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Jasmine!

We recently learned of a Dobe that was in a horrific fight. Jasmine is an eleven year old rescue female living with her family Pottstown, PA. She got into a fight with another family dog, and a large wound was opened on her neck. Despite immediate care, the wound eventually became severely infected and required follow-up surgery. This included the insertion of drains, blood transfusions, and antibiotics. The infection still threatens Jasmine's life, and she will require follow up visits with the doctor. SND is now trying to raise money for Jasmine's bills so she can recover from this terrible wound.

We need your help! We ask that you make a donation for our girl by using the PayPal buttons at the top and bottom of this page, or by mailing us a donation. Please remember, no donation is too small! We have some auctions running for Jasmine including a beautiful Doberman quilt. It was donated by Jeanette Jordan in remembrance of her recently departed Greta.

Here is Jasmine's Story as told by Jean (her Mom):

October 16 - 19

We live in SE Pennsylvania, Pottstown with our three "Dober-Brats".

My two bitches got into one hell of a fight on Thursday.. Kayla had ripped my 11 year old Jasmine's chest/neck muscle so bad that blood was pouring from the wound. I couldn't even tell if it was a muscle or her jugular vein or what. Thank God my husband had just gotten home from his 14 hour work day because I never could have driven and put pressure on it. I almost lost Jasmine in the car on the way to the vet. At one point during the drive (its only a 15 minute normal drive to my vet, we made it there in 5 minutes!) Jasmine started convulsing in my arms..I was sure she was gone. I've never ever been so scared in my life.

I am so grateful for such an awesome vet and staff. They were waiting at the door and carried Jasmine back while I kept the pressure on, 2 vets were there and at least 4 techs. They had me and my husband stay to keep her calmer and sutured her right up while we were there. They allowed me to stay there the entire time and encouraged me holding her to keep her calm until they got her on the IV and settled in her crate for fluid therapy. She stayed the night
for observation, and IV fluid therapy. We have been using this practice (Limerick Veterinary Hospital) for over 4 years now. Jasmine has been going here (3 years) ever since we took her back in when her adoption didn't work out. Several days later, the edema had increased 10 fold. I called the vet and she scheduled surgery to put in drains.

Jasmine went through the surgery well, the drains were put in but the wound itself was infected and thrombosis was starting to set in, which can lead to DIC..which she said is serious deep-seated septic infection. Jasmine's clotting factors are unbalanced and just in the short time after surgery her neck and chest became severely bruised. They called in their donor dog to give Jasmine transfusions. Dr. DiSouza said that the situation was serious. They had to get the infection under control, the wound is extremely close to a major artery and the initial prognosis was not good. I wanted to save my baby girl and I knew this was going to be expensive.


October 20 Update:
She seems to be holding her own. The warm and cold packs are really causing the wound to drain quite a bit which is good. The flesh over the wound feels firmer than it did when she came home, which I think is good, as the decaying/infected flesh was mushy. She is chowing down eagerly as usual (I would be very concerned if Jasmine didn't want to eat) and enjoying all the extra attention and lunch meat I use to bribe her to stay still for the hot and cold packs.

Jas has a follow up visit with the vet on Tuesday and hopefully the news will be good at that point. She did manage to pull out the one suture on the lower drain, but the upper suture holding the drain is still in place so it isn't a big issue. I believe she pulled it out by licking when the wound is draining overnight. We have placed baby gates all over the house and anytime either my husband or myself have food we keep Kayla and Bubba on one side of a gate, and Jasmine on the other, just to be on the safe side. There's not been so much as a raised lip or hackle in the house.

October 22 Update:
I just got back from the follow up with our vet. Jasmine is doing better!!! The culture came back with 3 bacterias causing her infection and the baytril and keflex covered two of them. Dr. D'Souza prescribed Ampicillin for the last bacteria. The wound appears much better and the flesh seems healthier. The vet flushed the drain with antiseptic and said she wants to wait another 3 days before removing it to give it another few days to drain. We go back on Friday for the drain removal and to remove the sutures for the 2 minor wounds that were not infected.

Jas has lost 4 lbs, going from 59lbs to 54lbs in just over a week, so we are increasing her feedings to 4 times a day. I was feeding her 3 times a day after the injury but she continued to lose so will increase even more. I am told this is normal when there is a major injury. All the body's energy goes to healing the wound and not to maintain weight.

October 28 Update: While most of the wounds appear to be doing fine, Jasmine is going back to the vet today to have her neck checked out . She's had some swelling which we hope is just some fluid accumulation. Here is a new picture of her showing her wound and drain. Think positive thoughts for this sweet girl!

October 29 Update: Following is tonight's message from Jean regarding Jasmine. Those "positive thoughts" did help. The swelling was a small issue. Now we see about the choking problem.

"I am very happy to say that the swelling was the result of a hematoma from the injury and consisted of mostly serum and very few bacteria cells and little to no pus and drainage. It was easily drained with a needle. However, Jasmine has been having problems choking as she is eating, and the vet is concerned with that. We are to go back to feeding canned food and add in dry food soaked overnight to the canned food and water in a slurry consistency. If Jasmine continues to have problems swallowing and choking on her food then the vet feels she will have to refer us to a specialist for an esophagus endoscopy. We are hoping it was just the pressure of the hematoma on her esophagus that caused the choking and swallowing problems. We will keep you posted."

July 13th, 2003 - The latest on Jasmine with photos!