I am so excited to let everyone know that sweet Remi is doing wonderful and will be leaving ICU tomorrow.   This amazing dog has been in critical condition for the last ten days.   He has not had to have a transfusion for the last two days, and his body is finally beginning to regenerate itself.   Since this horrible nightmare began for Remi, he has had a total of sixteen transfusions.  He would not be here today if it hadn't been for the incredible medical care and the transfusions that he desperately needed to survive. His lower intestine was in such horrible shape when he arrived that he could not have been given any new dewormers.   It was only after the mucous membrane in his lower GI began to respond to the treatment that he was able to endure more deworming.  

Remi lost quite a bit of weight during this ordeal.   His feeding tube has been removed, and he is now eating like a champ.   It should not take him long to put his weight back on.   If you look at him now, you would never know this is the same dog that five days ago was fighting to stay alive.   We have given dogs a lot of transfusions but nothing even close to what Remi had.  If we had not kept up with the blood loss, he would have lost consciousness and died.  He kept everyone on their toes for one solid week, 24 hours a day.  Every 5 minutes, his body kept changing.  There was never a time we felt he was going to make it until a couple of days ago.   My anxiety level went through the roof every time he needed another transfusion.  He was so bad that it took two transfusions each time just to get him stable.   I became an expert on the cost of blood and packed cells.   Both are expensive, and both were required.   I don't have Remi's final bill until he checks out of the hospital but as of yesterday, his bill was way over $20,000.  We need to do our best to pay his final bill when he leaves tomorrow.  If you haven't donated or have money to spare, please send whatever you can so we do not have the burden of carrying this bill forward.    We have lots of dogs needing medical care that are still being treated.

All of Remi's medical problems could have been prevented if the person doing his heartworm treatment had taken the safest course to treat Remi.  There are no shortcuts when it comes to treating animals.  You either do it the correct way, or you should not be treating the animal at all.   Owners come to Vets for Guidance on the best possible care for their animal.   Don't let them or the animal down by shorting their medical care.   Remi is one of the lucky ones.  So many are not so lucky and don't have a Noah's Arks Rescue to save them.  Don't be afraid to ask questions when you take your dog to the Vet.  If you are not comfortable with your Vet or a procedure they want to do, leave and find another Vet.   Your dog's Life may depend on it.  

Thanks for caring and being part of the amazing Journey Remi had to take to survive his heartworm treatment.   He took a very scary detour that almost did not lead back home.    The good news is that he will be going back to the Family that rescued him originally.   They signed over Remi so Noah's Arks Rescue could take over his medical care.   To get him back, they had to fill out our Adoption Application and Contract.  Once we got the Application, they had to go through the same thorough process we do for all of our Applicants.   The good news is that they passed with flying colors.   Remi will be going home tomorrow.