By Julie Blossom
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| ©The HSUS/Rebecca Hall |
| The author and Scarlett. |
Scar was a three-month-old puppy who came to the RAVS clinic on the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation with an awful scar running across her shoulder blades; the result of being caught in a fan belt.
She was lethargic when she came in, and we decided to keep her overnight. After running tests, we discovered that she was positive for Parvovirus. Scar spent the next day on fluids, and she vomited up nearly a cup of intestinal worms.
Because of all her health problems, her owners surrendered her. I decided to take her with me back to Fort Collins, Colo., for further nursing care in the hope that she would improve. I also decided that the name Scar simply would not do for such a sweet little thing, and promptly renamed her Scarlett.
After a harrowing eight-hour car ride back to Fort Collins, four days of hospitalization with Dr. Robin Downing at Windsor Veterinary Clinic, one trip to Colorado State University’s critical care unit, a jugular catheter and two plasma transfusions, I am proud to report that Scarlett has been happy and healthy for more than a week now.
I cannot believe she survived the fan belt, and one of the worst cases of Parvo I’ve seen. It is amazing to see the difference in her, especially now that she gets to eat Puppy Chow! She does her best to sit quietly before supper, although she usually ends ends up waggling her little bum all around the kitchen in her excitement.
Scarlett's ticks and fleas have all jumped ship. And once I got all the mats out, she has the softest, most delicate coat.
Once she began to improve, her sweet nature revealed itself fully. Even as I write this, Scarlett is snuggled by my side with her neck draped over my legs, no doubt dreaming of endless cups of Puppy Chow. I am completely besotted. She gets along very well with my established dog, Luna, and makes quite a happy addition to the Blossom family.
I want to thank everyone who helped with Scarlett’s care, and especially Dr. Kate Kuzminski. She showed unrelenting compassion and made it possible for this precious little soul to come home with me.
Though we may not be able to make a difference in all animals’ lives, it is possible to make all the difference in a few.
Julie Blossom is a veterinary student at Colorado State University and a RAVS volunteer.
RAVS is a program of The Fund for Animals and The Humane Society of the United States.
