Just a week ago at our homecoming picnic, we were thanking donors for all their support this year, and not planning any specific fundraisers until the end of the year. And then along came Turbo, one of the most special dogs you will ever meet! What started as knee surgery for a grade 4 luxating patella (along with routine neuter and removal of a couple of masses), has become the ordeal we never want any of our pups to endure. But Turbo is a prime example of why we are always fundraising - to be able to provide the best care for our goldens in need.

Turbo continues to be in Intensive Care in guarded condition following his GI surgery and pneumonia. His foster mom and dad were able to visit him today. He is on oxygen and antibiotics and receiving feeding through a tube. We are waiting for results of a culture to make sure he is receiving the best antibiotic for his condition. He will continue to be hospitalized in intensive care for some time while he battles several problems that hit this poor dog at the same time. His knee surgery and revision went well. But at the same time as he was recovering from that and needed a surgical revision, he experienced a GI obstruction from ingesting something prior to his arrival with us. Vomiting from that obstruction led to aspiration pneumonia. Unfortunately this all happened just as he was recovering from his first knee surgery. Surgery was successful to remove the obstruction but was followed soon after by a rare complication that required yet another surgery. Healing from the GI surgery and, especially, the pneumonia is his biggest fight right now. Unfortunately, life-threatening complications can occur when a dog eats something it shouldn't and why we need to be so careful to keep their environments safe and keep watch over them.

Imagine 3 trips to the operating room, 4 separate surgical procedures, days of ICU care already and more to come. He has pain medication, oxygen, fluids, a feeding tube, catheters, and constant veterinary care. Turbo's bill is approaching $25,000 and could grow. We are immensely grateful for our supporters without whom we would not be able to give dogs like Turbo the treatment they need even when there are rare complications. We will always do what is best for the dog and also be good stewards of our funds. But we know how lucky we are that we can support lifesaving treatment for dogs like Turbo. We continue to hope for a good outcome, and also hope that we will always be able to give dogs like Turbo a fighting chance. If you are considering end of the year donations, or just want to support the work we do every day for these deserving dogs, please consider a donation so we can continue to give dogs like Turbo the support they need as they put up their bravest fight.

Turbo Tales

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