This little nugget is Brandy, a 9-year-old Chihuahua. Suddenly she became very lethargic and started vomiting. Her parents knew something was wrong and rushed her to the vet. That's where they learned that poor little Brandy's red blood counts were low and her protein levels were high, signaling some issues with her kidneys. Unfortunately, Brandy needed to be hospitalized so the clinic could stabilize her.
Just as in humans, dogs’ kidneys play an important role in their body. According to PetMD, kidneys help balance nutrients in their bodies, filter out waste, control blood pressure, increase red blood cell production, and more. If something is wrong with your pup’s kidneys, it can cause a lot of problems for your pet. Kidney problems in dogs can be acute (sudden) or chronic (slowly over time).
If you see some of these signs in your pet, changes in kidney health may be to blame:
Brandy's mom is on social security and her dad does carpentry work, and work has been slow for him these days. They didn't have the funds for the emergency hospitalization, so they applied to Fur Kids Foundation for help and we were happy to help. Brandy stayed a few nights at the vet clinic, they were able to stabilize her and Brandy is now back home with her family. About Fur Kids Foundation 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.
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This beauty is Meow Meow, a 10-year-old kitty. This curious comrade managed to get herself in a predicament where she broke her leg, and either required surgery or an amputation to fix it.
If your cat:
Meow Meow's dad took her to the vet immediately! COVID-19 has had an impact on a lot of people's work, and unfortunately Meow Meow’s dad lost his job and took a lesser paying job to help make ends meet. But, this meant Meow Meow’s injury was not something he could afford. Meow Meow's dad calls her his best friend, and his heart was broken when he was faced with such a hard decision for Meow Meow, and wasn't sure what he was going to be able to do. He applied to Fur Kids Foundation, and we were more than happy to help. Meow Meow's dad knew that in the long run amputation was a better fit for his kitty, so he chose that rather than surgery. After Meow Meow's surgery, her dad sent us this message: “I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. Without you, I would have had to put my kitty meow meow down, and she has been in my life for 10 years. I thank you so much—you really are amazing and I am forever grateful. Thank you so much!" Thank you for helping us help families like Meow Meows. About Fur Kids Foundation 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. Do you, or your pets, love ice cream? Yeah!
The Dairy Queen, located at 2003 S. Douglas Highway, is fundraising for Fur Kids Foundation through the month of April 2021! So, if you swing by for a tasty treat or some famous DQ fan food, consider leaving a few cents, a dollar, or more, to help local pets with emergency veterinary needs. A dollar here and a dollar there really does go a long way! We hope you swing by DQ; and in case they don't ask, let them know Fur Kids sent you! Special thanks to the amazing crew at DQ for their support over the years. You all are pawsome in our books! This is Vinny, a 4-year-old Boston Terrier, a true American Gentleman, as they are so commonly referred to as due to the tight tuxedo jacket, sporty yet compact body, and the friendly glow in their big, round eyes.
His mom, who is on Social Security Disability, noticed that Vinny was limping and not acting like his usual self. So, she brought him to the vet where it was discovered that Vinny needed knee surgery! Poor Vinny has a condition called patella luxation, or a floating kneecap, which means his kneecap moves out of the correct position and makes it hard for him to move his leg. Unfortunately, a floating kneecap is one of the most common genetic orthopedic diseases in dogs, and is frequently seen in Bostons, as well as Chihuahuas, Miniature Poodles, and Yorkshire Terriers. Most dogs will show signs of this condition in their younger years, but older dogs show it as well. The condition can cause some discomfort and pain for your dog, as well as make it hard for them to want to engage in movement or play. If your dog has a bow-legged stance, or skips and limps when they walk, they could likely be affected. There is also a 50% chance that the condition will also be in the other leg. The vet has recommended a RidgeStop procedure to help correct Vinny’s knee, and help him get to being the dog he used to be! Since Vinny’s patella (or kneecap) keeps moving out of place, a medical-grade RidgeStop implant could help by creating a stable groove for the knee. The surgery can be very costly, though. Vinny’s mom applied for assistance with Fur Kids Foundation, and we were happy to help. Due to the high cost of the surgery, right now Vinny’s mom has opted to restrict his movement and manage his pain until she can raise the funds needed to complete the surgery. About Fur Kids Foundation 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.
Part of our mission with Fur Kids Foundation is to promote and educate about the importance of responsible pet ownership and care to animal lovers in Campbell County, Wyoming. Most of the work we have done with this in the past is to write blogs of our success stories and do social media posts and emails with them. We also encourage pet parents to talk with their veterinarian any time they have questions.
Now, we have partnered with long-time supporters Animal Medical Center of Wyoming and Red Hills Veterinary Hospital in Gillette, Wyoming to get more necessary pet education out to our community and into your hands. In our first video, Animal Medical Center veterinarian Dr. Marshall Kohr talks about the important vaccinations necessary for horses and their upcoming Coggins and Rabies Clinic at the clinic, 200 E. Lakeway Rd, on Saturday, April 17 from 9 am-2 pm. Learn more at www.amcofwyoming.com. Stay tuned for more videos on this blog, as well as on our social media pages. This is Tido, a 4-year-old Chiweenie, which is a cross between the Chihuahua and Dachshund dog breeds.
Fun Fact: These pups inherited some of the best traits from both of their parents--they are compact, energetic, and loyal. You may also hear Chiweenies called Choxie, Weeniehuahua, the German Taco, and the Mexican Hot Dog. Tido’s dad was recently laid off and is only receiving unemployment, which is able to cover his basic needs: food, housing, and electricity. Unfortunately, at the same time, Tido started to act sluggish, he didn’t want to eat, and his dad could tell that poor Tido wasn’t feeling well. His dad brought him to the vet where blood work determined that Tido's kidney values were terrible. The vet initially thought that Tido was in kidney failure, but after a full exam they learned that he had a urinary tract blockage, which was causing his kidney levels to be so poor. What is a urinary tract obstruction in dogs? A urinary tract obstruction in a dog makes it hard for the dog to urinate, or not urinate at all. For some dogs, an obstruction could be due to inflammation or compression on the urethra, or simply a blockage. Signs of urinary tract obstructions in dogs According to PetMD, the first sign of a urinary tract obstruction is straining to urinate, which typically looks like constipation because the dog will hunch over while it is urinating. Because there is something blocking the urine in the urethra, the flow of urine will likely be interrupted and may appear cloudy. If any urine is seen, it may appear dark or blood tinged (orange or red). Another symptom is crying out while trying to pee; as you can imaging, a blockage will cause pain. Your dog may also stop eating, become depressed or sluggish, and they may even vomit. Urinary tract obstructions in dogs are emergencies Please know that a urinary tract obstruction is a medical emergency. If your dog does not go to a vet for medical treatment, kidney failure can develop, which can be life threatening within three days of symptoms. Tido’s dad applied to Fur Kids Foundation, and his request was accepted. Tido had to stay the night at the vet to be monitored, a catheter was inserted and he was given some medicine to help him feel better. We’re happy to report that Tido is expected to make a full recovery! About Fur Kids Foundation 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.
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