We identified this poor girl last night as a possible MAIN dog and were discussing her situation when one of our wonderful fosters, Leslie messaged us this note. “My heart broke today. I saw the saddest dog I’ve seen in ages right next to the kennel that Catalina was in. She’s a white lab mix and she’s just a puppy.”

We looked at the kennel number and realized it was the same dog we had just been talking about. Leslie continued “She has a mass on her shoulder and another on her head, and her joints are so swollen and stiff that she can barely move. But she managed to get up when I knelt by her to say hello. I came home in tears and even called our vet to ask her opinion, but she really needs M.A.I.N.’s help.”

Her notes matched the county vet’s assessment, so we called the shelter to have her taken off of the list for euthanasia and met Leslie at the shelter this afternoon. She is everything Leslie said she was – another heartbreaking scene.

Ivy struggles with any movement and just lying down takes every ounce of energy she has. Her skull is contorted from the mass and her legs appear deformed. She has been in extreme pain for sometime now, and barely manages the few shortened steps it takes to get a simple drink of water or eat from her bowl of food. She received pain medication and antibiotics for a fever tonight while we wait for her bloodwork and x-rays to come back.

Ivy and Leslie in the doctor's officeIn the meantime, Leslie will hand feed her and bring water to her until she begins to heal. Her recovery won’t be fast, it won’t be easy and it isn’t a guarantee, but tonight – quite possibly for the first time in her young life – she will stay indoors on her own bed. She’ll enjoy the dinner that her new foster mom cooked for her and she’ll fall asleep with gentle hands that support her frail little body.

We’ll keep everyone updated as we learn more about this sweet girl, and we ask that you keep her in your thoughts tonight. Give your fur kids an extra hug and be thankful that they will never know this misery for themselves.

Here is raw and unedited footage of this poor gil trying to walk. WARNING it’s hard to watch. The sound has been removed from this video simply because you would hear nothing more than 100 dogs barking at the same time. It’s too much to subject anyone to. Instead, we’ve selected the same music we used for the rescue video.

Update 4/26: We suspect that Ivy has disseminated valley fever – the lesions on the preliminary X-rays are heartbreaking (see photos below). With aggressive treatment her prognosis is probably pretty good. There is a drug called Abelcet that is given intravenously that can be very effective in cases like this. The downside, of course, is that it’s also very expensive. So please, If you are able to make a small donation to Ivy’s medical fund – we sincerely appreciate it.

Ivy’s Updates:

Ivy has been adopted! Congrats to Ivy and her furever home!

Ivy!Update on Ivy, Jan 2015: Ivy is such a sweetheart and really does want to please her people. Ivy has a lot of energy and would do best with an active family that loves to run/hike/walk. A large pack seems to overwhelm Ivy and she would do best as an only dog or a home with one or two other dogs. She does not do well with cats. Ivy would do great with a family with school-aged children who are active and can help her burn off some energy!

Update, May 30th from Ivy’s foster family: Ivy is doing pretty well. She still walks somewhat stiffly due to the Valley Fever lesions. She loves our dogs and tries to herd the cats around. Ivy is a total sweetheart! She’s gained about five pounds.

Medical Update May 8th: Yesterday our vets sedated Ivy and x-rayed pretty much her entire body. Unfortunately they kept finding more Valley Fever lesions. She’s gained 2 lbs and is definitely doing better though. Our vet is consulting with a specialist as to whether or not a different treatment will be of benefit to her – a drug called Abelcet. Abelcet is expensive, difficult to obtain and not always appropriate even in severe VF cases. It has some potentially awful and life threatening side effects, so our vet is talking to others who have used it – what their criteria is for using it vs traditional drugs, success rates etc. We will keep everyone posted as we find out more information. We will do what is best for Ivy! Here is a mockup of the areas where the lesions were discovered…wow!

Ivy!Update April 27th from Ivy’s foster mom: Ivy has been enjoying meals of boiled chicken, brown rice, scrambled egg and Blue Buffalo puppy food (along with her 4 different medications). Lots of well-deserved naps, too. she’s doing pretty well considering.

She has a healthy appetite, slept well last night (on her memory foam bed in laundry room) and she wants so badly to get out and run around with our other dogs. She barks at the cats, though so I’m guessing she’s never seen any.

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Post by Medical Animals In Need (M.A.I.N.).

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42 thoughts on “Ivy, Lab mix”

  2. I’m just crying my eyes out watching this poor little girl struggling to stand and walk. Oh I pray she get’s well and finds a loving forever home.

  5. Ugh this is terrible, who could see this animal suffer like this an continue to neglect her, whats wrong with thw dog?

  6. I remember her from the list at county and am so relieved you have her now…. God bless you all and her!!! She is simply precious and my heart just aches for her…. So is the perfect example of pure sweetness…. Get better real soon beautiful girl

  7. Poor thing! If I had room I would take her but I have too many dogs. I know she will find a good home.

  9. Love you precious Ivy, glad you are in good hands now and a smile on your face! Many Prayers for Recovery from such a awful disease. KIsses and Hugs!

  11. DONATING and PRAYING… How heartbreaking. I lost a dog to Valley Fever so severe even after all the treatments. It is horrible and heart wrenching to watch a dog you love and not be able to do more. I had to finally lay mine to rest, to stop his suffering, but tried everything I could. However, his eyes said it was time, he just didn't have quality of life anymore and it was unbearable to watch. This poor sweet Animal "Ivy" is going thru pain and never ending suffering right now. I can only hope that donation I was able to give was at least something that could help her on her way to recovery, which is what I a praying for… God Bless you Ivy you sweet innocent girl, I pray for a full recovery and long happy life to take the place of the horrible one you have had to live with. Thank you M.A.I.N. for trying to and hopefully saving her…. Thank you for all those you have tried to save. If only there were more rescues that could help more dogs. Just too many dogs being abandoned, hurt, neglected, abused etc, and not enough RESCUES to help them all. Now if we only had NO KILL shelters more might have a chance. Here's hoping one that that comes to pass…

  16. Please PLEASE PLEASE, UP DATE ON IVY ….DID SHE MAKE IT ??? PLEASE say YES
    ….

  17. Hi Anna, thanks for asking about Ivy. Ivy is doing well in foster and will soon be available for adoption as a “special needs” dog (due to her long-term required treatment for Valley Fever). We should have some new pics and a bio for her page soon. 🙂

  18. I have been wondering about Ivy for awhile but get hung up following many other rescue sites. I have joined your 5×5 challenge so that I can contribute something to help!!

    Thank you so much for updating Ivy!! I truly hope she continues to improve and live a wonderful life!

  19. Thank you for the support Marty and for joining the 5×5 challenge! We truly appreciate it. 🙂

  21. Hi Heather Carrico- Ivy is doing great in foster! We’ve asked her foster family to send in some pics/video for her webpage as soon as they get back from vacation. We will also post to our Facebook when we get the update, so stay tuned! 🙂

  42. I couldn’t have asked for a better pup! Well trained (thanks to Carrie) and happy! So thankful! Great picture!!! Heather Haltmeyer

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