2020 Success Story Tinkerbell Pug | Fur Kids Foundation Gillette, Wyoming

This beautiful black beauty is Tinkerbell, a 10-year-old pug. 

Tinkerbell's dad has made some poor decisions in his life. While he was in prison, his mom, who is on a limited income, was taking care of Tinkerbell for him. After Tinkerbell's dad was released from prison, he got a job, and took Tinkerbell to the vet to have a thorough examination. At the vet they discovered that poor Tinkerbell had some infected teeth and a fatty tumor, or lipoma, on her chest, which needed to be removed to give Tinkerbell a good quality of life. 

Because Tinkerbell is a pug, undergoing anesthesia is a bit more risky. Pugs are what are called brachycephalic breeds, meaning that they have a different shaped skull and little nostrils. Unfortunately, this means that they are more susceptible to issues while under anesthesia for surgery. You can read more about the risks of anesthesia and pugs here.

A lipoma, aka fatty tumor, are harmless lumps that are often seen in middle aged and older pets. They start in fat cells stored in tissue around the body and are not usually painful, but they can grow and become quite large. Sometimes, these need to be removed because they are limited movement in a dog, or making it uncomfortable.

Fur Kids Foundation has seen a lot of requests to help dogs with dental disease, which can affect 80% of all dogs by age two. It can also be quite painful. According to Banfield Pet Hospital, there are four stages of periodontal disease, progressing from plaque and mildly inflamed gums to established gingivitis (gum disease), and then on to mild and ultimately severe periodontitis, which may involve bone and/or tooth loss. 

Due to the length of time Tinkerbell would need to be sedated, the vet determined that she had to have two different surgeries: one to remove all of her infected teeth and the second to remove her fatty tumor. This also meant that the cost of helping Tinkerbell feel better would also be more money. 

Tinkerbell’s dad applied with Fur Kids Foundation to help him cover the costs of the surgeries. We were happy to help Tinkerbell and her dad, and this old gal is feeling so much better and is happy to have her dad back in her life. 

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. Check out more Success Stories.