willow updates

4/6/2026

Willow’s joint tap results are continuing to come in, and we now have additional cytology reports. Some of the samples didn’t give us a clear answer, but one site, her left tarsus (ankle joint), showed neutrophilic inflammation. This type of inflammation can be seen with degenerative joint disease like arthritis, or with immune-mediated conditions such as immune-mediated polyarthritis (IMPA), which remains one of our main differentials for her.

If this is IMPA, the steroids she’s started should begin to make a noticeable difference by helping reduce inflammation, swelling, and overall discomfort. We’ll be closely monitoring for improvements in her mobility and comfort level. If she does not show improvement and continues to have swollen, painful joints, the next step will be to investigate further, including testing for tick-borne diseases.

IMPA is a condition where the immune system attacks the joints, leading to pain, swelling, stiffness, and sometimes fever or lethargy. Treatment typically involves immunosuppressive medications to control the inflammation.

We are all hoping this treatment brings Willow some real relief and that we start to see her feeling more comfortable very soon.

4/3/2026

Willow left the vet tonight and is settling into a temporary foster home. On Tuesday, she will move to her long-term foster.

We also received Willow’s cytology results earlier than expected. The good news is that she does not have an infection in her joints. What she does have is a severe inflammatory joint disease.

Her pain medication already seems to be helping, but she needs to be off of it for 24 hours before starting the treatment we are hoping will help most. Tomorrow night, Willow will begin a high dose of steroids along with a stomach protectant. Our hope is that the chronic inflammation will begin to improve and that, over time, she can be weaned down to lower doses, and possibly off steroids completely, while being managed with other treatments and pain medication as needed.

She is eating and seems much less shut down. For the first time, we are starting to see glimpses of her personality come through, which is something we have been waiting for. She's showing her playful personality!

After some much-needed sleep, food, antibiotics, fluids, and pain relief, Willow finally seems to be feeling a little better. She has very little shoulder muscle and is severely emaciated, so we are hopeful this is the start of her gaining strength and moving in the right direction.

We still do not know what Willow’s long-term prognosis will be. Right now, it is a waiting game to see how she responds and whether she can eventually be weaned off steroids. For now, we are taking it one day at a time.

4/2/2026

If you haven’t met Willow yet… she is one of the most heartbreaking cases we’ve seen in a long time. This sweet, emaciated pittie came to us completely shut down. 

Depressed, scared, sore… and struggling just to move. She can barely walk or sit comfortably, her little body bent in ways it shouldn’t be. It’s clear she has been living in pain for a long time.

Willow was found as a stray and brought to ACCT. Because of her medical condition, she was scheduled to be euthanized yesterday at 10am. Our team was there the moment she was out of time, and rushed her straight to our vet.

At first, we feared severe issues with her hips or hind legs, but X-rays showed no fractures or obvious soft tissue damage. To get answers, Willow was placed under anesthesia today for a full neurological workup and MRI. What they found is complicated.

The primary concern appears to be her shoulders. Both joints show signs of significant deterioration, similar to severe arthritis, along with extreme muscle wasting. But there is something more going on that hasn’t been fully identified yet.

While she was under, the neurologist called to ask permission to perform a joint tap. This procedure collects fluid from the joint to analyze for infection, inflammation, or other underlying disease. The fluid they retrieved was… very abnormal.

We won’t have definitive answers until a specialist reviews it next week, but in the meantime, Willow has been started on IV antibiotics in case a serious infection is present.

She will remain hospitalized tonight for pain control and monitoring, then the goal is to transition her to oral medications and move her into a foster home where she can rest, decompress, and begin to feel what love is for the first time in a long time.

The reason she struggles so much to walk is pain. Chronic, exhausting pain. Her body has been compensating for so long that everything is affected; her shoulders, her posture, her movement. We don’t know how long she’s been living like this… but we do know she won’t have to anymore.

Right now, she is resting comfortably as she comes out of anesthesia. Please keep Willow in your thoughts. We are all hoping for answers that give her a chance at relief, healing, and the life she has always deserved.

4/1/2026

Willow was safely pulled into Delco Dawgs’ care and transported directly to our veterinary team for further assessment. Upon arrival, she was extremely underweight, weak, and struggling to walk, with visible wounds on her nose and paws and signs of having been bred. Though she’s still very scared, Willow has shown just how sweet she is, gently accepting touch and beginning to soften. She is now in experienced, compassionate hands, surrounded by a team that understands her needs and is committed to helping her heal.

She was immediately started on supportive care, including fluids, pain management, and close monitoring. A full team of specialists, including orthopedic, neurology, and internal medicine, evaluated her case. Findings indicate a complex condition involving both orthopedic and possible neurological components. In addition to issues with her hips, her shoulders show significant weakness and lack of muscle support, contributing to her limited mobility.

Willow is currently undergoing advanced diagnostics, including a full-body MRI, to determine the full scope of her condition and guide next steps. In the meantime, she is being kept comfortable and is beginning to eat, rest, and slowly decompress in a safe environment.

3/31/2026

Willow, a 4-year-old mixed breed, was found as a stray and brought to ACCT in a distressed state. She was underweight and in need of immediate medical evaluation. During her time there, she showed a gentle and sensitive temperament, though understandably scared in the environment.

Veterinary assessment revealed significant concerns involving her hind end. Willow was unable to fully extend her hips and walked with a stiff, hunched gait. Radiographs did not show any fractures, but soft tissue injury or underlying orthopedic conditions could not be ruled out. Due to the severity of her condition and need for advanced diagnostics, Willow was placed on a rescue-only pathway for expedited placement.