 This is Dozer, a 13.5-year-old rescued pit bull. As many of us know, getting older isn’t any fun. And, it’s not a lot of fun for our old pooches either. Dozer had recently been limping, and not wanting to move a lot on his own—two common signs of pain. If you’re interested in some other ways that dog’s show signs of pain, check out what the Whole Dog Journal put together in this article, which includes the following signs:
Doing what any responsible pet parent would do, Dozer’s parents called their vet and were told he could either have arthritis or soft tissue damage, either way it would be best for him to come in to be seen. They brought Dozer to an office visit, and learned that he was suffering from old age, or more likely arthritis that can be managed with pain meds, including Rimadyl. Hint: If you do give your pup Rimadyl, be sure to check out the Rimadyl Rewards Program. For every bottle purchased, you'll get points for a refund. You'll also receive credit on a special Rimadyl card to use for future meds or yearly blood tests. Be sure to talk with your vet about this program. Please note: Aspirin, a common over-the-counter medicine for pain relief, should not be given to your pet without a vet’s direction. And other pain relievers such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen should never be given. Please consult a vet before you give your pet medication for pain management. Dozer comes from a family of five, and his father had recently been out of work due to an unexpected surgery, and his mom was only working part time. Fur Kids Foundation was happy to help Dozer feel 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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  Shannon (Smith) Henshaw
The Fur Kids Foundation board of directors want to give a huge shout out to Shannon (Smith) Henshaw as the February 2017 Volunteer of the Month! Late in 2016, Shannon came to the Fur Kids Foundation board with an idea from some students at Gillette College. These students wanted to host a fundraiser to benefit an animal charity in Gillette, and Shannon suggested Fur Kids. By the beginning of 2017, we learned that the Gillette College Student Senate had selected Fur Kids Foundation to benefit from their upcoming Dashing Dinner Dates bachelor auction. At this event, Fur Kids Foundation board members were invited to speak about what we do and share some success stories. We’re very pleased to announce that this paw-some group of college students raised more than $560 for Fur Kids! All of this was possible because Shannon spoke up about Fur Kids Foundation when the Student Senate was looking for a charity. Thank you, Shannon! Shannon has been with the Foundation since September 2015, when her and Spencer attended Pet-A-Palooza! Shannon also encouraged Spencer to become a volunteer with the Foundation. The duo has helped Fur Kids by volunteering at events such as Pet-A-Palooza and Pooch Plunge, as well as helping us find sponsors and attendees for events. She and Spencer have two dogs, Kona and Partner (who won our Small Dog Showdown at Pet-A-Palooza in 2015), and a horse named Benny. The Fur Kids Foundation board would also like to say best wishes to the couple, as they were married on February 24! Thank you Shannon (and Spencer) for joining our pack! We’re so happy to have you as volunteers. We’re always posting how paw-some our volunteers are, and we sincerely mean it. If you have seen a volunteer go above and beyond, please contact us. Did you know that Fur Kids Foundation is a 100% volunteer ran organization? We're able to help sweet animals and their families because of the dedication of our volunteers who plan and work fundraisers, promote the organization and support our community. Our volunteers are our heroes. If you are interested in learning how you can help us help more animals in Campbell County, Wyoming, please complete our application online or email Fur Kids Foundation at volunteerfkf@gmail.com.  This snuggle bug is Bandit, a 4-month-old mixed puppy. Jumping, chewing, and finding mischief are some pretty typical traits of puppies, as they are learning. Unfortunately, these same traits helped Bandit get into something he shouldn’t.
While his dad was out for an appointment one day, Bandit leapt up to the kitchen counter tops and ate a bottle of Ibuprofen. When his dad came home he noticed he was crying and vomiting; then he discovered the chewed up bottle and the Ibuprofen missing from it. He rushed Bandit to the vet immediately. For those who may not know, ibuprofen is the active ingredient in Advil and Nuprin, and is widely used to treat pain, fever, and inflammation in people. Unfortunately, these drugs can be extremely toxic (poisonous) to cats and dogs. According to Vetstreet, a single 200-milligram ibuprofen tablet can be toxic to a cat or small- to medium-sized dog. The most common side effect of a pet ingesting ibuprofen is stomach irritation, which can include vomiting (sometimes with blood) and diarrhea, which could be a dark color. This irritation can also cause stomach ulcers and perforations (holes in the stomach wall that allow stomach acid to leak into the belly). Other symptoms include:
If a pet eats ibuprofen, it can also cause damage to the kidneys and brain, which can cause seizures and coma. It’s very important to note that Ibuprofen should not be given to your pet, unless instructed to do so by your veterinarian. Fur Kids Foundation encourages you to keep all medications in the home secured to help prevent accidental swallowing by pets. His dad was a local business owner, but due to the season and economy he was forced to close the doors of his business. His dad calls Bandit his best friend and was given him as a gift to help with his depression, so he couldn't imagine losing him. After many days at the vet clinic and a lot of fluids, Bandit was out of the woods and was able to go home to his family, but the bill was more than Bandit’s dad could afford, so he reached out to Fur Kids Foundation for help. 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.
Oh, my. Look at this sweet face. This is Lilly, a 5-month-old Chihuahua.
Lilly’s mom started to notice that she was acting weak, had vomited a couple of times, and showed very little interest in food. Knowing that this behavior isn’t typical of a pup, her mom took her to the vet immediately, which is a good thing as Lilly had Parvo. Parvo is something that Fur Kids Foundation has kept a close watch on. For those who don’t know, canine parvovirus is a highly contagious viral disease that can become life-threatening if not caught early. The virus attacks rapidly, dividing cells in a dog’s body, most severely affecting the intestinal tract. Parvovirus also attacks the white blood cells, and when young animals are infected, the virus can damage the heart muscle and cause lifelong cardiac problems. Want to know how Parvo is transmitted? When any person, animal or object comes in contact with an infected dog's FECES. (Remember that lengthy blog Fur Kids Foundation posted about picking up dog poo? Well, here’s another reason that dog poo is gross.) Parvo can be carried on the dog’s hair and feet, as well as on contaminated crates, shoes, and other objects. When the dog licks the fecal material off hair, feet, or anything that came in contact with infected feces, he or she acquires the disease. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, symptoms of Parvo include:
Vomiting and diarrhea can cause rapid dehydration, and most deaths from parvovirus occur within 48 to 72 hours following the onset of the signs outlined above. If your puppy or dog shows any of these signs, you should contact your veterinarian immediately. It’s important to note that ANY unvaccinated dog of any age is susceptible to Parvo, but puppies have an increased risk. Remember: Until a puppy has received its complete series of vaccinations, pet owners should be cautious when bringing their pet to places other dogs visit such as pet shops, parks, obedience classes, kennels, and grooming establishments among others. In fact, Fur Kids Foundation recommends you do not take your puppy to many places until they are fully vaccinated. We strongly encourage you to speak with your veterinarian for more information about keeping your puppy safe. Lilly comes from a family of five, and three of the family members are disabled, leaving the family on a limited budget. Recently the families income changed, which caused them to be a little more financially strapped than usual, and because of it they chose to put off Lilly’s vaccinations. When they received the estimate for the cost of treating Parvo, which was $900 to $1,200, they knew they couldn't afford it, but also couldn't let Lilly suffer. They reached out to Fur Kids Foundation for support, and we were happy to provide it. Because Lilly’s mom recognized that her puppy was sick, she saved her life. Lilly also only had to stay a few days in the vet clinic, unlike the typical five to seven days of treatment for Parvo. Lilly is feeling much better and is expected to make a full recovery, and live a very happy and full life. Once she's 100% back to normal, her parents are going to get her caught up on her vaccines. 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. In February 2017, Fur Kids Foundation had 10 families apply for assistance, and we were able to help seven of those families—for a total of $1,863 given in aid. In 2017, we have given $3,103.75 to families in Campbell County, Wyoming to pay for emergency veterinary care. Below is a rundown of the cases we provided assistance to in February:
We are grateful for the dedication of Fur Kids Foundation volunteers and supporters who have helped these families stay happy and healthy, and together! When you volunteer, attend an event, or help us raise money by supporting the businesses that support us with promotions, these families and pets are who you are helping. Thank you again for all that you do for the Foundation, and for families with pets in Campbell County, Wyoming. Please take a minute to check out our Success Stories and read more about the families with pets that we help. The Fur Kids Foundation board of directors work very hard to make sure that the majority of the money we raise helps local families; in 2016, more than 75% of the money we have raised was spent on emergency veterinary care. Please consider a donation to help Fur Kids Foundation continue to help families stay healthy and happy in Campbell County, Wyoming. |
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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 2020
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