Fur Kids Foundation 2019 Success Story: Shorty

There is no worse feeling than a phone call with bad news. One night, Shorty, a 5-year-old Jack Russell Terrier was the subject of a phone call no one wants to get.

Shorty’s mom was at work, when she got a call from Shorty’s human brother who was in a panic. Their beloved Shorty was shaking, non-responsive, and his brother knew something was terribly wrong. Wasting no time, shorty was quickly rushed to the vet.

Shorty is like a second child to his mom. His mom is recently divorced and has been reduced to a single income while supporting her and her son. For mom, the thought of something happening to Shorty was terrifying. At the vet clinic, Shorty had a grand mal seizure.

A seizure is an unusual release of electrical activity in the brain. It can have many signs like:

• Collapsing
• Jerking/muscle stiffness/twitching
• Loss of consciousness
• Drooling or foaming at the mouth
• Confusion
• Looking dazed or staring off into space

A seizure can last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. So what should you do if your pet has a seizure? These tips from the American Kennel Club might help.

1. First of all, remain calm.
2. Check the time, knowing how long the seizure lasts can be helpful to the vet.  
3. Keep your dog safe, cushion the head and keep your dog away from stairs and items that could fall and harm them.  
4. Do not try to put anything in your dog’s mouth or grab their tongue, they are not in danger of swallowing their tongue.  
5. If the seizure is lasting more than two to three minutes, your dog may begin to overheat.  You can cool your dog with a fan or place cool water/towels around the groin, neck, paws, and head.
6. Even if your dog seems to return to normal after a seizure always contact a vet.

Shorty’s vet kept him at the clinic for a few days to get his seizures under control. While he was there, Shorty was still having seizures and neither the vet nor Shorty’s family was comfortable with him going home in that condition. Shorty’s mom knew he was receiving the care he needed, but she was worried about how she was going to afford this unexpected expense. Shorty’s mom sought out Fur Kids Foundation who was able to ease the financial burden.  

In a few days, Shorty’s medication was working and he was finally able to go home. Mom was so thankful to have Shorty back and so relieved Fur Kids Foundation was able to help. Shorty’s medication helps keep his seizures under control and now mom knows what to look for in the future. 

Fur Kids Foundation is 100% ran by dedicated volunteers who give their time to help the Foundation raise money, 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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