Fur Kids Foundation 2019 Success Story: Rowdy

This adorable nugget is Rowdy, a 4-year-old shorkie, which is a shih tzu/yorkie mixed pup. 

"Rowdy is a very amazing and loving dog, he may be a small dog but he has the heart of a lion,” says Rowdy’s mom. 

Fun dog trivia: The name “Shih Tzu” means little lion, but don’t worry, there's nothing that fierce about the breed.

Unfortunately, Rowdy found himself in the middle of a large dog fight, and was badly hurt, with multiple wounds. Rowdy's parents took him to the vet as quickly as they could to have everything evaluated. The most significant wound  resulted in his stomach herniating through his ribs! Rowdy was gonna need some extra time at the vet. ​ And his parents were very concerned about what it would cost them. 

Much like humans, dogs can experience hernias. For those who don’t know, a hernia is a condition where the contents of a dog’s abdomen pushes through a tear or hole in the muscle wall or fatty tissue. Most hernias are genetic, while some can develop due to a trauma, like a dog fight. According to PetMD, signs to watch for if your dog could have a hernia may include: 

• Swelling 
• Vomiting
• Pain, which can be shown by panting, restlessness or not wanting you to touch a certain area
• Frequent attempts to urinate
• Blood in the urine
• No interest in eating

If you suspect your dog may have a hernia, it’s best to get them to the veterinarian as soon as you can, as hernias are treated with surgery. 

If you’ve ever experienced a dog fight, you know how terrifying it is; for those of you who haven’t, you’re lucky. To learn how to break up a dog fight, check out this article, and info-graphic, from The Spruce Pets.

To make matters worse, around the same time Rowdy was hurt his family was experiencing some family medical issues forcing them to travel. Everything was happening at once, causing his family to be in a tight spot financially. They applied to Fur Kids Foundation, and we were happy to help. 

Rowdy had to stay overnight at the vet clinic and had to have surgery for his hernia, but he's on the road to recovery and doing 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. You can see a list of those who support us on our Supporters page. Check out more Success Stories.