Over the past several weeks, we’ve noticed that Indy the hen has been losing weight, despite her usual  bright spirit. Concerned, our veterinarian ran bloodwork and parasite tests, but they came back normal.  Given that, the most likely explanation for Indy’s continued weight loss is cancer.

To get a clearer picture, Indy has been referred to Stahl’s Exotic Animal Veterinary Services for a CT scan. We are grateful that our trusted vet, Dr. Carothers (who took such good care of Miles and Quincy this year), will be the one caring for her. Still, we are deeply worried as we wait for answers.

Life at the sanctuary is always full of surprises, and this week our sweet Huckleberry gave us quite a scare. It all began with his neuter surgery, a simple but important step in his growing-up journey. He handled the procedure bravely, and we were so proud of how calm and trusting he was throughout. But a couple of days later, we noticed something unusual: his urine had turned a shocking, bright red.

If you’ve been following Betty’s story, you know she’s always been a sweet, curious turkey who loves to explore and practice flying with her brother Rachel and her mom Tia. But over the past month, we noticed something unusual: Betty kept squinting her right eye, almost like she was giving us a secret little wink.
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We tried everything we could with the help of our vet, multiple exams and medication, but the squinting continued. So, Betty got a referral to Animal Eye Care of Virginia Beach, where she made history as the first turkey patient ever seen at their office!

We have some really difficult news to share about our sweet Tesla. She almost certainly has metastatic cancer, most likely a blood vessel type such as hemangiosarcoma. Because of how quickly the mass has grown and how much blood it is taking up (and the likelihood of other masses present internally in her body), our vet felt it would not be safe to anesthetize her for a biopsy. This means we cannot know with absolute certainty, but the prognosis is not good.

Even so, we are not without hope. Tesla has started on an experimental dose of a common antibiotic that has shown anti-cancer properties for this type of cancer. Whether it is the medicine or the daily banana she happily eats it with (and perhaps both), we have seen an improvement. Her appetite is better, her energy is brighter, and her Tesla personality has been shining through. She has been asking for extra cuddles, stealing the dog’s food again, and filling the house with her unique spark.

Right now, her vet does not believe she is in any pain, and our focus is on making her life as wonderful and comfortable as possible. She gets special cuddles at night in bed with us, and receives extra treats of course.  We are so thankful we are the lucky ones who get to spend her life with her.  

Quincy’s toe amputation surgery was a success, and our brave boy is already back to strutting around the sanctuary in his special shoe! Nothing keeps him down for long. He has reclaimed his role as Commander in Chief, with Sherman faithfully patrolling at his side as his number two in command. The Puffalumps all clearly look up to Quincy, and we can't get over how cute he is with his little "mini me" beside him.  

At the same time, we this is just one step in the process. The toe on his other foot has not improved and remains painful. Quincy will be returning to Stahl’s for regular IV antibiotic infusion treatments, either weekly or every other week depending on how his body responds. These treatments are our best hope of saving this toe and sparing him from another amputation. His culture results showed that the infection is resistant to most common antibiotics, which means he has to receive a stronger medication that can be hard on his body. There is also the option of systemic antibiotics, but we are holding off for now because of the difficult side effects.

Even with all of this, Quincy carries himself with the same pride and determination that he always has. He keeps watch over the sanctuary with his steady presence, reminding us daily of his resilience and his desire to protect his family.  We will protect him too.  
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If you have a moment, please drop a kind word for our Commander in Chief.