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Blind Puppy Suffering from Congenital Brain Disease Abandoned at Supermarket
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Angell Neurologist to Give Jonah a "Fighting Chance" with Cutting Edge Procedure
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Jonah recovers after his shunt
was secured in a second surgery. | November 12 Update: A second surgery was performed today after Jonah's shunt had come out of his brain. The shunt was reinserted during the 25 minute procedure and further secured using silk sutures. Jonah was up and eating within one hour of the surgery's completion and he has experienced no setbacks. Jonah will again enter foster care to be monitored during his recovery.
November 4 Update: Jonah is now recovering in foster care with members of Angell's Neurology Service. Dr. Andrew Farabaugh continues to monitor Jonah during his recovery and has noticed an increasing level of alertness in the small Chihuahua. Jonah is walking better since the surgery as his motor skills improve. In addition to his physical recovery, Jonah remains upbeat and frequently plays with the dogs in his foster placements.
October 26 Update: Jonah continues to receive around-the-clock care in Angell's Emergency and Critical Care Unit. The neurology team is keeping a close watch on his shunt and checking for obstructions. Once he is given the "all clear" he will enter foster care to continue his recovery.
October 19 Update: Click here to read more about Jonah and the outpouring of support that he received from around the world.
October 16 Update: Jonah underwent a successful brain surgery at Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston. The two-and-a-half hour operation took place on the morning of October 15 and Jonah is currently recovering in Angell-Boston's Emergency and Critical Care Unit. Jonah now faces a recovery period during which he will be monitored around the clock. He will also be evaluated over the next several days to determine if he can regain additional motor skills. Several photos from the surgery and his recovery are at the bottom of this page. News regarding Jonah's recovery will continue to be posted on this page as well as on the MSPCA-Angell Twitter page. | |
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Jonah is battling for his life
after being found at a local
supermarket. Angell surgeons
will perform brain surgery
to drain fluid from the blind
puppy's brain. | A blind Chihuahua puppy, brought to the MSPCA for care after being abandoned at a local supermarket, is undergoing preparations for brain surgery at Angell Animal Medical Center later this week in an effort to save his life.
Blind and scared, this eight-month-old Chihuahua was discovered in early September at the bottle recycling center of the Jamaica Plain Stop & Shop. A Good Samaritan brought the congenitally challenged puppy to the MSPCA-Boston Animal Care and Adoption Center. Upon surrender, the adoption center staff quickly noticed that the puppy was not behaving normally.
"When this dog was brought to us, we knew he would need immediate and sophisticated medical care if there was any hope in saving him", said MSPCA-Boston ACAC manager, Meagan Rock. “His head was severely deformed, he had difficulty walking and concerns grew regarding to what extent he could see. As part of his full evaluation we called in the neurology staff at Angell Animal Medical Center for a consultation.”
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Jonah suffers from hydrocephalus,
commonly referred to as "water on
the brain". An MRI scan (below)
shows a white area, which would
normally contain the brain, filled
with fluid. |
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| Angell staff neurologist, Dr. Andrew Farabaugh assessed the Chihuahua puppy and suspected that he was suffering from a severe case of hydrocephalus, commonly referred to as “water on the brain”, however tests were required to appreciate the full extent of the congenital disease. In order to monitor the puppy around the clock, Dr. Farabaugh and his team fostered the Chihuahua in their homes for several weeks as more information could be gathered. The fragile puppy was soon named Jonah after seeking solace in the mouth of a fish shaped bed. Jonah initially showed some small improvement with medications and had been able to walk and even started playing with his new friends in the Neurology Service as well as with other dogs, but his condition has since progressed.
“An MRI confirmed our suspicions that Jonah was suffering from a severe case of hydrocephalus,” said Dr. Farabaugh. “In layman’s terms, fluid has accumulated inside his brain and the high pressure from this has compressed his brain into a thin shell. We will place a shunt to drain the excess fluid into his abdominal cavity using a human pediatric shunt, where it will then be absorbed by his body. The surgery is technically challenging and has a small mortality rate and other complications, but without surgery, Jonah will die. If the surgery is successful, Jonah should improve and be able to enjoy a good quality of life although he will likely remain blind.”
The MRI, surgery and follow-up care is estimated to cost a minimum of $2,500 and donations are being requested by the non-profit to help animals in need of medical care at Angell Animal Medical Center, including Jonah. Donations to the Angell Animal Medical Center can be made by clicking here.
“Despite Jonah’s dramatic loss of brain tissue he still possesses a wonderful personality and impressive strength of spirit,” added Dr. Farabaugh. “He has been through more hardship in his short life than most animals will ever face and he continues to battle to live. We will provide Jonah with a fighting chance to improve his quality of life.”
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1. Jonah rests prior to his brain surgery. |
2. Jonah is sedated prior to surgery. |
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3. Jonah is intubated by members of
Angell's surgical team. |
4. Dr. Lisa Moses of Angell's Pain Medicine Service monitors Jonah prior to surgery. |
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5. Angell Neurologist, Dr. Andrew Farabaugh explains the shunt insertion to members of the surgical team. |
6. Dr. Farabaugh, makes the first incision as Jonah's surgery begins. |
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7. Dr. Farabaugh places the shunt in Jonah's brain. |
8. Dr. Farabaugh feeds the shunt towards Jonah's abdomen. |
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9. Dr. Farabaugh sutures the incision on Jonah's head. |
10. Dr. Farabaugh discusses Jonah's X-rays following surgery. |
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11. Jonah wakes up following surgery and will continue to recover in Angell-Boston's Emergency and Critical Care Unit as staff members monitor him around the clock. |
12. One day after his surgery, Jonah remains under 24 hour care at Angell-Boston as he continues on his road to recovery. |
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