Rat Terriers : Update on Tiny - the little Rat who needs lifesaving heart surgery!

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Update on Tiny - the little Rat who needs lifesaving heart surgery!

Posted by Sue on 4/21/2008, 11:45 am
66.109.54.174

Hi Everybody,

Tiny had his initial consultation with Dr. Wey, the cardiologist. Surgery is scheduled for this Wednesday morning. Dr. Wey is cautiously optimistic that Tiny's prognosis will be good, but he's cautious to not say more until after surgery. Dr. Wey said without this surgery, he would die within the year. Left much longer, surgery wouldn't have been able to help. We caught him in the neck of time, but he is one sick little boy. Apparently his heart is HUGE and he's "this close" to congestive heart failure.

Good news is that there is an alternative surgery that can be done where Dr. Wey goes in through Tiny's groin and inserts some sort of "plug" where the defect is. Dr. Wey drew a diagram of what is wrong with Tiny's heart, but rather than try to explain, the best way to describe it is that there's a hole that needs to be plugged.

However, there is the remote possibility that Tiny is too small (he's only 9 pounds) and that Dr. Wey won't be able to maneuver the device properly, and he will have to do the traditional surgery where they go through the ribs... ouchies! Either way, total costs for Tiny's care will run between $2,000 and $2,500. Tiny is such a sweet, sweet boy!! I am so in love with him. He's currently with Michelle, our Albany, NY foster mom. He's in good hands, trust me.

Ratbone's raffle has raised about $500.00 so far - and the shelter Tiny came from has raised about $500.00 so far - and we need about $1500 more.

Please don't forget Ratbone's Raffle...
Here is a link to pictures of Tiny: http://imageevent.com/rattiemom/tiny?n=0

Here is a video link of Tiny: http://video.yahoo.com/watch/2386034/7442630

Here is Tiny's petfinder page while at the shelter:
http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=10502289

Tiny is a 9 pound, 1 1/2 year old Rat Terrier and and has PDA - a heart condition that can be corrected with surgery. Tiny deserves a second chance at life!

He is scheduled for surgery this Wednesday (April 26, 2008) with a local cardiologist, Dr. Wey. We have gotten an estimate of the total cost of Tiny's care, including the initial visit, diagnositics, surgery and follow-ups, and it will be approximately $2,500+. Tiny had his first consultation with Dr. Wey yesterday. If Tiny does not have surgery, he will die within the year. Left much longer, surgery wouldn't have been able to help Tiny. We caught him in the nick of time.

I wanted to do something to help raise funds for Tiny's surgery. This is what I came up with:
I am donating the cost of a cotton throw. It can be personalized. It can be made from ANY digital picture and it is made into a 50" x 60" 100% cotton throw. The winner of the raffle will need to provide me with a electronic copy of a pix they want made into the throw, I will send it in, pay for it, and ship it to the winner. The following is a link of where I am going to purchase the throw and more info:

http://www.personalthrows.com/Photo_Blanket_50_x_60_p/pt91002wt.htm

Here's a link to indicate the best type of picture that will work:

http://www.personalthrows.com/help_answer.asp?ID=19#129

The Fundraiser will run for a month, and the winning ticket will be drawn on Sunday, May 11, 2008. If paying by check, checks must reach Ratbone by Friday, May 9, 2008. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to email me at suzie_redhead01@yahoo.com .

Any amount donated will help!! THANK YOU!!
Tickets are $5.00 each, 3 for $10.00 and 7 for $25.00. To pay via paypal, please send payment to redwon234@gmail.com and please make sure to state on your payment that it is for "Tiny's Raffle". To pay via snail mail, please make your checks out to "Ratbone Rescues" and mail it to: Ratbone Rescues, PO Box 3237, Seminole, FL 33775.