Arnie’s Fight for His Life

Back in August, our world turned upside down when my beloved Frenchie, Arnie, suddenly fell ill. After multiple visits to the vets, he was misdiagnosed with IVDD and prescribed medication that, unbeknown to us at the time, was dangerously wrong. In reality, Arnie was suffering from a severe kidney infection — but the medication he was given for the misdiagnosis ultimately sent him into kidney failure.

As his condition worsened, I took him back to the same vets who had prescribed the medication and said the words no pet owner ever wants to say: “My dog is dying.” Despite how critical he was, I was sent home and told that he was okay.

That night, I lay in bed with Arnie, knowing deep down that he was dying. I stayed awake with him all night, preparing myself for the possibility that he wouldn’t make it until morning. But Arnie, being the fighter that he is, made it through.

The next morning, I trusted my instincts and took him for a second opinion at Vintage Vets in Margate. They acted immediately — running urgent blood tests which confirmed that Arnie was in kidney failure. He was admitted straight into their veterinary hospital, where the incredible team began the fight to save his life. Through multiple IV fluid treatments, they managed to stabilise him and quite literally save his life for the first time. 

Even then, he was still weak and not eating, having lost a significant amount of weight. The vets attempted to insert a feeding tube through his nose and throat, but when it got stuck, they feared he had a blockage. This led to an emergency referral to the Royal Veterinary College in Hertfordshire, two and a half hours away.

By the time we arrived, Arnie’s blood pressure was so low they couldn’t even get a reading. We were prepared for the worst. But against all odds, Arnie fought back.

After having already undergone investigative surgery at the Vintage Vets, and enduring so much, he began to respond to treatment. He spent four days in the Intensive Care Unit at the Royal Veterinary College, surrounded by a team of specialists who refused to give up on him.

It was there that he was finally diagnosed with Addison’s Disease — a lifelong autoimmune condition where his white blood cells attack his red blood cells. Arnie now requires daily steroid tablets, monthly steroid injections, and regular blood tests to keep his electrolytes stable and prevent an Addison’s Crisis.
 
Arnie is thankfully no longer fighting for his life, but his journey is far from over. His ongoing care is essential to maintaining his health and quality of life.

I have been left with the devastating financial burden of his treatment — costs that would never have reached this level had Arnie been diagnosed and treated correctly from the start. The negligence he experienced in those crucial moments almost cost him his life.

While it is my duty and privilege to care for him, I cannot do it alone. With a heavy heart, I’m reaching out for help to pay the incredible teams who saved Arnie’s life — not once, but twice. Every donation, message, and share means more than words can express.

Thank you for helping me give Arnie the life he fought so hard to keep.