Natasha and her best friend Boris were picked up as strays in eastern Kentucky.  Both dogs were in pretty sad shape and after their stray hold they went straight to the vet clinic to get all checked over.  Natasha received all of her routine vetting and then after coming down with and being treated for kennel cough, she continues being checked and monitored for a very low heart rate.  We tried doing an EKG but she was so nervous and shaking that they could not get a good reading so she will be haveing an ultrasound of her chest on 4/22 just to make sure her heart is OK.  Natasha is the sweetest petite thing!!  She tested very well with other dogs at the shelter and has no issues at the clinic with being kenneled.  

5/1 UPDATE:  Natasha is doing very well at the clinic.  Her heartbeat remains very low and she has had a check ultrasound and an EKG to look further into the heart issue.  Dr Rowland is consulting with a specialist on the EKG readings and we hope to have a positive update soon!!

6/12 UPDATE:  Natasha has a low heart rate and and after much testing it was found that she has high second degree A/V block that medication would not help and after many consults, the decision was made to not do pacemaker placement surgery.  The risks are just too high with no guarantee of giving her more time and during her testing, a 2.5cm aortic mass was found.  Natasha moved to her southern Illinois foster home yesterday and was reunited with Boris.  He is a pretty chill dude and we will keep her as calm as possible and at the recommendation of Dr Rowland and an internal medicine specialist, we are going ot go ahead and start her on a heart medication to see if there is any improvement in her heart rate.  

Natasha is available for sponsorship to help cover the cost of her heart medication.  She will also need to have recheck echocardiograms every 3-6 months to monitior the aortic mass.  Please consider sponsoring our girl and please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.