This little cutie is Apollo! When he began to show signs of pain and have a hard time walking, his mom took him to the vet, where he was diagnosed with a serious spinal condition known as intervertebral disc disease (IVDD). Apollo needed surgery to relieve...
This handsome kitty is Billy, a 4-year-old cat who needed urgent veterinary treatment for a life-threatening urinary blockage. Billy's dad is a single, full-time student who also works construction jobs to help make ends meet. He did not have the funds to fully afford Billy's needed...
Awareness about the hazards of toxic substances for pets is always an important topic for pet owners. This month, pet poison prevention is the focus during the week of March 20th to March 26th. New York’s Animal Medical Center has created this useful infographic listing the...
One of the most common feline health emergencies we see at FACE is urinary blockages caused by uroliths—crystals or stones that form in the bladder and then obstruct the urinary tract. Urinary obstructions, most often seen in male cats, are life-threatening emergencies because toxins build up...
As the sad images of Ukrainians fleeing their cities have been much in the news recently, you may have noticed that many refugees have been bringing their pets with them as they travel to safety in nearby countries. Fortunately, many European countries are making it easier...
This handsome kitty is Marston! Marston was diagnosed with a life-threatening urinary blockage after showing signs of distress and trouble urinating. He needed emergency perineal urethrostomy (PU) surgery to treat his urgent problem. Marston's dad had his job hours reduced during Covid and was trying his...
Kevin was adopted by his "furever" family after being found all alone in an abandoned house. When Kevin was diagnosed with a urethral obstruction that required urgent surgery, his family could not cover the full cost of his life-saving treatment. With the help of a FACE grant...
This adorable pup is Henna! Over the holidays, Henna began to have trouble walking. She made several emergency trips to the vet and spent 3 days at the hospital. It was determined that poor Henna was suffering from intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), a degenerative spinal condition...
This happy little guy is Oliver, an 11-year-old Shorkie (Shih Tzu-Yorkie mix). Oliver's dad noticed a lump in his pelvic area and took him to the vet, where he was diagnosed with a perineal hernia. Poor Ollie needed surgery to fix this serious problem. His dad...
Boe is a 4-year-old Chihuahua who got into a good bit of trouble recently. He escaped his yard by digging under the fence and then had a rough encounter with a coyote. Boe sustained a serious leg injury that required amputation. His family was unable to...
Don't let the name fool you--Doom is a sweet and playful 3-year-old cat who had a serious health problem recently. His mom took him to the vet after she noticed that he was struggling to go in the litter box. Doom was diagnosed with obstipation, a...
The winter holiday season is a time when many people indulge in rich foods to celebrate the holidays. It’s also a time when we might let our pets nibble at the special foods we prepare for ourselves, or we might also buy or make special...
An emergency veterinary clinic on Long Island made the news recently when two dogs were brought in within an hour of each other, both in life-threatening choking situations from swallowed toys. One of the dogs had swallowed a tennis ball and the other one swallowed a...
This handsome fellow is a 2-year-old Pit Bull Terrier named Petey. Petey was bitten by a rattlesnake when out for a walk recently. Rattlesnake bites can be life-threatening emergencies for dogs. Unfortunately, Petey's dad was laid off during the pandemic and was unable to pay for...
This little bundle of fur is Alaska! He's an energetic 2-month-old kitten who unfortunately was accidentally stepped on and suffered a broken femur, not an uncommon mishap in small kittens and puppies. Alaska's dad had lost his job and was living on unemployment benefits at the...
HR5261, known as the Paws Off Act of 2021, is making its way through the US House of Representatives. This act would amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to declare that foods containing xylitol would be misbranded if the label does not warn...
This cute pup is a 7-year-old Shih Tzu named Knuckles! Knuckles had been experiencing weakness in his hind legs and was also acting less energetic than usual. He got some pain meds from his family vet but unfortunately, a few days later he was dragging his...
Cute little Ruby is a one year old Chihuahua-Poodle mix. Recently, Ruby lost her appetite and began to vomit. A vet visit revealed that poor Ruby had a piece of chewed bone lodged at the base of her esophagus. Ruby needed emergency surgery to remove it...
The Sacramento Bee reports that the UC Davis California Veterinary Emergency Team Program will receive new state funding to deploy veterinary school professors and students to disasters like wildfires, and also train volunteer response teams around the state. UC Davis says that a major goal of...
Cute little Milbert is a two year old Dachshund who got into a bit of trouble recently when he ingested some feminine products and got an intestinal blockage. Milbert needed life-saving emergency surgery, but his mom only just recently found a new job after being unemployed...
2020 was a difficult year for all of us. For the 344 families helped by FACE grants last year, the hardships were compounded by their pets’ life-threatening veterinary emergencies. Many of our grantees saw changes to their financial situations during the height of the pandemic. When...