GoFundGarbo

Hi,

My name is Paula, I am a licensed veterinary technician and Doberman enthusiast. I have been part of the veterinary and Doberman community for the last 24 years. I'm reaching out to the Doberman community to help this beautiful girl and her family with medical expenses.

Three weeks ago a Doberman Pinscher named Garbo ( Gorgeous Garbo Vom Koby Haus BH CGC) presented to our emergency service with a diagnosis of Tetanus. Garbo has been locked in her body for weeks without being able to move a muscle. Her ongoing hospitalization and care is intense and constant. She needs 24/7 care or else she's at risk of terrible complications like pneumonia, seizures and airway blockage. She can make it through this as her nerves heal but she needs weeks in the ICU.

Garbo's family has taken on a huge financial responsibility in regards to Garbo's care. They hope to bring her home soon and that she returns to her happy, active lifestyle. Garbo enjoyed her 6 mile walks to Central Park for an hour of off leash fun and training, as well as her time with the Schutzhund club on Long Island on Sundays.

We've all heard about Tetanus and have been vaccinated for Tetanus at some point in our lives, but unless you are a horse person... you would never expect this disease your dogs life. Garbo still has a long road ahead of her regarding her recovery but we want to get her home to her loving family as soon as possible. Their home and bed have been so empty without her!

Help Garbo conquer more A-Frames!

Regarding Tetanus:

Tetanus is an infectious disease caused by infection by the organism Clostridium tetani.  The spores of this organism are resistant to temperature and many cleaning agents.  Once activated, the organism thrives in an anaerobic environment and produces two toxins, tetanolysin and tetanospasmin.  Tetanospasmin is responsible for the clinical signs seen in this disease. 

Clostridium tetani enters the body through wounds or broken skin where it travels to local nerves via adjacent muscles.  It can also gain entry through the mouth when teeth erupt, or contaminated surgical procedures.  Once it comes into contact with local nerves, it travels up the nerves to the spinal cord and blocks release of inhibitory neurotransmitters GABA and glycine.  This lack of inhibition is what causes the clinical signs of excessive muscle contraction and hyperexcitability of the nervous system and subsequently the muscles. 

Clinical signs of tetanus are dependent upon point of entry but include stiff, contracted muscles.  Focal lesions may remain in one group of muscles, but the condition can become generalized and affect all muscles.  The muscles closest to the point of entry are affected first, most severely and are the last to recover.  Some classic clinical signs are a “saw horse” posture and “risus  sardonicus” a facial expression where the ears are pulled back and sit on top of the head, the eyes are small and slit-like, and the cheeks are pulled back into a grin.  Some owners may notice that their pet is having trouble eating usually secondary to “lock jaw” difficulty opening the mouth and chewing because of increased tone to the masticatory (chewing) muscles.

Tetanus can cause recumbency and seizures, and must be treated aggressively as soon as it has been diagnosed.  Antitoxin, while not routinely available in small animal practice should be given as soon as possible if available in order to bind and prevent spread of tetanus toxin.  Antibiotic therapy should be immediately initiated. 

Patients diagnosed with tetanus have a guarded prognosis, and serious complications such as seizures, regurgitation or vomiting (often associated with hiatal hernias) and aspiration pneumonia are common.  Nursing care and feeding tubes are essential to recovery.  Despite aggressive therapy, there is a serious risk of death.  For this reason, patients with tetanus should be hospitalized for treatment immediately.