The Nebraska Dachshund Rescue based in Lincoln saved a poor 10-month-old Dachshund named Phoebe that was burned over her body by a chemical flea dip.
The dog was raw and red along its back and the Nebraska Dachshund Rescue intake and adoption director Cara Chapman is quoted as saying, "A dog doesn't know when to defend it, doesn't know when to stop it, doesn't tell you when it hurts, The infection would have set in and she would have died, it would have killed her."
The flea and tick treatment is said to be from Hartz, and Dr. Bryan Welty from the Lincoln Capital Animal Clinic said, "I have seen Hartz cause a fair number of very red and irritated spots."
Check reactions that occur from Hartz products on: hartzvictims.org
Chapman says, "I hope at least one person that might otherwise suffer from the use of the Hartz products. I think they (Hartz) must remove the more pricy safeguards, to make their products affordable. It doesn't make sense to risk the health and life of an animal, for the sake of affordability. The folks that cannot afford the proper (safe) treatments are the ones that definitely cannot afford the fix!"
Phoebe's condition could have been minimized had the owners had any idea what was going on. This massive burn started out as a couple of spots, over two or three weeks ago. They treated the spots like hot spots or simple flea bite irritations, using alcohol based "hot spot" sprays. And they allowed her to itch herself on the grass; both of which simply added to the growing infection. Any fertilizer, weed killer or other irritants could have only exasperated the condition
The owners gave the dog up when it became apparent that the medical bills would mount.
Reporter Molli Graham from Action 3 News, said she tried to contact Hatz, but received no call back.
Chapman writes me, "I have been keeping a photo log from the time she came in, with each new dressing change." Those photos are here (on the slide show on the far right), if you can handle them!
The first photo up top is Phoebe with bandages; and Chapman says, "the second was taken the day we got her home. Initially, a vet had seen her, on our (Nebraska Dachshund Rescue) recommendation, the minute they sent us a picture that showed her with blackened scabs down the length of her back (the last picture). It was horrific."
Chapman said, "That particular vet only recommended hydro-therapy, which is simply running water on her until the scabs loosened up and fell away.Needless to say, that's the old way of doing it, and ensures substantial scarring as a result."
Their vet saw Phoebe and recommended a therapy that includes skin-graphting. "Keeping the wound scab-free and moist encourages regrowth of new skin to develop from the edges, toward the center."
Chapman says, "With luck and lots of dressing changes and cleaning, Ms. Phoebe may just come out of this will a small line of scarring instead of massive bald patches down her back."
Luck has nothing to do with it.
Chapman and the rescue are true heroes.
* For more information about Dachshunds and to help the rescue continue its good work, click here.
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