This dapper gent is Leo, a 2-year-old short hair tabby. Leo’s parents have had a rough few months–his dad is the only one able to work at the moment and they have had to travel for family emergencies. Unfortunately, Leo also wasn’t feeling well–he wasn't going to the bathroom, and when he did, they could see that there was blood in his urine. While his parents couldn't afford his emergency veterinary visit, they knew that Leo had to get to the vet. At the vet it was discovered Leo had a severe urinary tract infection (UTI) and kidney infection–and to make matters worse, he needed to be hospitalized. After Leo was released, he seemed to be doing well, but a few days later he was acting sick again–so off to the vet he went and was hospitalized again. A UTI happens when bacteria travels up the urethra and into the bladder; this bacteria can grow and reproduce, which causes the UTI. Some common signs of a UTI in your cat can include:
Kidney infections are one of the most common infections your tabby can get, and typically happen when bacteria in the lower urinary tract (bladder) travel to the kidney. If your cat has a kidney infection, it’s vital to take them to the veterinarian. If a kidney infection is left untreated, it can lead to kidney failure and death. Signs your cat may have a kidney infection includes
Leo's dad applied with Fur Kids Foundation to help with the emergency veterinary bills, and we were more than happy to help. Leo is now on some new food, his parents are monitoring him closely, and he should be making a full recovery in no time. 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.
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If you need a beautiful arrangement this month check out Crazy Daisy Floral's October Charity in Bloom. 10% will be donated to Fur Kids Foundation from three beautiful fall sunflower arrangements this month. Prices range from $40 to $120, and it can be ordered online, picked up and delivered. Thank you Crazy Daisy!
If you are interested in helping plan or implement fundraisers with the Fur Kids Foundation, give us a shout. We love it when people or businesses hold fundraisers on our behalf. If you would like to hold a fundraiser for us, please contact us and let us know. We would love to support you in your efforts. This handsome boy is Kathmandu, a 10-year-old domestic short hair (DSH) cat. Kathmandu's parents recently separated and his mom is in the process of getting back on her feet. During this time, his mom noticed Kathmandu's face was swelling and his eye was having problems. She brought him to the vet where she was told Kathmandu had a few rotten teeth–some were so infected it was causing him to have eye issues. She was told that he needed to have his teeth removed right away. Kathmandu's mom applied to Fur Kids Foundation for the emergency veterinary help, and we were happy to help Kathmandu get back to feeling better. According to PetMD: Cat periodontal disease, or gum disease in cats, is an inflammation of some or all of a tooth’s deep supporting structures. It is one of the most common diseases in cats today. VetStreet explains that the following signs and symptoms of gum disease in cats can be:
Gum disease in cats (and pets in general) is a serious health issue. The bacteria associated with the disease can travel in the bloodstream to other parts of the body (such as the heart, kidneys and liver) and cause damage there. If your cat shows any of these symptoms, please take them to the vet for a check up. Kathmandu had his bad teeth removed and while he isn’t able to enjoy his favorite treats until his mouth heals, he's already feeling better. 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 Sassy, a beautiful 7-year-old mixed breed girl. Sassy started to have a distasteful smell about her, and her mom noticed she had a sore near her tail. She was very worried something was wrong with her girl. Sassy's mom is on disability, but just started working and hadn't received a paycheck yet. She was worried about her girl, so she took her to the vet to get checked. While she was there, she applied to Fur Kids Foundation for assistance. After an examination, the vet said that Sassy had a ruptured anal gland. Anal glands, or anal sacs, are two small pockets about the size of a small grape that are located on the right and left side of a dog’s anus. Each gland connects to a small tube that secretes a very distinctive, foul-smelling fluid. Under normal circumstances, when your pet goes poopie (or, when they pass stool), that stool applies enough pressure to the glands to release (express) the fluid. If an animal can't epress their anal glands on their own, they can sometimes become impacted. Impacted anal glands will cause moderate pain in dogs. When the anal gland fluid thickens, this pasty, brown material clogs the glands and creates hard masses. In average cases of impaction, the anal glands can be expressed with significant pressure. Learn more about pet anal gland health in this PetMD article. The vet was able to clean Sassy up and send her home with some medication. Now her mom knows to monitor her anal glands and hopes this never happens again. 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 little nugget is Marley, a 12-year-old Shih Tzu. Marley's mom noticed that her pup wasn't eating like she normally does, didn't want her head touched, and had bad breath. She was very worried about her little pup and as more time went on, she felt that Marley was getting worse. She knew that Marley needed to be seen by the vet, but the vet expense was causing her a lot of concern. Marley's mom receives disability and is on a limited income, so she applied to Fur Kids Foundation and we were happy to help with Marley's care. At the vet, they found that Marley had some rotten teeth that were causing an infection. In fact, Marley needed all of her bottom teeth removed and some of her top teeth. Marley had some classic signs of dental disease in dogs: bad breath, reduced appetite, and pain in/around the mouth (not wanting her head touched). Other signs can include:
Pain caused by dental disease can make some pets grumpy–a pet in pain may bite. If you see any changes in your pet’s behavior, please schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. For those who don’t know, dental health is a very important part of your pet's overall health–dental problems can cause, or be caused by, other other health issues. Your pet's teeth and gums should be checked at least once a year by your veterinarian to check for early signs of dental disease or other problems. Keeping your pet's teeth and gums healthy will help prevent pain in their mouth and organ damage–bacteria in dental plaque can enter the bloodstream and spread to the heart, kidneys and liver, which can be fatal if left untreated. Read more about pet dental care in this American Veterinary Medical Association article. Now that Marley had her bad teeth removed, she should begin feeling better in no time. 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. With Parvo cases continuing to rise, the Fur Kids Foundation Board of Directors has decided to CANCEL our Pet Costume Contest that was to be held on October 29 at 11 am. We feel it is in the best interest of the dogs in our community that we not have them gather and risk any of our contestant’s health. The contest will move to an online format and will be posted on our Pet Costume Contest Facebook event page: https://fb.me/e/218xXEvsc. Free entries will be taken until Halloween and the judges will award winners on November 1. Please feel free to still dress your pets in costume and post pictures! Categories are Small dogs/cats and Large dogs. Petco will award one prize for each category, prizes will need to be picked up at Petco after you are notified. Judges will separate the categories as needed. We will refund those who pre-registered for the event. Come walk the SCAREWALK with Fur Kids Foundation at the Holiday Bazaar! Pet Costume Contest during the Holiday Bazaar! October 29, 11 am Registration starts at 9 am CAMPLEX Central Pavilion at 1635 Reata Drive in Gillette The Pet Costume Contest takes place on Saturday, October 29 at the Holiday Bazaar at CAM-PLEX Central Pavilion at 1635 Reata Drive in Gillette, Wyoming. It’s $5 to enter; prizes are awarded (prize details announced soon). Registration opens at 9 am; contest begins down the scare-walk at 11 am. Winners announced immediately after. Halloween is one of Fur Kids Foundation’s favorite howl-id-days, and we’re super excited to hold our Pet Costume Contest during the Holiday Bazaar. You’re encouraged to have fun, and be creative—in fact, we encourage pet owners to dress up as well. All pets are welcome to participate; however, please be aware of how your pet acts in a crowd and with other animals.
Liability Waiver
Thank you for participating in Fur Kids Foundation’s Pet Costume Contest. By participating at the event, and attending as a participant or guest at Petco, I agree on behalf of myself, my spouse, my children, heirs, personal representatives and assigns (collectively "guest"), to the following:
This is Zeus, a 1.5-year-old chocolate Lab. During a summer heat wave, Zeus was desperately trying to cool himself off, and got a little too close to the box fan--he managed to get his ear caught in the fan, cutting the tip of it badly. Zeus's mom is on disability and does everything she can to keep her pups healthy. She tried everything she could find to try to fix the problem at home, but Zeus still had "helicopter ears," which then made his ear keep bleeding. She took her sweet boy to the vet and then applied to Fur Kids Foundation to help her with her emergency vet bill. We were happy to help! The vet was able to stitch up Zeus's ear, and they also found that he had a pretty bad ear infection, so he got a deep ear cleaning and was sent home with some medication and is making a full recovery. Ear infections are a very common health issue for dogs, especially ones with floppy ears or ears that fold over. Ear infections are uncomfortable for dogs, just like they are when humans get them. Deep ear infections can damage or rupture the eardrum, causing an internal ear infection and even permanent hearing loss. Symptoms of an ear infection can include:
Often, it’s tempting to try to treat an ear infection at home; however, there are several kinds of bacteria and fungus that commonly cause ear infections, and if you don’t know the infection present, you don’t know the proper medication to use. It is important that your dog be examined by a veterinarian to ensure that the eardrum is intact and what kind of infection they have. If the eardrum is ruptured, administration of certain medications can result in loss of hearing. 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. Introducing Coco, a 3-year-old Lab/Husky mix. Coco got a little crazy one weekend and ended up hurting her shoulder so badly that she needed to be seen by a veterinarian. Weekend visits also mean additional costs. Fur Kids Foundation understands how difficult it is to see your dog in pain; especially if it keeps him or her from walking or running normally. If you feel your dog is in pain in the shoulder area, it is best to consult your veterinarian promptly to get an accurate diagnosis and mode of treatment. You can read about a variety of shoulder conditions in this Wag Walking blog. Her family relies on her dad's income, as her mom stays at home with a special needs child, so they were quite worried that they wouldn't have the means to pay for the after-hours visit. Coco's parents applied to Fur Kids Foundation for the unexpected veterinary care, and we are happy that we were able to assist. Coco received the care she needed, and was placed under doctor's orders to remain calm and not get so crazy so she has a full recovery. 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 handsome pup is Roper, a 10-year-old black Labrador Retriever. As most pet parents know, when dogs age they start to slow down–which is what was happening with Mr. Roper. But then his mom noticed that Roper wasn't putting pressure on one of his paws, and then stopped using that foot all together. Roper's mom brought him to the vet, where they found that Roper had cancer in one of his toes. The good news was that they found it, but now Roper needed surgery immediately to remove the toe and try to stop the cancer from spreading. No matter who you are, cancer is a hard word to hear about a loved one. According to PET Web MD, some 50% of dogs over the age of 10 develop cancer. Just like in humans, the warning signs of cancer in dogs can include some very classic symptoms such as:
Roper's mom is on disability and used all her funds for the initial visit. Ultimately, she wasn't able to afford the surgery Roper desperately needed, so she applied with Fur Kids Foundation for assistance. We were able to help with the surgery and Roper's toe was removed. Roper's mom will keep an eye on him and as of now, the cancer has not spread. We're hopeful Roper stays cancer free. 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. Meet Prissy, a 12-year-old Lab mix, and her mom's best friend and protector. Prissy has allergies and is prone to having ear infections.
She recently began to show some very telltale signs of having an ear infection: whining, scratching at the head and ear, and the familiar "helicopter ears," or head shaking. There was also some blood filled swelling on her ear flap, which was causing Prissy severe discomfort. Ear infections are a common and often recurrent problem in many dogs that can cause significant discomfort for our canine friends. Other signs your pup could have an ear infection include:
If your dog is showing common signs of ear infections, it’s important to visit your veterinarian as soon as possible. Quick treatment is necessary not only for your dog’s comfort (these conditions can be painful), but also to prevent the spread of infection to the middle and inner ear. Unfortunately, Prissy's helicopter ears were likely the source of aural hematoma, a blood blister that develops between the skin and cartilage of the ear flap. It’s very common in dogs who are prone to ear infections, especially if they have floppy ears. Prissy's mom knew she needed to take her to the vet, but on a limited income, she didn't know how she could afford the treatment. She applied with Fur Kids Foundation for assistance with the emergency veterinary visit, and we were happy to help. At the vet, they were able to treat Prissy's ear infection and hematoma; she's already feeling so much better. 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. |
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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