Animal Profile


Willow

Hello, my name is Willow. My animal id is #224212. I am a desexed female white dog at the Queens Animal Care Center. The shelter thinks I am about 15 years 1 weeks old.

I came into the shelter as a stray on 4/9/2025.

Sorry, this pet is for new hope partners only.

Pre-Screener Form

Willow is on the at-risk list for medical concerns. Willow is a geriatric dog with multiple masses and severe dental disease. She has been scratching at the mass on her mouth and causing significant bleeding, but will not tolerate handling to clean the area. Willow will head whip and snap when attempting to pick her up or examine. Recommend mass removal + biopsy with placement; dental procedure should also be considered.

Let's get to know each other a bit more...

This pet needs emergency placement. Please click here to go to our emergency placement page for more information. Due to the detailed behavior issues, this animal is only available for foster/adoption through one of ACC's New Hope Partners. If you are interested in adopting or fostering, please fill out the pre-screener form. This animal is not directly available for adoption through ACC and is only available by completing the pre-screener form.Adoption inquiries sent directly to ACC will not receive a response. Pre-Screener Form Willow is on the at-risk list for medical concerns. Willow is a geriatric dog with multiple masses and severe dental disease. She has been scratching at the mass on her mouth and causing significant bleeding, but will not tolerate handling to clean the area. Willow will head whip and snap when attempting to pick her up or examine. Recommend mass removal + biopsy with placement; dental procedure should also be considered. Willow arrived at the care center as a stray, and her behavioral history is unknown. During her stay, she has exhibited defensive behaviors, including head whipping and snapping when handlers attempt to pick her up or conduct medical examinations. These responses suggest handling sensitivity and discomfort with restraint, which can also be due to her masses around her face and body.. Due to her need for a specialized approach to handling and care, Willow requires placement with a New Hope partner who can provide a patient, experienced environment to help her feel secure and work on desensitization to handling.

My medical notes are...

Weight: 21.2 lbs

4/9/2025

DVM Intake Estimated age: 15-17 years Microchip noted on Intake? No History: Stray Subjective: BARH, no coughing/sneezing/vomiting/diarrhea Observed behavior: Whale eye, tucked tail. Perks up when food is offered and takes readily but head whips and growls when attempting to lift out of carrier. Sedated for exam with 0.2 mg/kg butorphanol, 10 mcg/kg dexmedetomidine IM Evidence of cruelty seen: No Evidence of trauma seen: Not cruelty Evidence of neglect seen: No Objective: P: WNL R: WNL BCS: 6/9 OP: Mucous membranes pink and moist. Stage III dental disease. Firm pink 3 cm papillomatous mass at L commissure of mouth with crusted mucopurulent discharge EENT: Eyes, ears, and nares clear bilaterally, no discharge noted. Nuclear sclerosis OU, 4 cm bleeding mass near base of R pinna. 1 cm firm mass on dorsal palpebra OD with crusted purulent debris on surrounding fur. Conjunctivae appear WNL PLN: Small/soft/symmetrical/nonpainful CV: No murmurs or arrhythmias, pulses strong and synchronous. RESP: Eupneic, no crackles/wheezes GI: Soft, nonpainful, no palpable masses. UG: female spayed, tattoo noted, no discharge INT: Good hair coat, no areas of alopecia or pruritus, no ectoparasites or noted. Multifocal alopecic cutaneous masses on nose and face MS: Ambulatory x4 prior to sedation, no pain on palpation of epaxials NEURO: Mentation appropriate, cranial nerves intact, no deficits noted. Thoracic radiographs: No evidence of metastasis. Liver extending past ribcage, mild-moderate enlargement. All other visible structures WNL CBC: Mild decrease HG 12.9 (13.1-20.5 g/dL) RBC, HCT WNL Mild decrease MCV 58.5 (61.6-73.5 fL) Mild monocytosis 1.61 (0.16-1.12 K/uL) Mild thrombocytosis 489 (148-484 K/uL) Mild increase platecrit 0.58 (0.14-0.46%) Chemistry: Mild elevation ALP 412 (23-212 U/L) Assessment: -Multifocal papillomatous masses (r/o CPV vs other cutaneous neoplasia) -Stage III dental disease -Mild elevated liver enzymes/enlargement (r/o vacuolar hepatopathy vs other hepatopaty) Prognosis: Fair Plan: -Gave convenia 8 mg/kg SQ with intake -Start rimdayl 4.4 mg/kg PO q24h x 5d until 4/14 (first dose given SQ) -Clipped and cleaned pinna, eyelid, perioral masses -Recommend mass removals and histopathology with placement Surgery: Spayed

4/10/2025

Brief recheck, geriatric dog with masses - QAR, no c/s/v/d noted, no reports of inappetence, mass visible at left side of face @ commissure, eupneic. CTM closely while at QACC.

4/11/2025

Alerted that Willow was bleeding, brought to ICU S/O: BAR, head whips and snaps when attempting to pick up/examine - visual exam only EENT: No ocular or nasal discharge, mass at distal right pinna LUNGS: Eupneic MSI: LH paw has fresh blood on it, mass at left side of mouth is bleeding A: Mass left side of mouth - scratching with LH paw and causing bleeding Mass at right pinna Geriatric Dental disease P: Move to ICU for closer monitoring Placed e-collar to prevent scratching Unable to clean away blood from mass due to behavior CTM closely in ICU and seek placement ASAP

4/12/2025

Adding gabapentin for pain relief and to facilitate handling: gabapentin 100mg PO q12h indefinitely

4/13/2025

Progress exam Subjective: BAR, no c/s/v/d. Wagging tail and taking treats eagerly throughout exam, minimal handling performed to avoid raising FAS Objective: Eyes: Clear bilaterally, no discharge Oronasal: No nasal discharge. Lungs: Eupneic Int: Masses on R pinna and L commissure of mouth unchanged, mild scabbing. No active bleeding. Mass R upper eyelid quiet, no discharge. Musculoskeletal: Ambulatory x 4 with no appreciable lameness. Neuro: Appropriate mentation. Assessment: -Multiple cutaneous masses on face, largest at R pinna and L commissure of mouth -Mild elevated liver enzymes -Stage III dental disease -Senior pet Plan: -Continue rimadyl 4.4 mg/kg PO q24h until 4/14 -Continue gabapentin 10 mg/kg PO q12h indefinitely -CTM in medical, seek placement ASAP for mass removals +/- histopathology

4/17/2025

progress exam S/O QAR, resting in kennel, takes treats, food trays disturbed, no c/s/v/d appreciated EENT: no ocular or nasal dc HL: eupneic MSI: amb x 4, cutaneous reddish mass to the l oral commissure, no active bleeding. Reddish mass to right pinna, scant dried hemorrhagic dc in the surrounding fur A. As prior- masses are quiet aTT, no active bleeding, some dried blood to the mass on the R ear P. Con't current meds Con't to seek placement Recheck in 2 days

Details on my behavior are...

Behavior Condition: 3. Yellow

staff took animal straight to medical.

Date of intake:: 4/9/2025

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray( Unkown History)

Date of assessment:: 4/10/2025

Summary:: *** Willow is made new hope only due to defensive behavior in care. When being picked up Willow began to growl, snap, and head whip at the handlers. *** Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Loose Reactivity to humans: None Reactivity to dogs: None Leash walking comments: Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Explores room- gently takes treats, tense when touch Call over: Comes when given treats, stiff body Sociability comments: Tense when collared tight ,close muzzle Handling Soft handling: Allowed- stiff, lip licks Exuberant handling: Allowed- stiff, lip licks Handling comments: Arousal Jog: 1 Jog, neutral body Arousal comments: Knock: No response Knock Comments: Toy: Sniffs Ignores Toy comments:

Summary (7):: 04/14/25: Willow is standing in the middle of kennel with a neutral frame as handler approaches. She is leashed with ease and readily comes forward allowing handler to pick her up and place her onto the floor. Willow walks on a loose lead ahead out handler out to the play yard. She spends her time scenting and exploring the space. Handler kneels down and Willow readily approaches, accepting petting along her back and sides. Handler offers her treats which she takes gently from hand before investigating a pile of tossed treats. After her session, Willow is returned to kennel safely. 4/13/25: Willow was sitting up in kennel, barking to get attention as handler approached. She was leashed easily and tensed slightly as handler slowly picked her up. She walked easily and maintained a relaxed demeanor. She was a little hesitant to be picked up again when returning to kennel but relented. 4/10/25: Willow is at the front of the kennel with a tense body, and begins to retreat. Willow is picked up and tenses and begins to tighten her lips but tolerates being picked up and placed on the floor. Willow walks to the behavior office where she remains aloof, tenses when touched and tolerates handling. Willow when being picked up begins to growl, snap and attempt to bite through the towel that was placed on her due to her tensing when handled. Willow is brought back to kennel and belly banded and then hoisted into kennel where she tolerates it, and drag leash is removed with no issue.

Date of intake:: 4/9/2025

Summary:: staff took animal straight to medical.

Date of initial:: 4/9/2025

Summary:: Whale eye, tucked tail. Perks up when food is offered and takes readily but head whips and growls wh

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

Recommendations:: No children (under 13),Place with a New Hope partner

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to Willow snapping, growling, and headwhipping, we recommend she be placed in an adult-only home at this time. Place with a New Hope partner:Willow arrived at the care center as a stray, and her behavioral history is unknown. During her stay, she has exhibited defensive behaviors, including head whipping and snapping when handlers attempt to pick her up or conduct medical examinations. These responses suggest handling sensitivity and discomfort with restraint, which can also be due to her masses around her face and body.. Due to her need for a specialized approach to handling and care, Willow requires placement with a New Hope partner who can provide a patient, experienced environment to help her feel secure and work on desensitization to handling.

Potential challenges: : Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,Handling/touch sensitivity

Potential challenges comments:: Handling/touch sensitivity/Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: Willow will head whip and snap when attempting to pick her up or examine. During her handling assessment she has displayed when being picked up she displays growl, snap, and head whip at the handlers.Training should focus on gradually desensitizing Willow to handling and building positive associations with touch and examination to reduce fear and defensive behavior. Please see the handout on Handling/touch sensitivity/Fearful/potential for defensive aggression.