OPR's Worst Cases

Arnold

Before	Before

Some pugs have chronic dry eye and most of the time it is absolutely treatable. Arnold unfortunately had a different story.

Arnold was kept outside his whole life and had dry eye for 3 years. He was never treated for it. When he came to us his eyes were completely crusted over and he couldn’t even blink or shut his eyes at all.

Arnold’s eyes eventually ruptured and he had to have surgery on them. It was decided it would be best to remove both of his eyes. Otherwise he would still be in pain.

Arnold is such a trooper and pulled through with flying colors! To look at him now you would see a handsome, lovable pug!

Arnold

After

Basil

Before	Before

Basil came from a shelter. He had open sores from itching and significant fur loss as well as sarcoptic mange.

Basil spent a couple of weeks in isolation at a vet’s office to become healthy again.

Basil

After

Bertie

Before	Before

We have had quite a few pugs come into rescue with mange. Here is one of our worst cases before and after. We keep the pugs in foster care until they are completely mange free and healthy. It takes a lot of time, patience and love to get them through this horrific experience.

There are 2 different kinds of mange a dog can get. One is Demodectic mange (A common skin disease of dogs, demodectic mange (canine demodecosis) is caused by the mite Demodex canis. This mite is found as a normal resident in the hair follicles of all dogs. Mites are naturally transmitted from nursing mothers to their puppies within the first few days of life.

Signs of disease appear only when mites reproduce unchecked and occur in unnaturally high numbers.) and the other is Sarcoptic Mange (technically it is called notoedric mange in cats), commonly know as scabies, is caused by an external parasite that burrows deep into the skin. It is contagious to other pets and occurs in many different animals.

It causes intense itchiness, especially affecting the ear margins, elbows, and face. People can pick up this disease from their pet and show symptoms of itching, but it goes away by itself in a short time and does not require treatment in most cases.

Bertie had an extreme case of demodectic mange. As you can see he lost most of his fur and had open sores from scratching.

Bertie

After

Bonnie

Before

Bonnie had been hit by a car a couple of years ago and she was never treated for it. Boniie also had eye problems and was anemic.

Bonnie had surgery on her legs and can walk now all the way to her forever home!

Bonnie

After

Calvin

Before	Before

We got a call from a very upset person. They had just purchased a pug from a breeder and he is very sick. They took him to the ER vet and was told he needed a very expensive surgery. One that they could not afford.

We took Calvin in knowing that he was a very special needs little boy. Calvin was born with all of his organs above his diaphram. He had what is called a diaphragmic hernia. He only weighed 2lbs at 9 weeks old and had a hard time breathing and eating.

It was decided to perform the risky surgery on him to try and save him. He could not live as he was.

Sadly Calvin did not make it. Once his little body was opened up for surgery many more defects were found. Calvin made a huge impression on his foster mom and our group. He was so innocent and helpless.

Chiquita

Before

Chiquita came to us with a major eye infection.

Chiquita had to have one eye removed and the remaining eye takes 3 different ointments every single day!

Chiquita

After

Clint & Nellie were left behind when their family of several years decided to move. They were left inside the home to die. The landlord of the home found Clint & Nellie. They were covered in fleas so bad their skin had sores all over them. They were very malnourished from not eating for close to a week.

Once in foster care this bonded pair blossomed!

Clint & Nellie

After

Danny

Before	Before	Before

Danny came to us from a vet’s office. He had been hit by a car and the vet said he had a bruised pelvis but would be fine.

We found out Danny's pelvis was broken and he didn’t have the use of his back left leg.

We thought Danny was going to lose his ft leg but he had other plans and just look at him run!

Once his pelvis was fixed and after water therapy treatment for his leg, Danny was able to walk, run, and live a normal pug life!

Danny

After

Dobie

Before

Dobie had an extreme case of demodectic mange. As you can see, Dobie lost most of his fur and had open sores from scratching.

Dobie

After

Forrest

Before

Forrest's Mom came into rescue pregnant. She had 4 babies. One died as just 2 days old. His brother Nate died at 1 year old from a hereditary heart condition.

Little Forrest's back legs were severely deformed. The bottom of his feet pointed toward the sky.

When he was 5 weeks old he was diagnosed with mega esophagus. This is a hereditary condition where his esophagus doesn't push his food down or keep it down for him. His outlook was pretty grim.

We got Forrest through the mega esophagus with a lot of work. He has to eat off of a special elevated stool. He still throws up a lot but knows what to do about it now.

As far as his back legs go...with physical therapy one of his back legs turned around. The other one didn't so it was removed once Forrest was big enough. He still only weighs in at 11lbs but gets along wonderfully on 3 legs. His foster mom decided to keep this little angel.

Forrest

After	After

Fortune

Before	Before

Fortune came to us from a shelter where she was turned in as a stray. The shelter said she had a large mass on her belly and appeared to be around 8-10 years old.

When we picked her up we were all in shock as the size of the tumor hanging from her belly! It was bigger than her head. She can barely walk with this tumor hanging from her. All 4 of her legs are crooked from carrying the tumor around.

Fortune also had untreated cherry eye and a collapsed trachea. Once she is healthy enough she will have the tumor removed, spayed, eye fixed.

Check back for an update on Fortune's surgery!!

Herbie

Before

Herbie came into rescue when his owner could no longer care for him. He was extremely underweight. While in foster care we found out that Herbie is basically anorexic. For a short time he would eat hot dogs, then hamburgers, but never would eat on his own. His foster mom has done a wonderful job of getting weight on him.

Herbie also has emotional scars to deal with. He is finally giving and receiving kisses!

Herbie

After

We got a call from a shelter in southern Ohio that they had a pug who needed us. The story was a person saw Hooper get thrown out of a moving car. He was actually wrapped in a garbage bag. They saw it move after being thrown out.

This good samaritan picked him up and went straight to the shelter. When I picked Hooper up he was in good spirits but had road rash all over his belly and legs. He was lucky enough not to have any major damage to his body.

Hooper

After

Jazz had her hip broken and never treated.

Jazz underwent surgery to fix the problem and will live a long healthy life now.

Jazz

After

Little Kiwi came into rescue from a puppymill situation. We were told that her and her baby (the only one left) had eye problems. When Kiwi first came to us she would circle all the time, very hyper, no center of balance and scared of everything. She was missing a lot of her fur and you could see scars all over her.

We took her for a consult with our local neurologist and he wanted to treat her for an infection in her vestibule or inner ear.

Kiwi was put on intense antibiotics for 6 weeks. No difference was observed except she was more comfortable in a house now. We took her back for a follow up.

The neurologist basically said that Kiwi and her babies most likely have deformed ear canals. That is why her balance is off so bad. There is nothing to do for her.

After a while we found the perfect home for Kiwi that loved her for who she is. She is doing very well now and even has learned some commands!

Kiwi

After

Lazzy

Before	Before

Lazzy came to us with severe back problems. He was not able to use his back legs. He was only 1 year old. After taking him to a specialist it was decided that we would try a risky surgery to save his legs.

Once the surgery was done it was a waiting game to see if it helped him. Unfortunately the surgery did not help Lazzy. He now pulls himself along very well and wears diapers to help with potty issues. His family loves him like no tomorrow and he knows it.

Lazzy

After

OPR does not adopt outside of the state of Ohio, no exceptions. If you live outside Ohio and wish to adopt a Pug, please refer to your local Pug rescue.