Zorro/Mr Z came in about two weeks ago as a cruelty case with third degree burns covering 1/3 of his body. someone set fire to him while he was in his backyard. After four critical days in the hospital, I picked him up and took him home to begin healing. He was returned to the owner at their request, however one week later (8/23), the owner surrendered Mr. Z. Taking care of a dog burned as severly as he is takes a lot of work: multiple pain meds, antibiotics, and hydrotherapy twice a day.
When I went to pick him up at Town Lake Animal Shelter, I and their staff were appalled: Mr. Z could hardly walk, had huge, wide strips of skin and fur hanging off of him, and reeked of burnt flesh and singed fur. Mr. Z was still the same sweet dog as before, attempting to wag his tail, even though he was shivering in violent pain.
That night was rough for him. No amount of pain medicine I gave him could allieviate his pain; his condition had deteriorated significantly over that week. Thankfully, Dr. Jefferson had me bring Mr. Z into Lake Austin Vet Hospital the next night. She and three vet techs worked on Mr. Z for two hours, cleaning his oozing wounds and removing huge areas of dead skin from his body. What a difference that has made!
Mr. Z is still undergoing daily hydrotherapy, which is no fun at all, but he is the best patient one could ever hope for. I think he knows that everyone he's dealing with now is firmly on his side. Even though the back half and underside of his body looks like a smoked turkey leg, he has not once cried or whined.
He's housebroken, but his wounds are too severe to use the dog door, so when nature calls, he comes in and gives me a few kisses, turns around and starts walking toward the front door! And he gets along great with my (sometimes crotchety) senior dogs - quite a feat! More info/progress and photos to come soon!