Nala
Nala is a true example of how determination, resilience and strength can help overcome some of life hardest obstacles. Nala’s journey with us started in a dire situation, in July of 2020. A Good Samaritan contacted us about a 4 months old puppy that was left inside a box outside their building with a note stating that the puppy needed help. When we picked up Nala from the Good Samaritan, she was in worse shape than we thought as she could not walk or even hold her head up. We were afraid that she might not make it through her first night at the hospital. We later learned after the vet examined her that her head was larger than normal, she could not see, was unable to eat solid food and was severely underweight, weighing only 10 lbs.
After being hospitalized, many tests were done and Nala was diagnosed with hydrocephalus (water on the brain), which is often congenital or may sometimes be caused by past trauma. We were told that if there was no change in her health with the medications after 48-72 hours, the prognosis would be very guarded. It took time to figure the right dosages of medications and treatment for little Nala. Fortunately, after being hospitalized for several more days, Nala started to show slight improvement and was able to go to her foster home.
Nala wasn’t out of the woods just yet. We were still unsure whether she would keep improving, so just in case, the plan was to spoil and love her as much as possible. After about a week of diligent care in her foster home, Nala had started to gain some weight but still had weakness in her legs and lack of coordination. Nala would try her best to stand without falling and she was able to hear a gain slight vision(although slower to focus) and her head was still 1.5 to 2x its normal size.
The gradual road of her improvement over the past months has been bumpy at times, with ups & downs, many vet visits, & making sure that she gets the proper adjustments to her daily medications / vitamins /supplements to ensure she is living the best quality of life she can with her condition. She’s had the help of leg braces, non skid booties, and swim therapy to help strengthen her legs so she can walk better.
Nala has made AMAZING progress and surpassed many challenges. She is a fierce little fighter eager to live her happy life! She is now weighting in at 35lbs, is stronger and taller and enjoys running around the yard and even jumping in the puddles (which is her favorite)! Nala is very smart and has learned alot from her foster fur-siblings, whom she loves to cuddle and sleep with. At times, she can be finicky about her food and needs to be hand-fed to ensure she receives the proper amount of nourishment. She a little girl with a bit of sassiness ( and her foster mom wouldn’t prefer it any other way) she knows how to ask for what she wants and seems to have an agenda of her own !
Nala has turned 1 year old now and is growing at her own pace. Her vision is still impaired and she sees mostly out of one eye. Her hearing and sense of smell are just fine, she can even hear when the treat box is being opened and comes running !
She will continue to live her BEST life with love, care and dedication of her incredible foster family, and through the medical care provided by our CBR vets which is supported by of many of you, who donated toward her initial urgent care and to our generous benefactor who is sponsoring Nala to make sure her ongoing medical needs are taken care of.
