Our Precious Smokey Bear
Donation protected
On March 31,2022 our precious Smokey Bear was running around the round pen playing with her favorite pony's when her skin got caught on a bolt sticking out of our fence . She immediately ran underneath our trailer and hid. We were completely unaware of what happened at first but knowing our Smokey, this was strange behavior. I called her out from underneath the trailer and that's when we saw the horrifying damage on her back. Her skin was completely torn from her shoulder to the middle of her back and down towards both of her sides in a jagged "V" shape. The tear was so deep that her muscles were completely exposed. She looked like she had been scalped. Our Smokey didn't cry or yip when all of this happened, she's such a brave girl.
We called five different vets but none of them would take her in until finally we were referred to VCA 24 Hour Emergency Clinic in Murrieta. My husband waited four hours outside of the clinic until they finally brought her inside. We were told that she'd have to stay over night for a 3-5 hour surgery. They told us that since her skin was black due to it being dead it might not adhear to itself.. So they'd have to cut it off and stretch her excess skin over to be able to stitch it back together. Smokey received over 75 stitches.
April 2, we picked her up and the vets told us that they were concerned with the black areas of her skin that might not adhere and the possibility of another surgery and other procedures to be done.
Our Smokey has been so strong through all of this and such a trooper. She has been on bed rest and cannot go out and play with her doggy friends and can only go outside to go potty. Since smokey is a working dog and needs a lot of exercise she's been very sad, depressed, anxious and most of all in alot of pain. We are reaching out go the wonderful pet loving community to help aid in the recovery of our precious family member, Smokey Bear.
Both me and my husband are retired, disabled and have a very tight budget. Smokey is currently being hand fed, and coaxed to drink water. I put warm compresses on her wounds for ten minutes, four times a day. She gets her medications four times a day and of course lots of love.
We love our Smokey and will do anything for her, but this has been physically, emotionally and now financially hard on us and now we need help from our friends and fellow pet lovers. Please see updates for pictures and veterinary invoices.
We greatly appreciate you taking the time to read our story and for helping our precious Smokey girl.
We called five different vets but none of them would take her in until finally we were referred to VCA 24 Hour Emergency Clinic in Murrieta. My husband waited four hours outside of the clinic until they finally brought her inside. We were told that she'd have to stay over night for a 3-5 hour surgery. They told us that since her skin was black due to it being dead it might not adhear to itself.. So they'd have to cut it off and stretch her excess skin over to be able to stitch it back together. Smokey received over 75 stitches.
April 2, we picked her up and the vets told us that they were concerned with the black areas of her skin that might not adhere and the possibility of another surgery and other procedures to be done.
Smokey had two different drain tubes attatched to her for draining any fluid that would cause further infection. We were sent home with two different pain medications, an inflammatory medication and an antibiotic.
April 7 I noticed pus and fluid leakage around the tubes, so we took her back to the VCA and waited two hours for them to take her in. When they finally took her in we were able to leave Smokey there and go home. Six hours later the vet called us and let us know that they had to reopen and clean the area. They removed the existing drain tubes and made an incision so that the fluids would drain naturally. Smokey had a culture test done where we discoved that two different types of bacteria were forming, so the vets gave us a stronger antibiotic to use along with the original one that was given to us.
A few days later we went in to the VCA to check on the infection. The vets said the infection looks better however there is another area where the skin opened up a little.
We were told to keep an eye on it and make sure the skin is still adhering to itself. A few days later Smokeys skin in certain areas did not look like it was adhering so we will be going to have the stitches taken out. The vets will then decide what to do from there.
We were told to keep an eye on it and make sure the skin is still adhering to itself. A few days later Smokeys skin in certain areas did not look like it was adhering so we will be going to have the stitches taken out. The vets will then decide what to do from there.
Our Smokey has been so strong through all of this and such a trooper. She has been on bed rest and cannot go out and play with her doggy friends and can only go outside to go potty. Since smokey is a working dog and needs a lot of exercise she's been very sad, depressed, anxious and most of all in alot of pain. We are reaching out go the wonderful pet loving community to help aid in the recovery of our precious family member, Smokey Bear.
Both me and my husband are retired, disabled and have a very tight budget. Smokey is currently being hand fed, and coaxed to drink water. I put warm compresses on her wounds for ten minutes, four times a day. She gets her medications four times a day and of course lots of love.
We love our Smokey and will do anything for her, but this has been physically, emotionally and now financially hard on us and now we need help from our friends and fellow pet lovers. Please see updates for pictures and veterinary invoices.
We greatly appreciate you taking the time to read our story and for helping our precious Smokey girl.
Pam & Jim Cayton
Organizer
Pam Cayton
Organizer
Temecula, CA