This handsome fella is Hades, a 7-year-old well-loved pit bull.
“Hades' truly is the best dog. He has an amazing personality and is the sweetest, happiest, most devoted baby. He is absolutely my little love," says his mom. So, you can just about imagine how upset his parents were when Hades started showing signs that something wasn’t right with his health. Recently Hades was diagnosed with a tumor on his thyroid. His parents were able to cover the cost of the vet appointment and came up with a plan to help him feel better. Then, just as coronavirus (COVID-19) was hitting our community, Hades started acting like he was sick again, but his symptoms were different. They knew something was wrong, and brought Hades to the veterinary clinic again. There, the vet discovered that Hades had a stomach infection, and needed to stay at the clinic for a few days. According to VCA Animal Hospitals, a stomach infection (or gastroenteritis) is caused by inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract (aka, the stomach and the intestines). This condition can be caused by infection with bacteria, viruses, parasites, medications, or even new foods. Stomach infections most commonly cause abdominal pain, diarrhea and/or vomiting. You can read more about it here. Hades' parents were distraught; between paying for Hades recent vet visit, and their work hours being drastically cut back because of COVID-19, they didn’t think they could afford his emergency veterinary care. That’s when Hades’ vet recommended they apply with Fur Kids Foundation. We were happy to help. Hades is feeling much better from his stomach infection and his parents plan on saving enough for him to have surgery for his thyroid tumor as soon as they can afford it. 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. Check out more Success Stories.
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This adorable slobber hound is Charli Mae, a 7-month-old Bloodhound. She recently had a spay and gastropexy done, and was recovering well.
For those who don’t know, a spay is the common surgical term for an ovariohysterectomy. When a female dog is spayed, the ovaries and uterus are removed completely in order to sterilize the dog so she cannot have puppies. A gastropexy is a surgical procedure done to help prevent Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus (GDV), more commonly called bloat, which is a life-threatening condition where the stomach flips or twists, trapping air and gases in the stomach. About a week after her procedure, Charli was not feeling well. She was drooling, really sluggish and running a fever. Her mom knew something was wrong, so she rushed her to the vet because she was very concerned that Charli had an infection. Charli's fever broke, but her vet could see a spot in her intestine, so she had to stay at the clinic for a night. The vet needed to see if this spot was a foreign object, blood, or a problem related to the surgery. Charli's mom is on a limited income and recently went through a divorce. She budgets enough for her pets’ needs, but this was completely unexpected. She knew about Fur Kids Foundation, and applied for emergency veterinary care. We were happy that we could help. Charli was sent home when she was feeling better, and a few days later passed a twig like object. They're not sure if that is what was seen in the x-rays, but her mom is happy Charli is happy and back to her normal puppy self. Fur Kids Foundation supports spaying dogs because of the potential health benefits from the procedure, such as prevention of breast cancer and the uterine infection pyometra, not to mention prevention of the dog having an unnecessary litter of puppies. Be sure to talk to your veterinarian about the benefits of spaying your dog, and ask for their recommendation of when your female dog should be spayed; especially if you have a large breed puppy. For larger dogs, and for families who can afford it, a gastropexy is often something that you should discuss with your vet as well. 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. Check out more Success Stories.
This beauty is Ava, a 4-year-old English Mastiff. Ava isn't spayed (yet) and wasn’t wanting to eat, was sluggish and just seemed to not be feeling well. Her parents recognized that she wasn’t acting her normal self, and decided that she needed to be seen by a vet to find out what was wrong with their giant baby. Because Ava hasn’t been spayed, the vet feared she had pyometra, an infection in the uterus. After a few tests, the vet was able to rule that out, thankfully. But, what they learned was that Ava had bleeding stomach ulcers and she was anemic. According to DogTime: Ulcers are sores or lesions that form in the lining of the stomach, which protects the organ from damage caused by gastric acid that aids in digestion. Signs of stomach ulcers in dogs often include abdominal pain, loss of appetite, and weakness among other symptoms. There are many possible causes of stomach ulcers in dogs, and though ulcers are usually treatable, there are some extreme cases where an untreated ulcer can lead to anemia or perforations in the stomach that cause sepsis, shock, or even death. Because Ava had a bleeding ulcer, it wasn’t really surprising that she was anemic. The term “anemia” refers to a reduced number of red blood cells in your dog’s blood stream. Red blood cells supply the body with oxygen, as well as remove carbon dioxide from the body. You can read more about anemia here.
In order to get her ulcers under control, Ava had to stay at the clinic for a few days to be monitored, which left her family with quite a hefty vet bill. Ava is a cherished pet in a family of four, with only one income. They were not expecting this emergency veterinary bill and paid all that they could afford at the time, and then applied with Fur Kids Foundation for help. We were happy to help, and Ava's mom says they are going to get Ava spayed as soon as she's feeling better and healthy enough. 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. Check out more Success Stories.
This pretty flower is Daisy, a 3-year-old pit bull. Daisy loves to stay active with toys, balls, and lots of play. Recently, Daisy's mom recently had neck surgery and was unable to work, which meant that her dad was the only income supporting a family of five. They were trying to budget for their every day bills when Daisy ate a whole pack of sugar-free gum. Her parents knew how bad sugar-free food was for pets, so they rushed Daisy immediately to the vet. While they were at the vet, they also mentioned that recently Daisy was showing little interest in food, and hadn't gone to the bathroom for a while. This also concerned her vet, who found out that eating gum was only a secondary issue, Daisy also had a blockage from a hard ball that she swallowed! A sweetener called xylitol is commonly used in sugarless gum; unfortunately, this sweetener is toxic to dogs. Xylitol can also be found in sugar-free candy, breath mints, cough syrup, chewable vitamins, mouthwash and toothpaste, as well as a granulated product for baking. According to PetMD, when ingested by dogs, xylitol may cause vomiting, loss of coordination, seizures, and in severe cases, liver failure. Read this PetMD article for more information, Toxicity from Gum, Candy, and Toothpaste in Dogs. A blockage, or what your vet may call an intestinal obstruction, may occur in the stomach or intestines, and is quite a serious incident for a dog. As you can imagine, an obstruction is actually a fairly common condition in dogs because they like to taste (or eat) just about anything! Blockage cases that Fur Kids Foundation has helped in the past include socks, blankets, bottle nipples, toys, ropes and more. According to PetMD, signs that your dog may have a blockage include vomiting, especially after eating, little interest in eating, weakness, diarrhea, and weight loss. Check out this PetMD article for more information on blockages, Intestinal Obstruction in Dogs. Also worth noting: Dogs with a tendency to eat anything may become repeat offenders; so, it may not be best to leave garbage or recycling bins where you pet can get into them. Daisy's family applied to Fur Kids Foundation because Daisy needed to be monitored for the gum she ate and emergency surgery to remove the blockage. We were happy to help.
After surgery and a few nights at the vet, Daisy 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. You can see a list of those who support us on our Supporters page. Check out more Success Stories.
Gum disease is rated in stages, 1-5, and treatment requires an exam and X-rays to determine the presence (or absence) of disease. You can read more about gum disease in dogs in this WebMD article, The Perils of Gum Disease in Dogs.
Bella’s mom only receives Social Security Income (SSI), and wasn’t sure how she’d cover the costs of Bella’s veterinary needs. She applied to Fur Kids Foundation, and we were happy to help. Bella no longer has any teeth, but she's feeling much better and the infection has cleared up. This old gal will be keeping her mom company for many more years to come. Fur Kids Foundation encourages you to have a yearly dental check up for your animals; consider asking for it as part of your pet's annual vet visit. 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. You can see a list of those who support us on our Supporters page. Check out more Success Stories. |
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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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