Post by Jo on May 17, 2016 17:22:30 GMT
This is Alfie. He is a 5 month old Springer Spaniel puppy who is dying.This story is a little long but we think he is worth it. He has a birth defect called polycystic kidneys and already cysts are forming on his kidneys. Surgery is not an option it is a question of the right food and the right care to try and extend his life as long as possible whilst he is happy and free of pain. He was previously given 2 months but he has exceeded that already. Alfie's mum may have had a genetic predisposition to pass on this kidney disease to Alfie and possibly his siblings or it may be that she contracted something that damaged him whist she was pregnant. His appalling start in life would not have helped. Alfie is a funny, loving, naughty, playful little pup who has no idea he is ill and that his life will be short. Alfie is the result of a scummy breeder who was only interested in money. Below is Alfie's previous owners story. It made me weep and I am sure it will you too.
Alfie's Beginning
I went and picked up Alfie in February (unsure of actual day but could work it out through vets dates) I paid £300 for him, he was there with 1 other male puppy in a carry case that was smelling terrible, a really thin, pee soaked towel at the bottom for them 2 lay on. They was full of dried up milk and wee. I was mortified and wished I had the money to take them both home, but picked little Alfie cause he was the sweetest little thing. I personally - now - think that he was younger than he said. It was a clean house they was in, but was just stuck up the back of the crate. No mother to be seen, when I asked where she was, his reply was "she's out for a walk". He had a really ill little girl there, 3 yr old. So I just hurried out with Alfie, he told me he was drinking water and eating pedigree puppy food. I fetched Alf home, but he wouldn't drink water at all for a good few weeks, so I put him back to puppy milk after trying endlessly to get in touch with the guy I had him off, no joy. So anyway, the following morning I noticed he had things crawling through him, so I took him straight to the vets...
They said he had mange, because of his hot feet and condition, and to find out what type, they would need to do scrape samples, He had that done and the vet came back and said it wasn't mange, it was lice, so he was treated for that with the drops I sent down to you, and they gave shampoo and said do him weekly. I tried that and he was just getting weaker and weaker, and refusing food and drinking way too much water. So I took him back. They treated him for worms, every 2 weeks for the following weeks but Alfie was still really unwell. So I went back over. They said it was a mystery and would have to do blood tests and ultrasound to see what was going on with the poor boy. So they did that, and the blood tests come back that he had kidney failure, neither kidney was working as it should and by removing one he definitely wouldn't make it. So just said to make him comfy for his last few weeks of life. I wasn't giving up that easy, and the amount of different vets I seen over there and the completely different things they was coming up with I just wasn't satisfied, so I waited to hear back of another vet to get back to me about him going to them for a 2nd opinion. Within those days Alfie became really unwell, not able to walk, or move at all, just laying there unable to do anything, I took him straight back to the vets and they said he needed to be put on a drip for 3 days of fluids and antibiotics. We done that and day by day he came back to his happy little self. The last day of his drip.I took him down for the 2nd opinion. They agreed with the first vet and said he was a really unwell puppy with renal failure. Down there they gave the brown medicine that Alfie's on. So they advised me to go back to the first vet as their prices were cheaper for me as I was running low on money fast. So back and for Alfie has gone for no end of bloods and checks on his lungs (they apparently have a crackle to them), and week by week Alfie has come on in leaps and bounds. His ears and eyes have cleared up beautifully, he's got the strength back in his body to hold himself up. He's been on a strict diet of boiled chicken and the renal food for many weeks now, and he's come on just so well.
It was just cruel.seeing him like he was, I was a willing to spend every penny I had - well I did in the end. He's worth every bit of it though!!'
Alfie's Present and Future
Alfie is now in our care and part of the Wonky Dog and Cat Club. How could his owner watch him die and explain to her little girl why he is going to be so ill. He has already seen our vet Karen Davies at Maesglas and we will do everything we can to give him the best quality of life with the very best care. Alfie doesn't have a long term future but we will do our utmost to make sure what time he has is amazing. If Alfie's story stops one person buying a sick puppy from a scummy breeder maybe there will be some point to it all but at the moment the most important thing is Alfie.
Alfie's Beginning
I went and picked up Alfie in February (unsure of actual day but could work it out through vets dates) I paid £300 for him, he was there with 1 other male puppy in a carry case that was smelling terrible, a really thin, pee soaked towel at the bottom for them 2 lay on. They was full of dried up milk and wee. I was mortified and wished I had the money to take them both home, but picked little Alfie cause he was the sweetest little thing. I personally - now - think that he was younger than he said. It was a clean house they was in, but was just stuck up the back of the crate. No mother to be seen, when I asked where she was, his reply was "she's out for a walk". He had a really ill little girl there, 3 yr old. So I just hurried out with Alfie, he told me he was drinking water and eating pedigree puppy food. I fetched Alf home, but he wouldn't drink water at all for a good few weeks, so I put him back to puppy milk after trying endlessly to get in touch with the guy I had him off, no joy. So anyway, the following morning I noticed he had things crawling through him, so I took him straight to the vets...
They said he had mange, because of his hot feet and condition, and to find out what type, they would need to do scrape samples, He had that done and the vet came back and said it wasn't mange, it was lice, so he was treated for that with the drops I sent down to you, and they gave shampoo and said do him weekly. I tried that and he was just getting weaker and weaker, and refusing food and drinking way too much water. So I took him back. They treated him for worms, every 2 weeks for the following weeks but Alfie was still really unwell. So I went back over. They said it was a mystery and would have to do blood tests and ultrasound to see what was going on with the poor boy. So they did that, and the blood tests come back that he had kidney failure, neither kidney was working as it should and by removing one he definitely wouldn't make it. So just said to make him comfy for his last few weeks of life. I wasn't giving up that easy, and the amount of different vets I seen over there and the completely different things they was coming up with I just wasn't satisfied, so I waited to hear back of another vet to get back to me about him going to them for a 2nd opinion. Within those days Alfie became really unwell, not able to walk, or move at all, just laying there unable to do anything, I took him straight back to the vets and they said he needed to be put on a drip for 3 days of fluids and antibiotics. We done that and day by day he came back to his happy little self. The last day of his drip.I took him down for the 2nd opinion. They agreed with the first vet and said he was a really unwell puppy with renal failure. Down there they gave the brown medicine that Alfie's on. So they advised me to go back to the first vet as their prices were cheaper for me as I was running low on money fast. So back and for Alfie has gone for no end of bloods and checks on his lungs (they apparently have a crackle to them), and week by week Alfie has come on in leaps and bounds. His ears and eyes have cleared up beautifully, he's got the strength back in his body to hold himself up. He's been on a strict diet of boiled chicken and the renal food for many weeks now, and he's come on just so well.
It was just cruel.seeing him like he was, I was a willing to spend every penny I had - well I did in the end. He's worth every bit of it though!!'
Alfie's Present and Future
Alfie is now in our care and part of the Wonky Dog and Cat Club. How could his owner watch him die and explain to her little girl why he is going to be so ill. He has already seen our vet Karen Davies at Maesglas and we will do everything we can to give him the best quality of life with the very best care. Alfie doesn't have a long term future but we will do our utmost to make sure what time he has is amazing. If Alfie's story stops one person buying a sick puppy from a scummy breeder maybe there will be some point to it all but at the moment the most important thing is Alfie.
