Duncan the Berner Bears Fight

It all started with a limp. Duncan, my 3 year old previously healthy Bernese Mountain Dog, started limping around October 17th, 2017. He had this issue before and we treated him with an anti inflammatory medication, which helped, but this time was different. The medication didn't work, and, on October 25th, he developed a fever and swelling around the joints of his legs. We rushed him to MedVet in Chicago and he was admitted to the ER. After many tests including an ultrasound, radio graphs, blood work, and joint taps to get fluid from the joint capsules, they determined he has a condition called Immune-Mediated Polyarthropathy or IMPA. IMPA is a disease in which the immune system attacks the joints and causes arthritis symptoms like pain, swelling, and inflammation of the joints. There are two main underlying causes of IMPA, cancer or a tick borne illness. Thankfully, the tests that were done for these causes were negative, so Duncan's' IMPA is considered idiopathic, or with an unknown cause. We started him on immunosuppresants, steroids, pain meds, and more medication to help the side effects of the other medications, all enough to support a 115 pound dog. He seemed to be improving after a few days on the medications. After a few weeks, however, the side effects kicked in. In just two weeks my 115 lb. Berner dropped to 97 lbs. My once sturdy, healthy dog was suddenly weak and all skin and bones. He was struggling to get up, and falling down if he moved too quickly. Then the worst side effect kicked in, hemorrhagic, or extremely bloody, diarrhea. I thought he was dying. I rushed him to the vet and we started him on supportive fluids, even more medication, and ran more blood tests. After a week on fluids and medications he pulled through. I thought we were through the worst of his issues, for sure. Then, around the middle of December, one of the sites where the joint taps were taken broke open and became swollen. We started him on an antibiotic and after a few days the swelling subsided and we finished the two weeks of antibiotics. The wound looked to finally be healing. Again, he was doing better. New Year's Eve rolled around and the swelling returned. It started the same as the first time, small, maybe the size of a golf ball. The vet we normally go to was closed, and wouldn't reopen until the 2nd of January. Not wanting the infection to get out of control while being on immunosuppresants, I decided to take a hit and take him to an emergency vet in the area. We started him on the same medication and I thought things would start to heal over night. I was very wrong. By 7 a.m. on New Year's Day Duncans leg from the knee down had become swollen. I could tell he was in a lot of pain and extremely uncomfortable with a temperature at about 103.5. I rushed him back to the emergency vet and by then the area near the joint tap was "weeping" with fluid because his leg was so swollen. The fluid was sampled and the area was lanced to remove the pressure then bandaged. We were informed that he had a staph infection that was resistant to the first antibiotic we used to treat him. He was started on a new antibiotic and is now getting his bandage changed every 24 hours, until it completely heals.
Since all of Duncan's issues started two months ago we have racked up a bill of a little over $5,000. His immunosuppresant, which he will be on for the foreseeable future, is about $190 for a months supply. He also has to have his blood tests repeated every 2-3 weeks to make sure the steroids aren't damaging his organs. I've been lucky enough to have a carecredit account to put all of his bills on, but with how quickly his bills are adding up I've decided it's time to ask for help. Duncan has kept his happy-go-lucky attitude throughout this whole ordeal, and gives me hope that he will eventually make it to remission, however long it takes. I will keep fighting for him, and take on whatever costs he needs. I fully expect to pay all of his medical bills, and any interest I eventually incur, however long it takes, but even if this page generates $5 I would be extremely grateful.