Furever Foster: Chewie, a Lesson in Love

By Chelsea Fournier, Chewie’s Foster Mom

Chelsea and Chewie

On Mother’s Day, 2009, I was told that a new foster was to arrive at my house later in the day. I had been fostering Miniature Schnauzers for just five months before Chewie ended up at my door. When he first arrived, he was weary of a new environment, but quickly adjusted. Chewbacca’s previous owners became sick and could no longer care for him. I was informed that he was ten years old, with his eleventh birthday coming up the following October. I was ecstatic to foster a “senior” dog, as I have a soft spot for the older dogs. Chewie sure didn’t act ten; he played about the house and ran the yard as if it were all his own. Although Chewie took a liking to pottying in my parent’s closet, I had his back and cleaned the messes before they noticed (usually).

In February of 2010, I received Chewbacca’s very first application for adoption! I was thrilled; what bittersweet news. After doing the home visit for the new family and approving them for your adoption, he went off to his furever home.

Just two months later, Chewie’s owners got ahold of the Schnauzer rescue and informed us that he had developed bone cancer in his front left paw. I was shocked; I prayed for his recovery nearly every day. After an exceptional amount of treatment, Chewbacca’s owners came to the rescue with a problem: they could no longer afford to properly care for him. I was devastated; he had been through so much and this was terrible news.

Thankfully, I was between fosters at the time, and I was able to take Chewie back into my home to foster and help him through further treatment. Early July, 2010, his veterinarian advised me that he would have to remove Chewbacca’s toe where the cancer was most prevalent. After the big surgery, Chewie came home to recover comfortably. Later in the month, after a recheck by the vet, we learned that his cancer was GONE, but there was a terrible infection resulting from the removal of his toe. The doctor decided that the best route to take was to remove Chewie’s front left leg.

Shortly after this surgery, Chewbacca was out running in the yard, playing with other dogs, and loving life, cancer and pain free! This past October, Chewie turned thirteen, and yet he’s just as spunky as the day I met him nearly three years ago.

Chewie (left) attended Barkaritaville shortly after his surgery

About one month ago, Chewbacca began coughing. I took him to our vet, where they took X-rays. The X-rays showed a mass in Chewie’s lungs. I was recommended to a specialist and took Chewie there as soon as I could. The X-rays were looked at by an internal medicine specialist; they were nearly positive the mass was a tumor. The specialist then took a biopsy of the tumor; he said that Chewie was such a great dog that they didn’t even need to use sedation during the simple biopsy.

Just two days ago, I received a phone call from the specialist: Chewbacca’s tumor is carcinoma; a type of cancer that may spread within his body. I was told that there wasn’t a specific amount of time that Chewie has, but that a few months was likely. Chewbacca shows no signs of pain just yet. I know he’ll tell me when he does.

Chewbacca has taught me so much about persistence, strength, and optimism. He’s shown me that no matter what life hands you, to hold your head high and keep fighting. I’m so grateful to have Chewie as a foster and for the love he’s shown to me through his darkest times.

Chewie is one determined little man

What are the Symptoms of Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis?

By Tracy Dudlik
Last week we had a scary episode with our foster dog, and came to find out that it is a fairly common problem in several small breeds, miniature Schnauzers among them.     Little Coal started off Tuesday seeming to feel ok, but not wanting to eat and seeming a little quiet.     By mid day, she was vomiting and having diarrhea and was very lethargic.    We rushed her to the vet, and IV’s and testing were started right away.    Our first thought was pancreatitis, or some foreign body ingestion.    Tests for these were negative, but she had low body temp and soon began having blood in both the vomit and the diarrhea.  Our vet was concerned that her organs might be starting to fail.     We came to find out that she had a disease known as hemorrhagic gastroenteritis(or HGE).      This illness is caused by a virus and can affect some dogs very severely as it did Coal.  It causes the lining of the lower intestines to become inflamed, break down and bleed, causing the bloody discharge.   The good news about this is that with good supportive care it has a low mortality rate.    The bad news is that it comes on without warning very quickly, and without the supportive care is easily fatal due to dehydration and organ failure.    There is no medication for it.  Like any virus it has to run its course.   The treatment is to support the dogs system while they fight it off.  This means giving the dog IV fluids, and antibiotics and anti diarrhea meds to prevent secondary infection and combat the symptoms.   There is disagreement as to whether or not it is contagious.   Some vets say it is, and some say not.   Our vet said that the underlying virus (like any virus) is contagious, but not all dogs have a serious illness from it.   Our Jazz, who had a similar situation when we first adopted her, got mildly ill this time with just a day or so of soft stools, and lack of appetite.  Likely she caught a touch of the virus but had some immunity built up.    Miss Coal stayed with the vet until Thursday evening when she was able to come home.    With treatment she is now back to herself and being a bouncy playful schnauzer.  

Our little Miss Coal

This illness is common, but it is especially dangerous to the very dogs we deal with every day.   Dogs with low immune systems such as those who come out of puppy mills or those who have been neglected are particularly at risk for the more severe symptoms if they catch this.      They do not have the solid healthy immune systems to fight it off so prompt treatment is essential.     These little ones that come to us sick or worn out are a greater risk of being seriously or even fatally ill from this.   Happily I know that we are all very careful and vigilant about the care they get.   I am very happy that Coal is now healthy and happy.   I thank my friend who dropped everything to take her to the vet, my son who made sure she was carefully watched until she got there, the vet who gave her such wonderful care, and of course all the prayers that were shared for her that helped her get well, and us not feel so alone.

Please watch out for this.   It can make them very sick in a hurry, but happily with good care they get well just as fast.

Miss Coal is feeling much better and is looking for her furever home.