💜 Meet Butters & Bowen 💜 Some people love to be right all the time. I'm not some people. 🥺 These sweet boys are a product of the pet trade. They came to Pawsitive Restorations Animal Rescue on June 22nd, 2024 and immediately, we knew something wasn't right. They were scheduled for a neurology consult with Dr. Song at Animal Emergency & Specialty Center in Parker, CO on June 25th. An ultrasound through Butters' open fontanelle showed that he does, in fact, have hydrocephalus. Bowen's fontanelles are closed, so ultrasound could not be performed, but because of the shape of his skull and wide-set eyes, there is some concern that he may have hydrocephalus as well. <breathe... just breathe>

🟣 What we DO know 🟣

👉 Both of these boys are precious, beautiful, happy, playful, loving, snuggly 10 week old babies. They are loved immensely, and they will be cared for by PRAR for as long as it takes, and for whatever it takes. We will find a way because they are #WorthIt. 💜

👉 They are eating/drinking normally, ambulating well, and playing appropriately.

👉 Butters is a little more *clumsy* than Bowen.

👉 Both boys have poor vision, but this could also be because of their age. Their vision isn't fully developed yet. This will be monitored as they grow.

👉 Both boy are markedly smaller than what we would expect for their age at 3.2lb and 3.4 pounds.

🟣 What we DON'T know 🟣

👉 We do NOT know for sure if Bowen has hydrocephalus. This will require an MRI or CT scan do diagnose because his fontanelles are closed.

👉 We do NOT know how impactful the hydro is in Butters, or how impactful it will get. Right now, it appears to be manageable without medications.

👉 They will NOT be available for adoption anytime in the near future, and we cannot give any timeline for that.

🟣 The Plan 🟣
They need to grow. That's the plan. We can't do anything more with regard to diagnostics until they are structurally mature, and that's going to put us to 6 months of age at the very earliest. Diagnostics will include MRI or CT scan of both boys at an estimated total cost of $9,000.00. Butters' will show us how impactful his hydro is, and Bowen's will either confirm or deny hydro.

In the interim, they will be watched VERY closely for any signs/symptoms that the hydro is advancing. If we see those things, Dr. Song will advise next steps and start medications if necessary. They will have monthly exams with Dr. Song as she monitors their growth and development. We are getting the hanging toy gyms and climbing equipment over to the boys today so they can really start working on their fine motor skills, gross motor skills, and visual acuity.

💜💜💜 As a side note: I am trying REALLY hard to remember that these boys aren't Wishy. This isn't Wishy's case. This is THEIR case. Wishy's case was bad, but the brain shunt surgery worked for her. Wishy's comorbidities of severe kyphosis, scoliosis, and plantigrade were devastating. Those things impacted her mobility more and more as she grew and ultimately took her mobility away completely. This isn't Wishy's case. <breathe>

Hydrocephalus can have varying degrees of severity, with many dogs leading a near normal life without the need for the types of interventions that Wishy needed. All we can do is put our faith in God and in our Doctors. We take this day-by-day, and love the hell out of these boys as we guide them through this. We are SO incredibly thankful that they found their way to Pawsitive Restorations Animal Rescue. Here, they will get whatever they need, and they will want for nothing. We will find a way. Like my dear friend, Brandt D Weaver said last night, I know that Wishy IS looking down upon these boys, and on me, too. I can *feel* her so close to me today. She WILL help us to support them through this. 🥹 In honor of our sweetest Wishy-Pop-Pie, and her hashtag #SavingWish, I will now start the hash tag, #SavingButtersAndBowen. 💜

🟣 Please follow their journey on our Facebook Page and become a part of their story. We promise to keep everyone updated. We have about 4 months to raise the money for their MRIs. (Estimated to be $9,000 for both). That puts us to October 25th, 2024. That's not a lot of time to raise a LOT of money! Please #SHARE their posts and share this fundraiser so that we can raise these much needed funds for our boys.

Pawsitive Restorations Animal Rescue is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and your donations are tax deductible. Learn more about us on our website at www.pawsitiverestorations.com.

Saving Bowen & Butters

By Pawsitive Restorations Animal Rescue

Saving Bowen & Butters

MRI Fundraiser For Two VERY Special Boys