This little boy was found outside a dog walking client's house at Sheridan & Birchwood 4/23/10. A neighbor told me she thinks he belonged to a person recently evicted, due to foreclosure.
Updates, as we journeyed with Doré in his last few days:
UPDATE: 7 pm 4/23/10: He's about 18 mos old, neutered, tested NEG for both FIV/FeLV and also NEG for heartworm.
UPDATE: 8 pm 4/23/10: He is totally lethargic and immobile. He won't eat yet. Dr Rovner gave him a bag of heated subcutaneous fluids, a shot of antibiotics, a shot of vitamin B/B12, de-wormer and sent me home with instructions to above all, keep him warm. His gums are pale but he's not too anemic, so it is shock he is in, caused by starvation and dehydration. If he pulls through this weekend and perks up, he should be fine afterwards. Cross your fingers (or pray if you are a religious person) that he survives and then thrives.
UPDATE: 10 pm 4/23/10: He got up and drank water.
UPDATE: 7:30 am 4/24/10: He got up to urinate in his litter box sometime during the night, but not getting up otherwise.
UPDATE 9:45 am 4/24/10: He is still not eating or moving much and is now hospitalized at Roscoe Village Animal Hospital. We've started a ChipIn for his expenses. If you're more comfortable, you can also call in donations for his care. We're calling him Doré (doh-ray',) which means golden (color) in French.
UPDATE 12:30 pm 4/24/10: His temp is up a little from yesterday, which is good. It was too low.
UPDATE 3 pm 4/24/10: No word yet from Dr. Rovner, but Tree House has confirmed that they will accept him once there is a space available.
UPDATE 6:30 pm 4/24/10: Doré is doing better. He's not "out of the woods" but definitely better. He received heated IV fluids and (to get him to eat) valium. He was able to then eat a whole can of cat food at the vet. He is more responsive, yet still groggy. I was sent home with pills to increase appetite. I'll update more as the night progresses.
UPDATE 11:30 pm 4/24/10: I had to start force/spoon feeding Doré tonight. The grogginess must have worn off by now, and even with the appetite stimulant, he is not interested in eating.
UPDATE 12:20 am 4/25/10: This is going to sound disgusting to all but the most cat loving people.... but I'm so proud of my little accomplishment! ** I got him to go pee! ** I held his (limp) body over the litter box and massaged his bladder and he peed (a LOT) - I'm as relieved as he is! :)
UPDATE 2:20 am 4/25/10: He is still declining, despite the little hopeful signs I've been seeing. I had to take him to the ER at 2am to be hospitalized.
UPDATE 8:30 am 4/25/10: The vet tech at the Animal ER said that he licked some baby food from a tongue depressor, and his temp has gone back up a little, but other than that there isn't much change. His blood work is ormal, just a little low on the white blood cell count, and he's on IV fluids, but he's still lethargic and depressed.
UPDATE 11:30 am 4/25/10: I visited Doré at th ER. He is lethargic and pretty much the same. Still vocal but weak when spoken to, but cannot move much. He's pooping (2x now) in his incubator at the ER, so at least the bowels are moving. The vet said he seems unable to regulate his body temp or blood sugar level, despite being in an incubator and on constant IV fluids. She guessed it may be something in his brain, something neurological. I asked how that could have happened and she said possibly due to some kind of trauma. (I think its plain old severe depression from being abandoned, but thats my own, unqualified opinion. Maybe an animal communicator could get throught to him and convince him to want to live?)
FINAL UPDATE: 4 pm 4/25/10: I was unable to update this page from where I was this afternoon, so please forgive the delay. I did, however, update Facebook, so some of you already know that Doré has now "crossed the Rainbow Bridge." I was notified by Tree House, who had agreed to admit him on Monday, and therefore also agreed to pay any overage for the ER bill, that the ER vet had recommended euthanasia for Doré. They felt that since he was basically on life support, that he was suffering to much to let him remain that way any longer. His vitals were not good enough to warrant additional efforts and it would be more humane to perform the euthanasia. Despite wanting very badly, and even visualizing many times, Doré to get better miraculously, and I had to agree. When the concept of what is more humane enters the discussion, its usually past any real discussion. So, Doré is gone now. I'm not sure what time it was done, but the ER said recently that it has been a few hours, and that he would be cremated. I'm so sorry, Doré. I'm sorry that whoever your owner was, that they did not (or could not) do the right thing and ensure your health and safety, regardless of their financial circumstance. I'm sorry that I didn't find you earlier. I'm sorry that I couldn't save you. I'll be waiting to see you again some day.
- Andrea
To all of you who donated. You did something HUGE. Without you, I wouldn't have been able to even try to help him... Thank you.
Expenses Information (as I get it):
Bill from 4/23/10 (*.pdf): Doré bill #1 - Mr. Wonderful (Dr. Rovner) waived a HUGE $205.00 already.
Bill from 4/24/10 (*.pdf): Doré bill #2 - Can you believe it?? He waived the whole thing!
I do not have a copy of the ER bill. It was sent to Tree House directly, as they'd agreed to pay any overage from funds raised towards the bill. I have been told it ws $512.00 in total, and we've raised $530 so I'll be giving them a check for $477 of that bill. (This is $530 minus the $53 paid to Dr. Rovner.)
Doré has received $530 in donations for his care. Thank you SO much. It means the world to me that I was able to receive the financial help in trying to save Doré.
- Andrea
