The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Danbury-area pup who lost her nose undergoes surgeries to put her on road to recovery, adoption
BETHEL — Thanks to community donations, a local puppy who lost her nose due to a rare skin disease is readying for a second surgery that should help her live normally.
Gwen, a six-month-old German shepherd has been cared for by staff at the Bethel-based Danbury Animal Welfare Society, whose staff organized a fundraiser to support the pup and plan to find a family to permanently adopt her.
“The goal for Gwen is to have her live a somewhat normal life,” said Meg Goldstein, a licensed veterinary technician and DAWS operating manager. She and her husband Dr. Marty Goldstein, a veterinarian and member of the DAWS Board of Directors, took in Gwen as medical fosters.
At an early age Gwen lost her nose from an immune-mediated disease called Puppy Strangles that affects the skin around the muzzle. It became so severe in her case that it ate her nose, lips and skin around her mouth, leading her to need surgeries.
Dr. Rakesh Vali and his staff at Mt. Pleasant Veterinary Hospital and Pleasant Paws of Newtown provided the first treatments for Gwen to save her life. At
15 weeks old, she was handed over to DAWS for further treatment.
“She is fully recovered from her first surgery and is ready for her next,” Meg Goldstein said. “Having our own clinic and resident veterinarian makes DAWS stand out from other rescue organizations and is one of our most valuable resources, combined with 49 years of experience caring for animals in need.
The Goldsteins created a GoFundMe page for Gwen on Jan. 26 that reached its $10,650 goal to raise funds for her surgeries. The page has been taken down.
“The special medical fund created for Gwen met its goal and should be able to cover the expense of the second surgery,” Meg Goldstein said. “The funds donated will definitely help. There is still a concern and the potential that she may need a third. We won’t really know how many more surgeries she may require until we get through the next procedure. As the surgeon said, ‘one step at a time.’”
Finding a ‘match’ for Gwen after surgeries
DAWS resident veterinarian Dr. Cary Brenner performed Gwen’s first reconstructive surgery and determined a specialist was needed to take Gwen’s surgery to the next step. He found Dr. Michael Pavletic, a veterinary surgeon at Angell Medical Animal Center in Boston. Gwen was brought to Boston and had her first surgery there on Jan. 30 to enlarge the one nasal passage she has to improve her breathing.
“Gwen is breathing better than ever since her first procedure in Boston,” Meg Goldstein said “Before, she would have to prop her upper teeth on a toy or on the edge of the cage to keep her mouth open while she slept. Now, she is able to sleep on her side comfortably and has since stopped snoring.”
Gwen is scheduled for her second surgery in Boston on March 14.
“This next surgery is to cover the front of her mouth,” Meg Goldstein said. “The surgeon will most likely cut back her upper jaw to gain enough skin for coverage. This procedure is to help Gwen from having her gums exposed all the time causing her to bleed, or if she bangs it hard enough, causing potential injuries to her upper jaw.”
While the Goldsteins have grown fond of Gwen, the next step for them and DAWS is to find her a permanent home.
“Knowing Marty and I cannot keep Gwen, it would be unfair for her to continue to live with us only for her to re-adjust to a new family,” Meg Goldstein said. “She is already six months old, and we want to do what is best for Gwen and find her a permanent family. This will be beneficial for her mentally and emotionally for the future as she gets older and bigger.
She said the idea of finding a foster to adopt is to allow Gwen to start bonding with her permanent family before she is completely done with all of her surgeries. DAWS will take care of all the costs and medical needs for her nose until she is cleared by Brenner.
“Marty and I will continue to take her home after surgery(s) to recover, medicate and help her learn how to eat and drink properly. We have had some interest in Gwen so far, but a match has not been made yet.”
Gwen is an active, wellbehaved puppy who is house trained and up to date on all vaccines, according to DAWS. If you would like to meet and adopt Gwen, complete the DAWS online adoption application form at https:// daws.org/daws-forms.