Dexter's Vet Bills
Donation protected
As many know, our little Dexter just had major surgery on his leg. I've summarized the last 9 days of what Dexter has gone through in case anyone has missed our social media updates. Thomas and myself (Samantha) are so thankful that Dexter will be OK and he's officially on the road to recovery as of this morning. We appreciate everyone who has reached out to us to check in on Dex. This unexpected injury has left our family with over $10,000 in Dexter's medical bills - and it may go up from there depending on his recovery process.
We've had a lot of amazing people reach out to us asking for us to set up a way for donations to be made to help cover these unexpected expenses. Thank you to anyone reading this, sharing this, thinking of us, wishing Dexter a healthy recovery process and/ or donating. We never expected something like this to happen to our boy.
I will continue to update this page for Dexter updates as well as our social media pages.
7/11:
We’ve had a rough morning to say the least.
Little Dexy was hit by another dog and it resulted in a leg injury. I was at the vet all morning getting X-rays. He had a lot a swelling in his joints but the X-rays are showing an ACL tear. He’s on pain meds and anti inflammatory meds and in 3 days we will get another round of X-rays to see how bad the tear is and what the next steps are. Dexter wont use that leg at all. I’m heartbroken. I’m so unbelievably sad.
7/12:
I’m having Dex rest as much as possible. All he wants is for me to hold him. If I put him down he cries and cries and wants me to pick him up and hold him. He is still unable to use that hind leg. My heart is broken.
7/15:
Thank you to everyone who has been thinking of him and reaching out. It’s been a difficult 5 days. I appreciate everyone’s thoughts and kind words. Dexter still can’t walk and he’s very uncomfortable. Dexter was at the vet all day today being put under anesthesia so they could run some test. Follow up X-rays are showing his issue to be worse than everyone thought. Dexs ACL is fully torn as well as his collateral ligaments. Dex is being referred to a specialist for what our vet called major surgery. Surgery needs to happen right away in order for him to be able to walk normal again. I’m trying to get the next appointment- hopefully the next day or so. His recover time is 12 weeks - and no playing or running for 3 months after his surgery. He will also need weekly physical therapy for the next 3-6 months.
7/18:
Today has been the most emotional, chaotic, exhausting day I’ve had in my entire life. Today I had the surgery consult for Dexter down in MA - to be honest, it didn’t go well. I was told it’s a lot worse than our vet had anticipated. A torn ACL, collateral ligaments and meniscus tear. I was told Dex will always have an issue with his leg/ walking. And the quote was about 15K just for the surgery- never mind the cost for 6 months worth of appointments and physical therapy needed after. They also predicted Dexter would need up to 3 surgeries. I left devastated and needing another opinion. I called every specialist I could find and everyone was booking into August. Since Dexter can’t walk, I refuse to wait. Luckily, Some connection strings were pulled and I am able to get Dexter seen early tomorrow am with a specialist to get their opinion. Please keep Dexter in your healthy healing thoughts. This little boy is so uncomfortable and it’s breaking our hearts.
7/19:
Our consult went great and Dexter is his getting surgery today! He will be staying overnight under 24 hour care to ensure he’s doing okay . I miss him already and can’t wait for him to be home and on the road to recovery. I was a bit intense of a mama bear yesterday trying to help Dexter so we brought the hospital a big platter of baked goods, to show how thankful we are for them. They have been amazing and comforting- sending us text picture and updates. Today I am just very very thankful.
7/19:
Dex is out of surgery! The surgeon confirmed a fully torn ACL, collateral and meniscus. Dex has two incision spots - one on his knee and the other right near his ankle. Dexter's incisions are closed by staples.
The type of surgery Dex got:
The true beauty of the TPLO surgery is that it completely alters the dynamics of the knee. Once the bone is cut and the tibial plateau is rotated, where the femur and the tibia communicate, no longer can the femur slide backwards. The knee is immediately stabilized. By doing so, this eliminates the need for the ACL ligament entirely and returns stability to the joint immediately.
7/20:
Dexter is home from surgery! The road to recovery has officially started. Dex is very uncomfortable, we are trying to have him sleep as much as possible. In 2 weeks Dexter will get his staples removed and then we can start with all of the follow up appointments and PT. Dexter will be in physical therapy a few days a week for the next 6 months. Dexter will be getting another round of xrays at 10 weeks to ensure the bone is healing correctly.
7/21:
Thank you for all of the donations so far! We are so thankful. Dexter is still uncomfortable. But he is home, and that is what we are focusing on.
7/23: Dex is finally getting sleep! Hes slowly figuring out how to get comfortable. Dex still won't use that hind leg at all- but we were told he may not until he starts to feel more confident with it.
We've had a lot of amazing people reach out to us asking for us to set up a way for donations to be made to help cover these unexpected expenses. Thank you to anyone reading this, sharing this, thinking of us, wishing Dexter a healthy recovery process and/ or donating. We never expected something like this to happen to our boy.
I will continue to update this page for Dexter updates as well as our social media pages.
7/11:
We’ve had a rough morning to say the least.
Little Dexy was hit by another dog and it resulted in a leg injury. I was at the vet all morning getting X-rays. He had a lot a swelling in his joints but the X-rays are showing an ACL tear. He’s on pain meds and anti inflammatory meds and in 3 days we will get another round of X-rays to see how bad the tear is and what the next steps are. Dexter wont use that leg at all. I’m heartbroken. I’m so unbelievably sad.
7/12:
I’m having Dex rest as much as possible. All he wants is for me to hold him. If I put him down he cries and cries and wants me to pick him up and hold him. He is still unable to use that hind leg. My heart is broken.
7/15:
Thank you to everyone who has been thinking of him and reaching out. It’s been a difficult 5 days. I appreciate everyone’s thoughts and kind words. Dexter still can’t walk and he’s very uncomfortable. Dexter was at the vet all day today being put under anesthesia so they could run some test. Follow up X-rays are showing his issue to be worse than everyone thought. Dexs ACL is fully torn as well as his collateral ligaments. Dex is being referred to a specialist for what our vet called major surgery. Surgery needs to happen right away in order for him to be able to walk normal again. I’m trying to get the next appointment- hopefully the next day or so. His recover time is 12 weeks - and no playing or running for 3 months after his surgery. He will also need weekly physical therapy for the next 3-6 months.
7/18:
Today has been the most emotional, chaotic, exhausting day I’ve had in my entire life. Today I had the surgery consult for Dexter down in MA - to be honest, it didn’t go well. I was told it’s a lot worse than our vet had anticipated. A torn ACL, collateral ligaments and meniscus tear. I was told Dex will always have an issue with his leg/ walking. And the quote was about 15K just for the surgery- never mind the cost for 6 months worth of appointments and physical therapy needed after. They also predicted Dexter would need up to 3 surgeries. I left devastated and needing another opinion. I called every specialist I could find and everyone was booking into August. Since Dexter can’t walk, I refuse to wait. Luckily, Some connection strings were pulled and I am able to get Dexter seen early tomorrow am with a specialist to get their opinion. Please keep Dexter in your healthy healing thoughts. This little boy is so uncomfortable and it’s breaking our hearts.
7/19:
Our consult went great and Dexter is his getting surgery today! He will be staying overnight under 24 hour care to ensure he’s doing okay . I miss him already and can’t wait for him to be home and on the road to recovery. I was a bit intense of a mama bear yesterday trying to help Dexter so we brought the hospital a big platter of baked goods, to show how thankful we are for them. They have been amazing and comforting- sending us text picture and updates. Today I am just very very thankful.
7/19:
Dex is out of surgery! The surgeon confirmed a fully torn ACL, collateral and meniscus. Dex has two incision spots - one on his knee and the other right near his ankle. Dexter's incisions are closed by staples.
The type of surgery Dex got:
The true beauty of the TPLO surgery is that it completely alters the dynamics of the knee. Once the bone is cut and the tibial plateau is rotated, where the femur and the tibia communicate, no longer can the femur slide backwards. The knee is immediately stabilized. By doing so, this eliminates the need for the ACL ligament entirely and returns stability to the joint immediately.
7/20:
Dexter is home from surgery! The road to recovery has officially started. Dex is very uncomfortable, we are trying to have him sleep as much as possible. In 2 weeks Dexter will get his staples removed and then we can start with all of the follow up appointments and PT. Dexter will be in physical therapy a few days a week for the next 6 months. Dexter will be getting another round of xrays at 10 weeks to ensure the bone is healing correctly.
7/21:
Thank you for all of the donations so far! We are so thankful. Dexter is still uncomfortable. But he is home, and that is what we are focusing on.
7/23: Dex is finally getting sleep! Hes slowly figuring out how to get comfortable. Dex still won't use that hind leg at all- but we were told he may not until he starts to feel more confident with it.
Organizer
Samantha Henning
Organizer
Manchester, NH
