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6th November 2009.
Little Lucy is a 9 months old Bichon Frise who is currently in the care of our vets. Lucy is suffering from a condition where by she is unable to digest food due to the fact her liver is not functioning fully.
Lucy, has been in the vets for the last 13 days where tests have been carried our to see what if anything can be done to help her. We got the news this week that Lucy is going to need an operation to insert a shunt into her body which will help relieve the problem but it is possible that she may need as many as 3 shunts inserted. Without this operation Lucy will not be able to survive .
The operation will be carried out at UCD fingers crossed, this Wednesday. The operation will cost us €2000. This is in addition to the vets fee for the last 13 days plus her medications, and vets fees for the coming week.
We estimate that in total Lucy medical cost will be in excess of €4000.
If you wish to help with the cost of Lucy’s operation please contact Liz on 087 2287586 or Marie on 086 2573180 or you can email fundraising@dogsindistress.org
From Evening Herald – 6th November 2009
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A sick and neglected puppy found in Dublin a few weeks ago is still waiting for vital and costly surgery — and a dogs’ charity is appealing for financial help.
Lucy, a nine-month-old Bichon puppy, was found in a dreadfully "skinny" condition a few weeks ago, and she cannot gain weight because of an underlying condition.
Dogs in Distress, a fostering organisation, is pleading for funds to be raised so Lucy can undergo sugery in UCD’s veterinary hospital.
Lucy’s liver is not functioning properly, so she can’t process her foods efficiently. The vets will insert a shunt into her body which it is hoped will relieve the problem.
Marie Hanlon, from Dogs in Distress, says the surgery cannot go ahead until they have raised between €1,500 and €2,000 for the operation. Lucy is getting weaker as each day goes by, and is being fed through a drip.
"She’s not in good form at the moment but we can’t go ahead with the surgery until we have the cash," said Marie.
Some €600 has already been pledged by the Irish public to help Lucy. Donors may call Dogs in Distress on 01 8015905.
WE WILL NOT BE TAKING ANY APPLICATIONS TO REHOME LUCY UNTIL SHE IS OVER HER OPERATION AND HAS GONE THROUGH A FULL RECOUPERATION.
We will be posting updates on Lucy here as soon as we have them…….
Hi Liz,
As you know we have had a long battle with Charlie with his liver disease, it was suspected that he had a shunt like this girl but turned out this wasn’t the case he in fact had a different type of liver disease (Micro Vascular Dysplacia – some dogs that have a shunt also have MVD but it will only be discovered after surgery). I have researched this topic till I was blue in the face and am a member of great liver disease group too that can offer so much help and advice. If you want someone experienced dealing with liver disease to foster her I would be happy to help Otherwise can offer info and support and prescription food and some supplements to the person that fosters
Laura xHi Laura,
I have pm’d you, sorry I lost your new number when I changed my phone.
Thanks so much for offering to help Lucy.I went up to Cara vets today and I got to meet Lucy while I was there. I was shocked at how small and emaciated she is. She looks more like a 12 week old puppy instead of a 9 month old one. She is so thin you can clearly see her bones. The vet nurse, the lovely Kirsten told me that they are trying everything to get her to eat but that they do feel that she is well enough to undergo the operation on Wednesday. She allowed me to pick her up and give her a cuddle for a few mins. I got a chance also to take a few new photos so they are here below.
We would like to take this chance to say a BIG BIG THANK YOU to everyone who has taken the time to get in touch with Dogs in Distress to wish Lucy well and offer some financial assistance for her vet care and operation. We are a volunteer run non profit organisation and without your help we would not be able to help pups like Lucy so thank you for all your support. We will keep updates posted here as they come in.
Have sent you a pm
The poor girl, they are all text book signs of liver disease, stunted growth, underweight, impossible to get to eat, exchausted…
ah..the poor little thing! she is so small. I will say a prayer that the op will be successful tomorrow for her!.
Poor little Lucy…I hope she is ok and that everything goes well for her I will be thinking of her tomorrow and I have all fingers and toes crossed for her. Keep well little Lucy
We will be thinking of Lucy tomorrow and hoping for the best. Such a terrible case but we are glad we could help you. Laura & Trish and our little Bichon Molly
Little Lucy dropped in to say hello on her way to UCD here and got fitted out with a new jumper to keep her warm.
Suzi travelled her over and spoke to the vets where they did say that she is underweight but they do have an 80% success rate with this operation. They are running tests on Lucy today and we should have an update by this evening.
Awh the little sweetheart looks so lovely in her red jumper. I have been thinking of her all day and checking in to see if there is any update. Best of luck sweet Lucy..you are in the best of hands.
Here she is on her travels…..looking so cold and miserable….
Still she is on her travels…..just after we called in to visit Liz and Marie
much better!Poor Lucy…at least while she is in foster she will get the chance to be pampered and looked after and hopefully the meds and food will make a big difference. I shall continue to keep everything crossed for this little girl.
Hi Liz,
Do they hope to give Lucy the operation after she has had some time with Laura?
She looks lovely and cosy in her new coat
Laura.
I believe she will have surgery in about three weeks (fingers crossed) to close off the shunt so everything will pass through her liver to be cleaned. If anyone wants to read about the type of thing she has this is a good website http://www.vet.utk.edu/clinical/sacs/shunt/faq.php
There is a bit half way down about surgery and what that entails.For the moment she needs lots of support and the work load eased on her liver so she will be getting fed six small meals per day of a prescription food with no meat, she will also need multiple supplements and medication to rid her blood of bacteria, ammonia, and toxins because at the moment her liver can’t clean things for her and the toxins etc get to her brain and hence plenty of problems.
My own dog has millions of tiny shunts and this could not be repaired in surgery so he has to be medically managed for life so it will be second nature to us to get her ready for her op, we are already well in a routine
I’m looking forward to meeting this little women tomorrow
Otherwise can offer info and support and prescription food and some supplements to the person that fosters 
Thanks so much for offering to help Lucy.
much better!
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