Unepuce
Well-Known Member
This is a very overdue thread - it should have gone up on January 3. Better late than never, they say, so let me introduce my (then) bumblefooted foster, the beautiful Puce!
On December 13, Victoria asked me if I would be willing to foster a 1.5 year-old female with a bad pneumonia and a real bad case of bumblefoot. I did agree to take her in, but because of the Holidays logistics, she would have to move in after Jan 2, so she remained with her current foster 'til that date. I was a bit worried about the pneumonia, as I was told it was really bad, but most of all, I was downright scared about the bumblefoot - I don't know the first thing about bumblefoot!
On January 3, I met up with Puce's foster mom at the SPCA. She didn't know anything about rats, but she did wonders with Puce! I took home a gorgeous skinny blue girl with the softest coat you could imagine. Her pneumonia had improved a lot by then, and I am confident that I can manage it all right. Her feet were stabilized, and her right foot is actually looking good - I am hopeful we will get rid of the whole thing eventually. Her left foot though...
anic: At first glance, even my unknowledgeable self knew that it would never heal completely, and my readings afterwards confirmed my judgement - the bumble actually is larger than the width of her paw... it's like she has a big fat lentil stuck under her foot! :sad3:
So I started caring for that poor skinny girl, continuing with the former foster's treatment, which consisted of Baytril, Doxy, and Metacam twice daily, along with compresses of Witch Hazel water and application of Hibitane cream 3 times a day. Along the way, I got to fall in love with the cuddliest little hairy thing I have ever met. She is no kisser, but she would cuddle in my neck for hours, bruxing and boggling away as I would pat and scratch her. I hid those feeling deep down inside and tried to forget about them so I wouldn't be hurt if she had to move out eventually - I felt completely helpless and useless about the bumblefoot and was kind of expecting Victoria to tell me I was doing a horrible job and taking her under her much more knowledgeable wing.
Puce was scheduled for her follow-up appointment on January 15, and left for Victoria's place for 48 hours. During those 2 days, my mind was constantly coming back to Puce's future: 1) she would be declared adoptable and would remain a foster forever as nobody would want to adopt a sick older girl or 2) the shelter would have to make the decision to euthanize her because she would be too expensive and resource consuming to keep. In either case, she would end up ending her life with me, either as a foster or as my adoptee as I would never let the shelter euthanize that curious and loving soul! When I went to pick her up the next day, Victoria summarized the vet's comments and I knew right away I was adopting Puce - "requires treatment for life" is never good on a report for a rescue at a big shelter that needs to make choices. I told Victoria to get the adoption papers ready, and Puce is now officially with me! :joy:
Hi Shackers!
Mom, can I go see what's out there?
Will you please be my forever home? :heart:
And my favorite picture... she had been home 3 days, and already trusted me enough to fall asleep against my arm while I was patting her... :heart: :heart: :heart:
I will be posting pictures of her bumblefoot in another post as I want to use this thread to keep track of progress (or regress...)
On December 13, Victoria asked me if I would be willing to foster a 1.5 year-old female with a bad pneumonia and a real bad case of bumblefoot. I did agree to take her in, but because of the Holidays logistics, she would have to move in after Jan 2, so she remained with her current foster 'til that date. I was a bit worried about the pneumonia, as I was told it was really bad, but most of all, I was downright scared about the bumblefoot - I don't know the first thing about bumblefoot!
On January 3, I met up with Puce's foster mom at the SPCA. She didn't know anything about rats, but she did wonders with Puce! I took home a gorgeous skinny blue girl with the softest coat you could imagine. Her pneumonia had improved a lot by then, and I am confident that I can manage it all right. Her feet were stabilized, and her right foot is actually looking good - I am hopeful we will get rid of the whole thing eventually. Her left foot though...
anic: At first glance, even my unknowledgeable self knew that it would never heal completely, and my readings afterwards confirmed my judgement - the bumble actually is larger than the width of her paw... it's like she has a big fat lentil stuck under her foot! :sad3: So I started caring for that poor skinny girl, continuing with the former foster's treatment, which consisted of Baytril, Doxy, and Metacam twice daily, along with compresses of Witch Hazel water and application of Hibitane cream 3 times a day. Along the way, I got to fall in love with the cuddliest little hairy thing I have ever met. She is no kisser, but she would cuddle in my neck for hours, bruxing and boggling away as I would pat and scratch her. I hid those feeling deep down inside and tried to forget about them so I wouldn't be hurt if she had to move out eventually - I felt completely helpless and useless about the bumblefoot and was kind of expecting Victoria to tell me I was doing a horrible job and taking her under her much more knowledgeable wing.
Puce was scheduled for her follow-up appointment on January 15, and left for Victoria's place for 48 hours. During those 2 days, my mind was constantly coming back to Puce's future: 1) she would be declared adoptable and would remain a foster forever as nobody would want to adopt a sick older girl or 2) the shelter would have to make the decision to euthanize her because she would be too expensive and resource consuming to keep. In either case, she would end up ending her life with me, either as a foster or as my adoptee as I would never let the shelter euthanize that curious and loving soul! When I went to pick her up the next day, Victoria summarized the vet's comments and I knew right away I was adopting Puce - "requires treatment for life" is never good on a report for a rescue at a big shelter that needs to make choices. I told Victoria to get the adoption papers ready, and Puce is now officially with me! :joy:
[glow=red:lufq96dy]EDITED for pictures!!![/glow:lufq96dy]
Hi Shackers!
Mom, can I go see what's out there?
Will you please be my forever home? :heart:
And my favorite picture... she had been home 3 days, and already trusted me enough to fall asleep against my arm while I was patting her... :heart: :heart: :heart:
I will be posting pictures of her bumblefoot in another post as I want to use this thread to keep track of progress (or regress...)
Last edited:
