Dog News

Dog with Shoelace Destroying Foot Gets a Wonderful Rescue

by Melanie

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From the Trio Animal Foundation:

URGENT MEDICAL CASE 3/30/15:

TAF just left the emergency vet after being called about a stray female dog with an atrocious leg injury. Some sick person had tied a shoestring around the dog’s leg and knotted it so tight that it had severed the skin and was nearing the bone. Infection had already set in and the necrotic (dead) flesh was oozing with blood and pus… it smelled like rotten meat. The poor dog’s leg was so swollen and purple that it looked like it was going to pop from the pressure… absolutely disgusting. This is a case of animal abuse through and through.

The dog, now named “Thistle,” was getting prepped for sedation when we left her just before midnight. She was then going under for surgery to remove the shoestring, dead tissue, etc. from her leg. Once out of surgery, she will begin receiving IV antibiotics and IV pain medications… this is all that we know at this point.

If you are able to help sponsor Thistle’s medical bills, please consider making a donation at www.trioanimalfoundation.org. This is a medical expense that we had not budgeted for and want to make sure that we can provide Thistle with the best medical care possible and keep her hospitalized as long as needed.

Please keep Thistle in your thoughts and prayers as she is in unimaginable pain and needs all of the help that she can get.

We will keep continue to keep you posted…

 

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THISTLE UPDATE 3/30/15 12:40pm:

Thistle is in rough shape this afternoon…

The groove that formed around the tied on shoelace is so deep, and has been there for so long, that not only has the skin grown around and over the shoelace but the shoelace itself has constricted all the way down to the bone. This has caused a malformation in the bone thus weakening and thinning out the width of the bone.

With this new information and Thistle’s critical state, we have called in the specialty surgeon that performed Hazel Grace’s skin graft and Kringle’s embedded chain surgery. He has been in constant contact with Thistle’s ER doctor and will performing another procedure on Thistle today. The goal is to get even deeper to the bone and remove as much dead tissue as possible.

Thistle is being placed on critical care watch and will have her leg checked every hour by the medical specialty staff. If it turns black, they will immediately amputate her leg. This protocol will continue until Friday. Since there is a life threatening dog influenza outbreak in Chicago right now, Thistle will be kept in strict isolation in order to keep her as safe as possible. She most assuredly would not survive if exposed to the virus.

In addition to this, Thistle continues to be on IV antibiotics, IV pain medications and IV fluids. She has also been sedated much of the time to make her more comfortable.

We will continue to keep you updated as her condition progresses.

If you are able to help sponsor Thistle’s medical bills, please consider making a donation at www.trioanimalfoundation.org. This is a medical expense that we had not budgeted for and want to make sure that we can provide Thistle with the best medical care possible and keep her hospitalized as long as needed.

 

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THISTLE UPDATE 3/31/15 7:30pm:

We visited with Thistle today at the ER Vet just before she was about to have her paw/lower leg soaked and wounds cleaned.

Thistle was scared and you could tell that she did not feel well at all. She was able to slowly get up on her own and, even though her tail was tucked between her legs, she was trusting enough to walk over and put her head in my lap. For this brave move, Thistle’s vet technician rewarded her with a special treat of baby food. That kind gesture quickly won Thistle over.

Thistle’s paw and lower leg are still very swollen and she has a large open wound so that the infection can continue to drain. She also looked so much thinner since all of the food that was used to originally catch her had worked its way through her system. You can really see her frail body shape now.

For now, Thistle will continue to receive around the clock veterinary care at the ER vet and we will continue to keep you posted.

If you are able to help sponsor Thistle’s medical bills, please consider making a donation at www.trioanimalfoundation.org.

If you are not familiar with Thistle’s story, here is the link to her post: https://www.facebook.com/TrioAnimalFoundation/photos/a.84739614954.21040.71480294954/10150504285859955/?type=1&theater

Please continue to keep Thistle in your thoughts and prayers. This pup has a long scary road ahead of her.