RockytheChamp
This is what Rocky's fostermom had to say this morning:
"After 2 long hours at the vet last night, and what seemed like hundreds of tests we finally got an answer. Rocky is a walking infection. He has 2 double ear infections, 2 shattered ear drums, an internal infection.... a skin infection... and eye infection... broken rib... heart murmor.... and an infection in his gums. Needless to say, he was severly neglegled. The Vet said his ear and skin infection have definitly been in his body for over 2 years, as his ears tried to heal around the infection. She was suprised that he was still alive. When I picked him up on Saturday, Animal Control said they had been giving him Amoxicillin for the ear infection as well as ear drops, and I continued doing that until we saw the vet. The vet said the infection was so bad she was sure the amoxicillin wouldn't kill the bacteria, as the infection under the microscope has 'rods' in it, and typically that medication would never kill an infection with rods.
The vet wanted to keep him for 2 or 3 days, but that would ave cost $160/day. So luckily, she gave me an IV and some antibiotic/steriod shots to take home and give him myself. Plus a few different kinds of medicine: two for the ears, one for the eye, and a pill for his body. Also, she 'threw in' some medicated shampoo for his skin, some food to help him put on weight fast, a pill to calm his stomach... and a partridge in a pear tree.
We kept giving him IV doses though the night, and this morning his temperature finally broke! It was over 105 at the vet's office, and this morning it was 101.2 - which is almost perfect. He has been spoiled rotten since he got home. Last night I boiled some chicken and brown rice, and made chicken broth with some doggie vitamins mixed in - which he loved. Plus he got to come to work with me today, since I want to keep an eye on his water consumption and his temperature. He
seems to be doing better! I got a tail wag this morning, and he's responding to sign language very well. His ears are so badly damaged that even after they heal he will still be deaf.
The bill was pretty steep: $425. But that included all of the tests, all of the medicine, the IV, and the steriod shots. They gave me a ton of stuff for free, and the vet said if anything 'goes bad' in the next week, that visit is 'on the house'."
We feel that Rocky is a real Champion, and his (and his fostermom's) story is a tribute to what rescue is all about. Plus - he has such a cute little face! We think that with the "9 million kinds of antibiotics" he's taking, he should shine up like a new penny! |
Date(s): 4/10/09. 1 - 1 of 1 Total. 383 Visits. |
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