West Highland terriers (Westies) are known for their independence, loyalty and take-charge attitude
Once we had completed Roxy’s SQ fluids, she took to marching up and down the campsite, putting herself squarely back in charge of her territory.
The flip side of this is their sheer stubborn (iron) will. Woe betide anyone who tries to convince a Westie to take a different course of action when they have already decided on one for themselves.
Roxy is a senior Westie, from southern Canada, who has been diagnosed by her veterinarian with Stage 2 chronic kidney disease.* One of her prescribed treatments is subcutaneous (SQ), or under the skin, fluids. This helps hydrate her and her kidneys, and as her humans have observed, “puts a pep in her step for several days.” This can be a relatively simple treatment to provide at home for a pet when prescribed by a veterinarian.
Enter the Westie stubbornness of Roxy.
She does not want this treatment, she does not want a needle under her skin and she especially does not want to stand still for the prescribed amount of saline to drip into her at the speed of gravity … No thank-you. As is often the case, the challenge of providing veterinary treatments often lies in not being able to explain what we are doing (or why) to our pets and patients.
How can we relate to Roxy, specifically, that what we are doing right now is the very thing that will put that pep in her step? Roxy’s humans had tried, several times, to provide SQ fluids, with mixed results. They got the fluids into her, but the ensuing battle of wills, between Roxy and her people, led to feelings of stress, uncertainty and to wondering if they were doing more harm than good. (Oh, Roxy!)
What do you do with that stubborn Westie iron will of determination when planning a trip across Canada to the Yukon? Could this feel intimidating, travelling far away from the support of Roxy’s regular veterinarian and vet clinic? (I suspect we would all agree with a resounding “Yes, indeed!”)
Tom and Debbie’s Yukon friends recommended they reach out to me to see if registered veterinary technologist (RVT) services would be helpful during their visit, since they already had a diagnosis and treatment plan.
Our initial conversation was many weeks prior to the trip itself, and this summer we finally met at their campsite. Roxy is a lovely dog and she epitomizes that Westie take-charge attitude, sniff-inspecting me thoroughly before welcoming me to her home away from home.
Roxy’s veterinarian in southern Canada provided a treatment plan for her, including the prescription of the saline for SQ fluids and all of the supplies for administration. When I arrive, I am then enabled to assist Roxy’s humans to complete the treatment, right “at home” (at the campsite), after a discussion on what does and does not work, as per Roxy’s personality and comfort level.
Roxy allowed Tom to help her stay still as I gave her saline fluids under the skin via needle. We were soon done her treatment, as I have a trick or two up my RVT sleeve to reduce the time of gravity-drip SQ fluid administration. She did very well, despite her short window of patience while also loudly sharing her “opinion.”
Once we had completed her SQ fluids, she took to marching up and down the campsite, putting herself squarely back in charge of her territory, or so it seemed to me.
Over two separate occasions, I was able to observe Roxy and her unique traits, during which Tom and Debbie were willing to try my suggested methods of handling. Based on Roxy’s personality, the specifics of her people and with changes to handling (giving Roxy the impression she was in control while also allowing for delivery of her treatment), my recommendation was that the human-to-Roxy ratio for best success be 3:1 going forward.
It is true that SQ fluid administration can be simple, and it is also true that Roxy is a challenging patient in that she will not accept things of which she is not in charge. Perhaps the small tweaks we discovered, as Roxy’s care team, will empower Tom and Debbie to try again with Roxy’s SQ fluid treatment in the future, allowing them to support her chronic kidney disease, as prescribed, at home. They want the best quality of life for her and to feel that they are managing her health well.
As they plan to head to Dawson City to continue exploring the Yukon, they will get to enjoy observing Roxy taking charge with that renewed pep-in-her-step energy and attitude.
Author’s Note: All stories are told with clients’ consent, and all names have been changed to protect privacy.
*Chronic kidney disease is diagnosed by a veterinarian and staged 1 to 4 via assessment of diagnostic tests. While there is no cure for chronic kidney disease, symptoms are managed with various prescribed treatments and/or medications.
