 Let's give Nova the Cat, who has diabetes, a big round of APPLAWSE for losing a whopping 6 pounds! Irene, who is elderly and lives on a fixed income, absolutely adores her 8-year-old cat, Nova, who has diabetes. And Irene is dedicated to making her fur baby’s health a top priority. She's made great strides to keep Nova's chronic care costs down by asking local shelters for donated syringes and by keeping in-home supplies for monitoring Nova's blood glucose levels. But Irene recently found herself in a predicament because she didn’t know how she would pay for emergency diabetes-related treatment Nova needed. She reached out to Phinney's, and we're so glad we were able to help. Nova got the emergency care she needed, and the vet reported that she's lost 6 pounds, an important accomplishment because weight management can be a successful way to lessen the effects of diabetes in pets. Way to go Nova and Irene! There are many other pets like Nova who have chronic conditions, and with your continued help Phinney's can make sure their pet parents don't have to worry about how they'll pay for their ongoing vet care and supplies. Weight Management Matters Managing a pet’s weight can be extremely difficult. Our fur babies can’t tell us if we are under or over feeding them. It’s hard to tell what the proper amount of food to give each pet is, since it depends on many things, from age and breed, to activity level. Weight management is extremely important however, because having an overweight or underweight pet can lead to further health problems. Obesity leads to diabetes and heart disease, while being underweight leads to overall fatigue from lack of nutrients, and lower quality of life or emotional distress. Visit Phinney’s Care Corner for more information.
0 Comments
 Phinney's helped O'Riely get the dental care needed to chew better. Phinney’s recently helped pay for an expensive dental procedure little O’Riely needed. This six-year-old Boston Terrier/Yorkie Mix suffered from an abscessed tooth fracture on the left side of his upper jaw, and had stopped eating – poor little guy!
But we’re so happy to hear he’s feeling better now that he’s gotten the medical care he deserved. His fur mom, Kimberly, originally put O’Riely on antibiotics after his diagnosis to reduce the swelling and pain, but that was just a temporary solution. And it was all she could afford. O’Riely found himself suffering again, only chewing on the right side of his mouth once the antibiotics wore off. Kimberly felt stuck because other organizations did not get back to her. We’re so grateful we were able to answer the call to get O’Riely the care he needed, which consisted of pre-op blood work and a tooth extraction. O’Riely’s care, while pricey and extensive, was imperative as poor dental health can cause pets to suffer a lower quality of life and cause other diseases. Even though Kimberly tried preventative measures, like taking away certain bones and chews that can fracture teeth, she knew it was too late for O'Riely’s teeth. They wouldn't heal on their own, so he needed surgery. We’re so glad we were able to help thanks to generous donations from caring people! Thank you for being a supporter of our wonderful mission of keeping pets and their people together.  Thanks to the kindness and concern of Phinney's volunteers, Little Bit spent time with a nice foster family while his cat dad, John, recovered from an illness in the hospital. When it comes to caring for the pets we all love so much, indeed every little bit helps! And, it sometimes takes a village to make sure the furbabies that make our lives so special have what they need when their pet parents need to be hospitalized and can't look after them temporarily. That's what happened to this handsome boy Little Bit, who's person John needed Phinney's help. Thanks to our dedicated volunteer Starr, and the foster mom she found for Little Bit - our faithful volunteer Faye - he got the care he needed while his cat dad was on the mend. If you've ever wondered if doing a little something to help is going to be enough, rest assured: EVERY LITTLE BIT helps! Whether you're interested in volunteering, fostering, or donating to support Phinney's mission, your care matters. This amazing black and white pile of love is a testament to that.  Griffin and his person, Tina, are ever-so-grateful for the help Phinney's has been able to give for his ongoing medical care. Griffin, who stole everyone’s hearts last year when we helped him undergo an emergency leg amputation due to a devastating leg break, is back at it! We recently learned this mini-Pinscher heartthrob needs Phinney's help in getting some bloodwork and radiographs done ahead of a dental procedure, which is scheduled for March. Thanks to generous donations to Phinney’s, weare able to assist Griffin’s person Tina, who can't afford the cost on her own. Griffin, one of Phinney’s beloved Godpets, is indeed a real trooper, who's been through a lot. In addition to undergoing his leg amputation, he's got ongoing eye and thyroid issues and a couple of years back he had to have more than a dozen teeth extracted due toresorptive lesions, a condition that’s more common in cats but less prevalent in dogs. The dental X-rays he gets in March should tell if there are more resorptive lesions requiring attention. We know that with the love people share in their hearts for him and the other pets that Phinney's helps we can continue to be there for them thanks to donations from special people like you.  Gustavo is a calming force for his cat mom. So, when he needed emergency treatment and surgery to save him from a life-threatening urinary blockage, we were so glad his family reached out for Phinney's help.
Unable to work, his mom just couldn’t afford the medical care Gustavo needed. Fortunately, thanks to generous donations, Phinney’s was able to cover the cost of Gustavo’s surgery, who’s still a young guy and doing well, recovering post-op at home. “You have no idea how much this means to us,” his grandma said, reflecting on how tough things have been the past couple of years for her daughter. “This gave us so much light in our world! Thank you so much again,” she wrote. Perhaps one of the most heartwarming things about Gustavo’s story is that his mom said she intends to pay it forward in the future and spread the word about how to donate to Phinney’s. This means a lot to us because we always want to be prepared to jump into action when a pet needs our help. Together, we can do this!  Little Wendy, a 13-year-old dog, recently needed 20 teeth extracted at Second Chance Community Vet Hospital in Worcester. With Phinney’s help, Wendy underwent a full-mouth extraction to prevent more infection and improve her quality of life. We are so happy we were able to help little Wendy and her mom, Catherine, who couldn’t afford the surgery on her own. Phinney’s also recently came to the aid of Molly, a 12-year-old Puggle mix. Her person noticed that Molly was struggling to eat. Food would fall to the back of her mouth. This made little Molly make some strange noises, which sounded uncomfortable and possibly painful to her. Tests at the vet’s office revealed several infected, loose teeth, and Molly needed immediate radiographs and extractions. While her person kept up on routine check-ups, she could not afford dental surgery. We are so pleased that we were able to help so Molly got the care she needed! Wendy and Molly are just a couple of the many lovable pets we have been able to help through Phinney’s Emergency Program. When you donate, you can help pets like Wendy and Molly get the immediate care they need to address what ails them. Make a donation today to help other pets like Molly and Wendy! Many Dogs at Risk for Dental Disease Did you know that, according to an article published by VCA Animal Hospitals, more than 80% of dogs over the age of three have dental disease? Learn how to spot the early signs of dental disease in your pet, along with tips on maintaining your dog's teeth by visiting https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/dental-disease-in-dogs. Other resources for preventative pet care and general safety tips about dental care and other health and wellness topics can be found on Phinney's Care Corner page.  Did you know guinea pigs require regular grooming from their owners? Just like your dog and cat, guinea pigs need regular nail trimmings, coat brushing, and teeth maintenance.
Elizabeth came to Phinney’s Friends with her guinea pig Jeffrey, in need of a nail clipping. Jeffrey received care from Ghilaine Marino, a DVM who volunteers here at Phinney’s. Thanks to our wonderful volunteers like Ghilaine, pets like Jeffrey can receive the services they need to stay healthy and well-groomed. “Jeffrey was an excellent patient! He is thriving and well loved. He is one lucky little pig!” Ghilaine said. Phinney’s is always happy to provide owners with services and assistance for their pets hygiene so they can live a fulfilling life. Along with nail care, there are other grooming musts for guinea pigs. Visit Phinney’s Care Corner to learn more. Phinney’s is always in need of wonderful Volunteers like Ghilaine to carry out the services given to pets like Jeffrey. Check out our volunteer opportunities on our website or ways you can donate to support pets like Jeffrey in getting the care they need.  How can you not swoon over Man II? With his lustrous black coat, Man II is quite a debonair dude! And he’s been a special and lasting companion to his dad, Wendall, who gets cat food and cat litter deliveries from Phinney's.
Up until recently, Man II didn’t have any major medical emergencies. In April 2021, Man II had to undergo dental surgery, poor guy. Thanks to the generous support of people who sponsor Man II through Phinney's Godparents program, we were able to ensure he got the treatment he needed. Since having one lower Premolar and one molar root tip extracted, Man II now eats without difficulty or pain. Wendall calls Phinney's Friends “fantastic.” He said he appreciates all the help we provide for Man II, which includes regular vet checks and preventative care on top of the pet supplies. Man II has had some back leg pain, which might be arthritis, so over time, he might need more care. With the loving support of his Godparents, we know that Man II and Wendall can continue to get the help they need. Being a Godparent to Man II is an easy and caring way to make a difference in his life and Wendall’s life, too. He tells us that while Man II likes to be independent, he’s a steady force who helps tremendously when Wendall is anxious and stressed.  Sponsoring a godpet makes a real difference in their lives. Take Sargent Stubby, aka Sarge, for example. This sweet lovebug, age 11, has chronic health issues. And when the vet recently recommended additional blood work, Phinney’s covered the costs of the tests his dog mom can’t afford on her own.
He got the tests he needed thanks to the generous donations of those who support Sarge directly through Phinney's Godparents Program. His blood work showed a significant increase in his liver values from earlier in the year. The vet said Sarge may have Cushing's disease and/or liver or gallbladder-related issues, which they’ll continue to monitor. It’s likely Sarge will need radiographs and an ultrasound at some point, too. For now, we’re just so happy that Sarge can continue to live his best life with his doting dog mom, who is also elderly and needs Sarge’s help as a service dog. If you would like to sponsor Sarge or another godpet, please visit phinneys.org/be-a-godparent. Your contributions help ensure that godpets like Sarge get the ongoing help they need—whether it’s for food, supplies, or vet bills.  Muffin, who had nail caps on, became wobbly. She was falling over and limping. Even though her nails were being trimmed, some of Muffin’s nails got embedded in her paw pads because the caps wouldn't come off.
The vet recommended emergency surgery to remove the nail caps so Muffin’s nails wouldn’t cause an infection or more discomfort and pain. Muffin's mom, Jessica, heard of Phinney’s, applied for assistance and qualified. And now free from the pesky nail caps, Muffin is again doing great. Jessica said Phinney’s was a tremendous help to them both, and that she can tell Muffin is thankful for the generous donations that made it possible for her cat to get the care she needed. Muffin has been “very affectionate” since she’s been on the mend, Jessica adds. “She used to sleep where no one could ever see her. Now she’s all over everyone. She’s better than ever, I can tell you she certainly says a big thank you!” When you donate to Phinney’s emergency fund, you can help a pet like Muffin get the immediate care they need to address what ails them. You can learn more about how to donate to this and our other funds here. And for more information on how to care for your cat’s nails, visit Phinney’s Care Corner. |
RSS Feed
|
Phinney's is an all-volunteer registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit that helps low-income people keep their pets. U.S. federal tax ID 94-3475924. All content on this website is the property of Phinney's Friends, Inc. unless otherwise noted. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
PO Box 425, Lincoln, MA 01773
Phone: 617-203-2053 Fax: 617-979-8705 |
