Ziggy's Page

The day before Ziggy was neutered, he was brought to his new foster home.  He was given a much needed bath because he stunk worse than any other foster dog his foster mom had brought in before.  The next day, he was picked up and taken to his neuter appointment at Spay Today.  During his neuter procedure, Dr. MacKay had to make an incision in his bladder to take out 60 ml of urine!!  This explained his smell...he had some sort of infection going on and it was recommended by Dr. MacKay that further testing may be needed.  After leaving Spay Today, Ziggy's foster mom had to stop at Firetower Animal Clinic to pick up another foster being looked at for a health concern.  While she was there, she spoke with Nancy about Ziggy and his neuter procedure.  Nancy then went to speak with one of the vets, and it was recommended to leave Ziggy there for the night to be looked at further the next day.  Ziggy hasn't left Firetower Animal Clinic since.

The following day, Ziggy's foster mom received a phone call from Dr. Hubbard regarding Ziggy.  Dr. Hubbard ran some urinalysis and confirmed that he Ziggy had an infection, as well as crystals in his urine.  She also said she believed there was a blockage preventing him from being able to urinate.  She wanted to try to put in a catheter to see if this would help give him some relief.  An hour or so passed and Dr. Hubbard called Ziggy's foster mom saying she was unable to get in the cathater and would like to do bladder surgery.  This procedure had to be approved by Bobbie Parsons and she happily agreed.  After the surgery, Ziggy was able to get some relief and a catheter was able to be placed in him.  He also was given a new way to pee.  He now pees like a girl.  This was just the beginning of his path to recovery.  And during all this...it was discovered Ziggy also had a dislocated hip!!

Ziggy spent the next week at Firetower being tended to by Dr. Hubbard and all the vet techs and front desk staff.  He was being spoiled and loving it.  His catheter was working to help him urinate but he was still having problems.  Dr. Hubbard started Ziggy on several medications to help with different symptoms.  He was started on an antibiotic to help with the infection.  He was placed on pain medication to decrease any pain associated with his difficulty urinating and his surgeries.  He was placed on stool softeners to help him have bowels without discomfort.  He was also started on a steroid.  Oh...he also had an ear infection and was started on medication to treat this too. 

During the second week of Ziggy's stay at Firetower Animal Clinic, Dr. Hubbard started seeking advice from vets in other areas....particularly the Cary area and at NC State Vet School.  She did an x-ray after using dye to examine his bladder more closely.  It was at this time that a tear was discovered near his prostate.  This meant another possible surgery.  Again...the foster mom could not approve such a procedure and Bobbie Parsons was contacted again.

Before contacting Bobbie, Dr. Hubbard informed Ziggy's foster mom that one of her vet techs fell in love with Ziggy and was willing to adopt him and take over his care.  Dr. Hubbard was informed that should Pitt Friends no longer be able to afford Ziggy's treatment, that there was no problem in allowing this vet tech, Cheryl, to adopt Ziggy.