2020 Success Story Nala German Shepherd

Meet Nala! This beauty is a 7-year-old German Shepherd mix. Nala's dad does everything for her. Unfortunately, he was faced with some obstacles—limited income, vehicle repairs, and large debt. During this time, Nala started to act really sick. When her dad brought her to the vet in Gillette, they found that she had IMHA, or immune-mediated hemolytic anemia. 

For those who don’t know, IMHA is the condition where the body's immune system attacks and removes its own red blood cells, thus leading to severe anemia, an unhealthy yellow coloring of the tissues called jaundice or icterus, as well as an assortment of life-threatening complications. According to VCA Hospitals, signs that pet owners can look for include: 

• Disoriented or fainting
• Gums are pale or even yellow-tinged as are the whites of the eyes
• Heart rate and breathing may increase due to lack of oxygen to tissues 
• Lacking energy 
• Lost interest in food or vomiting
• Possible fever
• Urine is dark orange or maybe even brown

These symptoms can vary from dog to dog and depend upon the underlying cause of IMHA. In some situations (mild or early IMHA), your dog may present no signs at all. When a dog is anemic, it is important to identify the underlying cause, and it's very important that they see a veterinarian. 

Fortunately, Nala had a chance at recovery, but it would mean a few days in the vet clinic with around the clock treatment and monitoring. Nala's dad knew this was outside of his budget, so he applied to Fur Kids Foundation for assistance, and we were happy to help.  

Nala's dad called while she was in the vet clinic and was very thankful for the help, and said Nala was already starting to show improvements. Which makes us very happy!

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. Read more Success Stories.