❤️ TIMBER – ANOTHER SETBACK FOR OUR SPECIAL BOY ❤️
It seems no matter how hard we work to keep Timber healthy, something always happens that sends our special boy back to the hospital. And with Timber, it is never something simple. Ordinary diarrhea or vomiting is one thing, but bloody diarrhea and aspiration pneumonia are entirely different matters. Both can become life-threatening very quickly.
We had purposely waited to post an update on Timber because we wanted to be sure he was doing well and wouldn't suddenly become sick again. We finally shared a wonderful update on Instagram about how amazing he was doing, and wouldn't you know it, shortly afterward, Timber was sick again and back in the hospital.
Timber has an incredible team of specialists looking after him. Whenever something goes wrong, they are contacted immediately and help us determine the best course of action. Sometimes we can manage his symptoms with medication at the Rescue, but other times he needs to be hospitalized.
This last episode was particularly frightening. Timber had to be rushed to the hospital, and his entire team of specialists was contacted. It took several days of IV fluids, medications, and extensive testing before he was finally feeling well enough to come home.
Once Timber was back to his happy, energetic self, I decided it was time for us to take a much deeper look into what was happening. We cannot continue treating one emergency after another without trying to understand what is causing these episodes.
Dr. Alyx Tracy at CVRC put together a list of possible causes and recommended additional specialized testing. Some of these tests required Timber to return to the hospital so samples could be collected and sent to outside laboratories.
One possibility is Acute Hemorrhagic Diarrhea Syndrome (AHDS), formerly known as hemorrhagic gastroenteritis (HGE). This condition causes sudden, severe bloody diarrhea, often accompanied by vomiting. It can cause rapid fluid loss and become life-threatening without immediate treatment. Certain toxin-producing strains of Clostridium perfringens, a bacterium normally found in the intestinal tract, are associated with AHDS.
The severity and appearance of Timber's bloody diarrhea are consistent with AHDS, but that diagnosis does not necessarily explain all the other symptoms he experiences when he becomes ill. That is why we are continuing to investigate rather than assuming we have found the answer.
We have never rescued a dog who was as critically ill as Timber was when he first came to us. The fact that he survived is nothing short of a miracle. He is here today because of the extraordinary team at CVRC who fought tirelessly for him and never gave up. Every possible treatment that could help his body recover was considered. Nothing was spared if we believed it would give him the strength to fight another day.
And Timber fought. He fought his way back from the brink of death and eventually reclaimed the life he had always deserved.
Today, he has regained his weight, his beautiful coat has grown back, and he is one of the happiest, most energetic dogs you could ever meet. Watching him enjoy life after everything he endured is something we never take for granted.
That is what makes these sudden setbacks so heartbreaking. Just when we think Timber has finally turned the corner, something happens that reminds us how fragile his health may still be.
This last episode frightened us enough that we knew we needed more answers. We expect the results of his additional testing in approximately a week, and we are hoping they will give us a clearer picture of what is happening inside his body.
For now, Timber is feeling wonderful. He was treated during his hospitalization with supportive care appropriate for suspected AHDS, but we are not ready to put a definitive name on his condition until we have reviewed all of his results.
❤️ TIMBER'S ADOPTION IS TEMPORARILY ON HOLD ❤️
Because of the uncertainty surrounding Timber's health, we have made the difficult decision to remove him from our Adoption List until we better understand his medical needs.
We absolutely believe Timber could thrive in the right home. However, once he is ready for adoption again, we will only consider families who live close enough to Noah's Arks Rescue and his specialists at CVRC to ensure he can receive immediate medical attention if another emergency arises. Timber has come too far for us to take unnecessary chances with his future.
❤️ PLEASE HELP US WITH TIMBER'S MEDICAL BILLS ❤️
Over the past six months, Timber's medical expenses have continued to mount. His sudden emergencies, repeated hospitalizations, specialist consultations, and now extensive diagnostic testing have been incredibly expensive.
We are determined to get to the bottom of what is happening so Timber can continue living the happy, healthy life he fought so hard to have.
Please consider making a donation toward Timber's ongoing medical care. Every donation helps us continue providing the specialized treatment and testing he needs.
Timber has already overcome what once seemed impossible. We are not giving up on finding the answers that will allow him to enjoy the wonderful life he deserves.
Thank you for believing in Timber and helping us fight for him. ❤️
A QUICK NOTE ABOUT DONATIONS: We are no longer using PayPal because we received too many complaints from our donors. We have switched to a new donation platform and would appreciate hearing from anyone who experiences difficulty making a donation. We want the process to be as simple and convenient as possible.
Thank you for continuing to support Timber and all the special animals in our care at Noah's Arks Rescue. ❤️
