Ean, the stray with an injured paw

Would you believe that there are happy strays? 

Contrary to popular belief, not all strays want a home, want to be rescued or are unhappy where they are. There are relatively happy strays who have the freedom to play, run around with their friends, are sterilized (so they don't constantly get mated on) and have a regular food source and feeders who check in on their well-being from time to time. Despite being exposed to the elements and going hungry and thirsty at times, some strays seem better-off not being a domestic pet and having the liberty to run around as they pleased. 

Although Ean was found with injuries, he isn't a typical miserable stray, like some that we have come across. When an elderly aunty feeder told us about him, we went down to search for him immediately but was unable to locate him. Then another group of feeders went down again in the evening with SOSD's Trap-Neuter-Rescue team and found him resting in a vacated building. Ean seem almost relieved that help had come for him and went into the carrier without much of a struggle. We guessed part of him instinctively knew he needed urgent medical aid. Smart boy! 

 

Ean hiding in the vacated building

 

Blood on floor of vacated building

 

           

At the clinic, because of the extent of his paw injury, he had to be sedated for the vet to assess his condition. His entire paw was maggot infested, there is an awful open wound with a lot of infected and dying tissue – the vet reckoned it's been about a week since his injury. In fact, its so badly infected that his leg is swollen right up to his knee. Imagine the amount of agony he has been through the entire week. Poor sweet boy. The vet estimated that he is a relatively young dog, maybe 5 to 6 yrs old as his teeth are in moderately good shape and he seems to have been sterilized. 

He came from the vicinity of Hay Dairies, which has deep forestation, so it came as no surprise that he has heartworm and also baby worms – We requested treatment for this to be started immediately. X-Ray scans on his left hind paw shows some broken bones and dislocation. Unfortunately all of his toe bones are dislocated and 1 of them is also shattered. 

       

The vet believes that something heavy might have fallen on his paw and in his haste and shock to get away, he might have injured it further. It is unlikely that a vehicle have rolled over his back paw because then he would have other injuries. Based on the severity of his injuries, it is most likely that his entire leg will be amputated because it likely will never heal and he won't be able to bear weight on it. Next week he is scheduled for a heart ultrasound to see how bad his heartworm is – and with the results we will then make a decision to him to go for surgery and proceed to amputate his hind leg. In the meantime, all maggots have been removed from his paw and wrapped up with disinfectant medications. The nurses will sedate him and clean his wound daily to prevent him from going through more pain. It looks like we are in a for a long haul and Ean is expected to stay at the vet for some weeks to fully recuperate from his awful injuries. 

Ean is a very handsome dog, with puppy eyes still and tilts his head curiously at the new environment and people around him. He is also slightly wary but not as skittish is most newly rescued strays. We think he'll start trusting us soon and let us pat him. However this poor little boy is also not eating, perhaps due to his surroundings that are foreign to him and maybe he do not understand why he is there. We hope it's just a simple case of him not being used to such bland hospital food. ☹ 

We need your help and support to see Ean (pronounced Ian) through this difficult time. He has been so brave and its fate and a stroke of luck that we've managed to catch him for medical treatment. The alternative would have been too distressing to imagine.

Email hopedogrescue@singnet.com.sg if you are able to cheer Ean on for the days ahead with us. Given the extent of his injuries, the vet bills are going to be hefty. We are grateful for any help that you can give. Thank you!