Dog of the Month: January 2017

Our Dog of the Month program works like this: Each staff member provides a nomination for the distinguished honor, and then we vote. The highest vote wins! Any pup who visits us during the prior month is eligible. Kicking off the new year, our January 2017 winner is a sweet and loving Wheaten Terrier.

Chelsea

Philip Weatherill is quite grateful for his observant and diligent petsitter, who noticed that 14-year-old Chelsea was lethargic and vomiting. “When Chelsea came in, she just wasn’t her normal perky self,” remembers Victoria Heino, office manager at Rainier Veterinary Hospital.

Dr. Colleen Cassidy started with an exam of Chelsea and ordered blood work. The results showed some anemia, and so Dr. Cassidy recommended an ultrasound. She discovered a splenic hematoma, otherwise known as a mass on Chelsea’s spleen that was bleeding. With Philip’s quick consent, Dr. Cassidy and Rainier Vet staff whisked Chelsea into a 1.5-hour surgery to remove the mass, later found to be benign.

The Wheaten Terrier bounced back very quickly. In fact, Philips says she’s “just great! Much more like her old self.”

And what’s Chelsea like? “She is very sweet, and she’s mellowed in her old age,” Philip says. “She’s friendly with dogs and people, and she still loves to explore new surroundings.”

Philip rescued Chelsea in the spring of 2008 and since then, has been bringing her to Rainier Vet, where she is definitely a staff favorite. “Chelsea is such a sweet baby,” Elizabeth Downs says. “She’s been through a lot in terms of health issues—she’s had three surgeries in the past year. But Philip would do anything for Chelsea, without question, and she’s just so sweet.”

To reward that sweet demeanor, Philip is happy to give Chelsea her favorite treat: Greenies Bones. But then he reconsiders: “Actually, any treat is her favorite.”

And it’s always a treat for us when Chelsea comes to visit, Philip. Thank you for being part of the Rainier Vet family for almost 10 years!