Bixby Vet Fighting To Save Dog Possibly Exposed To Meth

He's 6 months old, his name is Zorro, and he's fighting for his life at a Bixby veterinary office. Bixby Police brought the pup to the Horizon Animal Hospital overnight after finding him in a ditch.

Rescuers believe he was raised in a meth house then abandoned.

Zorro is suffering from chemical burns after breathing in the drug, according to Horizon practice manager Joleen Hansen.

Animals breathe in the chemical as it's manufactured, then they are burned when it is expressed through their skin, she said. It's the same reason people who smoke or ingest methamphetamine are known for breaking out in sores, Hansen told News On 6.

Dr. Cari McDonald said, "His eyelids are burned, his corneas are burned, his tongue is swollen and ulcerated. I don't know if he swallowed it or inhaled it, but his whole intestinal track is burned."

Hansen added that Zorro's skin is burned, and some of his fur has turned purple from an ingredient in the drug.

Not only has Zorro been burned by the chemical, he also is addicted to it, according to Hansen.

"He's going through withdrawals, and his temperature is still pretty low," she said. "That's the fight we're having right now."

The vet practice takes in dogs overnight for the city police department. Usually, the Bixby animal control officer comes to get them the next day.

When Horizon staff saw the extent of Zorro's injuries, they knew they were keeping him.

McDonald said, “There wasn't a dry eye in here, they were all in tears. There was never a question of should we try and save him, it was ‘We're saving him right?’”

His tongue is burned, so he can't eat. Because his temperature is so low, they can't give him IV fluids but are giving him blood transfusions.

The police are waiting on tests to determine what kind of chemical caused the injuries, but they have no reports of a meth lab or anything similar anywhere near where the dog was found.

The vet hopes Zorro can fight through the injury, "It's one of the worst I've seen," McDonald said.

"He's a sweet boy," Hansen said.

Zorro has mange and was poorly fed, along with his other problems.

The police used cotton swabs to get samples off the dog and they've sent those to the OSBI for testing.

Horizon has set up a funding account for the dog's care. It is a licensed charity through its rescue group Horizon Animal Heroes, so donations are tax deductible.

"We didn't want to set one up until we saw if he could make it overnight," she said. "He has a long road ahead."

To donate to Zorro's recovery, go to YouCaring.