Another Katrina casualty

Callie threw another lung embolism today and died. Just about four days ago she had just stopped taking all the meds from her last embolism that occurred 25 days ago. They were supposed to be able to put her up for adoption at day 30. She was 3 years old, we think.

The foster family had gone grocery shopping and came home to find that Callie had coughed up blood in her crate. Last time it was just noticeable in her mucous. This time she threw up about a half cup of blood, was shocky, white gums. They ran her to the emergency vet where one of the rescue group people met them. Vets said it was critical. They wanted to stay a while but they said there was nothing to be done, and so they were sent home.

Twenty minutes later they walked in the door and the phone rang letting them know she'd gone.

They'd been talking about adopting Callie because it's hard to give up a good dog you've shepherded through this kind of medical stuff. I know Callie had three excellent months with them, with Patricia sleeping on the floor with her sometimes, hand fed when she was feeling finicky or sick. But I am sick at heart and can't stop crying. -- Phyllis DeGioia, editor, VeterinaryPartner.com

Editor's note: Heartworm is entirely preventable with a monthly medication. And yet, animal groups working in the disaster region estimate that 80 percent of the dogs they've rescued are invested with heartworms. Here's more information, from an earlier post. Here's more information on heartworm, from VeterinaryPartner.com. Educate yourself, and protect your dog. Callie's death was entirely and easily prevented.