Tango's emergency vet bills
Donation protected
On the afternoon of December 4, Tango, our 2-year-old Siberian husky, jumped from the cab of Bob's one-ton Dodge truck and was run over by the dual wheels. He rushed her to our vet where she was diagnosed with severe hemorrhage into her abdomen, lung contusions, and pneumothorax (air in the space around her lungs). They did an emergency chest tap to remove the air and to keep her from going into cardiac arrest.
She was in shock and had lost a lot of blood. Dr. Stacey felt that Tango needed a transfusion. Our other husky, Callie, could be a donor, but first they would have to cross-match her blood type. The bad news: they did not have a cross-match kit. After calling every other veterinary practice in the area, they found one who had a unit of whole blood. They gave Tango a transfusion, and she immediately responded. Once her condition stabilized, they put her in an ICU cage where she received oxygen therapy for the next 40 hours. She also received plasma transfusions and intravenous proteins, but I think the whole blood was key to her survival.
Miraculously Tango had no broken bones and only one external wound on her right hock. She made it through the first night and the vet was cautiously optimistic that she would live. With round-the-clock nursing care, she made it through the second night. They let us bring her home for the third night with the understanding that we would bring her back early the next day for more intravenous treatment.
At five days out, Tango is severely anemic from blood loss, but her hematocrit numbers are improving (normal for a dog is between 45 and 60; yesterday hers was 22). She is regaining her appetite and today she pooped for the first time. Hurray for pooping -- her gastrointestinal tract is working! Now we need to restrict her activity for the next few weeks so that her body can heal, and we have to take her back to have the staples removed from her leg wound.
My dogs mean the world to me. Tango is the seventh husky I have had the privilege to serve. With the help of friends and family in Austin, we rescued her from life on the streets. She has the sweetest temperament of any dog I have known. Tango loves people, she loves children, and she loves other dogs. A few weeks ago I saw her catch a mouse, play with it, and then let it go unharmed. She is a special creature.
When Bob called to tell me Tango had been run over, I was devastated. He got her to the vet within half an hour. We are fortunate to have a veterinary hospital with excellent trauma care. With less expert care, Tango most likely would have died. Unfortunately, the cost of that care (so far, in excess of $4000) is about to break the bank, and I am asking for help.
If you are so inclined, we would greatly appreciate your donation. All donated funds will be used to pay for Tango's emergency veterinary care. Any funds in excess of her emergency medical expenses will be donated to a local no-kill animal shelter.
Now go hug your dogs, your cats, or any other pet. They give us so much love and ask so little in return. I am grateful that we still have our sweet Tango.
She was in shock and had lost a lot of blood. Dr. Stacey felt that Tango needed a transfusion. Our other husky, Callie, could be a donor, but first they would have to cross-match her blood type. The bad news: they did not have a cross-match kit. After calling every other veterinary practice in the area, they found one who had a unit of whole blood. They gave Tango a transfusion, and she immediately responded. Once her condition stabilized, they put her in an ICU cage where she received oxygen therapy for the next 40 hours. She also received plasma transfusions and intravenous proteins, but I think the whole blood was key to her survival.
Miraculously Tango had no broken bones and only one external wound on her right hock. She made it through the first night and the vet was cautiously optimistic that she would live. With round-the-clock nursing care, she made it through the second night. They let us bring her home for the third night with the understanding that we would bring her back early the next day for more intravenous treatment.
At five days out, Tango is severely anemic from blood loss, but her hematocrit numbers are improving (normal for a dog is between 45 and 60; yesterday hers was 22). She is regaining her appetite and today she pooped for the first time. Hurray for pooping -- her gastrointestinal tract is working! Now we need to restrict her activity for the next few weeks so that her body can heal, and we have to take her back to have the staples removed from her leg wound.
My dogs mean the world to me. Tango is the seventh husky I have had the privilege to serve. With the help of friends and family in Austin, we rescued her from life on the streets. She has the sweetest temperament of any dog I have known. Tango loves people, she loves children, and she loves other dogs. A few weeks ago I saw her catch a mouse, play with it, and then let it go unharmed. She is a special creature.
When Bob called to tell me Tango had been run over, I was devastated. He got her to the vet within half an hour. We are fortunate to have a veterinary hospital with excellent trauma care. With less expert care, Tango most likely would have died. Unfortunately, the cost of that care (so far, in excess of $4000) is about to break the bank, and I am asking for help.
If you are so inclined, we would greatly appreciate your donation. All donated funds will be used to pay for Tango's emergency veterinary care. Any funds in excess of her emergency medical expenses will be donated to a local no-kill animal shelter.
Now go hug your dogs, your cats, or any other pet. They give us so much love and ask so little in return. I am grateful that we still have our sweet Tango.
Organizer
Judy Blaisdell
Organizer
Bayfield, CO
