Spotlight Terrier: Dara

Dara came into rescue about a month ago from a shelter in south Texas. She is just a baby, only 7 months old; she was dropped at the shelter by her breeder, who could not sell her with the rest of her litter. She was too thin, but seemed healthy. After two weeks, she seemed much livelier, had gained weight and was spayed. Within a week, she came down with an Upper Respiratory Infection.

On Labor Day weekend, she got very lethargic, would not eat and was coughing. Since it was a holiday and I knew I could not get her to the vet for three days, I took her to the ER Clinic. She was diagnosed with kennel cough, given Clavomox and sent home. She finished the Clavomox, started eating a little and kept coughing. Back to the vet, who did more poking, prodding and listening. The vet diagnosed a bordatella-like illness, and called it "Pasturella.", and she went on Dicural. She showed slight improvement, but was still thin and very tired all the time. Third trip to the vet and he gave her a Coravina shot. (this is a new 2 week antibiotic.) We thought she was just about to turn the corner, when she tangled with one of those big, brown south Texas toads. She foamed at the mouth and shook her head until I though her ears would fall off. It went on for a couple of hours, so back we went, just to make SURE it was not symptoms of something really bad. She was in isolation for three days, and by the time I got her back, the URI had returned full force. My vet was perplexed, but put her back on Clavamox and said to bring her back in 10 days. By now, I figured she'd be crossing the Rainbow Bridge in 10 days. She was very thin, very lethargic and so weak, she could barely keep her balance long enough to walk outside and pee.

Our next step was another vet. Dr. K. did a thorough exam, and said some blood work and x-rays were in order, but he wanted to try one more antibiotic, and a steroid. He also suggested a Nebulizer and Albuteral. That's where we are right now. Our next step will be more exams and poking, prodding. Throughout it all, Dara had remained good natured and compliant.

Progress updates are posted below.

My sweet Dara has crossed the Rainbow Bridge.

She was somewhat agitated last night, not wanting to settle down, didn't want to be held or petted, and could not seem to get comfortable anywhere. She laid on the couch for a little while. As long as the other dogs were with her, she seemed content. About 10 pm, I crated her, but she would not lay down. Just sat, looking out, very quietly. She had been having muscles tremors in her front leg for the past three or four days, and the vet felt like this was a secondary condition of her long illness. At her last check up, he did tell me he was worried her system might be too compromised by a long term URI to bounce back, since she was so young and had come from unhealthy beginnings (back yard breeding.)

I checked on her several times before midnight, and she had finally laid down and fallen asleep. This morning, (7 am) she was unconscious and completely unresponsive to any stimuli. I wrapped her in her blanket and took her to the vet for one last visit. She died peacefully.

Dara's death should not be in vain. Her breeding and birth were not what we would consider "good breeding practices." If you know of anyone who is "hobby breeding." please be so kind as to talk with them. At the very least, try to educate them to the unsound practices of indiscriminate breeding. I would appreciate it, and so would Dara.

Dara wants to thank everyone who is being so generous in their contributions to her cause.

She is feeling a little bit better, but is still very congested and does not have much energy. She would love to run and play, but she just can't, yet. She gets steamed vegetables and rice with her puppy food, and it helps her to eat everything. She wants everyone to know she is trying to get better.

Dara is eating dinner in one picture, and snuggling with Justine in the other. Justine is the "Mom" of the group. I guess she thinks Dara is her baby.

Howdy,

My name is Dara.

I was named after the famous swimmer, Dara Torres. This is me in my crate with my nebulizer. It has a purple chicken face on the mask. The other picture is me and my brother when we first came to Rescue.

Love, Dara