Vida and Vail ended up at an animal shelter in Houston, Texas, but couldnโt stand on their own, and no one knew why.
However, when the Great Pyrenees siblings were rescued out by the Great Pyrenees Rescue society, they discovered why. Both were infected with a parasite called Neosporosis.
โThe parasite attaches to the nerve endings and slowly goes up the spinal column to the brain and typically kills them,โ Kickie DโAlfonso, a veterinary technician at Tech Ridge Pet Hospital, told The Dodo. โBut they caught it early enough so they can stop it.โ
Vida and Vail were sent to recover with DโAlfonso, who runs a rescue that rehabilitates dogs with special needs called DโAlfonso House of Hounds & Hooves.
The pack of four or five other dogs managed to help Vail enough that she is ready to transfer to a regular foster family. Vida is progressing slower, but is grateful that someone helped her when she needed it the most.
โNow she is playful and wants to interact with everybody,โ DโAlfonso told the Dodo. โI put the food in the kennels and when they see me get the dog bowls, now they go running into the kennels.โ
Vida and Vail are currently working on walking confidently despite hyper-extension of their legs.
Who knows what could have happened if these puppies did not get surgery to remove the parasites. Vida and Vail are forever appreciative of people like DโAlfonso, who gave them a boost when they desperately needed one.
<
