Getting excited could kill this shelter dog. Cooper really needs your help
A shelter in Indiana is doing everything it can to save a young pup who has a potentially fatal side effect when he gets excited.
Cooper was surrendered to the Humane Society for Hamilton County in Fishers with a horrible issue that happens whenever he shows extreme happiness — he stops breathing.
'When Cooper gets excited, he can't breathe. Not heavy breathing. Not panting. We're talking turning blue, can't get air, body temperature spiking to 108 degrees can't breathe,' the shelter said in a desperate May 28 Facebook post.
'Cooper is just a 1-year-old English Bulldog, a baby who was bred to have the 'perfect' squishy face but ended up with an airway so tight that two simple moments of excitement nearly killed him.'
According to the shelter, Cooper needs to have emergency surgery to open up his airways, which would cost around $11,500 total.
'He was surrendered to us last week. Since then, he's had two terrifying episodes where he was unable to breathe and turned blue. The second one landed him in the ER, and he's been at VCA since Friday,' the shelter said.
For more information on Cooper, visit the shelter's Facebook page and website.
'This sweet little bulldog greets everyone with love, despite struggling for every breath. He doesn't understand why he feels like he's suffocating. He just knows he's scared … and tired,' the shelter said.
Fishers is about a 20-mile drive northeast from downtown Indianapolis.
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