Say hello to Zeus, a 5 year-old Rottweiler who recently didn’t seem like he was feeling very well. He was really sluggish, not going to the bathroom, and his parents could tell that he just felt crummy. Zeus’ parents were concerned that their handsome guy swallowed something that caused a blockage in his intestines, so they rushed him to the vet.
While at the vet’s office, they learned that Zeus didn't have a blockage—what he had was prostatitis and pancreatitis. For those who don’t know, prostatitis is a bacterial infection of the prostate gland, which occurs more commonly in male dogs who have not been neutered. A pancreatitis happens when a dog’s pancreas is inflamed and releases enzymes that cause the body to attack its pancreatic tissue. According to the vet, dogs with prostatitis often also get pancreatitis. When a dog has a prostatitis, the swelling of the prostate will put pressure on colon preventing bowel movements. Symptoms of a prostatitis in dogs include: · Abdominal discomfort · Blood in the urine · Fever · Loss of interest in food, which can also cause weight loss · Painful urination, along with straining to go to the bathroom · Stiff gait · Vomiting Dogs with these symptoms should really be seen by a vet to make sure the proper treatment can be given. Zeus’ dad is disabled and his mom recently opened a store, so money is tight for them right now, and they were concerned about their pup. They applied to Fur Kids Foundation for help with their four legged kid. We’re happy to report that Zeus was able to get the care that he needed and every day is feeling better. Fur Kids Foundation is grateful for the dedication of our volunteers and supporters who have helped local families stay happy and healthy, and together! If you would like to help Fur Kids Foundation continue to help families in Campbell County, Wyoming with animals, please consider making a tax-deductible donation. The money helps families during a time when they may not be able to afford adequate veterinary care. Check out more Success Stories.
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This is Mocha, a 16 year-old Siamese/Himalayan mix kitty. His eye started to swell, his nose was oozing. Mocha has had allergies his whole life, but this was different. His mom knew something was wrong, and at 16 years old, she was worried for the worst; so she took Mocha to the vet.
At the vet, she found out that Mocha has some bad teeth that have are infected and are causing a lot of discomfort, and the symptoms he was showing. If your cat’s teeth are in bad shape, it can contribute to other health problems such as heart and kidney disease. And since cats are so good at hiding their pain, you probably won’t even know when your cat’s mouth is hurting until the disease is severe. There are some signs of dental disease in cats, including: · Bad breath · Drooling · If your cat chews on one side of their mouth, or drops food when she’s eating · Loss of interest in food · Refusal to be pet on the side of their mouth If you see your cat show any of those signs, another thing you can do is lift her lip up. If you see some yellow-brown gunk on her teeth, that’s tartar buildup. If your cat’s gums are red, that’s gingivitis, or inflammation of the gum tissue. Neither is good for your cat, and mean that you should schedule a visit with your veterinarian for a dental checkup. Mocha’s mom is disabled and receives supplemental security income from Social Security. She budgets and saves for regular visits, but with the limited income, she was unable to cover the cost of this visit. So, she applied to Fur Kids Foundation for help. Mocha was given some medicine to help with the infection, and his mom is now saving enough to cover her portion of what Fur Kids Foundation can’t cover to have his bad teeth removed so Mocha can be happy and healthy. Fur Kids Foundation is grateful for the dedication of our volunteers and supporters who have helped local families stay happy and healthy, and together! If you would like to help Fur Kids Foundation continue to help families in Campbell County, Wyoming with animals, please consider making a tax-deductible donation. The money helps families during a time when they may not be able to afford adequate veterinary care. Check out more Success Stories. Meet Buddy, a 4 year-old German Shepherd, Corgi, Chow Chow mix (isn’t he cute!). Poor Buddy was having some issues with his ears, and his dad noticed he had a large bump on one of them that was getting bigger by the day.
Buddy’s dad brought him into the vet to see how he could help his pooch. Lucky for Buddy, it was only a hematoma that needed a little vet TLC, and his dad to keep a watchful eye on it to make sure it doesn't get worse. If you don’t know, a hematoma is a pool of blood that collects between the skin and the cartilage of a pet’s ear flap. It's typically caused by overly aggressive ear scratching or head shaking (what many call helicopter ears). This aggressive shaking can cause the blood to leave the vessels and pool in a pocket. Usually these stem from an underlying cause for the scratching and head shaking, such as an ear infection. Buddy’s dad is on disability with a limited income. He is sure to keep Buddy up-to-date on his vaccines, but he couldn't afford this unexpected vet bill. So, he applied to Fur Kids Foundation for help. Buddy is now feeling much better! Fur Kids Foundation is grateful for the dedication of our volunteers and supporters who have helped local families stay happy and healthy, and together! If you would like to help Fur Kids Foundation continue to help families in Campbell County, Wyoming with animals, please consider making a tax-deductible donation. The money helps families during a time when they may not be able to afford adequate veterinary care. Check out more Success Stories. This beauty is Zena, a 2 year-old boxer who recently gave her mom a scare. Zena started stumbling, falling over, was shaking and had a high temperature. Her mom knew she had to get her into the vet right away.
While at the vet’s office, Zena was not acting anything like she was at home, but her mom felt she was still not back to her normal self; so the clinic kept her for a few hours. After giving her fluids and her showing signs of improvement, they called her mom to tell her she could pick her up. Once Zena saw her mom, she got super excited and her earlier symptoms happened again, making the vet diagnose her with seizures. Seizures can be somewhat challenging to spot in a dog. At first glance for someone who has never had a pup go through it, a seizure could look like your pet is a little hyperactive or may be acting abnormally, but there are specific signs to look for including: collapsing, jerking, stiffening, muscle twitching, loss of consciousness, drooling, chomping, tongue chewing, or foaming at the mouth. WebMD also mentioned that: Sometimes dogs can fall to the side and make paddling motions with their legs. They sometimes poop or pee during the seizure. Some dogs may look dazed, seem unsteady or confused, or stare off into space before a seizure. Afterward, your dog may be disoriented, wobbly, or temporarily blind. He may walk in circles and bump into things. He might have a lot of drool on his chin and could be bleeding in his mouth if he bit himself. He may try to hide. Seizures can be caused by: · Anemia · Cancers · Eating poison · Electrolyte problems · Encephalitis · Head injury · Liver disease · Low or high blood sugar · Kidney disease · Strokes Zena’s mom is a single mom with two young children. She’s working hard, but knew she couldn’t afford this visit at the moment, so she applied to Fur Kids Foundation to help. We are happy to report that Zena’s seizures stopped, and while the vet isn’t sure why she had them to begin with, they suspect she may have gotten into something that was causing them. But, we do know that Zena sure is happy to be at home with her mom. Fur Kids Foundation is grateful for the dedication of our volunteers and supporters who have helped local families stay happy and healthy, and together! If you would like to help Fur Kids Foundation continue to help families in Campbell County, Wyoming with animals, please consider making a tax-deductible donation. The money helps families during a time when they may not be able to afford adequate veterinary care. Check out more Success Stories. This is Goober, a 1 year-old Snorkie (you know, a Miniature Schnauzer and a Yorkshire Terrier). Goober’s mom came home one day to find him limping. She could tell his leg was really bothering him, and she thought that he likely sprained his leg jumping around. But when it wasn't getting any better, she knew she had to bring him to the vet.
At the vet, Goober’s mom learned that her sweet boy broke his front leg! How did that happen you ask? Well, sometimes our beloved pets can break their legs without us knowing right away—if they are playing really hard or jumping from place to place especially. Symptoms that your pooch may show if their leg is broken include: · Abnormal movement of the leg · Bruising · Grinding or popping sounds coming from the bone · Holding the leg up · Lameness, or unwilling to put pressure on the leg or walk · Swelling in the area where the break is · Whining To properly diagnose a broken bone in a dog, it’s very important that you take them to the vet, and get proper treatment. Without it, your dog may develop other health issues related to the break. Goober’s mom is on a limited income and knew there was no way she could afford the unexpected exam, and when she learned that Goober's front leg was broken, she was heartbroken because there was no way she could afford surgery. She applied to Fur Kids Foundation, and we were happy to help out. The good news is that Goober was able to avoid surgery by wearing a splint and by keeping his activity level down. His mom has her hand's full trying to keep a puppy calm, but we’ve heard that he's already feeling better! Fur Kids Foundation is grateful for the dedication of our volunteers and supporters who have helped local families stay happy and healthy, and together! If you would like to help Fur Kids Foundation continue to help families in Campbell County, Wyoming with animals, please consider making a tax-deductible donation. The money helps families during a time when they may not be able to afford adequate veterinary care. Check out more Success Stories. Like to color? How about eat watermelon? And, what are your thoughts on attending the Campbell County Fair on Saturday, August 4 at, say, around 2 pm? If you have good feelings about all of those, then you have to participate in Fur Kids Foundation’s Coloring Contest!
This year’s Coloring Contest features an adorable pooch munching on a slice of watermelon, generously created by Josilyn Barbour Arts. Like the FKF Watermelon Eating Contest, there are four age groups who can enter: · 5-7 years old · 8-11 years old · 12-16 years old · 17-Adult (you know you want to color!) To enter, simply pick up at coloring sheet at:
Winners of the Watermelon Eating Contest are eligible for some paw-some prizes, so be sure to stay tuned to furkidsfoundation.org for details. Pizza connoisseurs in Campbell County, Wyoming thoroughly enjoyed the Morgan-Bella that was dished up at Pizza Carrello in late May—and, as an added bonus, you helped the restaurant raise $500 for Fur Kids Foundation to help local families with pets afford emergency veterinary care! Thank you for indulging with us.
FKF is very grateful for long-time Fur Kids Foundation supporter Pizza Carrello, and hoped that you enjoyed this lip smacking pizza pie during its limited time. We look forward to working with Pizza Carrello on future fundraisers, and of course hope they join us again at the 2019 Pet-A-Palooza. This is Daybreak, a beautiful 5 year-old Quarter Horse. Like many youngins’, Daybreak decided to make a break for it and escaped her pasture. Once her parents found her, she had a horrible cut to her rear left leg ,and her parents knew she needed medical attention. They promptly called the vet to make sure their horse would be OK.
Anyone who owns a horse likely has had to care for a wound; or will at some point. Horses can get hurt from time to time because they are around barbed wire, nails, fencing, glass or metal. If there are deep cuts, puncture wounds, open sore injuries or things requiring antibiotics, you're going to need to call the vet. American Horse Rider magazine has a good article to check out to help you prepare for an injured horse: Horse Injuries and Wounds Treatment First Aid. Daybreak's mom is pregnant and not working, and her dad’s hours were just cut. To make matters even harder, the families insurance costs just increased. Daybreak’s pasture escape vet bills were more than the family could plan for, so they applied to Fur Kids Foundation for help. Luckily, all Daybreak needed was the wound to be cleaned, get some stitches and some antibiotics. Fur Kids Foundation also received an update from Daybreak’s mom: “...After following the vet’s directions for the last week, she gave us the all clear yesterday to stop wrapping her leg, and said that she looked awesome and was healing up great! Daybreak is back to her cheerful self and hasn't taken a lame step in quite a few days. Thank you again so much for helping with the bill. It truly meant the world to us to be able to give her the best chance instead of the minimum chance." Fur Kids Foundation is grateful for the dedication of our volunteers and supporters who have helped local families stay happy and healthy, and together! If you would like to help Fur Kids Foundation continue to help families in Campbell County, Wyoming with animals, please consider making a tax-deductible donation. The money helps families during a time when they may not be able to afford adequate veterinary care. Check out more Success Stories. A huge thank you to all the ice cream eaters in Campbell County, Wyoming who enjoyed Dairy Queen in May! You all helped Fur Kids Foundation raise more than $4,800 to help keep families with pets healthy and together with the Round Up for Pets fundraiser. Thank you for your pawsome support!
A very special thanks to Chris and Barb, who manage the Dairy Queen in Gillette, Wyoming, as well as all of their staff who asked nearly every customer who ordered in May if they’d like to donate $1 to the local Fur Kids Foundation. Their support of our mission helped to make this fundraiser a HUGE success. We look forward to doing this fundraiser with them again next year. Stay tuned for more information about our upcoming fundraiser this summer, including the Watermelon Eating Contest at the Campbell County Fair, and the ever pupular Pooch Plunge on Saturday, August 18! Meet Laura, a 9 month-old tiger kitten who was going to be spayed on May 1.
Before that day came, Laura’s mom woke up to some strange noises. She thought Laura may have brought a baby bunny into the house because she saw a little ball of fluff on the floor. After she looked at it further, she learned that the ball of fluff was actually a baby kitten! Do you know what to look for when your cat is pregnant? Typical signs include an extended belly as well as dark and enlarged nipples. The average cat pregnancy lasts 65-69 days. A cat can have an average of four to six kittens per litter, and (on average) can produce one to two litters a year. This is why spaying a cat is so important! Laura's mom said that Laura didn't show any of the typical signs of being pregnant and she didn't think that a kitten that young could get pregnant. Since Laura only had one baby, Laura's mom was concerned there were more babies inside of her; and with Laura being so young, she may not have been able to deliver them. Laura's mom took her to an emergency vet visit, and wasn’t fully prepared to cover the costs because she was also paying off medical bills for her daughter, so she applied to Fur Kids Foundation for help. Luckily, Laura didn't have any more kittens inside of her. And even though it took Laura a few days to realize she was a teen mom she has embraced motherhood, and she and baby are doing wonderful. She's also getting spayed as soon as she can! Spaying your female cat (or dog) helps prevent uterine infections (like pyometra) and cancers, as well as breast cancer. Spaying your pet before her first heat offers the best protection from these diseases. Cats (and dogs) can be fixed at any time during their lifespan. Your veterinarian can address any concerns there might be about performing the procedure on a young and older pet. Fur Kids Foundation is grateful for the dedication of our volunteers and supporters who have helped local families stay happy and healthy, and together! If you would like to help Fur Kids Foundation continue to help families in Campbell County, Wyoming with animals, please consider making a tax-deductible donation. The money helps families during a time when they may not be able to afford adequate veterinary care. Check out 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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