Hi everyone, thank you for taking a moment to read Potato’s story. We came across Potato, a 5-year-old Cane Corso, through a video posted on Instagram. He was sitting in a kennel at Riverside County Animal Services, visibly unwell and struggling. The next day, we went to see him in person. What we found was a dog in very poor condition. Potato was underweight, had a severe upper respiratory infection, and a serious skin condition. He was also at risk of euthanasia that very day. Up close, his condition was clear. He had significant hair loss across his body and head, inflamed and irritated skin, and visible lesions. He was uncomfortable, itching, and his breathing was congested from the respiratory infection. Because of how severe his skin condition was, there was concern it could be ringworm, which is contagious. As a precaution, he had to be kept separated from other dogs. Lab results have since confirmed that ringworm is not present, which is a relief, but it also means his skin condition is being caused by something else that still needs to be diagnosed and treated.

Potato is now out of the shelter and receiving care. He is being treated for his respiratory infection and getting ongoing support for his skin, including medicated baths to help relieve the irritation. He will need continued veterinary care, diagnostic testing to determine the underlying cause of his skin condition, and ongoing treatment to help his skin heal and allow him to regain weight and strength. We are committed to getting him the care he needs, but the medical costs are expected to add up quickly. If you are able to contribute or even share Potato’s story, it would truly mean a lot to us. Every donation will go directly toward his care, diagnostics, and treatment as we work to get him healthy again. Thank you for taking the time to read his story, and for supporting him in any way you can. We are grateful to everyone who is helping give him a real chance. With gratitude, Carina