Dog of the Week: Newt!

Our fearless leader, Roz, was at the Ottawa Vet Hospital last Saturday with her cat when one of the receptionists notified the staff that a 6 week old pup was coming in for euthanization. Roz kept her eyes peeled for anyone bringing in a baby and sure enough, in came Newt. This little fellow was trying desperately to get out of his crate (did he know what was coming?) so Roz asked the owner whether she could hold the pup and if he going to euthanize. He said yes and explained that his wife and daughter bred Pomeranians but this one had a faulty heart. Roz explained who she was and asked if she could bring the little furball into Hopeful Hearts to see if we could help. Thankfully he agreed and we are now blessed with this tiny little ball of fluff and love!

The technical name for Newt's condition is called Patent ductus arteriosus.

"At birth, mammals must adapt from living in a fluid environment (the amniotic fluid) and acquiring oxygen through the mother's blood, to breathing air and acquiring oxygen through their own lungs. The ductus arteriosus is very important in the adaptation process. This is a small communicating blood vessel between the pulmonary artery (which carries blood to the lungs), and the aorta (which carries blood to the rest of the body). Before birth, most of the blood from the fetal heart bypasses the fetal lungs via the ductus arteriosus. The lungs gradually become functional fairly late in fetal development. At birth, the blood supply from the mother is of course cut off, the dog (or other mammal) begins breathing on its own, and blood flow through the ductus arteriosus decreases dramatically. Within a few days, the ductus closes off completely.

Where the ductus does not close, the dog is left with a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). The extent to which this affects the dog depends on the degree of patency, or opening, of the ductus."

What does this mean for Mr. Newt? Poorly oxygenated blood, shortness of breath, weakness or collapse. Surgery needs to be performed as soon as possible before Newt's heart tries to compensate for the defect and it gets worse.

A pampered Newt at the Bells Corners Animal Hospital

Since Hopeful Hearts survives solely on donations, we can't do this without your generosity. If you can give up your Frappuccino, Cappuccino or Latte for the week, every little bit will help Newt to get back on his feet. If you would like to donate, please click here. If you donate through Canada Helps, simply select "Newts New Heart!" from the drop-down menu!

Newt is not yet available for adoption, but when he is, please email adopting@hopefulhearts.ca if you can give this tiny little ball of fluff and love a forever home that he so deserves.


August 25th update
9:25 am: We have raised $420.00 for Newt's surgery! Thank you everyone for your generosity!
7:13 pm: We are now at just over $960.00!!

August 26th update:
1:36 pm: Newt's New Heart fund is now at $1410.00!!
3:50 pm: The total currently sits at $3035.00! We're pinching ourselves and Roz is speechless!! We are so unbelievably grateful!!

August 29th update:
8:34 am: Newt clearly has a ton of people rooting for him, because his surgery fund has reached $4045.00! Thank you!!

Click here for a follow-up.


UPDATE: Newt has been adopted!