 Meet Gracie, a 7-year-old domestic shorthair cat who gave his mom quite the scare when he slipped out one day and returned home limping. Gracie had a small wound on his leg--in fact, it just looked like just a little dab of blood--so his mom waited a day to see if it would heal. But the next day, Gracie wouldn’t stand on his leg, or put any weight on it, showing that he was in pain.
They brought Gracie to the vet where they learned that he had a puncture wound, and the beginning signs of an abscess. Abscesses are a common skin condition in cats, which often occur as a result of bites during fights but can also occur from other means, such as a cat running into a sharp object that may have bacteria on it. Abscesses are often swollen, hot, and painful for the cat when touched. If they open, a thick yellowish discharge may be seen, and this will often have a foul smell. If an abscess does not open, the cat may become ill. In cats, an abscess is often hidden under the fur, and the first sign of illness the owner may see is that the cat is acting depressed and not eating. The cat usually has a fever. If the abscess is on a leg, the cat may limp. The cat may try to bite if the area is stroked or touched because the abscess is painful. Because of the pain, some cats may appear irritable or aggressive. Gracie’s family had just taken one of their dogs in for an emergency vet visit the week before, and are having some other financial difficulties, so they were worried that they wouldn’t be able to afford another emergency vet visit. That’s when they applied to Fur Kids Foundation for some help. “Gracie is my 3-year-old's best friend. He sleeps in my bed every night, and is an awesome, amazing, and wonderful cat," his mom says. Luckily, with a little TLC and medicine, Gracie is back to feeling so much better. Fur Kids Foundation was recently awarded a $3,500 grant from the Banfield Foundation® to be used to help the Gillette, Wyoming charity with their emergency veterinary assistance program. This funding helped the Foundation grant money to help Gracie's family with the vet visit. If you would like to help Fur Kids Foundation continue to help families 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 older gal is Poo Bear, a 17-year-old kitty who suddenly started pooping and peeing on everything, and pulling out her fur. Her mom was afraid Poo Bear was near the end of her life and in pain.
Poo Bear's dad lost his job in the oil field, and her mom is self employed, which is very difficult for a household of five, so they reached out for assistance so their cat wouldn't be in pain any longer. However, once they once brought Poo Bear to the vet, they learned that she had a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) that could easily be fixed. Cats who may have urinary tract infections generally show the following signs: · blood in the urine · crying out while urinating · excessive licking of the genital area · frequent and/or prolonged attempts to urinate · straining to urinate · urinating outside the litter box, often on cool, smooth surfaces like a tile floor or a bathtub. Note: If you cat shows any of these symptoms, please be sure to contact your veterinarian immediately. They also learned that for being a 17 year old cat, her kidneys are working fantastic and she is super healthy! They're hoping once the UTI is under control and she starts feeling better, she will no longer pull out her fur from stress. 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.  October 20, 2017—Gillette, WY--Fur Kids Foundation (FKF) was recently awarded a $3,500 grant from the Banfield Foundation in support of the Foundation’s emergency veterinary assistance program. The funds will be used to provide grants to families with pets in Campbell County, Wyoming. This is the second time FKF has applied and received funding from the Banfield Foundation.
“The grant from Banfield Foundation allows Fur Kids Foundation to help local families afford emergency veterinary care—it helps us keep families and their beloved pets together,” says Mary Melaragno, Fur Kids Foundation president and founder. “We are very grateful for the support from the Banfield Foundation.” All too often animals suffer needlessly or are put down because of expensive veterinary bills. That’s when families in Campbell County, Wyoming can turn to Fur Kids Foundation for help. 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 families with animals. Since the program’s inception, Fur Kids Foundation has helped 442 families with pets receive treatment—totaling more than $71,000 in aid. Success stories can be found on FKF’s website, www.furkidsfoundation.org. Established in 2015, The Banfield Foundation is committed to supporting programs that provide veterinary assistance to pet owners and that work to keep pets in homes with their families. About Banfield FoundationTM At the core of the Banfield Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is the belief that all pets deserve access to veterinary care. In support of this belief, the foundation funds programs that enable veterinary care, elevate the power of the human-animal bond, provide disaster relief for pets, and advance the science of veterinary medicine through fostering innovation and education. It also leverages the expertise and passion of Banfield Pet Hospital associates to care for pets in need. At the Banfield Foundation, we are committed to making a better world for pets because they make a better world for us. For more information, visit www.BanfieldFoundation.org, or follow us at www.Facebook.com/BanfieldFoundation About Fur Kids Foundation 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 families with animals in Campbell County, Wyoming. Since September 2012, Fur Kids Foundation has helped 442 families and granted more than 71,000 in aid. For more information, visit www.furkidsfoundation.org. Find us on www.facebook.com/furkidsfoundation. Follow us on Twitter, @furkidswyo. Read our blog.  This is Maynard, an 8-year-old boxer/American bulldog mix. His parents noticed one day that it seemed like he wasn't able to see in one eye, and it also looked like his face was drooping on that same side. They feared he had a stroke.
When he was brought to the vet, their fears were confirmed: Maynard did indeed have a stroke. He also had a terrible double ear infection, and blood tests showed that he had elevated liver enzymes. The vet also ordered a full body X-ray to make sure there weren't signs of cancer that weren't able to be seen with the naked eye--luckily, they came back negative. Due to advancements in veterinary technology, strokes are being diagnosed more frequently. A stroke happens with there is the loss of blood flow to parts of the brain. There are two causes of strokes in dogs: an obstruction in blood vessels, which occur due to blood clots, tumor cells, clumps of platelets, bacteria and parasites; and bleeds in the brain, which result from the rupture of blood vessels or clotting disorders. Signs of strokes in animals can be similar to those in people (minus the slurred speech), and symptoms vary depending on where the stroke occurred in the brain. Symptoms of strokes in dogs include:
Strokes usually happen in dogs who are older or have diseases that can increase the risk of blood clots. Many of the underlying diseases that can cause strokes in dogs include kidney disease, Cushing’s disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, bleeding disorders, hypothyroidism, cancer, and high doses of steroids, such as prednisone. Stroke prevention in dogs includes routine check-ups and blood work with a veterinarian to help identify potential causes that may need to be addressed. His parents are currently living off of one income for a family of four. The unexpected vet visit for Maynard made covering their bills even harder. They applied to Fur Kids Foundation, and we were happy to help. Maynard may always have a droopy face, but he's on his way to recovery. 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.  Check out Peter, a 7-year-old miniature Pinscher/chihuahua mix. Isn’t he cute? Unfortunately, Peter wasn’t feeling up to snuff lately. He was acting rather sluggish and kept throwing up a white, frothy substance. His mom was so worried, and decided that she needed to get Peter to the vet straight away.
The vet found that Peter has chronic dry eye, as well as congestive heart failure. That’s right folks, your beloved dog can have heart problems just like you. Heart disease may lead to congestive heart failure, which means that your dog’s heart has a hard time pumping blood to the rest of his body. Some pups are born with heart issues (vets will often call this a congenital heart problem); however, old age, injury, infection and lifestyle (diet and exercise) can also play a role in heart issues. The disease can progress slowly and it may take years to spot. If your exhibits some of the following signs, consider taking your pet to the vet:
Acquired heart disease in dogs (like Peter) can be prevented with some of the following tips:
Peter's mom is unable to work, and was applying for Supplemental Security Income. She currently lives with her mom, who is disabled. Neither of the owners were prepared to cover the vet visit for Peter, so they reached out to Fur Kids Foundation for help. Fortunately, the vets believed that with some medicine and a few lifestyle changes, Peter will live a happy life with his 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. In September 2017, Fur Kids Foundation had eight families with pets apply for assistance, and we were able to help six of those families—granting $2,753.23 in emergency veterinary care. In 2017, FKF has granted $13,327.02 to families in Campbell County, Wyoming. Below is a rundown of the cases we helped:
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 2019
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