Orlando Comes Home

Orlando is an 11 week old beagle mix puppy that was born here on January 3, 2011. Olive, as in olive the other reindeer, is his mother.

Orlando attended an on site adoption event and was adopted by a family roughly two weeks ago. Apparently he became ill but wasn't taken to a vet. Approximately a week later, the family called around 6 pm on a Friday night and said they needed to return him as he was sick. At first the rescue coordinator was going to bring him here, but after observing him for a few minutes, she took him to the emergency veterinary clinic. Orlando was diagnosed with "dramatic bilateral pneumonia" and stayed at the vet clinic for a week, during which time he was placed in an incubator with oxygen. His red blood count was very low, and his white blood cell count was nearly off the chart on the high side. The doctors think he must have aspirated something at some point, but that's water under the bridge now.

He got to come home yesterday as he was finally able to breathe room air on his own. He has more medicine to take than most seniors, canine or human. He has to be nebulized three times a day, which he isn't crazy about. My husband has fabricated a container to help. The vet clinic used a fish aquarium, but since I don't do fish very well, we don't have an aquarium available.

Orlando is weak from both the illness but also from being inactive for so long. He has to be nebulized for 15 minutes and then walk and cough for 15 minutes. It wears him out, but his appetite is good, and he has discovered peanut butter - it makes the pills taste better. I have added a multivitamin to the list. He has hauled his toys into his crate, and he would very much like to get out of his play pen and visit his brother, Orion.

On discharge from the vet clinic, the x rays showed some improvement in the right lung, but no change on the left side. He is to return for repeat chest x rays and medication adjustments after being home for a week.

The bill at the vet clinic was over $7000, and we aren't done yet. If you would like to donate, even a $1.00, go to www.pawshancock.org. Paypal is available, and we guarantee it will be used to take care of Orlando.

Even if you can't donate, please say a few prayers for him. It all helps, and he can use all the help he can get. Thank you!