Maximus, an adorable blue nose pit bull, was out for a walk with one of his owners, Norma Petrakos, when they saw one of his four-legged friends. The two friendly dogs stopped to play as they always do.
When they returned home, Petrakos noticed that Maximus was bleeding on several parts of his body. The New York family just assumed that Max’s injury came from his neighborhood friend.
But, a few days later, the wounds turned into massive purple and black scabs. That’s when they took him to the vet fearing that something could be wrong with their beloved pit. And they were right.
Their longtime vet gave a shocking diagnosis: Maximus had a rare skin disorder called Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN).
He told the family that out of 18 years in practice, this is only the third case he’s treated.
It wasn't something he ate, like the devastating incident with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson's pooch.
What caused the infection is an important memo for all dog owners…
Two weeks prior to the vet visit, Maximus had his tooth extracted followed by minor surgery in his mouth. The 7-year-old pooch was put under anesthesia and then given antibiotics.
The pit bull suffered the rare reaction as a result.
The veterinarian started a laser treatment right away to ensure the infection wouldn't spread. That could have been life-threatening, he said.
The dog, who is adored by neighbors because of his loving nature, wasn't his usual self.
"He was very down during this time and didn't want to do anything," his owner said. "He slept almost all day and wouldn't get as excited."
The one thing that luckily didn't change, however, was his appetite!
The family applied a topical ointment in the affected area every morning and night. Maximus also had to wear T-shirts so that he wouldn't lick the wounds.
Since the family caught the infection early, Maximus' recovery was possible.
"Max had very large scabs that eventually blackened and peeled off," a caption on one of his Instagram photos reads. "His hair won't grow back & he'll always have these scars."
And, two months after the diagnosis, the adorable pit bull is almost fully healed. His playful nature is also back in full swing!
Maximus' story emphasizes how important it is for all owners to check with the vet whenever they notice something different with their pooch. Please SHARE to encourage all pet owners to do the same as this family!
