This is Lucy, a six-month-old Corgi pup. We all know how mischievous puppies are, and that they frequently get into things when their pawrents aren’t looking. And this is just what Lucy did. Lucy's mom noticed that she was acting like she wasn’t feeling well–Lucy wasn’t eating, she was having troubles going potty, and then she started vomiting. Her mom knew she needed to get Lucy to the vet right away. She had enough for the initial exam, but when she was told Lucy's illness was actually an obstruction that required emergency surgery, she knew she wasn’t going to be able to cover the costs. PetMD reports that an intestinal blockage (aka bowel obstruction) can be a partial or complete blockage of the intestines, which means that solid foods or liquids have a hard time passing. This can also prevent absorption of nutrients and water, and can cause a lot of health issues. Unfortunately, blockages can also damage the intestines and cause the tissue to die or break (bowel rupture or perforation); and this can be fatal. Some common symptoms of a bowel obstruction in dogs includes:
Lucy's mom is a single mom who is transitioning between jobs. She loves her pets dearly and tries to look after them. Lucy's mom applied for Care Credit, but didn't get approved for enough to cover the full costs of the surgery for the obstruction. She applied with Fur Kids Foundation for assistance so she wouldn't have to make any difficult decisions for Lucy. We were happy to help. Lucy's surgery was a success and they were able to remove the objects she had eaten (dang puppies!) and is at home recovering. Her mom now knows how curious little Lucy is and will keep things out of reach and a better eye on her. No matter what is happening with your fur kid, at any stage of life, Fur Kids Foundation encourages you to call your veterinarian sooner rather than later. Fur Kids Foundation is 100% run by dedicated volunteers who give their time to help the Foundation raise money with events, take applications, and spread the word about the good work the Foundation does in Campbell County, Wyoming. If you would like to help Fur Kids Foundation continue to help local families with animals afford emergency veterinary care, please consider making a tax-deductible donation via PayPal or signing up to become a volunteer. Read more Success Stories.
0 Comments
This little nugget is Jadis, an 8-year-old unaltered Miniature Dachshund. Her dad has run into some bad luck lately, he injured his back resulting in two surgeries, was laid off from work, and is trying to play catch up while he waits for disability. One day, Jadis started whining and was having trouble urinating. Her dad could tell she was in pain. Her dad says Jadis is his whole life, she's been there for him through all his ups and downs, and it was killing him to see her in pain. He called the vet who gave him an estimate on an exam, and knowing it was outside his budget, he applied with Fur Kids Foundation for help. At the vet it was discovered Jadis had a severe UTI and needed to be put on pain medication. Unfortunately they also discovered that Jadis has a mammary tumor, due to being unaltered, that needs to be removed right away. For the most part, a UTI occurs when bacteria travels up the urethra and into the bladder. Urine in the bladder is supposed to be sterile, but once bacteria find their way there, they can grow and reproduce, causing a UTI. VCA Animal Hospital reports that dogs with UTIs often:
It is best to discuss UTI prevention with your veterinarian in order to come up with a strategy that will be effective for your dog. Jadis' dad never had her spayed because she was an inside dog and never left his side. He also never had any intentions of breeding her, so he didn't see the harm in her not being spayed. After the diagnosis of her mammary tumor, Jadis' dad has done a lot of research and was blown away by the statistics of unaltered female animals developing pyometra or mammary tumors, such as these pointed out by VCA Animal Hospital:
His goal now is to educate friends, family, and the public on the importance of spaying and neutering their pets. Fur Kids Foundation was able to help Jadis with her UTI, and will help with the mass removal as her dad raises the funds to pay the difference. We're happy we could help Jadis and know she's in great hands with her dad who loves her tremendously. No matter what is happening with your fur kid, at any stage of life, Fur Kids Foundation encourages you to call your veterinarian sooner rather than later. Fur Kids Foundation is 100% run by dedicated volunteers who give their time to help the Foundation raise money with events, take applications, and spread the word about the good work the Foundation does in Campbell County, Wyoming. If you would like to help Fur Kids Foundation continue to help local families with animals afford emergency veterinary care, please consider making a tax-deductible donation via PayPal or signing up to become a volunteer. Read more Success Stories. This is Luna, a 6-month-old Chihuahua/Pit Bull mix. Like most puppies, she's a bit mischievous and naughty, and decided to go exploring without her parent's consent. While exploring, she was unfortunately hit by a vehicle.
Luna’s parents are on a fixed income and ran into some troubles with hackers and their bank account, but they knew that Luna needed to be seen immediately by a vet. Unfortunately this accident was after regular business hours, and they were worried about covering the cost of the visit as well as anything additional that Luna would need. They applied to Fur Kids Foundation for help, and we were able to help because of supporters like you! Luckily, Luna was in good shape with some superficial wounds that will heal with time. Unfortunately, Luna tore her cranial cruciate ligament (CCL). She will eventually need surgery to fix her knee, so her parents are keeping her calm and saving up for her needed surgery. Even if you believe your dog has not sustained a major injury as a result from being hit by a car, it is crucial that he or she sees a veterinarian as soon as possible. Check out this blog, What to Do if Your Dog is Hit by a Car, by PetMD for some more good information on how to help you pet if he/she has been hit by a car. Depending on the situation, there may be some good steps you can take to help prevent your pooch from being hit by a car. One simple, and great training tip, is to teach your pet to sit and wait at every door or curb, or even from the inside of the car to make sure your dog won’t bolt into oncoming traffic. Don’t leave your dog unattended in your yard. And, when you’re backing out of the driveway, make sure your pets are in a safe place. According to VCA Pet Hospitals, a torn CCL is a very common injury to the stifle (knee) of dogs. A CCL rupture is similar to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear in humans. CCL rupture occurs in dogs of all sizes, but is quite common in giant or larger breeds. When the CCL is torn or injured, the shin bone (tibia) slides forward from the thigh bone (femur), which causes most dogs to walk abnormally and experience pain. This instability also damages the cartilage and surrounding bones, which can lead to osteoarthritis. You can read more about this here. According to the Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, signs that your dog may have torn their CCL include:
When the CCL is torn, surgery is recommended as soon as possible to improve joint stabilization and relieve pain. However, you can also speak with your veterinarian about other options such as orthopedic braces, joint injections and pain medicine. No matter what is happening with your fur kid, at any stage of life, Fur Kids Foundation encourages you to call your veterinarian sooner rather than later. Fur Kids Foundation is 100% run by dedicated volunteers who give their time to help the Foundation raise money with events, take applications, and spread the word about the good work the Foundation does in Campbell County, Wyoming. If you would like to help Fur Kids Foundation continue to help local families with animals afford emergency veterinary care, please consider making a tax-deductible donation via PayPal or signing up to become a volunteer. Read more Success Stories. This is Baby Girl, a 13-year-old Seal Point Siamese. Her mom, who is a single parent on a fixed income, noticed Baby Girl had a mass near one of her nipples. Baby Girl is spayed, but she was worried the mass could be something dangerous to Baby Girl's health. Her mom monitored the mass and it continued to grow, so she knew she needed to bring Baby Girl to the vet. The vet looked at the mass and decided the best option was to remove it and send off a biopsy to see if it is cancerous. This lump or swelling along the cat’s mammary chain, which is the line of breast tissue and nipples along your cat’s belly, is the most common symptom of a cat mammary gland tumor–you could also call it breast cancer. That’s right; your feline friend can also get breast cancer. Mammary gland tumors are often found in older female cats, but they can occur in younger female and male cats. If the tumor has spread to other areas of the body (metastasized), your cat may generally feel unwell, eat less, become sluggish, and lose weight. If it has spread to the lungs, your cat may have problems breathing or develop a cough. Baby Girl did wonderful in the surgery and is at home recovering while her mom anxiously awaits the news of what the mass was. Regardless of what information comes back, her mom is dedicated to making Baby Girl happy and healthy. According to VCA Hospitals, sexually intact cats have a seven-fold increased risk for mammary tumors compared to spayed cats. Spaying helps your female pet live a longer and healthier life. Fur Kids Foundation has had multiple veterinarians, from all of the clinics in Gillette, tell us that spaying helps prevent uterine infections like pyometra and breast cancer. According to the ASPCA, breast cancer is fatal in nearly 50 percent of dogs and 90 percent of cats. Spaying your pet before her first heat offers the best protection from these diseases. Dogs and cats can be fixed at any time during their lifespan. Your veterinarian can address any concerns there might be about performing the procedure. Fur Kids Foundation is 100% run by dedicated volunteers who give their time to help the Foundation raise money with events, take applications, and spread the word about the good work the Foundation does in Campbell County, Wyoming. If you would like to help Fur Kids Foundation continue to help local families with animals afford emergency veterinary care, please consider making a tax-deductible donation via PayPal or signing up to become a volunteer. Read more Success Stories. |
Welcome to the Fur Kids Foundation blog archive that features inspiring stories of pets and people! Get inspired by these amazing furry tales of recovery and hope! All because someone like YOU cared.
Archives
March 2023
|