 This beauty is Bella, a 15-month-old Border Collie/Blue Heeler mix. Bella's mom had recently started a new job, and then COVID-19 slowed down her hours, and pay.
That's when Bella decided to eat something she shouldn't. Bella had diarrhea and was vomiting, and her mom rushed her to the vet, where she learned her fur kid had an obstruction, or sometimes called a blockage. While she was at the vet, she applied to Fur Kids Foundation for help with Bella’s emergency bills because she knew the vet care Bella needed was out of her budget, and was very afraid Bella would need surgery. We were happy to help! Luckily, Bella only needed a night's stay at the clinic because she was able to pass the item on her own. Even though Bella passed the object, it is very important for pet parents to be aware of the signs and symptoms of an obstruction. An obstruction, also known as a gastrointestinal blockage, is a common problem in dogs (especially puppies) because of their curious nature and desire to taste nearly everything. An obstruction prevents solids or liquids from passing through the gastrointestinal tract, which also decreases blood flow to the bowels, causing deterioration and absorption of toxic contents. Symptoms can include:
If you suspect your dog may have a blockage, please seek veterinary attention as possible. Obstructions are medical emergencies for dogs. If left untreated, it could result in severe fluid loss (because the dog doesn’t want to eat or drink), intestinal rupture and death. We're hoping Bella learns her lesson and doesn't eat things she shouldn't! 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 handsome pup is Diesel, a 5-month-old Pit Bull. Recently he was acting like a true puppy maniac and slipped while trying to greet his friend. His paw slid under the front step, and unfortunately caused a fracture.
Diesel's mom had recently changed jobs and was helping to take care of her grandchildren, so funds were tight. At the vet she learned that Diesel's fracture wasn't bad enough to need surgery, it would only need splints, but that was still more than Diesel's mom could afford. She applied for help with Diesel’s emergency veterinary care with Fur Kids Foundation. Diesel went through weeks of splints, and decided he didn't want to keep calm anymore. He somehow broke his growth plate while being a crazy puppy. Luckily, because of his age, splints will still work for his situation, but Diesel's near future is going to be full of activity restrictions while he heals. We're hopeful after he's healed that this is his first and last set of broken bones! We all know that puppies can be crazy sometimes and accidents happen, but broken bones and fractures can cause serious issues and it is up to every pet parent to make sure they know all of the signs and symptoms of broken bones. Broken bones can show up as:
If you suspect your pet has a broken bone, Fur Kids Foundation encourages you to get to a veterinarian quickly, so they can perform an exam and do x-rays to determine the damage and treatment. 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.  Luna, a 3-year old Pit Bull and extreme sweetheart, was not acting herself. She was lethargic and her mom noticed she had some discharge.
Luna was unaltered and ended up developing a case of pyometra, from not being spayed. For those who don’t know, pyometra is a medical emergency that if left untreated is fatal. Pyometra will affect roughly one in four non-spayed (female) dogs before the age of 10 years old; however, it can occur in dogs older than this. Signs of pyometra include:
Luna’s mom was a single mom with one income and a sick dog, she says: “Luna is my best friend and we do everything together.” So, understandably, she applied for help with Fur Kids Foundation, and we were happy to help Luna feel like herself again! There are many good reasons to spay a female dog, and preventing pyometra is one of them. Spaying dogs before 2 years old is the best option to eliminate the risk pyometra. Spaying your female dog also greatly decreases the risk of mammary (breast) cancer. Fur Kids Foundation always encourages pet owners to spay and neuter their pets. For more information, please speak with your veterinarian. 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.  Meet the adorable Chipper Jones, a little 6-month-old Beagle - not the retired Atlanta Braves baseball player.
Like any beagle puppy, Chipper Jones likes to keep his parents on his toes. Recently, he ate some rocks. Well, actually, it was a lot of rocks, which resulted in him needing to be hospitalized at the veterinarian to make sure he passed all the rocks, costing his parents quite a bit of money. Then, in true puppy fashion, he ran as fast as he could into his kennel and caught his foot in-between the metal bars. He ended up twisting his foot while trying to get into his crate and now has a fibula plateau fracture, which means that he needs surgery. Puppies are no joke, folks. While we realize that accidents happen, even to the best pet parents, it’s very important to be well-prepared to recognize the symptoms of a broken limb, as well as be aware of costs. Broken bones can show up as lumps or bumps on a dog’s joint that are swollen and painful to the touch. The animal may refuse to lay or put pressure on the limb, or excessively lick it. Limping or limited mobility could also be signs of a broken bone. If you suspect your pet has a broken bone, Fur Kids Foundation encourages you to get to a veterinarian quickly, so they can perform an exam and do x-rays to determine the damage and treatment. Chipper Jones’ parents had used all their emergency funds for Chipper with the rock incident, so they applied to Fur Kids Foundation for help with his surgery, we were happy to help. Chipper is on his way to recovery, and we hope all his (over-the-top) puppy shenanigans are out of his system and he's a little more careful going forward. 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.
Dogs are highly prone to ear infections because of the shape of their ear canal. While helicopter ears (head shaking) is a telltale sign of an ear infection, according to the AKC, so are:
Ear infections are usually caused by bacteria, yeast, or a combination of the two; however, ear mites can also be a source of infection. If your dog shows signs of an ear infection, it’s important to get treatment by a veterinarian immediately so the problem does not become serious. Fur Kids Foundation was happy to help, and it did turn out Brody's dad's suspicions of an ear infection were correct. Brody was sent home with some medication for his ears, and is already feeling better. 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.  This sweetheart is Scarlet, a 7-year-old pit bull mix. Scarlet's parents ran into a rough patch a while back; her mom was unable to work due to health issues, and her dad was the only income. Because of this, they chose not to spay Scarlet, and thought she would be OK since she was an indoor pet that stays in their yard.
Recently, Scarlet's mom saw what she thought was a cyst that had ruptured on Scarlet's rear end, but Scarlet was acting like she didn't felt well. Scarlet’s parents knew that she wasn’t herself, so they contacted a vet. Unfortunately, Scarlet didn't have a ruptured cyst; she had a very bad case of pyometra. For those who don’t know, pyometra is a medical emergency that if left untreated is fatal. Pyometra will affect roughly one in four non-spayed (female) dogs before the age of 10 years old; however, it can occur in dogs older than this. Signs of pyometra include:
Her mom applied to Fur Kids Foundation for assistance so she could bring Scarlet into the vet, and we're happy she did. Her vet was able to spay Scarlet and get her on some antibiotics. She is expected to make a full recovery! There are many good reasons to spay a female dog, and preventing pyometra is one of them. Spaying dogs before 2 years old is the best option to eliminate the risk pyometra. Spaying your female dog also greatly decreases the risk of mammary (breast) cancer. 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.  Meet Nala! This beauty is a 7-year-old German Shepherd mix. Nala's dad does everything for her. Unfortunately, he was faced with some obstacles—limited income, vehicle repairs, and large debt. During this time, Nala started to act really sick. When her dad brought her to the vet in Gillette, they found that she had IMHA, or immune-mediated hemolytic anemia.
For those who don’t know, IMHA is the condition where the body's immune system attacks and removes its own red blood cells, thus leading to severe anemia, an unhealthy yellow coloring of the tissues called jaundice or icterus, as well as an assortment of life-threatening complications. According to VCA Hospitals, signs that pet owners can look for include:
These symptoms can vary from dog to dog and depend upon the underlying cause of IMHA. In some situations (mild or early IMHA), your dog may present no signs at all. When a dog is anemic, it is important to identify the underlying cause, and it's very important that they see a veterinarian. Fortunately, Nala had a chance at recovery, but it would mean a few days in the vet clinic with around the clock treatment and monitoring. Nala's dad knew this was outside of his budget, so he applied to Fur Kids Foundation for assistance, and we were happy to help. Nala's dad called while she was in the vet clinic and was very thankful for the help, and said Nala was already starting to show improvements. Which makes us very happy! 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.  This is Baitylynn, a 3-year-old Toy Dachshund. Baitylynn’s mom lost her job and was working on finding another job in her industry when Baitylynn started having seizures. They were scary and her mom was very worried about her, so she scrambled up some money to take her to the vet. There, little Baitylynn was diagnosed with epilepsy. Dogs can have seizures just like humans; these can look similar to a twitch or uncontrollable shaking, and can last from under a minute to several minutes long. According to PetMed, signs that your dog may be having seizures include:
Before a seizure, a dog could look dazed, seem unsteady or confused, or stare off into space. After a seizure, a dog may be disoriented, wobbly, temporarily blind, may walk in circles and bump into things, have a lot of drool on their chin and may try to hide. If your dog is showing any of these symptoms, Fur Kids Foundation encourages you to take them to be examined by a vet. Seizures are not always genetic, and something could be very wrong with your pet, such as:
Thankfully, Baitylynn’s mom caught the seizures early, so now this sweet girl is on some medication to help keep them under control. And, her mom knows what to look for when Baitylynn has another episode. 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.
 This GivingTuesday, December 1, Fur Kids Foundation wants to inspire you to help us raise $1,000 to help local families afford emergency veterinary care.
Here is how you can support Fur Kids Foundation on December 1:
For those who don't know, GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement, unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and their world. GivingTuesday will kick off the generosity season this year by inspiring people to give back on December 1, 2020, and throughout the year. In 2020, Fur Kids Foundation's volunteers have helped 110 families with pets, granting more than $32K in emergency veterinary care. Since we began in 2011, we've helped more than 825 Campbell County, Wyoming families and granted nearly $170K. Our volunteer board works hard to make sure that roughly 70% of our funds go to our mission. Your generous donations help keep local families with pets healthy and happy for years to come. We need your support this year more than ever. Support us on GivingTuesday on December 1. 
Join the Facebook event to follow along with the chatter! Questions: call Kaitlyn at 785-200-0487. Kits must be ordered by Thursday, November 26 so the kit can be mailed to you in time for the party on December 3. You are only purchasing the wooden kits from Lazy KT Designs, so Kaitlyn has some recommended supplies for you to purchase ahead of time:
A little more about the designs:
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Created in November 2011, the Fur Kids Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides education and aid to promote the well-being of animals in Campbell County.
Your donation saves lives. It goes to work helping animals in Campbell County receive adequate veterinary care during a time when their family may not be able to afford it. Please contact the Foundation to learn more or donate now using PayPal.
AuthorThe Fur Kids Foundation blog is written by board member and Founder Felicia. If you have ideas that you would like to see published in the blog such as concerns about pet-focused topics in the community or a funny story, please contact the Foundation. Enjoy! Archives
January 2021
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