Ethel Update

Ethel arrived 2 weeks and 1 day ago, and is the most wonderful girl.  She loves everyone and everything she meets, and greets all with a wonderful tail wag and a butt wiggle. 

She has such a happy, captivating soul, if she is in your presence then you can't do anything but smile at her. 

Her favorite things are food, snuggles on the sofa, walks in the woods and meeting her new friends at a freedom field to have a good run around and play. Such an amazing well balance nature which is a true reflection on her previous owner who made the heartbreaking decision to surrender Ethel. 

When Ethel arrived she was having trouble with her urine, she was passing a lot of blood, she went immediately to the vets for a check up and had antibiotics for 5 days as well as an anti-inflamatory to return in a week with a further sample. 

The antibiotics certainly helped, but her urine was still very dark (as you will see below) so blood tests and urine tests were undertaken.  The results are that Ethel, thankfully was showing no signs of any organ damage; no infection; but her urine had a lot of crystals present.  This can cause blood as they can cause inflamation in the bladder, causing damage to the lining which results in the blood.  It would also be painful when urinating.  This would explain why Ethel had blood present, and why she doesn't like to wee too much.  Left untreated, this could cause bladder stones which can only be removed by surgery. 

So how do we help Ethel?  

Her water intake has been upped, when ever she has her breakfast or dinner, it resembles soup so she is getting plenty of water, which results in her needing to wee more, which will help break down and pass the crystals.  

She has been put on a specialist food, Royal Canine Urinary Food which we have purchased on line, via Pet Driugs On Line rather than via the vets to save some money.  A bag should last her about a month and costs around £90.00.  We're hoping that once the crystals have broken down she can go onto a lower grade Urine specialist food, but if that's what she needs thats what she'll have.  She's not too impressed with the idea of this diet!  We're introducing other foods that won't effect the crystals, such as fruit and vegetables.  The main issue with urine crystals is protein so we need to be careful what she has.  The fruit and vegestables, aren't a favorite at the moment, although water melon is the best of a bad offering!

Ethel has also been booked into the vets for a dental in a couple of weeks time as her teeth are a little yucky.  This of course happens with age and can be expected.  Her ears are a lot cleaner and less smelly now as well with regular cleaning. 

With the vet bills, food, tests and the estiamte for her dental, Ethel bills are just over £1,300.00, so far.  Further urine tests will be needed in about a month to see how the food is working for her.  

She's worth every penny as you will see from the photos below.  

If you would like to donate towards Ethel's bills, a link is below to do so.  

Meanwhile, please enjoy the updated photos and video of Ethel having an absolute ball! 

Ethel's expenses to date (she's worth every penny to get this loving, cuddly, funny girl all better!) 

Thank you everyone who supports us as a small charity, be that with your time, wish lists or donations.  We wouldn't be able to offer hounds like Ethel all that we do without you.