Oh, Do You Know the Muffin Frog?

Sadly, we've come to know all too many dogs like Muffin over the years. Fortunately, a wonderful shelter worker was willing to put her into our hands, and Muffin is doing better now, after only two days on medicine and a day at the vet's in an oxygen tent. Here's her foster mom's story:
"Shelterdog Muffin... made it home with me. It is shocking!!!!!!!!
She is tiny, so skinny, has a bad cold, nasty eyes, no front teeth, many C-section
scars, funny looking feet, etc. Not sure about her disposition yet, when meeting good ole Vinnie she seemed a little on guard? But he is 33 lbs and she must weigh in at a hefty 10 lbs or so?
Here are some pictures, I am going to give her a bath. The Shelter said she has not eaten all week but I made her some chicken and green beans and she ate it! More later. The strange thing is: her body looks so old but her eyes look young? I wonder how old she is, my guess is 8 or 9? She looks sick to me! ...I can tell that at one time she must have been a real looker, she is one of the tiniest Frenchies!"



That night, Muffin met her foster dad like he was Santa Claus and spent the whole evening, after a much needed bath, scootched up next to him watching the tv. The next day, Muffin went to see the vet. It was very bad news for a dog already so sick. Very bad heartworm. Her breathing difficulties when Muffin lay down came from the heartworm. She stayed at the vet's overnight. Here's what her foster mom said when she picked her up:

"What a difference a day makes! My Vet had started Muffin on an aggressive heartworm-treatment that I was unaware of. I guess we misunderstood each other?
Anyway, I was shocked and scared. Let me tell you, the Muffin I picked up an hour ago is not the same dog! She is on Crate-rest for a month and is hooting and hollering to get out. She charged every dog in the waitingroom. She is feisty and breathing so much better, all in 1 day! Amazing! She has pills for her heart and pills for her lungs, other than that she does not go back for a month! She is not well by any means but not half dead anymore, either. She sure does not care for Vinnie at all! Poor Vinnie, he wants to play.
It will be a long road of recovery for Muffin (I call her Peanut) but now there is hope. She weighs more than she looks, she is 16 lbs with all her ribs showing! Her terrible teeth, her shots etc., will be addressed much later.
I have been a wreck over this little dog, it was so scary to watch her struggle for every breath.
Now she is wearing herself out crying and barking to get out of her kennel. This picture I took just now."

Muffin will need plenty of time to feel better, and a whole month in the life of a dog is a very long time! One of our volunteers is knitting her a sweater, while others are sending toys to keep her occupied while she endures the deprivations of The Crate.

We are so happy that this little stray, lost or stolen or dumped after who knows how many litters, is safe and undergoing treatment. We also have a lot of empathy for poor ol' Vinnie, who seems to have missed the boat this time when it comes to friendly foster dogs. We'll keep you posted as we learn more about Muffin, promises

The Frog Princess