Spotlight Terrier: Missy

Jack Russell Terrier in need of medical assistance
Last Update:	March 25, 2006
Location:	Virginia Tech, Virginia
Dog Name:	Missy
Sex:	Female
Age:	11 months
Known Issues:	Requires surgery to remove the object and repair her esophogus.
Background
Sandy, the Virginia RRI reppresentative, received a call from the Animal Hospital of Waynesboro about Missy - an 11 month old, female JRT that swallowed a foreign object and needed emergency surgery since it had cut her esophogus. Sandy and Nickee mobilized immediately and drove Missy to Virginia Tech where they plan to do additional x-rays since they can't see what has caused the damage. Progress updates are posted below.
Progress Updates
March 25 - From Missy Oh joy! I got my stomach tube out today and my stitches out too. I get to eat FOOD at last!!! My forever home was waiting for me when they released me from the hospital! Thank you all soooo much for your kindness, generosity and prayers.
March 22 - From Missy Thank you all my wonderful Russell Rescue friends for your kindness! I am doing extremely well and will get my stomach tube and stitches out this week. Meghan, my foster Momma has been so good to me. She's had to feed me special food through my stomach tube and also just a little bit in the normal way. I can hardly wait 'til I can eat ALL my food normally -- it tastes SOOOOO good! As you can see, I'm feeling really happy and alert now thanks to all of you! Love, Missy.
March 16 - From Meghan, Missy's foster mom: I have to say that this dog is more complicated than a new toy! She has more gadgets and tubes and plugs and holes on her than I know what to do with and more medicine and feedings throughout the day than a baby! She's cute, personable, likes to sleep, doesn't seem to bark (yet at least) and friendly with new people. She has covered every sq. foot of my apartment, checking it for wrappers, crumbs, etc and between me keeping after her to pick them all up and her licking them I think this place is now spotless! She does get fed a lot through the tube throughout the day and OF COURSE she wouldn't like the taste of any of the liquid meds I have to give her orally (I never understood why they didn't flavor them all like Chicken). Otherwise I can't tell you too much cause I haven't had her for very long. More to come!
March 14 - From Missy Hello all my Russell Rescue friends! Here I am all trussed up like a turkey! the mesh stuff around my belly is to help hold in my stomach feeding tube! I have more pricks and pin holes that a pin cushion at this point! Still -- I'm in very good spirits cuz' I actually got to eat a little, tiny bit of REAL FOOD! Boy did it taste good! My doctor thinks I'm going to be able to go home w/ my foster momma in the next day or two. She will have to still feed me a little through my tube but then very soon, I'll go back to the doctor to get it out and I'll be FREE! Thank you so much for your kind words and loving support.
March 13 - From Missy I'm feeling ever so much better today. Jodi, who is the senior vet student handling my case, took me for a nice walk outside. I was thrilled! Jodi thinks I'm a very special girl and can hardly believe I'm doing so well. I just didn't know that the plastic flower pot I chewed on could do so much damage. It sure didn't feel good when I swallowed it! But gee, plastic is so much fun to chew!! Jodi calls Sandy, the Russell Rescue lady, every day to tell her how I'm doing. They sure are nice down here at Virginia Tech. Jodi thinks I might be able to get out of the hospital soon but I'll still need to keep that icky tube in my stomach for a week. Thank you to all the folks who are thinking about me and praying for my recovery! Love, Missy.
March 10 - From Sandy, Virginia RRI Representative Missy is still being kept over night in the oxygen cage (to the tune of $100 per night) but she stood up and wagged her tail when the technician came to check on her. (I LOVE these sturdy and feisty little dogs!!). She is still very sick but is rallying. Missy will probably have to spend a week in ICU since she can't be fed normally, only through the feeding tube. There was a lot less fluid leaking from the drains in her torso.
March 9 - From Sandy, Virginia RRI Representative Surgery is completed - removing the object in question being the most difficult part of the surgery. Missy had swallowed what appeared to be a portion of green plastic flower pot which had lacerated her esophogus. Other pieces were found in her stomach contents. Missy has a feeding tube inserted directly into her stomach and is being kept in an oxygen cage since she is still having trouble breathing. There was a considerable amount of pus in the chest cavity. Drain tubes are also inserted to help drain the infection and Missy is on antibiotics.
If you would like to apply to adopt Missy, please complete an online adoption application.