Dogs in shelters have it tough. They often live in small, gloomy cages with unfavorable temperatures. They live amongst several other shelter dogs who may yap and whimper all night long, keeping them awake. Additionally, dogs in shelters may not receive the amount of human interaction and touch that they crave.
The worst part is, these dogs must live in these conditions until if and when they get adopted. Unfortunately, not all canines do well in these environments. While some may do just fine, others, especially those with a traumatic past, may find your average shelter quite stressful.
For one shelter pit bull, she was having a hard time eating since being rescued. The gray canine was recently picked up by veterinarian Dr. Andy Mathis after he received a call from a woman about a skinny, frail dog on an Elberton, Georgia dirt road in the country.
According to Dr. Mathis, the pit bull was not in good shape. He described her as “emaciated, starved (20 lbs.) dehydrated, hypothermic (temp of 95), anemic, and with a v*****l prolapse.” Based on her health, there were two things the veterinarian could do: put her to sleep or attempt to save her life.
After asking his friends for advice, many recommended that Dr. Mathis try everything in his power to help her achieve better health. “Try, especially if she still has a will to live. Try,” responded one.
Unfortunately, however, the pit bull was not only a stray but the woman who found her did not have the funds to pay for her treatments. That said, the cost of the treatments she would be needing was all in Dr. Mathis’s hands.
To aid with the hefty costs, the vet’s friends pitched in, allowing the pit bull to receive top-notch emergency care from the Vet Teaching Hospital at the University of Georgia.
“The doctors at UGA were able to get her temp back up, reduce her prolapse temporarily, and rehydrate her. Her b***d levels were low, but I couldn’t afford a transfusion, and she was eating on her own,” says Dr. Mathis.
The dog, who was later named Graycie Claire, was then taken back to Dr. Andy Mathis’s clinic, Granite Hills Animal Care. Here, Dr. Mathis would continue to care for her until her health was completely rejuvenated.
However, Graycie was having a hard time eating. Apart from her poor health, the pit bull was probably under distress after getting rescued.
To help encourage her to eat, Dr. Mathis had a great idea: to eat his breakfast with her in her kennel. As silly as it might sound, it worked!
Each day, sweet Graycie Claire began to improve. We genuinely hope the canine is still on the path to a beautiful recovery.
Learn more about this story by watching the video below! Dr. Andy Mathis is such a kind and caring individual.
