by Lee Juslin

At less than two years old, Chloe has already had some tough times. Turned into Sunshine State Westie Rescue with a group of Westies, it was found that Chloe has Westie Jaw and so is unable to eat on her own.

Westie Jaw is like lock jaw and is not especially uncommon, but it is usually treated with medication and reversed in puppyhood. Chloe was in a situation where she was not treated, and now she faces an involved and dangerous surgery to try to correct this horrible condition.

Chloe

When Chloe came into rescue she was weak, could barely stand, and was very lethargic due to lack of food. Her foster mom began feeding her a kind of broth which she made by mixing water with dog food. Slowly Chloe has begun to improve, regaining her strength, and even advancing to a thicker broth. Now, feeling better, she has turned into a very personable little Westie.

Because Chloe’s condition is advanced, the rescue has made the difficult decision to elect the surgery which is scheduled for July. The surgery at this point is very risky, but it’s the only way she can overcome her locked jaw, eat regular food on her own, and lead a more normal life. Surgery for CMO or cranial mandibular osteopathy is a difficult undertaking because the surgeon does not know what other problems he may find during the surgery. For instance, there may be rotten teeth that would have to be removed. Or, the jaw muscles may be so weakened that they will not be able to support the jaw. In addition, the surgery and recovery will cost between four and five thousand dollars, so this small rescue will need help with donations.

Despite her problems, Chloe is a very friendly even sassy girl. She is very loving and enjoys playing with the other dogs. She especially enjoys the pool at foster mom’s house. For additional fun, she often rolls in the dirt and then jumps in a bucket of water. She is also a cuddler, and Aggie, from the rescue, says that she is just a very sweet, happy girl.

Aggie is asking for positive thoughts and prayers for this little girl as well as financial donations to help her get through this difficult surgery.

If you would like to help Chloe, go to the Sunshine State Westie Rescue’s website: SUNSHINE. Or connect with them on Facebook: FB SUNSHINE

Find our more about CMO here: CMO info.

Check out more animal rescue & therapy animal stories in our Pets section and we would love to have you join our KRL Pets Facebook group.

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Lee Juslin is a free lance copywriter living in North Carolina with her husband, Scott, and her band of misfits: Tarquin, a Wheaten Scottish Terrier, and three handicapped cats. They can be seen on their website: Hampshire Hooligans. She owns I B Dog Gone, a small embroidery business and is the author of the Nurse Frosty books for children and Frosty’s Story: Tales of a Therapy Dog. She supports a number of national and regional terrier rescue organizations.