Happy Ending Stories are written by clinical year veterinary students on rotation with Cornell’s Maddie’s (R) Shelter Medicine Program.
This is sweet Cody, a 9-year-old dog brought to the Tompkins County SPCA in early October with his schnauzer sister, when their owners could no longer care for them. Upon arrival, Cody had matted hair and was very itchy, with red marks all over his skin from scratching. The culprit? Fleas.
Fleas are the most common external parasite of dogs. They bite their host to get a blood meal, and their bites and saliva make dogs very itchy. They are important to treat not only because of the discomfort, but also because they can transmit disease. Fleas can carry bacteria that cause illness and can also carry tapeworms.
For Cody, we shaved much of his matted hair away to improve his comfort and we gave him a long-lasting anti-flea medication. Cody also had severe dental disease, with lots of unhealthy, rotting and loose teeth covered in plaque and tartar, along with gingivitis (inflamed gums). Cody received an anesthetized dental examination, we removed his most diseased teeth and cleaned the remaining ones.
Cody was nervous and quiet when he first arrived, but with a little time, patience and the help of his sister, he became more comfortable in the shelter! We are happy to report that Cody and his sister have been adopted together. Happy life, little ones!
by Lizzie Riley, DVM student
