Stray Dog's Rare Health Issues Are No Match For His Warrior Spirit
Sometimes a dog reaches out to you from a photograph on social media and you are hooked.
That's what happened when Emily Randolph, Vice President and Board member of Fur-Ever Home Rescue, saw a photo of a little dog who looked nothing like she had ever seen, sitting in the Humane Society of Central Texas. Emily immediately arranged for this dog to be taken into temporary foster through her friends at Southern Paws Transport in Arkansas, until Emily could make the drive there from Minnesota.
Loki's shelter photoHuman Society of Central Texas
Loki arrived as a stray with no known history. His looks are quite unique from his extreme under-bite to his Merle coloring. Once in Arkansas he had an echocardiogram and a bronchoscopy. When Emily got back to Minnesota, she brought him to the University of Minnesota's College of Veterinary Medicine to be more fully examined. The vet could not believe how small his airway was - the smallest he had ever seen. Emily also noted that there wasn't a person who didn't stop to give him some love.
Says Emily: 'He is quite the attraction.'
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In addition to Loki's tiny and obstructed airway, he was also diagnosed with paralysis of the voice box, a deformity of his breast bone, an enlarged heart and bone deformities in all four legs. He had laryngeal tie-back surgery to help him breathe better. There is no other way to correct his small windpipe or concave chest at his age. The vet was hopeful that as the once-emaciated dog gained weight and muscle, his legs would self correct. Improvement has been noted.
While it's hard not to feel sorry for him with all of these conditions, you can't help but feel immense love for him. He was named Loki after the Norse God of trickery because he is a spit-fire who bounces around, nibbles elbows and makes "gremlin" noises.
Loki with his foster familyEmily Randolph
Fur-Ever Home Rescue is based out of the Twin Cities area in Minnesota. They are a smaller, foster-based rescue that chooses to specialize in animals normally passed by due to behavioral issues or health concerns. They are dedicated to providing high standards for quality care and education and training of the animals they rescue. In seeking a potential adopter for Loki, his health needs will surely be considered. The adopter must know he will be facing many challenges that will be emotionally and possibly financially draining. Due to the surgery he has already undergone, he is more susceptible to illness. Since the natural part of the throat that allows air into his airways is now always open from the tie back surgery, his food and water intake must be closely monitored to watch for aspiration.
Emily feels because Loki lived the first 11 months of his life on his own like this, before his surgery and in the Texas heat, he is a true warrior. She says, "This guy is on a mission to live life to the fullest and he isn't letting anything stop him - not even that huge list of medical issues."
karinnewstrom.com
Visit Loki's page at Loki -The Little Warrior.