Dog who almost 'starved to death' defies the odds to become winner at Crufts

Three-year-old border collie Maisie was diagnosed with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency and diabetes by vets at Acorn Veterinary Centre in West Kirby back in December which means she was unable to digest food properly and ended up losing half her body weight.

However following successful treatment and a diet plan, Maisie, from Meols, went on to win first prize at the world's greatest dog show in the Young Kennel Club Heelwork To Music competition.

Maisie also picked up a sixth place rosette in the dog agility competition.

Her owner Jenny Witt, who works for dog day care company Happy Hounds in Moreton and teaches dog agility classes at K9 Brats in Neston, told the Globe: "I was fearing the worst. It was really worrying watching her waste away. She was eating and eating but losing weight.

"Thankfully she is so much better now - she's almost doubled in weight, her coat is healthier and she's so much happier.

"I hadn’t had much of a chance to prepare for Crufts so I was not expecting first place.

“Maisie had been so ill that I wasn’t sure if she would be well enough to go and it gave me limited training time.

"The turnaround is quite incredible and I really can’t thank the team at Acorn Vets enough.”

Maisie and Jenny’s other dog Sophie are pictured with Jenny on the winner’s podium with their rosettes at Crufts

Jenny's mum Gill Witt, 56, who is a part time dinner lady at Great Meols Primary School and looks after Maisie during the day, said: "Maisie was quite poorly.

"She kept losing weight and was going the toilet a lot, which wasn't very nice.

"We'd seen this happen gradually but then noticed a big difference in November when it took hold.

"It was from the blood tests that the vets diagnosed exocrine pancreatic insufficiency.

"Her body was not producing enzymes and basically even though she was eating food she was starving to death.

"It was quite frightening. We changed her diet and then found out she has diabetes so she's now on insulin morning and night.

"Since then she's put lots of weight back on. When she was really ill she was 9.5kg, now she's 16kg. She was almost half the dog.

"Acorn vets have been fantastic. Both Mel Pryer and Rhiannon Mansell were brilliant and we've all worked as a team to get Maisie better again."

Vet Mel Pryer, who has worked at Acorn Veterinary Centre for 10 years, said: "We were so pleased to find out about Maisie’s Crufts success.

"Untreated, either condition on its own would have been fatal for Maisie, never mind both together.

"She was severely malnourished. We don't know why it's happened. It is more common in some breeds but not normally border collies. It is not common to develop diabetes as well.

"They do bounce back quite quickly but it can be something that is difficult to manage so she'll need regular check ups.

"She has two very serious problems but she's doing really well now we're treating them and she's really well in herself. We are all delighted."