Lucky Star Cavalier Rescue

Pumpkin

June 2, 2010

Pumpkin has had a follow up with the surgeon who is very pleased with her progress. It appears that she is continent and has some control. Since she does not have any sphincter muscles, she will always need to have her bottom wiped to keep it clean. She is eating well, gaining weight and now that she doesn’t have to wear that Elizabethan collar anymore, she is playing and enjoying herself like most puppies. We are trying to regulate her diet to keep her stools fairly soft, with low residue. This has been a bit of a challenge because she cries when she tries to poop, especially first thing in the morning. We have had recent success with a combination of eggs, spinach, pumpkin, flax seed, and freeze dried dog food. For the first time, she is pooping without crying. We hope this will continue. All continues to go well for this little girl. It’s truly unbelievable! It will be awhile before she has completely healed from her major surgery, spayed and available for adoption. Now she has a chance at life.

We are so very appreciative and grateful for the responses and donations to make this possible. Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts.

May 21, 2010

Pumpkin was born 3/6/2010 on an Amish farm in Ohio. She was born with a birth defect and without a rectal opening. Most puppies die of this condition within a few days because they are not able to eliminate waste but Pumpkin was eliminating solid waste through her vagina. This is the only reason she survived as long as she did. This was a condition which could not continue due to the high risk of infection and other life threatening conditions. It would certainly have ended her life at a very young age. The Amishman released Pumpkin to Lucky Star care and, after many phone calls to surgeons between Ohio and Massachusetts, it was decided that she would have her surgery at Cape Cod Veterinary Specialists in Buzzards Bay, MA by Dr Edward Kochin. Dr. Kochin had seen the condition before and had also successfully completed other delicate surgeries for Lucky Star. We cannot say enough about his surgical skills.
      Pumpkin’s surgery required major reconstruction to create plumbing to the new rectal opening that Dr. Kochin had to create and also had to shut down the tubes that were leading to the vagina. All of this was done on a puppy weighing less than 3 pounds. Pumpkin survived the surgery and Dr Kochin has given her a “poop hole” of her own. We do not yet know how much control she will have and it is very likely that she will be incontinent for her entire life. She is doing well and is a lively, happy girl, just loaded with personality.

     We are extremely grateful to Dr. Kochin and the staff at Cape Cod Veterinary Specialists for the wonderful care they gave Pumpkin and for saving her life.
          Her medical expenses to date have totaled $2,600 and will likely increase while she is in foster care for several more months. Any donations to help offset these expenses would be greatly appreciated and can be sent via check to Lucky Star Cavalier Rescue, P.O. Box 7054, Carmel, CA 93921 or through the Lucky Star PayPal account, (http://www.paypal.com/) to the name of luckycavaliers@aol.com. More information about making donations can be found on the "donations" page of this site.

          Inquiries can be directed to mary401339@aol.com. Pumpkin is in foster care in MA. Updates of her progress will be posted occasionally. Thank you all so very much for your concern.