Living Legend: VCA Critical Care Saves a Stray in Critical Condition

When Legend was brought into VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital, he found a second chance at life-and a special place in the hearts of the entire veterinary team.

Legend, an approximately 2-year-old intact male Doberman mix, was first spotted as a stray roaming the streets of Miami. A social media campaign was launched to find him, and through a collaborative effort by two local rescue organizations, Grateful Paws Cat & Dog Rescue and Doberman Rescue League, Legend was located and brought to VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital, the rescues' trusted partner for complicated cases.

On initial presentation, Legend was found to be emaciated, weighing 39 lbs, despite an expected adult weight closer to 75-100lbs. He had diffuse dermatitis with patchy alopecia of his legs and trunk. He was dehydrated, tachycardic and anemic (PCV 20%).

His severe condition required admission to the critical care department for intensive stabilization, including IV fluid boluses and a blood transfusion.

Apart from parasites and malnutrition contributing to his anemia, additional differentials for Legend's anemia were immune mediated hemolytic anemia, gastrointestinal blood loss associated with GI parasites, infectious or tick-borne disease, severe chronic inflammation/infection and potentially neoplastic disease.

His initial diagnostics included bloodwork, fecal testing, heartworm and tick-borne disease testing and dermatophyte culture.

While full diagnostics were pending, Legend was treated for possible GI bleeding, doxycycline for potential tick-borne or infectious disease, broad-spectrum deworming, iron supplementation, and heartworm and flea prevention. Legend's case was managed by both critical care and internal medicine specialists.

Despite his intensive care, Legend always remained incredibly sweet, loving and docile. His veterinary team quickly became attached and had to stop themselves from spoiling him with too many treats, especially since he was always nosing for food. Emaciated as Legend had been at presentation, his team made sure to stick to his nutritional plan, which was carefully crafted to help him regain weight and muscle safely.

Through the world-class care and compassion of his dedicated critical care specialty team, Legend is now like a different dog. He is in healthy lean body condition and his coat is beautiful, devoid of any dermatitis or alopecia. The spring is back in his step, and he is playful and happy at his foster-hopefully soon to be forever-home.

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