Success Story: Riff Raff

Riff Raff is a 10-year-old, 10 pound Chihuahua with a responsible pet dad. His dad had recently brought Riff Raff into his vet clinic for a kennel cough vaccination.

Afterward, Riff Raff had quite a cough, so his dad reached out to the vet to make sure his cherished pup was OK. Thinking it was a side effect of the vaccine, the vet wanted to wait it out for a little while longer to see if it would go away.

Unfortunately, the cough persisted, so Riff Raff was taken back to the vet for a full examination where they discovered that Riff Raff had fluid around his lungs, which is a sign of pneumonia, and a collapsed trachea! Poor Riff Raff really wasn’t feeling too great.

A persistent or wet cough is one sign of pneumonia in dogs, however, if your dog shows some of the following signs, it’s best to take him to the vet:
Difficulty breathing, loud breathing, or rapid breathing

1. High fever (FYI: a dog’s normal body temperature is 101 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit; the normal temperature for cats is 100.4 to 102.5 degrees)
2. Nasal discharge
3. Tire easily or a lack of energy
4. Weight loss

According to PetWave, Pneumonia can be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, internal parasites and other substances that get into the lungs when a dog breathes them in. Young puppies and old dogs are the most common targets of pneumonia.

Riff Raff’s dad is on disability and receives a limited income, so all of these vet visits were making it hard for him to cover his bills. So, he reached out to Fur Kids Foundation and we were happy to grant him the money. We also learned that another very generous client at the vet clinic helped Riff Raff’s dad cover the remaining portion of his bill.

Riff Raff is now making 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.