Infirmary
The following Boxers are rescues who come to us in pretty bad shape and require extra medical attention. We will post weekly updates on our patients. As always, donations toward their medical care are greatly appreciated.
Myles
Meet Myles, the newest addition to ABR. For only being 7 months old, this poor boy has certainly had a very rough start in life. His young body is covered in parasites, inside and out. On the outside, Myles has one of the worst cases of demodectic mange we have ever seen. Demodectic mange is a treatable skin disease caused by parasitic mites. When left untreated, it can cause secondary skin infections. Myles was obviously left untreated for a long time, because his skin infection is so bad that he has bleeding sores and scabs all over his face, neck and chest. And if that wasn’t enough, Myles is also extremely underweight and has intestinal parasites. Despite how uncomfortable he must be, he’s such a sweet boy with a heart of gold. The road ahead for Myles will be a long one, but he’s up for the fight.
Faith
A picture of Faith brings to mind the phrase "nothing but skin and bones.” Each of her ribs protrudes and her waist measures only three inches across. She is malnourished, terribly under-weight, and has been horribly neglected. Faith came from the shelter a "hot mess" as Dr. Merritt from Paces Ferry Veterinary Clinic says. She has numerous infections including a case of heartworms. Because Faith was so unaccustomed to eating regular meals, she could not stomach "normal" dog food. A group of volunteers from ABR has been cooking up meals of chicken and rice mixed with yogurt to help Faith's belly adjust to a proper diet. Faith's teeth are a wreck as well. They are broken or worn down, apparently from trying to chew her way out of a crate. The skin on her legs is calloused, which also indicates that she has been left in a crate for long stretches of time. Imagine a Boxer, one of the most playful breeds of dogs, locked up and neglected in a crate for who knows how long.
What you don't see when you look at a picture of this poor, neglected Boxer is her faith in human kindness. Aptly named, somehow this sweet girl still has a tail-wag for the ABR volunteers and the good people at Dogma Doggie Daycare who are helping nurse Faith back to health. She still has the ability to see the good in mankind, despite the neglect she experienced in her previous life. When you read Faith's story you may feel sad. Or it might be that you get angry that someone could treat an animal this way. Atlanta Boxer Rescue is hoping that you also will feel moved to help. Veterinary care for a Boxer in Faith's condition is not cheap! Even with support from Paces Ferry and Dogma, Faith's rehabilitation will be costly. Please join ABR in helping to restore this wonderful Boxer back to good health by donating here.
Reuben
Hi, my name is Reuben. I was picked up as a stray by animal control after apparently being abandoned by my previous owners. It made me sad that most people thought I wasn't worth saving due to a really bad-looking growth on my eye. But the nice people from ABR could see beyond that and rescued me just in the nick of time - whew! Not only do I have the eye issue, but the doctor said I also have heartworms and kennel cough. But on the bright side, although very expensive, these issues will be treated. If it were not for donations from our generous donors, I guess my life might have been over by now.
MERLIN
Bald is beautiful unless you happen to be a Boxer! Merlin came to ABR with such a terrible case of mange that he had no hair! Thinking back to the harsh Winter and snow this year, it is hard to imagine how this little guy survived. In addition to Merlin’s terrible mange, he was also greatly malnourished. Not an ounce of body fat to help insulate from the cold! This dramatic malnourishment has possibly stunted Merlin’s growth. Merlin might maintain his puppy-like appearance permanently. This sad Boxer’s state wasn’t helped much by a broken leg. Merlin had a fracture of his radius and ulna directly above the wrist. Georgia Vet Specialists took good care of him and gave him a metal plate to make him stronger than ever! Abracadabra! After a few short weeks magic-Merlin was up and hobbling around with the other boxers in the house.
His road to recovery has been a long and painful one. Had Merlin stayed a stray it is unlikely he would have survived much longer. Dogs like Merlin who end up in shelters rarely make it out alive. Animal control facilities just don’t have the resources or means to care for a dog in such desperate need of medical attention. Generous donations to ABR help save dogs like Merlin, who otherwise wouldn’t stand a chance. Merlin’s care has been costly. Please help ABR continue to rescue dogs like Merlin by making a donation to help cover the cost of his medical care.
HEARTWORMS
Adult heartworms live in the heart and pulmonary arteries of infected dogs. They survive up to 5 years and during this time, the female produces millions of baby worms (microfilaria). These microfilaria live in the bloodstream, mainly in the small blood vessels.
Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoes. The female mosquito bites the infected dog and ingests the microfilariae during a blood meal. The microfilariae develop further for 10-30 days in the mosquito and then enter the mouth parts of the mosquito. The mosquito bites another dog and transmits the disease to that other dog.
When fully developed, the infective larvae enter the bloodstream and move to the heart and adjacent vessels, where they grow to maturity in 2 to 3 months and start reproducing.
Adult worms cause disease by clogging the heart and major blood vessels leading from the heart. They interfere with the valve action in the heart. By clogging the main blood vessels, the blood supply to other organs of the body is reduced, particularly the lungs, liver and kidneys, leading to malfunction of these organs.
A lot of dogs infected with heartworms do not show any signs of disease for as long as two years. Unfortunately, by the time signs are seen, the disease is well advanced. The obvious signs of the disease are a soft, dry, chronic cough, shortness of breath, weakness, nervousness, listlessness and loss of stamina. A lot of these signs are most noticeable following exercise where dogs can faint from the lack of air passing through their lungs.
There is some risk involved in treating dogs with heartworms. The treatment to kill adult worms is an injectable drug that will kill the worms in the heart and adjacent vessels over a period of about 30 – 45 days.
Complete rest is essential after treatment: some adult worms die in a few days and start to decompose; the remainder will die during the 30-45 days. As they break up, they are carried to the lungs, where they lodge in the small blood vessels and are eventually reabsorbed by the body. This is a dangerous period, and is it essential that the dog be kept quiet and not be allowed to exercise. The first couple of weeks after the injections are very critical because the worms are dying. A cough is noticeable for 7 to 8 weeks after treatment in heavily infected dogs.
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Demodex Mange
 
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Demodectic mange (also known as red mange, follicular mange, or puppy mange) is a skin disease, generally of young dogs, caused by the mite, Demodex canis. All dogs raised normally by their mothers possess this mite as mites are transferred from mother to pup via cuddling during the first few days of life. Most dogs live in harmony with their mites, never suffering any consequences from being parasitized. If, however, conditions change to upset the natural equilibrium (such as some kind of suppression of the dog's immune system), the Demodex mites may "gain the upper hand." The mites proliferate and can cause serious skin disease
The lesions and signs of demodectic mange usually involve hair loss; crusty, red skin; and at times, a greasy or moist appearance. The mites prefer to live in the hair follicles, so in most cases, hair loss is the first noted sign. Usually, hair loss begins around the muzzle, eyes, and other areas on the head. The lesions may or may not itch. In localized mange, a few circular crusty areas will be noted, most frequently on the head and forelegs of young dogs 3-6 months of age. Most of these lesions will self heal as the puppies become older and develop their own immunity. Persistent lesions will need treatment. In cases in which the whole body is involved (generalized mange), there will be areas of hair loss over the entire coat, including the head, neck, abdomen, legs, and feet. The skin along the head, side, and back will be crusty and oftentimes inflamed. It will often crack and ooze a clear fluid. Hair will be scant, but the skin itself will often be oily to the touch. There is usually a secondary bacterial infection. Some animals can become quite ill and develop a fever, lose their appetite, and become lethargic. Patients with generalized demodectic mange need immediate vigorous treatment.
The treatment of Demodectic mange is usually accomplished with lotions, dips, and shampoos. Fortunately, 90% of demodectic mange cases are localized, in which only a few small areas are involved and can often be treated topically.