Chewy's Cleft Palate Repair Surgery
Donation protected
Chewy was born on November 20th, 2015 via an emergency C-section. We were notified immediately by the vet that he had a cleft lip and palate, and that he came out crying, so they thought he deserved a chance at life, but that it was up to us if we wanted to put him down or not. Being the dog lovers we are, after seeing his sweet face, we could not put him down, we had to give him a chance at life. We left the vet that day with no clue the road that was ahead of us. The vet we were seeing at the time, had no advice for us, we were just told to do the best we could but to still be prepared that he may not make it.
Upon arriving home it was very apparent he could not latch well to nurse, so we spend the next couple days holding him to his mom so he could nurse taking turns around the clock. He was losing weight so we knew he was not getting enough food. We returned to the vet, and were told to try supplementing formula in a bottle or from a syringe. We tried that as well, and the formula would just go everywhere including back out of his nose. We did this for a week, running on little to now sleep, shedding lots of tears just thinking he wasn’t going to make it, and feeling so helpless and lost as to what to do. We returned to the vet after I was able to find information that cleft puppies need to be tube fed to avoid aspiration. I knew someone needed to show me how to tube feed. Well the vet said the only way to tube feed was to surgically implant a feeding tube in his side with a catheter and that he was to high risk. We left that appointment feeling so discouraged.
With the help of some friends we and after reading Rubys story the cleft palate puppy from Utah we found out University of Penn Vet hospital had doctors that specialized in cleft. I called immediately and they got us in the next day, it was at UPenn they taught me how to tube feed chewy property by inserting a tube down his throat to his stomach so he could eat. They taught me how to know you were in the stomach not the lungs, and then made me aware of what signs to look for pointing to aspiration which is highly common in cleft dogs and very dangerous. We were to tube feed him around the clock every 2 hours. And along with the tube feeding since he was away from his mother, we also would have to stimulate him to go to the bathroom. Let me just tell you, tube feeding is no joke! If I had to do it again I think I would feel more confident, but those were some of the scariest most nerve wracking months of my life! Luckily we never had and complications from the tube feedings or aspiration. Chewy only had issues processing the formula so we did deal with bouts of diarrhea and constipation.
When Chewy was a month old we introduced him to softened puppy kibbles.
The first day was pretty terrible, he overate and threw up which is again very dangerous and food and fluid can go in through the cleft to the lungs and cause aspiration so of course we were at the Dr. 2 times that week (averaging once a week for the first 2 months!). But eventually he was able to eat and keep it down. We started alternating tube feedings with kibble feedings and by his 2 month birthday he was completely weaned off of formula and tube feedings. He was eating normal puppy food and drinking water from a lixit (rabbit water bottle).
By 3.5 months of age we let him try drinking water from a normal water bowl. Lucky for us he transitioned to solid foods (now dry!) and water from a dog bowl with little to no complications.
So for the most part he is a normal puppy now! But without surgery he is high risk for aspiration, and could live with constant rhinitis and nasal discharge. He also needs to have his incisors removed as they are not protected due to the cleft lip. And if he hit his mouth on something runs he risk of them fracturing and that potentially causing infection. Chewy has had many other issues not cleft related, but most likely sue to not getting any colostrum from his mom, causing a weaker immune system. He has already been on 4 rounds of anti-biotics at 5 months old, has constant skin issues, food allergies, etc. So we need to get him this repair surgery to elevate the risk of further complications.
For those that have met Chewy they will tell you, he is absolutely the sweetest dog. He LOVES to play, go for walks, ride in the car, and cuddle. His will to live has been such an inspiration to me since the day he was born. He is so determined to succeed at everything he does, and you can tell he gives it his all. Chewy is now big enough to have his repair surgery as early as May. They are estimating the cost to be between $3800 and $4500 without any complications. It is a very hard thing to ask for help, maybe it’s a pride thing, and maybe it’s just wanting to be able to provide for him yourself. And we knew this day was coming. But with all his medical bills to date it’s been tough! So we are humbly asking people for any help they are willing to give to help Chewy get the surgery he needs!
We thank you in advance for just even reading his story, for the positive thoughts being sent his way, for any prayers, and for your generosity. It means so much to us!
Upon arriving home it was very apparent he could not latch well to nurse, so we spend the next couple days holding him to his mom so he could nurse taking turns around the clock. He was losing weight so we knew he was not getting enough food. We returned to the vet, and were told to try supplementing formula in a bottle or from a syringe. We tried that as well, and the formula would just go everywhere including back out of his nose. We did this for a week, running on little to now sleep, shedding lots of tears just thinking he wasn’t going to make it, and feeling so helpless and lost as to what to do. We returned to the vet after I was able to find information that cleft puppies need to be tube fed to avoid aspiration. I knew someone needed to show me how to tube feed. Well the vet said the only way to tube feed was to surgically implant a feeding tube in his side with a catheter and that he was to high risk. We left that appointment feeling so discouraged.
With the help of some friends we and after reading Rubys story the cleft palate puppy from Utah we found out University of Penn Vet hospital had doctors that specialized in cleft. I called immediately and they got us in the next day, it was at UPenn they taught me how to tube feed chewy property by inserting a tube down his throat to his stomach so he could eat. They taught me how to know you were in the stomach not the lungs, and then made me aware of what signs to look for pointing to aspiration which is highly common in cleft dogs and very dangerous. We were to tube feed him around the clock every 2 hours. And along with the tube feeding since he was away from his mother, we also would have to stimulate him to go to the bathroom. Let me just tell you, tube feeding is no joke! If I had to do it again I think I would feel more confident, but those were some of the scariest most nerve wracking months of my life! Luckily we never had and complications from the tube feedings or aspiration. Chewy only had issues processing the formula so we did deal with bouts of diarrhea and constipation.
When Chewy was a month old we introduced him to softened puppy kibbles.
The first day was pretty terrible, he overate and threw up which is again very dangerous and food and fluid can go in through the cleft to the lungs and cause aspiration so of course we were at the Dr. 2 times that week (averaging once a week for the first 2 months!). But eventually he was able to eat and keep it down. We started alternating tube feedings with kibble feedings and by his 2 month birthday he was completely weaned off of formula and tube feedings. He was eating normal puppy food and drinking water from a lixit (rabbit water bottle).
By 3.5 months of age we let him try drinking water from a normal water bowl. Lucky for us he transitioned to solid foods (now dry!) and water from a dog bowl with little to no complications.
So for the most part he is a normal puppy now! But without surgery he is high risk for aspiration, and could live with constant rhinitis and nasal discharge. He also needs to have his incisors removed as they are not protected due to the cleft lip. And if he hit his mouth on something runs he risk of them fracturing and that potentially causing infection. Chewy has had many other issues not cleft related, but most likely sue to not getting any colostrum from his mom, causing a weaker immune system. He has already been on 4 rounds of anti-biotics at 5 months old, has constant skin issues, food allergies, etc. So we need to get him this repair surgery to elevate the risk of further complications.
For those that have met Chewy they will tell you, he is absolutely the sweetest dog. He LOVES to play, go for walks, ride in the car, and cuddle. His will to live has been such an inspiration to me since the day he was born. He is so determined to succeed at everything he does, and you can tell he gives it his all. Chewy is now big enough to have his repair surgery as early as May. They are estimating the cost to be between $3800 and $4500 without any complications. It is a very hard thing to ask for help, maybe it’s a pride thing, and maybe it’s just wanting to be able to provide for him yourself. And we knew this day was coming. But with all his medical bills to date it’s been tough! So we are humbly asking people for any help they are willing to give to help Chewy get the surgery he needs!
We thank you in advance for just even reading his story, for the positive thoughts being sent his way, for any prayers, and for your generosity. It means so much to us!
Organizer
Kelley Patricia Curtis
Organizer
Downingtown, PA
