Friends of Ivy

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About Friends of Ivy

In late 2016, our beloved Ivy, a twelve-year old female Yorkie began experiencing terrible collapsing episodes. Throughout her life she battled kidney disease, a collapsing trachea and other various afflictions but this was something on an entirely foreign and much more significant scale. We immediately had her examined by several top veterinary specialists in the New York metro-area, in an attempt to determine a diagnosis. After countless tests, the consensus among the team was that Ivy was experiencing seizures caused by a neurological imbalance and an anti-seizure medication phenobarbital was prescribed. As time went on, her seizures increased in frequency and higher dosages of phenobarbital were prescribed however there were no outward signs of recovery. She continued losing her beautiful, lush Yorkie hair, had little appetite and lost 50% of her weight, down to about four pounds.

Finally in April of 2017, little Ivy’s condition became life-threatening. While in critical care, the vet team attempted to draw blood for further testing but was unable to - for lack of it. It was at this point, they ultimately surmised that Ivy may actually be suffering from advanced heart disease and immediately began administering medication to treat it - but it was to no avail. That ship had sailed. Ivy had been misdiagnosed and for over six months was being treated for seizures when in fact her collapsing episodes were symptomatic of canine heart disease, which causes collapsing due to the lack of blood flow and oxygen to the brain. This was a gross error and unfortunately for our precious Ivy, a potentially fatal one.

It was at this point, the vet called us and provided us with two options; either let her pass away naturally in a matter of hours or rush her immediately to the Animal Medical Center in mid-town Manhattan for an emergency surgery to insert a pacemaker. We frantically discussed the options, having never heard of pacemakers for dogs but we also didn’t want Ivy to endure any more suffering. We ultimately decided to drive her to AMC and go for the pacemaker. In the midst of New York City afternoon rush hour traffic, Ivy held on as we made our way to the 2nd floor where the ER response team was already waiting. After a two-hour procedure, Dr. Lauren Wiley, VMD, the lead veterinary surgeon who installed the pacemaker, called to inform us that the procedure had gone well and that Ivy could expect a full recovery - and added years to her life.

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