From Mangled to Mended: Help Dax Heal from His Vicious Attack

Meet Dax, a young dog who has suffered a horrifying attack by a pack of dogs. Just yesterday, he was seen chasing after a female in heat, but today, he’s been found battered, broken, and in desperate need of medical care.

Dax's story is heartbreaking—he was attacked so viciously that his body is covered in bite wounds, particularly on his back half. His legs are badly mangled, he has lost several teeth, and one of his canines is broken. Despite all of this, Dax is still fighting, but he needs us to step in and help him heal.

Dax needs immediate care at the ER, and while ThisIsHouston's fosters and resources are stretched thin, they couldn't ignore this precious life. He has so much to give, and we believe with your support, he can recover and live a happy, pain-free life.

Dax is more than just an injured dog—he’s a life worth saving. Thank you for considering helping Dax. Every donation, no matter the size, brings us one step closer to getting him the treatment he needs and ensuring he can live a happy, healthy life.

Update 3/26/25:
When Dax arrived at the ER, he was in a state of shock. His blood pressure was low but stabilized with fluid boluses. X-rays didn't show any fractures, but he had swelling and severe edema and cellulitis underneath his skin. Some bite wounds are old and some are infected. He also had a small volume of air in his chest so the vet watched closely for respiratory issues.

The vet plans to clip and clean his wounds under sedation and take a good look at his mouth while he’s sedated. He’s going to need some intense wound care as he’s at risk of sepsis in this state. He’ll need bandage changes 2x a day for the foreseeable future as the wounds declare themselves, so he’ll be at the ER for a couple of days.

Update 3/27/25:
Dax is holding on, though he's still facing some challenges. Yesterday, his clotting times were slightly elevated, and his blood sugar was dropping, which raised concerns about potential sepsis. To address this, he received a plasma transfusion and dextrose was added to his IV fluids.

He also underwent a full body clip and clean, which revealed old scabs and scars across the front half of his body. The most recent injuries are on his back legs, with a notable spot over his scrotum as well. He's currently receiving bandage changes twice a day to help with healing.

In addition, Dax will need dental x-rays soon. We know he has a fractured lower left canine and a missing lower right canine, with a hole in its place. While we’re not entirely sure how this happened, we suspect he may have lost or fractured his teeth while trying to defend himself.

It’s heartbreaking to see him go through all of this, but he’s a fighter.

Update 3/30/25:
Dax has been at the ER receiving wound care, hydrotherapy, and daily bandage changes. He’s stable and doing well overall—he’s eating and drinking with no issues, and all of his vitals are normal. However, he does have some bone and tendon exposure, which is expected given the severity of his wounds. With time, we anticipate these areas will begin to granulate and heal.

Update 4/2/25:
Dax was discharged from the ER yesterday and is now in the care of a wonderful foster family. He’s settling in and decompressing well in his new environment, starting to show signs of comfort and trust.

His healing process is going smoothly, and he is currently receiving bandage changes every 48 hours to ensure his recovery continues without complications.

Dax still has a long road ahead, but with the care and attention he’s receiving, we’re confident he’s on the right track.

Update 4/3/25:
When Dax's foster mom picked him up from the ER to bring him home, she was expecting him to be very shut down when they handed her his leash. But to her surprise, as soon as they got home, he happily jumped out of the crate and onto a large dog bed 🙂. Since then, he’s been so sweet and just chillin’.

His body is still tough to look at, with so many scars and scabs, but it's all uphill from here. He's already enjoying the good life, and we love seeing him thrive!