Dog Found In Kennel, Eating Anything To Survive

What would you do if you came across a dog lying helpless in a small kennel on a freezing day? This was Prima’s reality after being abandoned by her owners in the winter. Skinny and desperate, she ate whatever she could find to survive, which nearly led to fatal consequences.

When Prima was found, she was only days away from no return. Her condition was far worse than they thought, and urgent treatment was her savior.

Starving Pup

Dog Found In Kennel, Eating Anything To Survive. Image by Corridor Rescue Inc. via Facebook

Jannel and Robby, volunteers from Houston, Texas, found Prima during their regular stroll through a local park, where they fed abandoned animals. She was lying in one of the shelters set up by Corridor Rescue for stray animals in the winter.

Upon closer inspection, Jannel saw that Prima was not an ordinary stray. Her stomach was bloated, and she could barely move. They quickly went to investigate.

As they approached her kennel, they saw how extremely skinny Prima was. Her spine was visible, and her swollen belly suggested advanced heartworm disease. They offered her some food and water, which she hesitantly accepted.

“This girl was starved to the point that she ate anything she came across,” Corridor Rescue wrote in a Facebook post. Realizing Prima couldn’t survive on her own, they immediately contacted Corridor Rescue, who agreed to take her in.

“I was shocked at what I saw when she stepped out. She was emaciated with a very large stomach. I immediately started making phone calls knowing she needed rescue right away,” Janell wrote on Facebook.

After some time, they coaxed Prima out and loaded her into their car. During the ride to the rescue, she completely surrendered. Though frightened and wary of humans, she seemed to sense that her rescuers meant no harm.

Beating the Odds

At the vet, Prima was diagnosed with end-stage heartworms. This disease had migrated to her pulmonary artery, making surgical removal almost impossible.

The vets considered her a hospice patient. The rescue’s goal was to place her in a comfortable foster home where she would feel loved. Prima had already been through a lifetime of neglect, which lead to long-term trauma. Besides her physical condition, she struggled to adjust to new surroundings and people.

The vet team decided her only chance was an invasive, fast heartworm treatment involving a series of injections over several months. This was her last hope, and the rescue team determined to give her that chance. They kept her on fluids, fed her every few hours, and gave her necessary antibiotics.

During her treatment, Prima began to show signs of progress. Her swollen belly gradually disappeared, and she started feeling significantly better. Against all odds, Prima’s heartworms slowly vanished.

After exhausting treatment at the Texas rescue, Prima began to transform in her foster home. She started interacting with other dogs, enjoying her second chance at life. After all the hardships, it was finally time for her to thrive.

Happy Ending

Dog Found In Kennel, Eating Anything To Survive. Image by Corridor Rescue Inc. via Facebook

Within a few months, Prima was unrecognizable. She turned into an affectionate, loving dog. She was sweet and playful, fully embracing her new world. Her foster parents described her as a ‘snuggler’, and impossible to photograph unless she was asleep.

Once declared a hospice patient, Prima was now ready for a new home and a new beginning. And soon enough, her new family found her.

Wrap Up

Prima now thrives with a wonderful family and couldn’t be happier. She shines in her new environment, embracing each day as a fresh adventure.

Thanks to the big-hearted rescuers who never gave up on her, Prima has a whole new life ahead!

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About
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Kiah Bettison

Author at Animals Around The Globe. BSc Media Studies

Kiah is a Capetonian, fascinated by how each animal plays a significant part within our ecosystem, forming a bubble of life. As a nature lover and wave chaser, she finds solace in the waves and serenity in the great outdoors.

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