Help Bubba’s Back Legs! ❤️‍

First off, we would just like to say thank you. Whether you are here to send well wishes, donate to our recovery fund, or are simply curious, we deeply appreciate everyone who has taken the time to stop by and read about Bubba's story.

EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS.

If you've ever had the privilege of meeting our little man and/or know us personally, you would know how unbearable life would be if one of our dogs was taken from us too soon. You can imagine the devastation we felt when our Bubba rapidly deteriorated right before our eyes. In as little as 24 hours, what initially began as mild signs of discomfort, quickly progressed to the loss of all motor functions from his waist down.

Bubba's clinical signs and MRI findings were diagnostic for Intervertebral Disk Disease (IVDD). With intervertebral disc degeneration, the center of the intervertebral disc mineralizes and predisposes the disc to mechanical failure and can rupture during *normal* movement. This failure leads to the compression of the spinal cord and, if not surgically removed within 24 hours, causes pain, nerve damage, and in some cases paralysis. Due to the severity of Bubba's diagnosis, we were given two options: emergency spinal surgery or euthanization. Little did we know, that was just the beginning of our race against time and a nightmare we have yet to wake up from.

This diagnosis not only breaks your bank but the surgery itself can only be done by a specialist. After many frantic calls, we were then given another round of grim news, there was only one Neurologist available in our time frame (weekend hours). Still, we jumped in the car and drove the 90 miles to get him admitted into their care and into the operating room as soon as possible. Upon our 4 am arrival, his chances of walking again and making a full recovery was quoted at 95%. By the time the surgeon was in at 9 am we learned his chances of successfully reversing any damage had already dropped to 60%.

Bubba is only 4 years old. Calling him the light of our life isn’t enough. He’s introduced us to laughter we’ve never heard, the joy we’ve never felt, and entertainment we could never forget. The decision to move forward with surgery wasn’t for us, it was based on the commitment we made to him on the day of his adoption. We will forever fight to cherish and protect our little man and be a voice for the voiceless. No matter the odds - he deserved a chance.

Though we couldn’t possibly be any happier and thankful to be almost 2 weeks post-op, we now must prepare for the long road of recovery & rehabilitation he has in front of him. He is in for a complete lifestyle change even when/if he regains the ability to walk (call him Bubble Boy Bubs).

We understand this was the bed we made, but your donation would allow us the flexibility to expand his treatment options and ensure him the highest quality of life possible. When it comes to overall pain management to keep our boy his silly self, everyday matters and any dollar amount helps.

If you can’t donate, we ask that you help share Bubba’s story so more people can learn about the risks of Intervertebral Disc Disease and how important it is to recognize the warning signs before it's too late.

You really never know when it could be the last walk with your best friend.

Morgan, Jess, Tito, & Bubba