Ernie
The very best of life
Please note: The dogs in ODH's Final Refuge care are not adoptable due to medical reasons and all are in permanent homes. Your sponsorship supports the veterinary expenses for these dogs - and we thank you!
“To know Ernie is to love him!” That is what Ernie’s foster mom says, and it is easy to see why.
Little Ernie is finally safe and very loved in his Old Dog Haven forever home, but life was not always this easy for him. In February of this year, this darling boy was found as a stray and brought to a local shelter. He arrived in heartbreaking condition, with a ton of serious medical issues requiring urgent care. He suffered from alopecia, along with bacterial and fungal skin infections. He had never been neutered and the shelter vet worried that he may have testicular cancer. Ernie was also dealing with severe vertebral disease, advanced arthritis, and a grade three heart murmur. And if that wasn’t enough, Ernie also had a displaced jaw and numerous infected teeth, causing him a great amount of pain and discomfort.
After multiple vet visits, he was scheduled for an echocardiogram to ensure his little heart was strong enough to undergo the anesthesia needed to have surgery. Once he was given the all clear, he was neutered and then the surgeon removed his remaining rotten teeth. During the surgery, it was discovered Ernie also had two oral fistulas that were causing infection to spread under his cheek and eye.
Ernie has made wonderful progress at home thanks to the dedicated daily care his foster family provides him. One fistula has healed successfully, while the other has reopened, and he will soon see a dental specialist to determine if it can be repaired. He has been prescribed medication for his heart murmur, severe disk disease and arthritis and will be monitored for future dental infections. After frequent medicated baths and a nutritious diet, his skin has also dramatically improved, and his hair is growing back in.
His family describes this pint-sized guy as a “fighter” and says, “Ernie is a love bug and brings so much joy to our family. He is so teeny but so full of life, and his cuteness level is off the meter!” They tell us Ernie is closely bonded with his foster mom and fancies himself her protector, even guarding her from the pesky family cats!
At Old Dog Haven, we help as many senior dogs as we can, and nothing brings us more joy than watching old dogs like Ernie blossom with daily love and care.
Your donations help us provide senior dogs with the surgeries, medications, bloodwork and diagnostic testing they need to live normal lives. We couldn’t do it without your support!
