One day, staff at Barrow County Animal Control met a tiny puppy who appeared to be the runt of his litter.
Because of his open fontanelle, his mother continually pushed him away. Wanting to give him a chance, his owners decided to surrender him to the shelter so he could receive proper care.
Sadly, the little pup arrived in very poor condition. He was severely malnourished and dehydrated. The veterinary team also feared he may have suffered a seizure on the way to them. That meant they needed to act quickly and carefully.
Stay Strong, Little One
The medical team gave the puppy every medication he needed. They even set up a warm, cozy bed where he could finally rest.
But sadly, his condition didn’t improve. Over the next few days, he struggled to keep any food down. He also had frequent seizures and labored breathing.
They moved him into an oxygen chamber, hoping it would stabilize him. The team named him Stewie and kept a constant watch, ready to step in at any moment.
Finally, the pup began feeling better. He was able to keep his formula down, so the doctors At last, the little pup began to feel stronger. Once he managed to hold down his formula, the vets decided to feed him every two hours to keep him hydrated and nourished without stressing his system.
After many rounds of testing, the staff finally identified the root cause of his problems: Stewie had a severe roundworm infection.
It was a difficult diagnosis, but at least they now knew what they were facing.
Heartbreaking Turn of Events
The team started him on deworming treatments right away, which helped flush out the parasites.
Still, even with every medication and careful monitoring, they knew he wasn’t in the clear. But they never gave up. He received constant care and endless affection from the staff.
After six days, Stewie’s health remained fragile. At one point, he stopped breathing altogether. Thankfully, one of the vets managed to revive him just in time.
For days after, he continued to vomit and have seizures. Then one day, he stopped breathing again. This time, they couldn’t bring him back. Everyone at Barrow County Shelter was devastated.
What comforted them was knowing that Stewie crossed the rainbow bridge surrounded by love.
His short life is a powerful reminder of how vital the work of rescuers and veterinarians is. They do all they can to help the animals who need it most, even when the odds are against them.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who gave this sweet little soul a fighting chance. Your kindness means the world to animal lovers everywhere.