Dezzy's Second Chance Animal Rescue, Inc.: Emergency Medical Grant Report
How did this grant help your organization and the pets in your care?
We were given an Emergency Medical Grant, which we used for emergency medical, neurologic, ophthalmologic, and acupuncture veterinary care for Noodles, a 5-year-old Maltese mix who came to us from Miami-Dade Animal Services. Following total ear-canal ablation in both ears, Noodles had neurological complications and lost the ability to blink and produce tears, which put both eyes at substantial risk of loss. She has required round-the-clock eye lubrication and multiple visits to a neurologist and ophthalmologic veterinarian, as well as multiple acupuncture visits to preserve her eyes and potentially improve her lack of head mobility.
Right now, Noodles still needs a follow-up in January with the ophthalmologic veterinarian, who may need to tack her eyes shut to see if tear production can return and her eyes can be saved. She also needs follow-up by a neurosurgeon to determine the severity of her neurologic issues that remain and which have resulted in a substantial head tilt.
These important grant funds were used to support multiple visits to the ophthalmologist and neurologist and for veterinary acupuncture, all of which have given Noodles diagnostic support and some modest relief of discomfort and continued mobility.
Our rescue organization frequently takes in dogs who have been severely neglected or abused and often require substantial medical, surgical and/or dental intervention. This was the case with Noodles, and we used the Petfinder Foundation grant to obtain critical veterinary specialty and acupuncture care for Noodles during her most difficult post-operative period and to support her long recovery, which still continues.
How many pets did this grant help?
One dog
Please provide a story of one or more specific pets this grant helped.
Noodles came to us six months ago from Miami-Dade Animal Services. After her surgeries, she still needs substantial medical and ophthalmologic follow-up and evaluation and hence she is not ready for adoption at this time. Once we know what her ultimate prognosis may be, we can hopefully work towards permanent adoption, which will require a special owner to accept and work with her medical challenges.
Noodles is well-acclimated to the Rescue Ranch and gets along with the other dogs. Sadly, she must still wear an Elizabethan collar (E-collar) 24/7 to prevent her from rubbing and scratching her eyes and ears. We hope that once additional evaluation and treatment are provided, we will know better when the collar can be removed and how much recovery there may be to her eyes and head mobility.
