Roo’s Remarkable Journey: From Struggle to Strength

This month, we want to share the story of one of our most remarkable rescues - a brave little pup named Roo. Abandoned and fighting for her life as a tiny puppy, Roo’s courage and determination has transformed her journey from hardship to hope.

Roo is now around five and a half months old and weighs 7.8kg, but when she was found at just three months old, she was heartbreakingly tiny - barely 3kg, weak, malnourished, and all alone on the streets. She’d been left to fend for herself, but after being picked up by the dog warden and taken to the pound, RATS stepped in to offer her the help she so desperately needed.

It quickly became apparent that something was very wrong. Her first meal came straight back up through her nose and mouth, and she was incredibly lethargic. An emergency visit to the vet revealed that she was either so malnourished that her stomach couldn’t cope with the volume of food she had eaten, or there was an issue with her oesophagus.

Roo was taken into foster care, where she was monitored around the clock. It soon became clear that she wasn’t keeping any of her food down, and she had a large pouch at the front of her neck that seemed to be holding food. 

After X-rays were sent to a specialist, it was discovered that this little puppy wasn’t just hungry - she was finding it nearly impossible to swallow food properly. She was diagnosed with a rare condition called Megaesophagus, where the oesophagus becomes dilated and loses its ability to contract effectively, preventing food from being pushed into the stomach as it should.

With her condition, Roo needs to be fed in an upright position and kept upright for 20 minutes after eating. She can’t drink water normally unless it has been thickened or turned into a jelly. Her biggest risk is aspiration pneumonia, which also requires constant monitoring.

Sadly, Roo’s health took a turn for the worse. One night, she woke up with mucous streaming from her nose, her body was limp, and she was very unwell. The vets immediately put her in an oxygen tent and contacted Davies Veterinary Specialists, who advised that she be admitted to their care. Thankfully, she didn’t have pneumonia, and after a night’s stay was able to return home. Roo was started on medication to help the food enter her stomach, which showed quick results.

Since then, Roo has been doing much better. She’s now on two additional medications - one to help with acid and another to help food move more efficiently through her stomach. She eats four times a day and is keeping the majority of her food down. Her constant companion is her best friend Ollie, a paralysed cat, who has been by her side through it all. Roo is a happy, playful puppy who’s gradually gaining strength – a true little fighter!

But Roo still has a long way to go. As you can imagine, her vet bills have been extremely high, and she’s also had specialist blood tests to rule out a liver shunt and a condition called Myasthenia Gravis, which can contribute to Megaesophagus. Whilst we’re relieved to learn she doesn’t have a liver shunt, we’re still awaiting the results for Myasthenia Gravis.

Roo’s journey has been heartbreaking, but her strength and determination continue to inspire us every day. We’re committed to giving her the best chance at a happy, healthy life, and ongoing care is essential. If you’d like to support Roo, you can find out more and donate here: justgiving.com/page/pleasehelproo