Allie Needs Life Saving Surgery

 

 

In early August, our friends with BARK rescue in Belzoni, Mississippi reached out to IBR about a litter of 4 puppies that needed help. We called the litter the A-Team as they were named Abby, Allie, Albert and Artie. Their mother Allyson also needed help and sadly she was positive for heart-worms but we really wanted to help her too. In mid August, Abby and Allie  moved to our northern, MS foster home and in September we were able to move Allyson and her boys to foster care in the Chicago suburbs.

 

 

We held back on the girls because Allie- the smallest of the puppies had a serious health issue. She was having difficulty eating normal dog food and would vomit it often. Her foster mom also noticed a pouch of swelling at the base of her neck which seemed abnormal. The first vet she went to suspected she had a congenital birth defect called PRAA or Persistent Right Aortic Arch where a ligament attached from the aorta to the pulmonary artery is causing the esophagus to be constricted and food can't enter the stomach properly and if not surgically repaired- the puppy will die from starvation.

 

 

A barium x-ray series was done that did show a possible issue with her esophagus opening to the stomach was very small. We needed to do a scope of her esophagus to confirm that and there was only one vet we were referred to in central Mississippi, but the day before that procedure- Hurricane Ida hit the gulf coast and was heading north so we had to cancel. In the mean time, we did more research and in order to get any food into Allie- her foster mom pureed her food in her food processor and fed her a liquid diet and held her up in her arms while gravity helped the food enter the stomach. Allie needed to be kept calm at this time and she was doing well, gaining a little weight and acting like a playful normal puppy.

 

 

On September 28th, Allie had her scope and with Dr. Sullivan and the PRAA was confirmed. The opening from pressure of the defect allows for only perhaps a 1/2 inch or less diameter opening from the esophagus to her stomach.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Sullivan does a great job explaining the procedure and his findings in the above video. All information was then sent to Dr. Edwards in Tupelo, MS and her surgery is scheduled for the 18th of October. This is major surgery and he is dedicating the clinic to her procedure that day. Surgery estimates are $2400- $2800 and the scope procedure was $800.

 

 

 

Allie had a rough couple of days post the scope and anesthesia but her foster mom has her back eating 1/4 cup pureed food several times during the day and holding her up after each feeding to help the food drain into her stomach.

 

We are hopeful once Allie has her surgery and recovery, that her esophagus will grow normally and she will outgrow any permanent scaring. Allie and Abby are a bonded pair and once all of Allie's PRAA issues behind her, we will do our best to find these special girls a wonderful home in the Chicago area.

 

We would really appreciate your help for us to help Allie and her $3500 medical issue. Putting her to sleep just isn't an option and you can see how special she is and deserving of a long happy life.