Raleigh is a sweet Boston Terrier who came to us after experiencing unusual swelling a few days following her wellness visit with her primary veterinarian. She had received vaccines she’d been given multiple times before, and her physical exam had gone smoothly. Raleigh’s mom, Brandy, works at this veterinary hospital, so the visit was stress-free. But two days later, Brandy noticed swelling around Raleigh's muzzle and face. After administering oral Benadryl, she brought Raleigh back for further evaluation.

Initially, it seemed like an atypical allergic reaction, so she was put on steroids and injectable antihistamines. Along with the facial swelling, her gums were tacky, a sign of possible dehydration, so we gave her subcutaneous fluids to help with hydration.

From this point on, Raleigh was brought back to her veterinarian multiple times due to worsening symptoms. She became lethargic, wasn’t eating or drinking much, and appeared uncomfortable. Despite running several blood tests, taking x-rays, and performing a urinalysis, the results were inconclusive, showing only inflammation and an elevated white blood cell count.

Raleigh eventually made her way to our emergency department when Brandy noticed a large, firm swelling in her right shoulder. The swelling had previously spread down her entire front leg but now localized to the shoulder. This area was near where she had received fluids, but it wasn’t clear if it was related. Our ER doctors consulted with our internist, Dr. Ogrodny, and we decided the next step would be more lab work and biopsies of the shoulder, spleen, and liver (based on the blood results).

A few days after the biopsies, Raleigh returned to our ER with a fever and an infected wound at the biopsy site. More swelling was found on her stomach, which appeared fluid-filled and less firm than the swelling in her shoulder. She was in severe pain, so we focused on managing her discomfort before proceeding with more diagnostics.

Despite several tests, the results were “normal,” leaving us with no clear explanation for the swelling and fluid pockets that seemed to fluctuate. The wound became ulcerated, with fluid leaking from it. After extensive testing, a CT scan was ordered. This advanced imaging would help us search for any foreign material trapped under the skin and provide critical information for surgery if needed.

The CT scan revealed deep cellulitis (a bacterial infection in the deeper layers of the skin), but no foreign material was found. The consensus was that Raleigh’s shoulder required surgical debridement (removal of damaged tissue), and we were concerned about the

possibility of necrotizing fasciitis, a life-threatening infection. This marked the beginning of Raleigh’s long surgical journey.

Our surgeon, Dr. Jones, worked alongside our internal medicine and emergency teams. She explained that in addition to the initial debridement, Raleigh would need open wound management with daily bandage changes, and more debridements were likely. What was already an overwhelming situation for Raleigh’s family was quickly taking a toll, both emotionally and financially. They knew they couldn’t manage this alone, so they turned to an unconventional support network: Instagram.

Raleigh’s housemate and best friend, Tahoe, already had a following on Instagram, where both dogs were frequently featured. Thanks to this established online community, Raleigh had an army of people rooting for her recovery. It was through the generosity of these online supporters that Brandy (and her husband, Jason) were able to continue the necessary treatments, giving Raleigh the best chance at healing.

After multiple debridements and twenty-three bandage changes, Raleigh’s swelling and infection finally resolved. While we still don’t have a definitive answer as to what caused all of this, the collaborative efforts of our ER doctors, specialists, and Raleigh’s social media community made her recovery possible. She is now pain-free, and the inflammation has subsided.

Raleigh’s journey was truly a team effort, from our dedicated medical team to her online supporters. She needed them all to get where she is today!

Quote from Brandy-

“As much as you never want something like this to happen, the team at AESH became like a second family to us. They knew and embraced Raleigh every time we came in, and they handled our many questions with such comfort and understanding.

We are so thankful to the staff at AESH for saving Raleigh’s life. Without them, and without the support of our friends, family and Instagram followers, I honestly don’t know what we would have done. Today, Raleigh is back to her crazy self. She loves blueberries, laying in the sun and pestering her big brother.”