When a Weimaraner was reported to be on the verge of death at a high-kill shelter, the Rescue Team acted immediately. However, they were horrified when they saw a dog with a tumor so large that it could barely stand when they got there.
His name is Gilbert Grape. How he was able to live so long without medical attention is a mystery. Keri Pink, a media relations volunteer, told DogHeirs the story of Gilbert Grape. She describes how the lost dog was saved and how it is progressing towards recovery.
According to Keri, a male Weimaraner was picked up as a stray by local animal control officers and taken to the county’s high kill shelter on a typical Arizona summer day when temperatures hit 95 degrees. He couldn’t stand or move because of the huge tumor and the illness he was carrying. The dog was placed on the concrete floor of the shelter’s isolation area, where the animals awaited their ᴅᴇᴀᴅ from illness or aggression.
He has a program that allows pre-approved, nationally recognized rescues to take in animals under medical permits, but the stray shelter’s process is to store animals without screening for 72 hours to allow the owner to receive it. Gilbert Grape because of the huge tumor that was shaped like a grape and hung from its chest, was taken to a specialized 24-hour veterinary facility, where it was determined that in order for their sᴜʀɢᴇᴏɴ to attempt to remove the tumor, he will need a blood transfusion and intravenous catheter stabilization.
Gilbert’s exact age and health are unclear, but his blood tests are largely normal; His expected lifespan is about seven. “We saw a glint in Flanagan’s eyes and wanted to give him a chance, but in the end we realized we needed everyone’s support”.
To choose the best course of action for the dog’s future, we sought the advice of many veterinarians and surgeons.
Gilbert underwent a simple procedure and recovered quickly in the intensive care unit. He was discharged two days later and has since thrived. According to the report, the pathology report of Gilbert’s 12-pound tumor revealed that it was simply a benign fatty tumor a week after his surgery Gilbert has long been cancer-free.
Surgical pins in his chest were removed at a follow-up visit and he received a clean health certificate. Veterinarians assumed that Gilbert, on the other hand, suffered from muscle loss and physiological stress due to compensating for carrying the tumor for at least a year.
A year after being rescued, Gilbert has been adopted and is growing up in a “very loving and caring home.” His family has a pool so he can swim for regular water treatments despite being diagnosed with hip dysplasia, and he gets along very well with his new family.
“Gilbert’s story reached a significant number of individuals and some adoption applications were most likely accepted as a result.” He has a bright future ahead of him even if he’s not ready yet