Fur Kids Foundation 2018 Success Story: Tiva

This cutie is Tiva, a 6-7-year-old unaltered red nose pit. Recently, Tiva’s mom noticed that she seemed to be uncomfortable, her belly was bloated, and she was shaking. Her mom said she looked like she was pregnant, but Tiva wasn't around any male dogs.  
 
As time progressed, Tiva wasn’t getting any better, so her mom knew that she needed to get her to the vet immediately. At the vet, they found out she had pyometra and needed emergency surgery to save her life. 
 
For those who don’t know, pyometra is a uterine disease usually seen in unaltered female dogs who have not been pregnant; however, the disease can also be seen in unspayed cats, guinea pigs, rabbits and rats. It can be seen in dogs of any age, but typically occurs in unspayed dogs who are around the age of 6 or older.
 
Usually, a dog will show symptoms of the disease within a few months of their last heat cycle. Symptoms often include:
• a lack of energy
• depression
• lack of appetite
• vomiting
• excessive thirst
• frequent urination
• a distended abdomen, due to the enlarged uterus
• vaginal discharge
• and excessive licking at the area with discharge
 
Again, this is a life-threatening disease. If you see the above symptoms in your dog after their heat cycle, please get her to a veterinarian immediately.
 
Fur Kids Foundation is no stranger to this disease, sadly we’ve seen it in many cases we have helped. The Foundation board and case managers encourage all pet owners of female dogs (or cats, guinea pigs, rabbits and rats) to spay them because it prevents the disease from ever happening, especially if you are like most pet owners who never plan to breed your dog. There are also other benefits of spaying your dog, which you can read about in our Why Spay/Neuter page.
 
Tiva's mom lives by herself and has the means to pay for day-to-day care, and couldn't afford the surgery, so she reached out to Fur Kids Foundation to help with the emergency veterinary bill.
 
We are happy to report that Tiva is feeling much better and is on her way to a full 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.