Takoda

Profile

Meet Takoda (meaning friend) who is a 12-week-old Golden mix rescued from an unhealthy environment. He entered foster care the same day as one of my other fosters went with his forever family on Sunday, 12/13/14. Always a full house at my home.

Takoda had not received vet care, so off we went that Monday to get started on his vaccinations and wellness exam. Takoda's fur is light golden, very dull and thin with many pinpoint bites, abraded, and chewed areas of skin. He has an irregular splash of black about mid-tail and the very tip is also black. He chewed and scratched relentlessly, moaning in frustration on the way home, so we made a stop at the drugstore for some Benadryl to see if that would help.

The vet did some skin scrapes which did not show any mites, but then, not always do they show up as they burrow under the skin. We received medication for his skin in addition to routine vaccinations. We will return for his distemper booster and rabies after the first of the year. We also decided to check his stool which only showed coccidia, a intestinal parasite in the environment from fecal contamination from infected dogs. The coccidia is easily controlled and treated, but some dogs may require extra fluids or monitoring if they are in a compromised state of health. He will also be dewormed and until his skin clears, I will wait to have his neuter completed and microchip placed. Takoda will be getting a special bath every other day to help reduce his skin bacteria, help the itching, and to loosen some of the scaly, dry skin and scabs. Takoda only weighed in at 15.3 lbs. and you can feel and see his ribs, back, and hip bones. He is a hungry little man.

12/19/14:

Takoda vomited Thursday evening and into the night. We got a vet appointment the next day, and he was dehydrated and very ill, having had a bloody stool just before we left the house. His vomit also had traces of blood. Takoda was diagnosed with Parvo, a deadly virus that causes them to bleed/slough their gastrointestinal tract and is lethal to puppies, sometimes even if it is caught early. Takoda received fluids injected under the skin and foster mom went home with a bag to continue the fluids until he no longer vomited or had diarrhea. He also received injections for nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and pain, in addition to the medications we already had from his first vet visit we went home with more medications. Takoda was very listless and cold, so we spent a lot of time wrapped up and cuddled, since he has so little body fat or energy to warm himself up. Needless to say, I was a very worried foster mom for this little man having such a rough start in life.

12/29/14:

Takoda has bounced back very nicely from his Parvo. He will be shedding the virus for up to 2 weeks. During that time, I pick up stool immediately and spray the area with a garden sprayer of Clorox and water. I can't imagine what my neighbors must be thinking when they see me doing this. Takoda's energy is now directed at eating, potty training, sleeping, chasing his tail (his favorite activity), trying to get the residents to play, and of course cuddling on the sofa with foster mom. He hasn't quite figured out what toys are for, but is learning to play tug and he is not as chew obsessed as some puppies I have fostered. Enjoyed the pictures.

Takoda's vet expenses are beginning to mount up and he would love and give kisses to anyone donating toward his medical expenses. He will be available to adopt when he is caught up with his neuter and last vaccinations.