Alfonso

When Alfonso was found back in April of 2023, he was clinging to life by a thread. Every day since, Alfonso fought for survival.  This sweet boy came into our care with a nasty Upper Respiratory Infection (URI) that had already weaseled its way into much of his body. His tail was irreparably injured, causing him debilitating pain. Heartworms were infesting his heart and he had wasted away to little more than skin and bones.

We didn't know much about Alfonso's past, nor what other ailments might be lurking beneath the surface, so a full diagnostic workup was ordered. However, we knew that tackling these issues alone would require a ton of medical care, let alone whatever else we would find. He also needed a lot of high-calorie food and supplements to nourish his fragile body. Alfonso's recovery would not be easy or inexpensive, but we made a commitment to nurse this big boy back to health and give him the life he deserved.

At the beginning of May, Alfonso began treatment for his Heartworm disease.  Heartworms are extremely prevalent in our area, due to the hot and muggy weather. Treatment for large dogs like Great Danes can be extremely expensive, but this illness would quickly claim Alfonso's life if left unaddressed. However, this process can be grueling on the body, so we knew we had to help Alfonso gain weight as quickly as possible.

In mid-June, we noticed that the site where Alfonso's tail was docked had become necrotic. We rushed him to the vet in the early morning, but we learned there was not enough healthy skin to amputate the rest of the tail. Alfonso was boarded at the vet for two weeks, where his wound was cleaned three times a day and antibiotics and pain management medication could be administered. Ultimately, Alfonso was able to undergo surgery to have the rest of his tail removed.

Alfonso's care was only growing more costly, but thanks to the generous CUDDLY donations, we were able to give this sweet boy everything he needed. Alfonso still had a long road ahead of him, and we spent the next several months attending to this gentle giant's every need. Finally, after a tumultuous healing journey, Alfonso found his forever home. He has a new sister named Mango and they have already become the best of friends. We could not imagine a more perfect match for Alfonso, and we wish him every happiness in his new life.