Fur Kids Foundation 2020 Success Story: Bella

This is Bella, an 11 year-old Chiwienie, which is a cross between the Chihuahua and Dachshund. 

Just like humans, dogs need to have their teeth kept clean and checked for disease. Bella’s mom started to notice that her fur kids teeth were getting bad; she was also encouraged by a family member to get Bella in for a dental check with her veterinarian.

When she brought Bella in for an exam, she was told that little Bell had a severe gum infection, and a lot of rotten teeth. The verdict: remove all of Bella’s teeth and give her medicine to cure the infection in her mouth. 

Periodontal disease, aka gum disease, in dogs can cause a host of discomforts for our four-legged best friends: bad breath, pain, bloody gums or saliva, bumps or lumps in the mouth, bone loss, and more. Unfortunately, dogs with unchecked gum disease can also be at higher risk for heart, kidney, and liver disease.

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.