When Bitty was plucked from the streets in the middle of August, her rescuers were baffled as to how she was even still capable of walking. That’s because the tiny 4 pound dog had been severely mauled.
“We have no clue what got to her. Coyote? Hawk? Dogs? But she is torn up in so many places,” Lola’s Lucky Day Rescue wrote on Facebook. But what they did know was she had a tremendous fighting spirit. “At only 4 pounds we know this little Bitty is a fighter.”
The Texas-based dog rescue saw the dog’s skinned head and back leg right away, along with her severely damaged eyes. She also had several puncture wounds. Additionally, they were aware that Bitty would require more care than a “normal ER vet can handle,” so they drove 1.5 hours to bring Bitty to Texas A&M Small Animal Clinic (TAMU) right away so that their soft tissue specialists could attend to her “horrific wounds.
Bitty’s treatment will cost up to $15,000, more than Lola’s Lucky Day could afford, but they said, “she is alert and we cannot euthanize her just because of funds.”
Bitty received a blood transfusion and had her wounds cleansed during her first several days at Texas A&M. She was given a sedative so she could rest and sleep. However, she was “alert and fighting” while she was awake.
Despite Bitty’s great hunger, technicians must be concerned about refeeding syndrome due to her body score rating of 1 out of 9. She could not see out of either of her damaged eyes, according to the veterinarians.
Day three was an R&R day for the tiny fighter. Not only was her appetite great she went potty outside.
“A week later and “Bitty is doing great still,” Lola’s Lucky Day revealed. They added, “She has every one at TAMU wrapped around her tiny paw. Eating very well. Pottying on her breaks.”
She also underwent some reconstructive surgery for her skin and her rescuers couldn’t be happier with the care she is receiving. “Bitty truly is in world class veterinary care right now. There is no better place to be than surrounded by the leading specialists in ophthalmology and soft tissue.”
On August 24 Bitty got her double enucleation surgery on her eyes and it went very well.
For now she will stay at the hospital where doctors can keep an eye on her most recent flap surgery. “We thought she could leave Saturday but her most recent flap surgery was not looking how we wanted it to,” said her rescuers. “So she is hanging at TAMU now until the skin declares itself. If not they will debrief on Wednesday and we will possibly go back to letting the wound granulate over time like many of our other dogs we have helped medically.”
Lola has come a long way considering the state she was in only a few short weeks ago. A testament to her tenacity as well as to the excellent care she is receiving.
