Meet Evie

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Age: 4 Years Size: small Primary Breed: French Bulldog Primary Color: Cream Shed Level Moderate to High Energy Level: Moderate Housetrained: Working on it Kid Friendly: Yes Cat Friendly: Yes Dog Friendly: Yes Crate Trained: Yes

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Evie is a sweet 4-year-old French Bulldog. At first glance, you may notice Evie has an adorable head tilt that makes your heart melt. Sadly, Evie's head tilt is a result of chronic untreated ear infections that have left her with a significant antibiotic-resistant middle ear infection and left-side facial paralysis due to nerve damage. 

Long story short, Evie is recovering from TECA-BO surgery (Total Ear Canal Ablation and Bulla Osteotomy). This surgery involves the complete removal of the ear canal and tympanic bulla (middle ear), leaving only the ear flap (pinna) remaining. She's also recovering from heart surgery. 

We know this a lot, but Evie is a warrior who is a true miracle to have survived this far. She's come so far in her recovery so that she can live a happy, healthy, love-filled life.  Please consider making a donation and helping us save Evie today!

Evie's Detailed Story Below: 

Evie arrived at B-Squad near the end of February and could be described as nothing short of a Hot Mess Express. Her laundry list of health and physical issues included being malnourished, head tilt with left facial paralysis, grade 4 heart murmur, double ear infection, upper respiratory infection, gastroenteritis, and skin infection. Our amazing veterinary team went to work and began treating each of these issues while Evie was placed in a medical foster home for close observation. 

Evie visited Dr. George (cardiologist) at the Animal Emergency & Referral Center of Minnesota in March where she was diagnosed with severe pulmonic stenosis, an inherited heart defect that causes thickened pulmonic valve leaflets that do not open as well as they should. This makes it hard for the heart to pump blood to the lungs. This puts Evie at risk for complications of fainting, exercise, intolerance, or fluid in the belly (congestive right heart failure). This can also cause weakness, collapse, and even sudden death from fast arrhythmias (ventricular tachycardia and/or fibrillation). The treatment of choice for this disease is balloon valvuloplasty, a minimally invasive procedure in which a balloon is inflated across the fused valve leaflets to open them more, with the goal of reducing the severity of the obstruction. If successful, this will hopefully reduce the risk of complications and improve quality and quantity of life. 

Dr. George recommended Evie be seen by the neurology team at AERCMN due to her head tilt and left side facial paralysis. Evie was placed under sedation and had an MRI to best diagnose what was going on. Evie's MRI results showed a significant middle ear infection that thankfully, had not traveled to her brain at this time. A sample of the infection was taken, and they were beginning to examine her ear closer when due to her heart condition, Evie's blood pressure began to drop.  They were unable to safely proceed at that time. The culture of Evie's ear infection came back as being antibiotic-resistant. 

Evie is a unique case, and the veterinary teams at AERCMN have been amazing. The neurology, cardiology, dermatology, and surgical teams met and discussed what would be the safest and most effective course of treatment for Evie. It was determined that she should have the balloon valvuloplasty surgery as soon as possible as this will make her heart stable to where she can handle the TECA-BO surgery safely.  Evie will recover for two weeks and will undergo the TECA- BO surgery. 

These are two more expensive surgeries, but we know that Evie is worth every penny! She has come so far while in rescue and is such a character! It breaks our hearts knowing she has likely suffered in pain for years. We are beyond excited to give Evie this opportunity for a brand new life filled with love and happiness!

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