Success Stories
Read inspiring pet health success stories that highlight the dedication, care, and expertise of veterinary professionals.
Success Stories
Each success story at Fort Henry Animal Hospital fills us with joy and pride. We find these stories in the incredible recoveries and thriving health of the pets we treat. Our dedication to personalized care and genuine love for animals shines through in every pet’s journey to wellness.
We want to share the story of our sweet girl Ruby and her care at Fort Henry Animal Hospital. We noticed one morning that Ruby was not eating and was very restless and uncomfortable. We knew something was seriously wrong since Ruby is a sweet little Yorkie! We called Fort Henry Animal to see if they would see her and they saw her the same day! We knew that Ruby was a chewer so we started with X-rays and bloodwork. Dr. Carpenter noticed on her X-rays that she had some foreign material in her stomach and recommended a barium series to be done to see if the material was moving or if it was stuck in her digestive tract. We were so worried that she might end up needing surgery, but with some patience and prayers, she passed it! We are so thankful to the staff and Dr. Carpenter for being so helpful and communicating with us all throughout the process! Our sweet girl is all back to her normal spunky self and we have made sure that she is only allowed toys with supervision.
Many Thanks,
The Hollifield Family
My name is Zeus Starnes. I’m a 6 1/2-year-old Doberman Pincher. Ever since I can remember, I have always loved to run on my 12 acres. As years have gone by, I have developed arthritis in my hips and lower back. It has become painful for me to get up and down and run. I now limp when I walk.
Dr. Sallee suggested that I take Dasuquin with MSM, a joint health supplement. It has definitely helped me, but I am still very stiff, so Dr. Sallee then suggested laser therapy. We decided to give it a shot! Since I have started laser therapy, it has done wonders for me. After just several treatments, I can now jump up on the couch to watch TV with my mom and dad, and I can run with my little brother again! I’m continuing laser treatment for general maintenance. Look at me! I’m good at wearing my goggles! Thank you, Dr. Sallee! You and your staff are so caring. I’ll see you soon for my next treatment.
Benny Newell
Hello, my name is Benny Newell. I am 5 years old and live with a big family of 9 other cats. One day I began to not feel well. I started vomiting and not wanting to eat or drink anything, which just made me want to lie around. My parents were very concerned because I am normally really energetic and want to snuggle with them, so they took me to Dr. Sallee.
I was very happy that Dr. Sallee was able to see me at short notice. When I went to see Dr. Sallee, they took my blood and did X-rays too. From what she found, I had osteoarthritis and a strong case of pancreatitis. She was also worried I was starting to develop diabetes, so we checked for that too. Dr. Sallee explained each step of the process and how she treated me so my owners did not worry. Her staff helped to give me fluids and other medications to start feeling better before I went home.
My parents started to see a difference in me that same day and I kept improving each day. We were all thankful to hear I did not have diabetes, and when I went back to see Dr. Sallee, all of us were very happy with how I had improved. Now I am back to my active and cuddling self. Thank you for helping me feel better!
It bit him in the face and mouth, but he was able to get free from it. Within a few short moments, his face was swollen; he was breathing heavily and obviously in a lot of pain. I started calling around, but the only vet that could see him was Fort Henry Animal Hospital. We quickly rushed him there as they had promised to prepare for his arrival. When we got there, the techs met us at the car and helped me get him inside. Dr. Carpenter immediately started administering meds and fluids to try to help make him more comfortable.
Neil is not very trusting of everyone, and I let the girls know this right off, so they did everything they could to handle him with tender, loving care. I was able to pick my boy up that afternoon right before they closed and continue him on oral meds at home for a few weeks. He made an astonishing, quick recovery! I am so thankful for the staff and Dr. Carpenter at Fort Henry. They truly saved the one pet’s life that was willing to save mine! I would recommend them to everyone who believes pets are like family.
With Great Thanks,
-The White Family-
I would like to share a story about my sweet cat, Knoxie. I truly believe she showed up at just the right time. Back on October 16, 2019, I found out that I needed cancer treatments in Knoxville. That was when Knoxie showed up on my front porch. I had been feeding her some, and when I prepared to go to Knoxville for the first time, I told her if she would just hang in there with my friend, we would take care of each other when I got back home. While I was gone, I worried about her being home without me and maybe disappearing. However, every time I came home, she would be right there waiting for me. She gave me hope and something to look forward to coming home to. Once all of my treatments were done, I came home, and we have been best buds since! I am now cancer-free, and Knoxie is my best friend. We seem to give each other a purpose. I will do anything in my power to make sure she has the best life ever, as she truly saved mine. I am so thankful for the veterinarians and staff at Fort Henry Animal Hospital. They share guidance to help me provide the best care for my girl.
~Steven Davidson~
FONZIE PARKER
We adopted our little dog Fonzie in 2021. His previous owner was going into a nursing home and was no longer able to care for him. My husband and I had recently lost our little dog, which had left a void in our hearts and home. We gladly took Fonzie in and made him a part of our little family. He has filled our hearts with so much joy.
After getting Fonzie, we quickly learned what pancreatitis was and how serious it is for pets. One day, he stopped eating, started vomiting, and was very lethargic. He also seemed very painful. We were very concerned and scared. We made him an appointment to see Dr. Sallee, and after running bloodwork and tests on him, she confirmed that he was having a pancreatitis flair-up. We are unable to medicate Fonzie at home, so the wonderful veterinarians and staff hospitalized him and took care of him until he was strong enough to come home. Since his diagnosis, he has had flare-ups off and on, but we always make sure to get him to Fort Henry Animal Hospital as soon as possible to get his treatment started before things get worse.
We are so thankful for the veterinarians and staff at Fort Henry Animal Hospital. Everyone is always very considerate, caring, and gentle. Fonzie is always comfortable going to any of the veterinarians or nurses. The veterinarians have always been very open with the diagnosis, treatment, and what to expect along the way. We are so thankful that we found them to care for our boy.
~The Parker Family
We would like to share a story with everyone about our amazing experience at Fort Henry Animal Hospital. We have a sweet golden doodle named Cedar. He is a very special part of our family and means the world to us.
Back in October, we had a very scary situation come about with Cedar. We noticed that he had a skin rash and had also started having bloody diarrhea and vomiting. We thought he was probably just having an allergic reaction to something he had encountered. We took him to the emergency vet since it was after hours and we knew it shouldn’t wait until morning. They treated him for his symptoms and sent him home. The next morning, Cedar was still having very bloody diarrhea, so we called and got an appointment with Fort Henry Animal Hospital to see what they recommended.
Dr. Carpenter was the veterinarian that saw him initially and she went to work quickly to further diagnose and try to see what the underlying cause of Cedar’s condition was. We were very close to losing him and dreaded the thought of no longer having our sweet boy. Dr. Carpenter diagnosed Cedar with Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia and Thrombocytopenia. Upon his diagnosis, she knew what she would need to do to try to save his life. She and Dr. Sallee worked diligently to make sure they tried everything possible to save Cedar. He is so much better now, and we are so relieved to finally be able to know how to give him the care he needs.
Dr. Carpenter has been a joy to work with. She is very caring, thorough, and quick to jump into action. We know that the veterinarians and the entire staff truly care about Cedar. They all greet us with a smile and such excitement to see how well he is doing. We want to thank everyone at Fort Henry Animal Hospital for everything they have done for Cedar.
–The Delmar Family
Hello, my name is Choco, and I wanted to share a story with you about my top-choice veterinarian. I had a very rough start in life, and my medical care was unfortunately neglected. However, I was adopted by my new family, who has gone above and beyond to make my life and health a priority.
I have been a patient at Fort Henry Animal Hospital since 2019. They have really helped to make me healthier by doing more routine bloodwork, dental cleanings, and even changing my diet. Most recently, my mom took me in to have a mass checked on my front leg. She was very worried and scared. Thankfully, Dr. Sallee was able to do my surgery to remove the mass completely. I am not the easiest patient to give meds to due to my history before my new life, but Dr. Sallee and her staff made sure I got special medications to make it easier for my mom to keep me comfortable.
My mom is very confident in the knowledge of the veterinarians and staff at Fort Henry Animal Hospital. She says they have gone above and beyond to spoil me and keep me healthy.
Thank you, Dr. Sallee and your staff, for all you do daily!
Love,
Choco Addington
Thank you so much,
Donna Mathis and Rachelle
June’s “Our Story”
Hello everyone, I would like to share Candy’s story with you. I didn’t have children of my own, so my animals are my babies. When Candy started to feel bad, I rushed her to Fort Henry Animal Hospital. Immediately, Dr. Sallee and her staff started to run tests to figure out the issue. After the exam and test results came back, Dr. Sallee advised me that Candy had pancreatitis. I was very worried that we might not have caught it in time. However, Dr. Sallee and her team reassured me they would do everything they could to save Candy. Dr. Sallee explained what caused the issue and what the best treatment for Candy was. Candy has since made a full recovery and is back to loving life each day. I can’t thank Dr. Sallee and her team enough for saving my fur baby!
Kim Edwards
May’s “Our Story”
This is a story about a “special needs” kitty by the name of “Tiger.” One summer morning, 5 newborn kittens were found in a tire under my husband’s truck. Wild cats have been seen behind his office. All of the kittens had severe issues, 3 died within a couple days. Rosebud and Tiger I cared for together. Rosebud passed away due to a bad seizure at approximately 6 weeks old. Tiger hung on. If Dr. Sallee and the Fort Henry Team had not helped me the day we took in these kittens, Tiger would not be here today. On the 1st of June, he will be one year old. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Tiger is our special needs child. We adore him, but he does need a full-time Nanny to clean up some of his messes. He is so worth it all. Thank you Dr. Sallee and team for saving our special needs kitten!
~The Salyers and “Tiger”
April’s “Our Story”
I rescued Billy seven years ago from Big Fluffy Dog Rescue (yes, he’s neither big nor fluffy), and from day one, he became an integral part of our family! He’s funny, loyal, always on alert, and in typical Jack Russell fashion, ALWAYS on the move! Our favorite activities are hiking the Devil’s Backbone Trail at Warrior State Park, and going for long runs on the Green Belt. I’ve trusted his care to Fort Henry Animal Hospital from the beginning.
Several weeks ago, he lost complete control of his back legs—with no warning. When he tried to stand up, he would collapse and look at me with panic, pain, and confusion in his eyes. I called Dr. Sallee, and she was able to get him in immediately for evaluation. After the initial exam, Dr. Sallee discussed in detail what she believed the issue could be, what the treatment options were (including a potential neurological evaluation with specialists in Knoxville), what the long-term prognosis may be, and what her recommended path forward would be. I followed her advice, combining lots of rest, lots of love, and medication to ease the swelling and pain to see if the condition would improve before taking more drastic measures. Within a few days, he was back on his feet standing, and within a week he was walking and wanting to play!
At his follow-up appointment two weeks later, Dr. Sallee was as excited as I was to see Billy walking and acting like his normal self! We both called it a miracle—and it would not have been possible without the care he received from the entire staff at Fort Henry Animal Hospital. He is continuing to recover and build his strength back up, and with spring just around the corner, both of us can’t wait to hit the trails again for more fun and adventure!! Thank you, Dr. Sallee and team!
~Carol Perkins
March’s “Our Story”
On a cold, dreary day in February, a bright soul wandered into my yard and heart and brought a ton of light with him. I had only recently started to see this little guy around the neighborhood. His bright orange coat was hard to miss and his affection and love for life just drew you in. On that fateful day, “Curtis”, as he came to be known, wandered into my courtyard pulling his back little leg along with him. He couldn’t put any weight on it but he was mustering right along.
When I saw the state of his condition, I rushed outside to see what was wrong. He immediately started purring and rubbing his sweet face on me. Something was definitely wrong but you’d never know it by his demeanor. He was so curious and affectionate. I brought him in and called Fort Henry Animal Hospital to see if they could squeeze him in. As accommodating as they always are, they could see him in a couple of hours. After X-rays, it was determined that Curtis’ back leg was broken in half, and with where it broke, amputation was his best option.
Overcome by the suffering this little one was experiencing without his spirit being affected, I burst into tears. This poor little guy!! Again, Fort Henry Animal Hospital went out of its way to accommodate surgery as soon as possible. In the meantime, Curtis came back home with me so I could talk with my neighbor as I suspected Curtis belonged to him. The neighbor was willing to give up Curtis. While Curtis was with me, he was full of snuggles and affection. Just being around him made your heart melt. I had recently accepted a job out of state and could only bring my (2) cats with me.
I had to find Curtis a home. In addition to getting him physically ready, Fort Henry also said they would keep their ear to the ground for a good home for Curtis. The morning of his surgery, he made no fuss in the car. He simply wanted to sit on my lap—even though he was slightly disturbed that he had to fast the night before. When I got the call in the afternoon that the surgery went well, I was told how affectionate and content he seemed to be throughout the entire day. He was slowly winning over the heart of someone who would come to be known as “Mom.” Curtis was boarded that weekend while I traveled out of town. When I dropped him off, everyone came out to greet this sweet boy.
I was so grateful to know that he was being loved and treated well by Fort Henry Animal Hospital. In fact, that love was about to extend even further. I found out that day that one of Fort Henry’s very own had her eye on him. After a weekend of caring for him at Fort Henry and a successful meet and greet with her significant other, Darby was proud to announce that Curtis would be joining her household.
Thank you to everyone at Fort Henry Animal Hospital for providing an outstanding level of service! And MOST IMPORTANT—THANK YOU DARBY FOR LOVING AND ACCEPTING CURTIS!
Cori Triest
February’s “Our Story”
My name is Joyce Hilton, I would love to share my pet’s “Our Story” with everyone. The symptoms Rajah was having prior to treatment were failure to thrive, not gaining any weight at 4 months old, no muscle mass, and extremely anemic, which almost seemed to onset overnight. Rajah is such an important part of my life! I was scared to death taking care of him as he was fragile and sick. I am so in love with this sweet kitten, and he was so sick at one point, I thought he was going to lose this battle. Thanks to Dr. Sallee and the Fort Henry AH Team the results were beyond a miracle! With aggressive treatment and weekly follow-ups, my baby is on his way to being a happy adult and that result is priceless! No words and thankfully no tears can express how thankful I am for Rajah’s progress. My husband and I could not be happier or more grateful to know that Rajah will remain a huge part of our family for a long time to come. The best part of my experience throughout this was the peace of mind of leaving a very sick kitten and family member in the care of Dr. Sallee last minute so I could travel. The staff here at Fort Henry AH are exceptional! We are so happy and grateful to have found Fort Henry AH!
Thank you, Dr. Sallee and Fort Henry AH!
-Joyce Hilton & Rajah
January’s “Our Story”
Our story is about our youngest baby Peanut. We felt terrified and powerless when we brought Peanut in as he was so very ill. He was anemic and had a severe infection, it was a very poor prognosis. Everyone at Fort Henry truly cared about Peanut and made us feel as calm as possible throughout his treatments. Peanut has since made a full recovery, he is strong, gained weight, and acts like a completely different cat. He is a total miracle! We are so thankful to Fort Henry!
-Shacodi & Peanut
“Lucy” McClain
Lucy is my sweet little Labradoodle. When she developed bloody diarrhea I was very scared and frightened for her.
Dr. Sallee was her veterinarian when she was presented at Fort Henry Animal Hospital, and they really turned her around. It was a miracle! She did great with her medications and much care from her Fort Henry friends.
Lucy’s progress has been great, and we really appreciated being worked in so quickly when she was so very sick!
-Peggy McClain
“Bebe” & little “Nevie”
Hi, my name is Lisa, and I was introduced to Fort Henry Animal Hospital when my little love, Bebe, was having problems delivering her puppies and needed an emergency caesarian section.
Bebe is an important part of our family, more like a child and not just a pet to me. I had taken her for prenatal care elsewhere to be sure that I was doing my part to protect her health. That hospital was not set up to do an emergency caesarian section when Bebe had trouble delivering.
Dr. Sallee at Fort Henry Animal Hospital was able to step in at the last minute and save my Bebe and her puppy. I am overjoyed at the outcome and also with my babies’ follow-up care as well.
The part of this difficult experience that I especially appreciate was the compassion for my feelings and for my animal’s feelings during this very tough ordeal.
Thanks to Fort Henry Animal Hospital for saving Bebe and for bringing little Ne’vie safely into our family!
-Lisa Grindstaff, Bebe, and little Ne’vie
“McDuff” Domby
Hi there! My name is McDuff, and I am a West Highland White Terrier. I recently became very sick and lethargic, suddenly one morning. After running some tests at Fort Henry Animal Hospital, Dr. Sallee diagnosed my condition as a gallbladder attack.
Mom says that I am a huge part of her life and for 14 years I had never been sick. My sudden illness really frightened her.
After a 2 night stay at Fort Henry Animal Hospital and then a couple of days at home on medications, I started to have an increase in my appetite and energy level. Mom is thrilled with my progress, but now she watches my diet very closely and I don’t get as many treats anymore. The good news is that I feel so much better, I can keep up with my 3-year-old little sister.
We are very thankful to Dr. Sallee for her quick response in saving me. She is such a very caring doctor!
Thanks to all the caring staff at Fort Henry Animal Hospital,
“McDuff” & Glenda Domby
“Cypress” Weatherly
Our new kitten’s name is Cypress. She had an upper respiratory infection when we adopted her from the animal shelter. Cypress is an important part of our lives, and especially for our daughter. We were all very concerned and worried about her well-being. Her exam at Fort Henry Animal Hospital was on December 31, New Year’s Eve, and within about 3 days of starting the prescribed medications, she began feeling so much better! We are thrilled with how quickly she recovered and appreciate Dr. Sallee’s care. The time spent with us explaining the infection and how to treat it was greatly appreciated. Everyone at the office showed kindness to our kitten and toward us as well.
Thanks,
Amanda Weatherly
“Milky Way” Frye
My name is Beverly and I brought my kitty Milky Way to Fort Henry Animal Hospital with a very irritated backside when her treatment began. She would rub her rear on the floor and she was very agitated and mad while aggressively swishing her tail back and forth. She was also overweight, which probably led to her problems.
My cats are my babies and are very important to me. I felt very concerned and upset that she was feeling bad. I felt like a bad mama.
At Fort Henry Animal Hospital, they ran some tests, which hadn’t been checked since 2011 when I got her. I found out she had a urinary tract infection which was treated to help her feel better. They also told me how to put my kitty on a diet to help her lose weight.
It has been 10 days since Dr. Sallee first saw Milky Way. Milky is friendlier. She is not swishing her tail and her butt looks better. She is not dragging her rear on the floor and has even lost 0.45 pounds.
I especially appreciated the compassion that Dr. Sallee and her staff have shown for my fur baby and me. They are very understanding and easy to talk to. Most importantly I am happy that they have helped Milky Way feel better.
Thanks from Beverly Frye & Milky Way!
“Roxie”
Hi all, my name is Roxie, and I was having lots of problems when my pet parents brought me to Fort Henry Animal Hospital. I was feeling bloated, overeating, drinking a ton of water, panting, gaining weight, moaning, and generally experiencing weakness and misery.
Mom says I’m her baby girl. Usually, I just wag my tail and look at her with mischievous eyes to get what I want. When I started feeling so bad, that all changed and Mom and Dad were worried, frightened, and devastated at my deteriorating condition.
But then Dr. Sallee checked me out, looked at my blood samples, and scanned me with X-rays and ultrasound. She found out that I was suffering from Cushing’s Disease.
Once I started taking a special medicine along with a diet change, Mom said that she had her baby girl back. She’s glad to see me happy and playful again. My Mom Rosa says she especially appreciates the compassionate, knowledgeable, and professional staff.
Dr. Sallee has saved my life for a second time, now! We have moved to Florida but Mom keeps in touch by phone and says if we have trouble, we’re coming back to Tennessee to visit Fort Henry Animal Hospital. Thanks for all the help!
“Roxie” and Rosa
“Angel”
My name is Scottie and my pet, Angel, was transferred from the Airport Pet Emergency Clinic to Fort Henry Animal Hospital because she was feeling very lethargic and was having several ongoing seizures. Angel is like a family member to me and is loved by everyone she meets. We are always together and she had me extremely worried and scared. It was a mystery to me what was wrong, but Dr. Sallee found the right medication that helped Angel and she is like a new dog now. I am very relieved at how well she’s doing and everyone at church says our prayers were answered. Once I found the right veterinarian it seemed like everything just worked out great, but it was scary to see her having multiple seizures over 3 days. I was a nervous wreck when I first got her to Fort Henry. If I’d had access to Wings Air Rescue, I would have helicoptered her to Dr. Sallee!!