
by Team CalWEAR
Sunday, July 12 Scarlett's status is largely unchanged, which is good. She is still fighting! She is breathing easier today after having 400 mL of fluid tapped from her chest cavity, allowing her lungs to more fully expand. Her left lung is still completely obstructed, but her right lung is slightly improved again today. The big news is that now that she is breathing easier, Scarlett is not only eating chicken but is WILLINGLY eating canned puppy food from a bowl (as opposed to tolerating having it fed to her via syringe)! She is gaining weight and looks bigger every time we visit. Her paws are huge! When we visited her this evening, Scarlett was happy to see us and grateful for lots of ear, face and neck scratches. We told Scarlett that she is loved; that she is doing a great job; and that she has a backlog of puppy mischief to work on when she feels better. Please keep the support and donations coming, and continue to share her story. She still needs it. With gratitude, Team CalWEAR
07/11/2015
by Team CalWEAR
Update: Saturday, July 11 Hi everyone! Apologies for the lack of an update this morning. The hospital was swamped with emergencies and we weren't able to visit Scarlett until this afternoon. Great news: Scarlett is eating chicken, is more alert and mobile, and is showing some improvement in her lungs! She still has a long way to go (especially with regard to clearing her left lung), but she is moving in the right direction. We'll be visiting her again this evening. In the meantime, please enjoy the new photos and video posted in the gallery, and keep sharing Scarlett's story and sending good vibes her way. It is thanks to YOU that Scarlett is on the road to recovery. With immense gratitude, Team CalWEAR
07/11/2015
by Team CalWEAR
Evening Update: Friday, July 10 We are so grateful for the continued support and donations for little Scarlett. Please keep the good vibes coming. She needs them. As of this evening, Scarlett's gastrointestinal status is stable and unchanged, but her left lung is essentially fully obstructed. Her right lung is about 80% obstructed. Shevhas developed pleural effusion (fluid around the lungs), hence her having to work harder to breathe. The fluid is being removed as needed, and a cardiology consult confirms that her heart is normal and healthy. Phew! We were not able to take any photos of Scarlett this evening, but baby girl was sleeping soundly. She May have even been dreaming. :) Puppies are very resilient and Scarlett is a fighter. We'll post another update after we visit her tomorrow morning. With gratitude, Team CalWEAR
07/10/2015
by Team CalWEAR
Morning Update: Thursday, July 10 Thanks again for the amazing support and generous donations! They are making a difference in little Scarlett's life. Here is this morning's news from Scarlett's doctors: - She is still keeping down the liquid nutrition supplement she is being fed via syringe. This is great because it not only protects her gastrointestinal tract, but provides much-needed calories and nutrients. - She is still having some diarrhea but it is less bloody. - She is no longer vomiting! - Scarlett's white blood count (WBC) has gone up. This indicates her immune system is working to fight her infections. Go, Scarlett, go! - Her breathing is more labored, indicating that the pneumonia is progressing. However we know that pneumonia often gets worse before it gets better, so we hope this progression is mild, brief, and followed by improvement. - Scarlett's blood proteins and electrolytes have declined, so she will receive additional IV supplementation to replenish those. - She is receiving more oxygen through her nasal catheter due to her more labored breathing. Please keep the love and support coming; Scarlett really needs it. With immense gratitude, Team CalWEAR
07/10/2015 by Team CalWEAR
July 9 Update: Gratitude & Signs of Improvement! First and foremost, THANK YOU for the prayers, encouragement, shares and donations! We are filled with gratitude and optimism. Scarlett is showning signs of improvement! Her diarrhea is less severe, her lungs appear less obstructed on x-ray, she is drinking some water, is eating and keeping down small amounts of a high-nutrient formula, and appears more comfortable. She is not out of the woods, and her doctors caution that pneumonia can get worse before it gets better, but we are cautiously optimistic. In addition to all of the wonderful volunteers, donors and supporters rallying around Scarlett, we want to thank Dr. Sean Goodell and his team at Bay Animal Hospital, and the doctors and staff at VCA Advanced Veterinary Care Center. They just adore and are rooting for Scarlett. She could not be in more capable, loving hands. We'll provide another update tomorrow morning. Thanks again, and GO SCARLETT GO! -Team CalWEAR